Structure
Verb[て]+ すみません
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Polite
使用域
敬語
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.
- 待ち合わせの時間に遅れてすみません。I am sorry for coming later than the arranged meeting time.
- 息子さんの髪をピンクに染めてすみません。I am sorry for dying your son's hair pink.
- ご飯を残してすみません。I am sorry that I didn't eat all the food. (It unfortunately resulted in that I did not finish eating all the food)
Examples
あなたのケーキを食べてすみません。
I'm sorry for eating your cake.
遅くなってすみません。
I am sorry that I am late.
あなたのお金を別の人に渡してすみません。
I am sorry that I gave another person your money.
約束を破ってすみません。
I'm sorry for breaking my promise.
分かりにくい説明をしてすみませんでした。
I'm sorry for providing a difficult-to-understand explanation.
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How to apologize in Japanese
MaggieSensei
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Genki II 1st Edition
Page 80
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 106
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てすみません – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (14 in total)
Paulkun
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
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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