お待たせして申し訳ありません
Omatase shite mōshiwake arimasen
In Japanese, "thank you for your patience" is expressed as お待たせして申し訳ありません (Omatase shite mōshiwake arimasen).
The phrase is a polite expression used to apologize for making someone wait. In Japanese culture, it is more common to apologize for the inconvenience of the wait than to directly thank the person for their patience.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I am sorry for making you wait". The verb part お待たせ is the causative form of matsu (to wait), meaning "to cause someone to wait".
Which one should you use?
While お待たせして申し訳ありません emphasizes the apology, お待たせいたしました is a slightly more concise, standard polite way to acknowledge the wait. Additionally, お待ちいただき、ありがとうございます is a formal way to express gratitude for someone's patience.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お待たせして申し訳ありません is a highly formal and polite way to acknowledge a delay, suitable for business or customer service. お待たせいたしました is a polite expression used to thank someone for their patience in formal settings.
How do you pronounce it?
Omatase shite mōshiwake arimasen
Did you know?
- The word 'mōshiwake' in the phrase literally means 'no excuse' or 'no way to explain'. By saying 申し訳ありません, you are telling the listener that there is no excuse for the delay you caused.
- A common non-verbal accompaniment to these phrases is a slight bow, where the depth of the bow indicates the length of the wait and the sincerity of the apology.
- In Japanese business culture, saying お待たせいたしました can be a required ritual even if the wait was only a few seconds.
Examples in context
- お待ちいただき、ありがとうございます。お時間をいただき、申し訳ありませんでした。Thank you for waiting. I apologize for taking your time.
- お待たせした。ありがとうね！I made you wait. Thank you!
- 待たせちゃってごめん。ありがとね！Sorry for making you wait. Thank you!
- お待たせして申し訳ありません。Omatase shite moushiwake arimasen.I am sorry to have kept you waiting.
- お待たせして申し訳ありませんが、こちらになります。Omatase shite moushiwake arimasen ga, kochira ni narimasu.I am sorry to have kept you waiting, but here is your order.
- お待たせして申し訳ありません。すぐに確認いたします。Omatase shite moushiwake arimasen. Sugu ni kakunin itashimasu.I am sorry to have kept you waiting. I will check it immediately.
Example conversation
A restaurant where a waiter brings a dish to a customer.
- 美咲 Misakiお待たせして申し訳ありません。料理です。Omatase shite moushiwake arimasen. Ryouri desu.I am sorry to have kept you waiting. Here is your food.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとうございます。美味しそうですね。Arigatou gozaimasu. Oishisou desu ne.Thank you. It looks delicious.
- 美咲 Misakiゆっくりお召し上がりください。Yukkuri omeshiagari kudasai.Please enjoy your meal.
- 陽太 Yotaいただきます。Itadakimasu.Thank you for the meal.
