How to Say ‘Well then, excuse me for going first.’ in Japanese
じゃあ、お先に失礼します。
jaa o saki ni shitsurei shi masu
[jah-ah o sah-kee nee sheet-soo-RAY shee mahs]
🇯🇵 In Japan: On the tee, the first player says this before hitting. The same line is the standard way to leave the office before your colleagues, so expect to hear it far beyond golf.
Phrase Breakdown
じゃあ、お先に
jaa o saki ni
well then, before you
じゃあ is a casual 'well then' that signals you are about to leave. Stretch the 'a' slightly, then say お先に (osaki ni), 'ahead of you'.
じゃあ、お先にどうぞ。
Well then, please go ahead.
Words in this phrase
じゃあ
jaa
[jah-ah]
well then
Used when deciding something or moving on to the next step in conversation.
じゃあ、ハンバーグにします。
Well then, I’ll have the hamburger steak.
お
o
[o]
polite prefix
Prefix added for politeness.
お名前は？
What is your name?
先
saki
[sah-kee]
ahead; first
Means earlier or before something else in order or timing.
先を確認します。
I will check the earlier one first.
に
ni
[nee]
in; at; to
Particle showing location or direction.
ここに座って。
Sit here.
失礼します。
shitsurei shi masu
excuse me (for leaving)
A polite way to excuse yourself when leaving before others. Pronounced 'sh'tsurei shimas'.
今日はこれで失礼します。
I'll be leaving for today.
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.
お先に失礼します。
Excuse me for leaving before you.
し
shi
[shee]
do
し is the stem of する, meaning to do.
予約しします。
I do the reservation.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.
予約を確認し ます。
I will confirm the reservation.
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