お待たせしました
omatase shimashita
お待たせしました (omatase shimashita) is the Japanese way to say "sorry for the wait".
This phrase is a polite expression used to apologize to someone after they have been waiting for you or for a service. This phrase is used both when arriving late to a meeting and when a server brings food to a table.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the honorific prefix o, the causative form of the verb matsu (to wait) and the polite past tense of suru (to do), which literally translates to "I have made you wait".
Which one should you use?
While お待たせしました is a set polite phrase, 待たせてすみません is a more direct, literal apology that feels slightly less polished in a professional context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For high-end customer service or business settings, you can use お待たせ致しました or お待たせいたしました, which uses the humble itashimashita instead of shimashita to make the apology more formal and humble.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, people might say お待たせしてしもうた to express sorry for the wait.
How do you pronounce it?
omatase shimashita
Did you know?
- In Japanese customer service, you might hear the phrase even if you have not actually been waiting for any length of time. It is often used as a standardized polite ritual to acknowledge the beginning of an interaction.
- In very casual settings among friends, the phrase is shortened to お待たせ and is often said with a rising intonation that functions more like 'Hey, I'm here!' than a formal apology.
- While the phrase translates to 'sorry for the wait', it is often paired with a deep bow to convey the apology, as the physical gesture carries more weight than the words.
Examples in context
- ５１番、幕の内弁当お待たせしました。Number 51, your makunouchi bento is ready. Sorry for the wait.This sentence is useful for seeing how the phrase is used when a server brings an order to a customer.Tatoeba #9408527 by small_snow, translation #10253253 by terrywallwork
- お待たせしました。準備ができました。Omatase shimashita. Junbi ga dekimashita.Sorry for the wait. Everything is ready.
- お待たせしました。こちらがお会計です。Omatase shimashita. Kochira ga okaikei desu.Sorry for the wait. Here is your bill.
Example conversation
Hiroto arrives at a cafe to meet Himari, who has already arrived.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、お待たせしました。Himari, omatase shimashita.Himari, sorry for the wait.
- 陽葵 Himari大丈夫だよ、大翔。Daijoubu dayo, Hiroto.It's okay, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hiroto少し遅れてごめんね。Sukoshi okurete gomen ne.I'm sorry for being a little late.
- 陽葵 Himari気にしないで、注文しよう！Ki ni shinai de, chuumon shiyou!Don't worry about it, let's order!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
