A workplace apology can acknowledge the problem and tell the other person what happens next.

The idea

Name the issue with a clause such as 提出が遅れて, then use 申し訳ありません for a formal apology. For a completed mistake, 申し訳ありませんでした refers to what happened. Follow with a concrete correction or prevention step.

Examples

  • 提出ていしゅつが遅おくれて、申もうし訳わけありません。I am sorry for submitting it late.
  • 確認かくにんが足たりず、申もうし訳わけありませんでした。I am sorry I did not check thoroughly enough.
  • 資料しりょうに誤あやまりがありました。There was an error in the document.
  • すぐに修正しゅうせいして、送おくり直なおします。I will correct it and send it again immediately.
  • 返信へんしんが遅おそくなり、すみません。Sorry for the late reply.
  • 今後こんごは提出ていしゅつする前まえに確認かくにんします。From now on, I will check before submitting.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

すみません can suit a minor delay with a colleague, but 申し訳ありません is more formal. Choose the wording and tone for the relationship and seriousness; an apology alone does not fix the error.

Try it yourself

  1. 提出ていしゅつが遅おくれて、＿。（申もうし訳わけありません／おめでとうございます）

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    申し訳ありません

    申し訳ありません apologises formally for the late submission; congratulations would not fit.

  2. すぐに修正しゅうせいして、＿。（送おくり直なおします／送おくりました）

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    送り直します

    送り直します says you will send it again, matching the promised immediate correction.

  3. 今後こんごは提出ていしゅつする＿に確認かくにんします。（前まえ／後あと）

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    前

    前 means before: checking before submission describes a preventive step.

Use it today

You sent a document with a mistake. Apologise, say you will resend it, and explain how you will check next time.