How to Say ‘Sorry, this is sudden.’ in Japanese
急にすみません。
kyuu ni sumi mase n
[KYOO nee sue-mee mah-SEH n]
💬 Usage Tip: 急に means "suddenly". Japanese often apologizes with すみません where English would just say "I know this is out of nowhere".
🇯🇵 In Japan: Approaching strangers romantically is less common in Japan than in some countries, so acknowledging the awkwardness up front makes you seem considerate rather than pushy.
Phrase Breakdown
急
kyuu
[KYOO]
sudden
Noun/na-adjective meaning sudden or abrupt; with に it means suddenly.
急に雨が降った。
It suddenly rained.
に
ni
[nee]
(adverb-forming particle)
Turns a na-adjective into an adverb, like English '-ly'.
静かに話してください。
Please speak quietly.
すみ
sumi
[sue-mee]
excuse
A stem used in polite expressions like apologies or getting someone's attention.
すみません、コンサートのチケットについて聞きたいです。
Excuse me, I would like to ask about the concert tickets.
ませ
mase
[mah-SEH]
polite verb form (here part of 'sumimasen')
The polite auxiliary 'masu' in its stem form 'mase', followed by 'n' to make it negative. Together with 'sumi' it forms 'sumimasen', meaning 'excuse me'.
まだ決まっていません。
It hasn't been decided yet.
ん
n
[n]
(negative ending)
Contracted form of the polite negative ending, as in ありません.
今日は時間がありません。
I don't have time today.
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