How to Say ‘I’m Sorry, I’ll Be Late’ in Japanese

Sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances, we may find ourselves running late for an appointment or meeting. In Japanese culture, punctuality is highly valued, so it’s important to apologize sincerely and politely when you anticipate being late. In this blog post, we’ll guide you on how to say “I’m sorry, I’ll be late” in Japanese, along with related phrases to help you communicate your delay effectively.

1. 遅れます、すみません (Okuremasu, sumimasen)

  • This is a straightforward and polite way to say “I’ll be late, I’m sorry” in Japanese. It conveys your regret for the delay. The pronunciation is “oh-koo-reh-mah-soo, soo-mee-mah-sen.”

2. 遅刻します、お詫び申し上げます (Chikoku shimasu, owabi moushiagemasu)

  • This phrase is more formal and emphasizes your apology for being late. It means “I will be late, and I apologize.” The pronunciation is “chee-koh-koo shee-mah-soo, oh-wah-bee moh-shee-ah-geh-mah-s.”

3. 時間が押しています、申し訳ございません (Jikan ga oshiteimasu, moushiwake gozaimasen)

  • Use this expression when you feel pressed for time and need to apologize for potentially being late. It means “Time is pressing, and I apologize.” The pronunciation is “jee-kahn gah oh-shee-teh-ee-mah-soo, moh-shee-wah-keh goh-za-ee-mah-sen.”

4. 遅れる予定です、ごめんなさい (Okureru yotei desu, gomen nasai)

  • This phrase conveys your intention to be late and apologizes for it. It means “I am planning to be late, I’m sorry.” The pronunciation is “oh-koo-reh-roo yoh-teh-ee desu, goh-men nah-sah-ee.”

5. お時間に遅れます、申し訳ございません (O-jikan ni okuremasu, moushiwake gozaimasen)

  • This formal expression indicates that you will be late for the designated time and offers a sincere apology. It means “I will be late for the scheduled time, and I apologize.” The pronunciation is “oh-jee-kahn nee oh-koo-reh-mah-soo, moh-shee-wah-keh goh-za-ee-mah-sen.”

6. すぐに行きます、お待たせしました (Sugu ni ikimasu, omataseshimashita)

  • If you’re about to leave to meet someone but were delayed, you can use this phrase to indicate that you’re on your way and apologize for the wait. It means “I will go right away; I kept you waiting.” The pronunciation is “soo-goo nee ee-kee-mah-soo, oh-mah-tah-seh-shee-mah-shee-tah.”

7. 遅くなることをお詫び申し上げます (Osokunaru koto o owabi moushiagemasu)

  • This expression emphasizes your apology for the expected delay. It means “I apologize for becoming late.” The pronunciation is “oh-soh-koo-nah-roo koh-toh oh oh-wah-bee moh-shee-ah-geh-mah-s.”

8. 申し訳ございませんが、遅れます (Moushiwake gozaimasen ga, okuremasu)

  • This phrase starts with a polite apology and then states that you will be late. It means “I apologize, but I will be late.” The pronunciation is “moh-shee-wah-keh goh-za-ee-mah-sen gah, oh-koo-reh-mah-soo.”

9. 予定より遅れます、お詫び申し上げます (Yotei yori okuremasu, owabi moushiagemasu)

  • Use this expression when you know you’ll be later than planned and want to apologize formally. It means “I will be later than scheduled, and I apologize.” The pronunciation is “yoh-teh-ee yoh-ree oh-koo-reh-mah-soo, oh-wah-bee moh-shee-ah-geh-mah-s.”

10. ご迷惑をおかけします、遅れます (Gomeiwaku o okakeshimasu, okuremasu)
– This phrase acknowledges that your lateness may cause inconvenience and apologizes for it. It means “I will cause trouble, and I will be late.” The pronunciation is “goh-meh-ee-wah-koo oh oh-kah-keh-shee-mah-soo, oh-koo-reh-mah-soo.”

Using these phrases, you can effectively communicate your lateness and apologize in Japanese while maintaining politeness and respect for the value of punctuality in Japanese culture.

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Krisada Hemsoe

I'm Krisada, the creator of JLPT TUTOR. I created this site to share the path of my Japanese learning That I achieved my JLPT N1. You may struggle with Kanji , Grammar , Listening, reading and fail again and again. I know how you feel when you see "Not Pass" I want to share what I learnt in this past through this website. Hope you enjoy

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