🙅🏃‍♂️➡️📍

How to Say ‘No, I just got here too.’ in Japanese

いいえ、私も今来ました。

iie watashi mo ima ki mashi ta

[iie watashi moh ima kee mah-shee tah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the polite white lie that saves face. People say it even if they waited a while, so the late person doesn't feel bad.

Phrase Breakdown

いいえ、

iie

A polite 'no'. Stretch the first sound: 'i-i-e'.

Example

いいえ、違います。

No, that's wrong.

Words in this phrase

いいえ

iie

[iie]

Used to decline or negate.

Example

使えますか？いいえ、使えません。

Can I use it? No, you cannot.

私も

watashi mo

I also

私 (I) plus も (also, too).

Example

私も学生です。

I'm a student too.

Words in this phrase

私

watashi

[watashi]

I; me

Refers to oneself in a formal or informal way.

Example

私は学生です。

I am a student.

も

[moh]

also; too

A particle meaning also or too.

Example

電話番号もお願いします。

Your phone number too, please.

今来ました。

ima ki mashi ta

just arrived now

今 (now) plus 来ました (came). Together they mean 'just got here'.

Example

先生が今来ました。

The teacher just arrived.

Words in this phrase

今

ima

[ima]

now; just now

Indicates the present moment or very recent time.

Example

今来たところです。

I just got here.

来

[kee]

come

From 来る, meaning 'to come.' Used when thanking someone for attending.

Example

会場に来てくれてありがとう。

Thank you for coming to the venue.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past stem

Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.

Example

昨日は多くのことを学びました。

I learned many things yesterday.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

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