恐れ入りますが… ( = Osore irimasuga” ) Formal Japanese

osoreirimasu

🐶「恐れ入りますが、おかわりを頂けますか?

= Osoreirimasu ga, okawari wo itadakemasuka?

= I am awfully sorry to bother you but could I have a second serving, please?

Today we will learn very formal and polite Japanese expressions.

恐れ入りますが、おかわりを頂けますか?

= Osoreirimasu ga, okawari wo itadakemasuka?

= I am awfully sorry to bother you but could I have a second serving, please?”

おかわり ( = okawari)  : seconds, a second helping, a refill

頂けますか? ( = Itadake masu ka?)   Could you give me~/ Could I have ~  

You say恐れ入りますが… ( = Osore irimasu ga)  before you ask someone a favor or a question.

 

Ex. 1)「恐れ入りますが、ゴミはこちらにお捨て下さい。

 = Osore irimasu ga gomi wa kochirani osute kudasai .

 = I am truly sorry to bother you but please throw away the trash here.

ゴミ = gomi = trash

こちら = kochira = here/ this way ( more polite than ここ = koko ) 

捨てる = suteru =  throw away

 

Ex. 2)恐れ入りますが、駅までの行き方をお教え頂けますでしょうか?

 = Osore irimasu ga, eki made no iki kata wo ooshie itadakemasu de shouka?

 = Excuse me / I am awfully sorry to bother you, but could you tell me how to get to the station, please?

駅  = eki =  station

までの = madeno =  to

行き方 ikikata =   direction

教える  = oshieru  = to show, to teach, to tell, to instruct

お教え =”ooshie” is more polite than 教えて〜」= “oshiete”

(〜して)頂けますでしょうか? = itadakemasudeshouka  = Could you do something for me? 

 

Ex. 3)恐れ入りますが、そこの塩を取って頂けますか?

= Osore irimasu ga, sokono shio wo totte itadakemasuka ?

= Excuse me / I am sorry to bother you, but could you pass me the salt (which is near you) please?

塩  = shio =    salt  

そこの sokono =   (right) there

取る = toru =   to take, to pass

(~して)頂けますか? itadakemasuka =  Could you do something for me?

Note :The former example (~して)頂けますでしょうか?   = itadakemasu deshouka sounds a bit more softer.)

 

Ex. 4) 恐れ入りますが、名前を頂けますか?

 = Osore irimasu ga onamae wo itadakemasuka?

= I am sorry, but may I have your name, please?

名前 = なまえ = namae = name 

お名前 =おなまえ ( =  onamae)  is more polite

 

You say「恐れ入ります。( = osore irimasu) after someone does something for you, too.

That means “Thank you!” or “Sorry for all the trouble.”

•「恐れ入りました ( = Osore irimashita. = past tense) could be translated as “I’ll be damned.”

You say that to a person who defeated you in a match or a game with respect implying “You are great/strong/much stronger than I.” or “Now I see your greatness/strength.”

Similar expression: 「参りました!( =  Mairimashita. ) ” I lost! ” or “You won!” )

:w:  You also say 恐縮する ( = kyoushuku suru)  which means  “to feel very grateful” and it is a very humble expression.

 :n: Note: Kanji

The kanji,

「恐:

On-reading is “きょう ” ( = kyou).

Kun-reading is 恐れる= おそれる ( = osoreru) It means “to fear”

On-reading =しゅく =  shuku.

Kun-reading is 縮む= ちぢむ ( =  chijimu) . It means “to shrink”

So literally you tremble and feel like shrinking for the gratitude or feeling bad for making someone do something for you.

 

Ex. 5) 「恐縮ですが、コピーを頂けますか?

= Kyoushuku desuga, kopii wo itadakemasu ka?

= Sorry to trouble you, but may I have a copy, please?

 

gatsugatsu

🐶「恐縮です!

= Kyoushuku desu.

= Thank you for all your trouble!

(ガツガツ)

= Gatsu gatsu 

The sound you make when you gorge yourself.

 

frenchbulldog マギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie-sensei,

ほらね、私はいつでも誰にでも礼儀正しくしているから、見習ってね!

「あっ!また、おかわり、頂戴!」

 = Horane, watashi wa itsu demo dareni demo reigi tadashiku shiteiru kara minaratte ne! “Ah, Mata Okawari choudai!”

= See, I am trying to be polite to everybody all the time. So please learn from my attitude!

“Now gimme a third helping!”

 

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11 Comments

  1. I am super enjoying your lesson maggie sensei! I have been to many japanese learning sites, so far you’re on my TOP 3 best japanese learning sites!!

    btw How do we say “sorry for troubling you but….” but in casual way(talking with friends)?

    1. @Lucky

      Hello Lucky,
      I am VERY happy to hear you are enjoying my lessons.
      “sorry for troubling you but….” in casual way, huh?
      There are a couple of ways to say that

      悪いけど= waruikedo
      お手数かけるけど= Otesuu kakeru kedo
      面倒かけるけど= Mendou kakeru kedo

      Ex.悪いけど買い物に行ってきてくれる?
      Ex.お手数かけるけどこの手紙出しておいてくれる?
      Ex.面倒かけるけど明日、駅まで来てくれる?

  2. Hi Maggie Sensei, when we see the kanji ‘恐’ how do we know we should read it as ‘oso’ from ‘恐れる’ in kun reading or we should read it as ‘kyuo’ from ‘恐縮ですが’ in on reading?

    1. @Komet Tjin

      There are lots of exceptions but the basic rules are :
      On reading is usually used when it is used with other kanji as a compoun word. And kun reading is used on its own with hiragana.

      kun reading :
      *恐れる = osoreru = to be scared
      *縮む = chijimu = shrink

      a compound word : 恐+縮
      You use on-reading
      恐縮 kyoushuku

  3. hi Ms. Maggie,

    i hope you can make more keigo and formal japanese lessons :)

    i want learn and be able to speak more keigo and formal japanese..

    Godbless and More power to your blogsite :D

    ありがとうございます

    よろしくお願いします

  4. すみませんが、ちょっと間違いを見つけました。例5のローマ字はkyoushukuでしょう?
    授業をありがとうございました。恐縮です!

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