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How to Say ‘I'm sorry for the inconvenience.’ in Japanese

ご不便をおかけして、すみません。

go fuben o o kake shi te sumi mase n

[goh foo-BEN oh oh KAH-keh shee teh soo-mee mah-seh n]

🇯🇵 In Japan: A landlord apologizing for the inconvenience is expected politeness, not an admission of fault. Brushing it off graciously is the normal response.

Phrase Breakdown

ご不便を

go fuben o

inconvenience (object)

不便 (fuben) means inconvenience, and ご (go) makes it polite. Say it as 'go-fu-ben-o'.

Example

ご不便をおかけします。

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Words in this phrase

ご

[goh]

polite prefix (adds respect)

Honorific prefix used to make a noun more polite. Common in neighbor-related phrases to sound considerate.

Example

ご近所の方には、いつでも言ってくださいと伝えました。

I told the neighbors, “Please tell me anytime.”

不便

fuben

[foo-BEN]

inconvenience

Trouble or lack of convenience caused to someone.

Example

この町は不便です。

This town is inconvenient.

を

[oh]

object marker

The particle を marks the direct object of a verb.

Example

チケットを二枚ください。

Two tickets, please.

おかけして、

o kake shi te

causing (you)

A humble form meaning 'to cause (trouble) to someone'. Say it as 'o-ka-ke-shi-te', with a pause at the comma.

Example

ご迷惑をおかけして、申し訳ありません。

I'm sorry for causing you trouble.

Words in this phrase

お

[oh]

honorific prefix

お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.

Example

チケットを二枚お願いします。

Two tickets, please.

かけ

kake

[KAH-keh]

to cause (trouble); to impose

Stem of kakeru; with meiwaku it means to cause someone trouble.

Example

心配をかけてすみません。

Sorry to make you worry.

し

shi

[shee]

do (stem)

Verb stem used as part of the fixed polite request phrase.

Example

注文をお願いし、ます。

I would like to place the order, please.

て

[teh]

te-form ending

This ending connects actions, like 'cut and...' in instructions.

Example

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.

An apology that ends the sentence. Use a falling tone: 'su-mi-ma-sen'.

Example

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.

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.

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