What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of two main parts. ご不便をおかけして literally means "causing (you) inconvenience". The second part, 申し訳ありません, literally translates to "there is no excuse" or "there is no explanation".
Which one should you use?
For a less formal version, such as "Sorry for the inconvenience", you can use ご不便をおかけしてすみません. To express an even deeper level of politeness, such as "I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience", you can replace ありません with ございません to say ご不便をおかけして申し訳ございません.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In professional business correspondence, you should avoid the less formal ご不便をおかけしてすみません. To reach a higher level of formality, use ご不便をおかけして申し訳ございません.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ご不便をおかけして, the verb okakeru (to cause or inflict) is used in its te-form (okakeshite) to connect the cause of the trouble to the apology.
How do you pronounce it?
gofuben o okakeshite moushiwake arimasen
Did you know?
- The verb かける (kakeru) used in おかけして (okakeshite) means to 'hang' or 'apply' something. When used with 'inconvenience', it metaphorically describes the act of 'imposing' or 'hanging' a burden onto the recipient.
- In Japanese customer service, this apology is often delivered with a deep bow. The lower the angle of the bow, the more sincere the apology for the 'inconvenience' is perceived to be.
- In Japanese business culture, apologizing for an inconvenience is often seen as a way to show respect to the customer's patience rather than just admitting a mistake. This maintains the social harmony or 'wa' between the two parties.
Example conversation
A staff member informs a customer that a machine is broken.
- 結衣 Yuiすみません。こちらの機械は故障中です。sumimasen. kochira no kikai wa koshō-chū desuExcuse me. This machine is currently out of order.
- 大翔 Hirotoえっ、本当に？困るなあ。e, hontō ni? komaru nāWhat, really? That's a problem.
- 結衣 Yuiご不便をおかけして申し訳ありません。go-fuben o okake shite mōshiwake arimasenI am sorry for the inconvenience.
- 大翔 Hirotoいいよ。別のを使うから大丈夫。ii yo. betsu no o tsukau kara daijōbuIt's okay. I'll use another one, so it's fine.
