How to Say ‘Sorry for asking so much.’ in Japanese
無理を言ってすみません。
muri o itsu te sumi mase n
[MOO-ree oh eet teh soo-mee mah-seh n]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Thanking someone for accommodating you with an apology is natural in Japan. Saying this after special requests leaves a gracious impression.
Phrase Breakdown
無理を言って
muri o itsu te
making an unreasonable request
無理を言う (muri o iu) literally means 'to say something unreasonable'. It is used when asking a big favor.
無理を言ってごめんね。
Sorry for asking so much.
Words in this phrase
無理
muri
[MOO-ree]
overdoing it; unreasonable
With する, means to push oneself too hard.
無理しないでください。
Please don't overdo it.
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.
言っ
itsu
[eet]
say/tell (て-form stem)
Te-form of 言う used to connect or make requests (言ってください = “please tell me”).
音が大きかったら言ってください。
If the sound is loud, please tell me.
て
te
[teh]
te-form ending
This ending connects actions, like 'cut and...' in instructions.
てをつけると、つぎのどうさにつなげられます。
When you add -te, you can connect it to the next action.
すみません。
sumi mase n
I'm sorry
This is a polite apology or expression of thanks. It is often pronounced 'sumimasen' with a light 'u'.
遅れてすみません。
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.
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.
はいていません。
I haven’t vomited.
ん
n
[n]
Negative verb ending
The ending used to make the verb negative in a sentence.
私は行きません。
I am not going.
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