遅れてすみません
The English phrase "sorry for being late" is translated into Japanese as 遅れてすみません.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase 遅れてすみません is a polite way to apologize to colleagues, teachers or strangers. For a more casual/soft apology used with friends or family, you can use 遅れてごめんなさい. In business settings or to superiors, use the highly formal 遅れて申し訳ございません to express that you are deeply sorry for being late.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai dialect, people may say 遅れてもうた to apologize for being late instead of 遅れてしまった.
How does it change in a sentence?
The te-form 遅れて is used here to connect the reason (being late) to the apology (すみません).
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, arriving exactly on time is often considered late. For business meetings, arriving 5 to 10 minutes early is the standard to avoid having to say 遅れてすみません.
- The word すみません is so versatile that it is often used to say 'thank you' when someone goes out of their way to help you. In this context, it literally apologizes for the trouble the other person took.
- The word すみません (sumimasen) contains a root that can be linked to the verb 'to finish' or 'to be completed'. Historically, this usage relates to 'clearing' or 'settling' a debt or a feeling of gratitude/apology.
Examples in context
- 遅れてしまって申し訳ありませんI'm very sorry for being late.
- お待たせして申し訳ございませんI apologize for keeping you waiting.
- 遅くなってごめんなさいSorry for being late.
- 遅れてすみません。すぐに始めます。Sorry for being late. I will start immediately.
- 電車が止まって、遅れてすみません。Densha ga tomatte, okurete sumimasen.The train stopped, so sorry for being late.
- 会議に遅れてすみません。Kaigi ni okurete sumimasen.Sorry for being late to the meeting.
- 準備に時間がかかって、遅れてすみません。Junbi ni jikan ga kakatte, okurete sumimasen.It took time to get ready, so sorry for being late.
Example conversation
Kenta arrives late to a meeting with Misaki.
- 美咲 Misakiこんにちは。待っていましたよ。Konnichiwa. Matte imashita yo.Hello. I have been waiting for you.
- 健太 Kenta遅れてすみません。Okurete sumimasen.Sorry for being late.
- 美咲 Misaki大丈夫です。気にしないでください。Daijobu desu. Ki ni shinaide kudasai.It is okay. Please don't worry about it.
- 健太 Kentaありがとうございます。Arigato gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
