残念ながら
zannen nagara[d͡zã̠nːe̞n na̠ɡa̠ɾa̠]
The English phrase 'sadly' can be translated into Japanese as 残念ながら (zannen nagara).
残念ながら is used to say 'sadly' or 'unfortunately'. This phrase is typically used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce bad news or a disappointing fact.
Which one should you use?
While 残念ながら is formal, 残念だけど is the informal equivalent used in casual conversation to mean 'it's a pity, but…'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
残念ながら is a formal way to express regret or disappointment, suitable for business or polite speech. Other formal ways to say 'sadly' include 悲しいことに or 心残りながら, the latter of which means 'With regret in my heart'. For informal situations, you can use 本当に残念だな to say 'It's really regrettable'.
Did you know?
- The word 残念 (zannen) is composed of the characters for 'remnant' or 'leftover' and 'thought', literally suggesting a feeling of 'leftover thoughts' that cannot be resolved.
- If you use 残念ながら in a business email, it can function as a soft way to reject a proposal without using a direct 'no', which helps preserve 'wa' or social harmony.
- The grammar particle ながら in 残念ながら usually means 'while doing something', but here it functions as a conjunction to signal a contradiction between a wish and reality.
Examples in context
- 残念ながら、予定が変更になりました。Unfortunately, there has been a change in plans.
- 悲しいことに、その映画のチケットは売り切れてしまいました。Unfortunately, the tickets for that movie are sold out.
- 心残りながら、この申し出をお断りさせていただきます。With regret in my heart, I must decline this offer.
- 悲しいけど、彼とは別れることにしました。Sadly, I've decided to break up with him.
- 本当に残念だな、明日のイベントに行けないんだ。It's really regrettable that I can't go to tomorrow's event.
- 申し訳ありませんが、貴重品の紛失に対して責任を持つことができません。I'm sorry, but I cannot take responsibility for the loss of valuables.
- 残念ながら、その計画は中止になりました。Zannen nagara, sono keikaku wa chūshi ni narimashita.Sadly, that plan has been canceled.
- 残念ながら、今日は満席です。Zannen nagara, kyō wa manseki desu.Sadly, we are full today.
- 残念ながら、彼は来られませんでした。Zannen nagara, kare wa koraremasen deshita.Sadly, he could not come.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking about a concert ticket.
- 蓮 Renチケットは買えましたか？Chiketto wa kaemashita ka?Were you able to buy the tickets?
- 美咲 Misaki残念ながら、売り切れでした。Zannen nagara, urikire deshita.Sadly, they were sold out.
- 蓮 Renそれは残念ですね。Sore wa zannen desu ne.That is too bad.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、とても楽しみにしていたのに。Hai, totemo tanoshimi ni shite ita noni.Yes, even though I was looking forward to it so much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 残念ながら, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 残念ながら, CC BY-SA 4.0.
