欠席します
Kesseki shimasu
欠席します (Kesseki shimasu) is the Japanese phrase for "I will be absent".
Use this phrase to inform others that you will not attend a scheduled event, such as a class or meeting. It is most commonly used in formal settings such as school, university or business meetings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the noun 欠席, which literally means "absence" or "non-attendance".
Which one should you use?
While 欠席します is used for formal events like meetings or classes, 休みます is a more general term used for taking a day off work or being absent from school.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
欠席します is a polite way to inform a teacher, boss or organizer of your absence. For more specific contexts, you might use 休みを取ります to say "I will take a day off" or the polite 休暇をいただきます to express that you will be taking a vacation or time off.
How do you pronounce it?
Kesseki shimasu
Did you know?
- The kanji for 'absence' in 欠席 is composed of the character for 'lack' or 'defect' and the character for 'seat', essentially implying the 'lack of a seat' at the gathering.
- In formal emails about absence, it is customary to include a vague phrase like 都合により meaning 'due to circumstances'. This allows the speaker to be polite without disclosing private personal reasons.
- In Japanese business culture, informing a superior that you will be absent often requires a request for permission rather than a simple statement of fact. Using 欠席させていただきます frames the absence as a favor granted by the boss.
Examples in context
- 本日は体調不良のため、明日休みを取りますDue to poor health today, I will take a day off tomorrow.
- ご承知の通り、私は明日から一週間の休暇をいただきますAs you may know, I will be taking a one-week vacation starting from tomorrow.
- 体調が悪いので、明日は休むつもりですSince I'm not feeling well, I plan to take a day off tomorrow.
- 明日、授業をサボって映画を見に行くI will skip class tomorrow and go watch a movie.
- 明日の会議は欠席します。Ashita no kaigi wa kesseki shimasu.I will be absent from tomorrow's meeting.
- 風邪で授業を欠席します。Kaze de jugyō o kesseki shimasu.I will be absent from class due to a cold.
- 本日は研修を欠席します。Honjitsu wa kenshū o kesseki shimasu.I will be absent from the training today.
Example conversation
A student calling a teacher to explain an absence.
- 大翔 Hirotoすみません、今日は授業を欠席します。Sumimasen, kyō wa jugyō o kesseki shimasu.Excuse me, I will be absent from class today.
- 美咲 Misaki大丈夫ですか、大翔さん？Daijōbu desu ka, Hiroto-san?Are you okay, Hiroto?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、少し熱があります。Hai, sukoshi netsu ga arimasu.Yes, I have a slight fever.
- 美咲 Misaki無理をしないで、ゆっくり休んでください。Muri o shinaide, yukkuri yasunde kudasai.Don't push yourself, please get some rest.
