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How to Say ‘Sorry for bothering you so late.’ in Japanese

夜遅くにすみません。

yoru osoku ni sumi mase n

[yoru oh-SOH-koo nee soo-mee mah-seh n]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Even when you're the one who's been disturbed, apologizing for knocking late is normal. It frames you as considerate and makes the neighbor more willing to cooperate.

Phrase Breakdown

夜遅くに

yoru osoku ni

late at night

夜 (yoru) means 'night' and 遅く (osoku) means 'late'. に (ni) marks the time. Say yo-ru-o-so-ku-ni.

Example

夜遅くに帰りました。

I came home late at night.

Words in this phrase

夜

yoru

[yoru]

night

The period of time when it is dark outside.

Example

夜に星を見ます。

I look at the stars at night.

遅く

osoku

[oh-SOH-koo]

late

Adverbial/noun form of 遅い; 夜遅く means late at night.

Example

夜遅くまで働きます。

I work until late at night.

に

[nee]

at (time)

Particle marking the time something happens.

Example

七時に起きます。

I get up at seven.

すみません。

sumi mase n

sorry

An apology, here for bothering someone late at night. Say su-mi-ma-sen.

Example

お待たせしてすみません。

Sorry to keep you waiting.

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 verb ending

The ending used to make the verb negative in a sentence.

Example

私は行きません。

I am not going.

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