How to Say ‘Be late’ in Japanese
遅れる
okureru
[oh-KOO-reh-roo]
💬 Usage Tip: [遅れる] is an intransitive verb (“to be late / to fall behind”). In interviews you’ll often hear it as [遅れそうです] (“I might be late”) or [遅れてしまいました] (“I ended up being late”). Common set phrase: [遅刻する] also means “to be late (for work/school)”.
🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japan, punctuality is taken very seriously in caregiving. If you might be late, it’s polite to call ASAP and say [遅れそうです。申し訳ありません。] and give an ETA. For interviews, arriving 5–10 minutes early is usually ideal; too early can also be inconvenient.
Phrase Breakdown
遅れる
okureru
[oh-KOO-reh-roo]
to be late; to be delayed
A verb meaning you arrive after the scheduled time, or something does not happen on time. Common in work and interview availability logistics (e.g., being late for a shift or appointment).
電車が遅れて、面接に遅れるかもしれません。
The train is delayed, so I might be late for the interview.
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