What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of two parts: お邪魔して, which is the te-form of the verb ojama suru meaning "to be a hindrance" or "to disturb," and 申し訳ありません, which literally means "there is no excuse" or "there is no explanation" for one's actions.
Which one should you use?
While お邪魔して申し訳ありません is a standard polite apology, you may encounter お邪魔してすみません, which is less formal and better suited for acquaintances or colleagues in casual settings. For a more humble and concise way to state that you are disturbing someone while entering an office or home, use お邪魔いたします. For very informal situations, you might hear ごめん、邪魔しちゃって。 or 悪いな、お邪魔してるよ。
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お邪魔して申し訳ありません is a polite form. For higher levels of formality, you can use お邪魔して申し訳ございません. To be more humble and concise when entering a space, use お邪魔いたします. In casual settings with acquaintances, お邪魔してすみません is appropriate. In very informal speech, you can use ごめん、邪魔しちゃって。 or 悪いな、お邪魔してるよ。
How does it change in a sentence?
To increase the level of politeness and formality of the apology, you can replace arimasen with gozaimasen to say お邪魔して申し訳ございません.
How do you pronounce it?
ojama shite mōshiwake arimasen
Did you know?
- While お邪魔します is used when entering a home, it is customary to say お邪魔しました in the past tense when leaving to apologize for having been a hindrance.
- In a professional Japanese office, it is common to say お邪魔します even when entering a colleague's cubicle, as that small area is treated as a private domain.
- The word 邪魔 (ojama) is not just used for polite interruptions, but also refers to a 'nuisance' or even a 'roadblock' in a physical sense.
Examples in context
- お邪魔して申し訳ありませんが、お電話が入っています。I'm sorry to disturb you, but there's a phone call for you.This sentence is useful for expressing an apology when notifying someone about an incoming phone call using お邪魔して申し訳ありません.Tatoeba #1127147 by bunbuku, translation #64439 by CK
- 夜遅くにお邪魔して申し訳ありません。Yoru osoku ni ojama shite moushiwake arimasen.I am sorry to disturb you so late at night.
Example conversation
Hiroto enters Yui's office to ask a question.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣さん、お邪魔して申し訳ありません。Yui-san, ojama shite mōshiwake arimasen.Yui, I am sorry to disturb you.
- 結衣 Yui大丈夫ですよ。どうしましたか？Daijōbu desu yo. Dō shimashita ka?It is okay. What is the matter?
- 大翔 Hirotoこの書類を確認していただきたいです。Kono shorui o kakunin shite itadakitai desu.I would like you to check this document.
- 結衣 Yuiわかりました。すぐに見ますね。Wakarimashita. Sugu ni mimasu ne.I understand. I will look at it right away.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
