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How to Say ‘Sorry, I feel like I've made you go out of your way.’ in Japanese

すみません、なんか気を遣わせちゃって。

sumi mase n nan ka ki o tsukawa se chatsu te

[soo-mee mah-seh n NAHN kah kee wo tsoo-KAH-wah seh CHAHT teh]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Apologising for the trouble is often how Japanese people say thanks. Here すみません works as gratitude more than regret.

Phrase Breakdown

すみません、

sumi mase n

I'm sorry,

Here すみません is an apology, not 'excuse me'. Pause at the comma.

Example

すみません、遅れました。

I'm sorry, I'm late.

Words in this phrase

すみ

sumi

[soo-mee]

excuse me; sorry

A polite attention-getter and light apology. Used to call a pharmacist/staff or to be polite before asking for help.

Example

すみません、薬剤師さん。

Excuse me, pharmacist.

ませ

mase

[mah-seh]

polite negative (part of ません)

「ませ」 is part of 「ません」, the polite negative form.

Example

はいていません。

I haven’t vomited.

ん

[n]

negative ending

The final sound completing the negative polite form.

Example

一人は魚が食べられません。

One person cannot eat fish.

なんか気を遣わせちゃって。

nan ka ki o tsukawa se chatsu te

for kind of making you go out of your way.

なんか is a casual softener like 'kind of'. The rest expresses regret for troubling someone.

Example

なんか気を遣わせちゃって、ごめんね。

Sorry for kind of making you go to the trouble.

Words in this phrase

なん

nan

[NAHN]

somehow (part of なんか)

First part of なんか, a filler meaning 'kind of; somehow'.

Example

なんか眠い。

I'm kind of sleepy.

か

[kah]

somehow (part of なんか)

Second part of なんか, a softening filler.

Example

なんか変だね。

Something's kind of strange.

気

[kee]

care; attention

A word meaning attention or caution, often used in safety expressions.

Example

気をつけてください。

Please be careful.

を

[wo]

direct object marker

Marks the direct object of a verb.

Example

本を読む。

Read a book.

遣わ

tsukawa

[tsoo-KAH-wah]

use; be considerate (stem)

Stem of 遣う; 気を遣う means to be considerate or go out of one's way.

Example

彼はいつも気を遣う。

He's always considerate.

せ

[seh]

causative marker (part)

Part of the causative ending (〜せる) meaning “let/make (someone) do.”

Example

きょうは家で休ませます。

Today, I will let them rest at home.

ちゃっ

chatsu

[CHAHT]

ended up (doing)

Casual contraction of てしまう, showing something happened unintentionally or completely.

Example

全部食べちゃった。

I ended up eating it all.

て

[teh]

and; -te form

A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.

Example

仕事を探している人と話しました。

I spoke with a person who is looking for work.

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