How to Say ‘I'll be heading out now.’ in Japanese
お先に失礼します。
o saki ni shitsurei shi masu
[o sah-kee nee sheet-soo-RAY shee mahs]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Literally this means "I'm being rude by leaving first". It's what you say when leaving the office while colleagues are still working, and the usual reply is お疲れさまでした.
Phrase Breakdown
お先に
o saki ni
before you / ahead of you
お先に (osaki ni) means 'ahead (of others)'. Say 'o-sa-ki-ni' evenly.
お先にどうぞ。
After you. (Please go ahead.)
Words in this phrase
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]
(adverb marker) -ly; before
Turns 先 into an adverb meaning 'ahead of others' or 'first'.
お先にどうぞ。
Please, go ahead.
失礼します。
shitsurei shi masu
excuse me (for leaving)
失礼します (shitsurei shimasu) is a polite phrase for leaving or entering. The 'i' in 'shi' and the 'u' in 'tsu' are whispered: 'sh(i)ts(u)rei'.
では、失礼します。
Well then, excuse me.
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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