Write a polite, useful delay message to someone you are meeting.

The idea

Apologize with すみません and say 少し遅れます. Give a brief reason if useful, then distinguish the delay, １０分ぐらい遅れます, from the expected arrival time, ３時１０分ごろ着きます. Say when you will update them.

Patterns to compare
PartExample
おわびすみません。
遅おくれ１０分じゅっぷんぐらい遅おくれます。
到着とうちゃくの予定よてい３時じ１０分じゅっぷんごろ着つきます。

Examples

  • すみません、少すこし遅おくれます。Sorry, I’m running a little late.
  • 電車でんしゃが止とまっています。The train has stopped.
  • 駅えきに１０分じゅっぷんぐらい遅おくれて着つきます。I’ll arrive at the station about ten minutes late.
  • 午後ごご３時じ１０分じゅっぷんごろ駅えきに着つきます。I’ll arrive at the station around 3:10 p.m.
  • 駅えきの前まえで待まっていてもらえますか。Could you wait in front of the station?
  • 着ついたらまた連絡れんらくします。I’ll get in touch again when I arrive.

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

Watch out

Ten minutes late is not necessarily ten minutes from now. Give an estimate only if you have one, update it if it changes, and ask rather than assume the other person can wait.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose and fill the blank: 電車でんしゃが止とまって＿。（います／ください）

    Show answer or example answer

    います

    止まっています describes the train as stopped now.

  2. Choose and fill the blank: １０分じゅっぷんぐらい＿。（遅おくれます／飲のみます）

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    遅れます

    遅れます says you will be late; 飲みます means to drink.

  3. Choose and fill the blank: 着ついたらまた＿します。（連絡れんらく／卵たまご）

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    連絡

    連絡します means you will get in touch; 卵 means an egg.

Use it today

Imagine a stopped train. Write an apology, an estimated arrival and a promise to update your companion.