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How to Say ‘My apologies for not explaining beforehand.’ in Japanese

先にご説明せず、失礼いたしました。

saki ni go setsumei se zu shitsurei itashi mashi ta

[sah-kee nee goh seh-TSOO-may seh zu sheet-soo-RAY itashi mah-shee tah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: This is standard service-staff language. A driver apologizing this formally is signalling good faith, and accepting it graciously settles things.

Phrase Breakdown

先にご説明せず、

saki ni go setsumei se zu

without explaining beforehand

This gives the reason for the apology. Pause at the comma.

Example

先にご説明せず、驚かせました。

I surprised you by not explaining first.

Words in this phrase

先

saki

[sah-kee]

ahead; first

A noun/adverb meaning ahead, before others, or first in order.

Example

先に始めてください。

Please start first.

に

[nee]

in; at; to

Marks the location where someone lives.

Example

おおさかにすんでいます。

I live in Osaka.

ご

[goh]

polite prefix (adds respect)

Honorific prefix used to make a noun more polite. Common in neighbor-related phrases to sound considerate.

Example

ご近所の方には、いつでも言ってくださいと伝えました。

I told the neighbors, “Please tell me anytime.”

説明

setsumei

[seh-TSOO-may]

explanation

Noun meaning an explanation; with する it means to explain.

Example

道を説明します。

I'll explain the route.

せ

[seh]

do (negative stem)

Form of する used before ず to mean 'not doing'.

Example

勉強せずに寝た。

I slept without studying.

ず

[zu]

without

Used to express doing something without some action.

Example

試着せずに買うのは難しい。

It's difficult to buy without trying on.

失礼いたしました。

shitsurei itashi mashi ta

I apologize.

This is a humble, polite apology. Say it calmly and lower your pitch at the end.

Example

大変失礼いたしました。

I sincerely apologize.

Words in this phrase

失礼

shitsurei

[sheet-soo-RAY]

rudeness; excuse me

Means impoliteness; with します it's a polite way to excuse yourself or say goodbye.

Example

お先に失礼します。

Excuse me for leaving before you.

いたし

itashi

[itashi]

do (humble)

Humble form of 'to do'.

Example

すぐにいたします。

I'll do it immediately.

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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