How to Say ‘No, it's a little behind.’ in Japanese
いえ、少し遅れています。
ie sukoshi okure te i masu
[ee-EH skoh-SHEE oh-KOO-reh teh ee mahs]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Softening bad news with 少し is typical, even when the delay is bigger; it keeps the tone calm in front of the team.
Phrase Breakdown
いえ、少し
ie sukoshi
No, a little
Ie, sukoshi. いえ is a soft, polite 'no'. Pause briefly at the comma.
いえ、少しだけです。
No, just a little.
Words in this phrase
いえ
ie
[ee-EH]
no
A polite way to say no or correct someone.
いえ、違います。
No, that's wrong.
少し
sukoshi
[skoh-SHEE]
a little
Adverb meaning a small amount.
砂糖を少し入れます。
I add a little sugar.
遅れています。
okure te i masu
is behind / is late
Okurete imasu. This is from 遅れる (to be late). The 'te-i' flows together smoothly.
バスが遅れています。
The bus is late.
Words in this phrase
遅れ
okure
[oh-KOO-reh]
be delayed; fall behind
Stem of 遅れる, meaning something is late or behind schedule.
電車が遅れました。
The train was delayed.
て
te
[teh]
and; -te form
A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.
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.
い
i
[ee]
be; ongoing state part
Part of the continuous form that shows an action is currently happening.
今も条件を比べている最中です。
I am still in the middle of comparing conditions.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite present/future ending
ます makes a verb polite in present or future statements.
予約します。
I will make a reservation.
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