今回はやめておきます
konkai wa yamete okimasu
To say not this time in Japanese, use 今回はやめておきます (konkai wa yamete okimasu).
今回はやめておきます politely declines an invitation or offer without sounding negative or rude.
What does it mean word for word?
今回 (konkai) means this time, and やめておきます (yamete okimasu) is a polite way to say you will refrain from doing something.
Which one should you use?
More formal options include 今回は遠慮させてください, please excuse me this time and 今回は辞退させていただきます, I will decline this time. Among friends, 今回はやめとく。 or 今回はいいや。 are casual ways to say I'll pass.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
今回はやめておきます is polite and suits acquaintances, colleagues and superiors. The shortened 今回はやめとく (konkai wa yametoku) is casual and used with friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle は (wa) shows that the refusal applies to this time only, which suggests the answer could be different another time.
How do you pronounce it?
It is read konkai wa yamete okimasu.
Did you know?
- If you use the even more formal 辞退させていただきます ('jitai sasete itadakimasu'), you are using a 'humble' form of Japanese. This literally translates to 'I will receive the favor of being allowed to decline'.
- The verb やめる ('yameru') used in this phrase can also mean to 'quit' a job or 'stop' a habit. Using it to decline an invitation creates a subtle linguistic nuance of 'abstaining' rather than a blunt 'no'.
- The grammatical structure 〜ておく ('-te oku') in やめておきます implies doing something in advance or leaving a state as it is. In this context, it suggests you are 'deciding in advance' to refrain from the activity.
Examples in context
- 誘ってくれてありがとう、でも今回はやめておきます。Sasotte kurete arigatou, demo konkai wa yamete okimasu.Thank you for inviting me, but I will pass this time.
- あいにくですが、今回はやめておきます。Ainiku desu ga, konkai wa yamete okimasu.Unfortunately, I will pass this time.
- すみません、今回はやめておきます。Sumimasen, konkai wa yamete okimasu.I'm sorry, but I'll pass this time.
Example conversation
At a cafe, a colleague invites a friend to go for drinks.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さん、仕事の後に飲みに行きませんか？Himari-san, shigoto no ato ni nomi ni ikimasen ka?Himari, would you like to go for a drink after work?
- 陽葵 Himari誘ってくれて嬉しいですが、今回はやめておきます。Sasotte kurete ureshii desu ga, konkai wa yamete okimasu.I'm happy you asked, but I'll pass this time.
- 大翔 Hirotoそうですか。残念ですね。Sou desu ka. Zannen desu ne.I see. That's too bad.
- 陽葵 Himariまた今度誘ってください。Mata kondo sasotte kudasai.Please invite me again next time.
