Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 16/16

～てすみませんI'm sorry for

Structure

Verb［て］+ すみません

Details

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    Polite

About てすみません

てすみません is a grammar construction that expresses the speaker's regret about (A). It is often translated directly to 'I'm sorry for (A)'. As discussed in one of our previous lessons on て, we examined the 'since', or 'due to' meaning that it can have. Let's look at a few examples.

Phrases that use this particular (A) て (B) nuance of the て-form primarily express something that is beyond the control of the speaker in the (B) statement. Coming from the verb 済(す)む (to finish), すみません (the negated form) means 'to be unfinished'. In this way, てすみません literally means that the speaker feels that something is 'unfinished due to (A)'. This is very similar to phrases like 'having unfinished business' in English.

Although the translation is 'I'm sorry', perhaps it would be easier to remember this grammar structure as highlighting someone's regret/unfinished feelings about (A), and simply showing that to the person that is being apologized to.

Antonyms

Related

Examples

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    あなたのケーキを食(た)べてすみません。

    I'm sorry for eating your cake.

    遅(おそ)くなってすみません。

    I am sorry that I am late.

    約束(やくそく)を破(やぶ)ってすみません。

    I'm sorry for breaking my promise.

    怒(おこ)ってすみません。怒(おこ)りたくなかった。

    I'm sorry for getting angry. I didn't want to be angry.

    喋(しゃべ)りすぎてすみません。

    I'm sorry for talking too much.

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      てすみません – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (14 in total)

      • Paulkun

        Paulkun

      • deltacat3

        deltacat3

        結婚式なのにこの格好で行ってすみません。
        I’m sorry for going dressed this way, since it is a wedding.

        What is the なのに expressing here?

        Also is this the same で as the one that marks means/instruments?

      • Daru

        Daru

        It’s basically saying ‘in spite of…’ in this case, ‘in spite of this being a wedding’ in a literal sense.

        Yes! It’s basically expressing ‘sorry I came with this look’.

        Putting the...

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