Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI am sorry to trouble someone | ||
| NegativeI am not sorry to trouble someone |
JAPANESE VERB
おそれいる
恐れ入る
to be sorry to trouble someone, humbly
- Godan verb (u-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI was sorry to trouble someone | ||
| NegativeI was not sorry to trouble someone |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formbeing sorry to trouble someone, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am being sorry to trouble someone | ||
| Please (て ください)please be sorry to trouble someone |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can be sorry to trouble someone | ||
| NegativeI can’t be sorry to trouble someone |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to be sorry to trouble someone | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to be sorry to trouble someone |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s be sorry to trouble someone |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I am sorry to trouble someone
- If, when (たら) if I am sorry to trouble someone
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) be sorry to trouble someone (do it)
- Plain command be sorry to trouble someone!
- Please don’t please don’t be sorry to trouble someone
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Passive | ||
| Causative |
How to use おそれいる
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
おそれいります が、 もう いちど おなまえ を おねがい します。
I'm sorry, but could I have your name once more?
-
Past
ごていねい な おてがみ を いただき、 おそれいりました。
I was quite overwhelmed by your courteous letter.
-
Te-form
おそれいって、 なに も いえません でした。
I was so abashed I couldn't say anything.
-
Potential
ごしんせつ に おそれいる ばかり で、 おかえし も できません。
I'm overwhelmed by your kindness and can't even repay it.
-
Want to
おそれいります が、 すこし おはなし したい こと が あります。
I'm sorry to trouble you, but there's something I'd like to discuss.
-
Volitional
おそれいります が、 あした また おでんわ しましょう か。
I'm sorry, shall I call again tomorrow?
-
Conditional
そこ まで おそれいれば、 あいて も ゆるして くれる だろう。
If you're that apologetic, they'll surely forgive you.
-
Commands and requests
おそれいります が、 こちら に おなまえ を おかき ください。
Sorry to trouble you, but please write your name here.
-
Passive and causative
おそれいります が、 その せき は よやく されて おります。
I'm sorry, but that seat is reserved.
Good to know
- おそれいります が is the office's "excuse me, but": a polite start to any request to a customer or a caller. It is godan: おそれいります.
- On its own, おそれいります also thanks someone for a kindness or a compliment, something like "you're too kind".
- Only おそれいります and おそれいりました are heard; the other tables show the pattern, and their sentences put おそれいります beside another verb.
Where you hear おそれいる
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Advanced Level 1
- おいそがしい ところ、 おそれいります が、 ひとつ、 おねがい が あります。 I'm sorry to trouble you when you're busy, but I have one request.
- きのう は、 おいそがしい ところ、 おそれいりました。 Yesterday, I'm sorry to have troubled you when you were busy.
- あした も、 おそれいります が、 おでんわ いたします。 Tomorrow too, I'm sorry to trouble you, but I'll phone.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).