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How to Say ‘Sorry, the hot water isn't coming out.’ in Japanese

すみません、お湯が出ないんです。

sumi mase n o yu ga de nai n desu

[sue-mee mah-SEH n oh YOO ga deh nai n dess]

Phrase Breakdown

すみません、

sumi mase n

Excuse me,

Opens a polite request or complaint. Pause briefly at the comma.

Example

すみません、ちょっといいですか。

Excuse me, do you have a moment?

Words in this phrase

すみ

sumi

[sue-mee]

excuse

A stem used in polite expressions like apologies or getting someone's attention.

Example

すみません、コンサートのチケットについて聞きたいです。

Excuse me, I would like to ask about the concert tickets.

ませ

mase

[mah-SEH]

polite verb form (here part of 'sumimasen')

The polite auxiliary 'masu' in its stem form 'mase', followed by 'n' to make it negative. Together with 'sumi' it forms 'sumimasen', meaning 'excuse me'.

Example

まだ決まっていません。

It hasn't been decided yet.

ん

[n]

(negative ending)

Contracted form of the polite negative ending, as in ありません.

Example

今日は時間がありません。

I don't have time today.

お湯が

o yu ga

hot water (subject)

お湯 (oyu) means hot water, and が (ga) marks the subject. Say 'o-yu-ga'.

Example

お湯が沸きました。

The water has boiled.

Words in this phrase

お

[oh]

honorific prefix used in polite expressions

The polite prefix お makes the following word sound more courteous.

Example

お願いできますか。

Could you please do that?

湯

[YOO]

hot water

Heated water; usually said with お as お湯.

Example

お湯を使います。

I use hot water.

が

[ga]

subject marker

A particle marking the subject of the sentence.

Example

興味がある分野を教えてください。

Please tell me the field you are interested in.

出ないんです。

de nai n desu

isn't coming out

Negative of 出る (deru) plus explanatory んです. Say it as 'de-nain-dess'.

Example

電気が出ないんです。

The electricity isn't working.

Words in this phrase

出

[deh]

exit; get out

Stem of 出る, to leave a place; を marks the place left.

Example

部屋を出ます。

I leave the room.

ない

nai

[nai]

not

Indicates negation or absence.

Example

問題はない。

There is no problem.

ん

[n]

(explanatory n)

Casual form of の; adds a tone of seeking or giving an explanation, often before です.

Example

どうしたんですか。

What happened?

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

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