How to Say ‘I'm sorry for the trouble.’ in Japanese
ご迷惑をおかけしました。
go meiwaku o o kake shi mashi ta
[goh meiwaku oh oh KAH-keh shee mah-shee Ta]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Drivers often say this as you get out after a problem. It's a standard closing apology, and a nod or いえいえ "not at all" is the natural reply.
Phrase Breakdown
ご迷惑を
go meiwaku o
trouble / inconvenience (object)
迷惑 (meiwaku) means 'trouble' or 'inconvenience.' ご adds politeness, and を marks the object. The 'ei' sounds like a long 'e': go-mē-wa-ku-o.
ご迷惑をおかけしてすみません。
Sorry for the trouble.
Words in this phrase
ご
go
[goh]
honorific prefix
A polite prefix added to some nouns to make them more respectful or formal.
ご相談の前にお名前をお願いします。
Before the consultation, may I have your name, please?
迷惑
meiwaku
[meiwaku]
trouble
A situation causing inconvenience or annoyance.
彼は迷惑ばっかりかける。
He always causes trouble.
を
o
[oh]
object marker
The particle を marks the direct object of a verb.
チケットを二枚ください。
Two tickets, please.
おかけしました。
o kake shi mashi ta
I caused (humble)
This is the humble past form of かける (to cause someone something). Say it o-ka-ke-shi-ma-shi-ta, and keep the final 'ta' soft.
ご心配をおかけしました。
Sorry to have worried you.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.
チケットを二枚お願いします。
Two tickets, please.
かけ
kake
[KAH-keh]
to cause (trouble); to impose
Stem of kakeru; with meiwaku it means to cause someone trouble.
心配をかけてすみません。
Sorry to make you worry.
し
shi
[shee]
do (stem)
Verb stem used as part of the fixed polite request phrase.
注文をお願いし、ます。
I would like to place the order, please.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite verb ending part
Part of polite verb forms used in formal speech.
丁寧に話しまし た。
I spoke politely.
た
ta
[Ta]
past tense marker
Indicates past tense in polite forms.
見ました。
Saw.
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