the honorific form irassharu. So you might say:
• Kore kara mihonichi e mairimasu ga, go-issho ni irasshaimasen ka?
これから見本市へ参ります力\ご一緒にいらっしゃいませ ん力、。
We (humble, mairu) are going on to the trade fair. Won’t you (honorific irassharu) go with us?
Take a look at the list at the end of the book for the special forms of these verbs and for an explanation of the use of the passive tense which is also used to show respect and which you will hear frequently.
It gets a bit tricky when you’re talking about someone else. For example, when a member of staff wants to say to a colleague that the boss is out, they might say Shacho wa irasshaimasen (社長はいらっ しゃいません) , using the honorific form irassharu about the boss. But when speaking to a visitor they would say, Shacho wa orimasen (社長 はおりません), using the humble form oru. Within the company, the president is referred to with respectful speech, but outside the company, with humble speech. When talking to outsiders, use respectful speech about them, their boss, and their children, and humble speech about yourself, your boss and your organization.
1.08 Apologizing ayamaru 謝る
A first reaction in many situations is to apologize. All apologies should be accompanied by bows, or at least a nod of the head.
Sumimasen すみません
I’m sorry.
Besides being the most widely used apology, this is also used to attract attention and to express thanks. The polite form is Dōmo sumimasen deshita どうもすみませんでした.
Shitsurei shimashita 失ネししました
I’m sorry
This is recommended for business situations. If you accidentally interrupt your boss when he has a visitor, you can say:
• A, shitsurei shimashita. Mata kimasu.
了、失礼しました。また来ます。
Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll come back later.
Mōshiwake arimasen 申し訳ありません
I’m very sorry (lit. There is no excuse)
This is even more polite.
O-matase shimashita お待たせしました
Sorry to have kept you waiting
A courteous way to apologize to someone who has been kept waiting. Used frequently on the phone.
Gomen-nasai ごめんなさい
Sorry
Repentant children bow their heads and say this when they’ve done wrong. Since by itself it can sound too familiar, you might want to follow it with more apologies. For example:
• Gomen-nasai. Sumimasen deshita. Daijōbu desu ka? ごめんなさい。すみませんでした。大丈夫ですか。
Oh, pardon. I’m sorry. Are you all right?
1.09 Asking Permission yurushi o eru 許しを得る
A simple way to ask permission is to use the - te (or - de) form of a verb and attach ii desu ka ? Adding mo after the verb adds emphasis to the request.
• Haitte (mo) ii desu ka? 入って(も)いいですか。
May I come in?
If a situation requires tact, you might want to use a rather complicated construction the literal meaning of which is: “May I receive from you …”, using the verb morau (もらう) to receive. For example:
• Ashita yasumasete moraemasu ka?
あした休ませてもらえます力、。
Could I please have tomorrow off? (lit. Could I receive you having caused me to take time off?)
You can make this more polite by using itadaku (いただく) instead of morau (もらう). And when you need to choose your words very carefully, instead of asking directly, you can say you would like to receive but …
• Ashita yasumasete itadakitai no desu ga.
あした休ませていただきたいのですが。
Could you possibly let me have tomorrow off?
This is humble because of the causative yasumasete, polite because of the humble itadakitai, and softened because of the desu ga … No one will be able to withhold their permission in the face of such politeness!
1.10 Making Requests
o-negai お願い
This is the most common and widely used expression. You will hear it all the time.
• Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu/itashimasu.
よろしくお願いします/いたします。
Please. (lit. I request.)
When asking for someone on the phone, say, for example:
• Yamada-san, o-negai shimasu.
山田さん、お願いします。
Mr Yamada, please.
Kudasai 下さい
Please
Generally speaking, this is used in two ways. When it follows a noun, kudasai means “give (me)”.
• Kyo no ranchi kudasai.
今日のランチ，下さい。
May I have today’s lunch?
When used after the - te form of a verb, kudasai means “Please”.
• Ashita kite kudasai.
あした来てください。
Please come tomorrow.
If you wish to be more polite, replace kudasai with kudasaimasen ka ?
• Nihongo o oshiete kudasaimasen ka?
日本語を教えてくださいませんか。
Would you please teach me Japanese?
The two verbs meaning to receive, morau (もらう) and the politer itadaku (いただく), are widely used when making requests.
