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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使用域 敬語
Information
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 , we examined the ‘since’, or ‘due to’ meaning that it can have. Let’s look at a few examples.
  • 待(ま)ち合(あ)わせ時間(じかん)に遅(おく)れてすみません
    I am sorry for coming later than the arranged meeting time.
  • 息子(むすこ)さん髪(かみ)ピンクに染(そ)めてすみません
    I am sorry for dying your son's hair pink.
Phrases that use this particular (A) (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.
  • ご飯(はん)残(のこ)してすみません
    I am sorry that I didn't eat all the food. (It unfortunately resulted in that I did not finish eating all the food)
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.
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あなたケーキ食(た)べてすみません
I'm sorry for eating your cake.
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遅(おそ)くなってすみません
I am sorry that I am late.
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あなたお金(かね)別(べつ)人(ひと)渡(わた)してすみません
I am sorry that I gave another person your money.
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Online
Books
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 80
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 106