てすみません
- 1I'm sorry for doing ~ / for causing ~ (an apology for one's own action or its effect on the listener).Ex. 1
- 2Sorry for having you do ~ (apologetic thanks for a favor, typically with てもらって).Ex. 2
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A polite, everyday apology used with friends, colleagues, and strangers alike; the て-clause states the reason for the apology. It often combines with causative forms (待たせて) or with てもらって when a favor put someone out. In business or very formal situations, 〜て申し訳ありません is more appropriate.
Learners often use the plain て形 (待って) when the causative (待たせて) is needed to mean 'sorry for making you wait.'
Note that for something already finished, the past form 〜てすみませんでした is also common.
Do not use てすみません for good news or relief; it always carries an apologetic tone.
- ものでN1「てすみません」 is itself an apology, with the て clause stating the reason; 「もので」 only gives a reason with an excuse-like tone and must be followed by a result or apology, as in 「遅れたもので、すみません」. The two cannot be swapped.
- ものだからN2「てすみません」 is itself an apology, with the て clause stating the reason for apologizing; 「ものだから」 only states an unavoidable reason with an excuse-like tone, usually leading to a result, request, or apology, and can also end a sentence. It attaches to plain forms and is fairly colloquial. The two cannot be swapped.
- てくれるN4「てくれる」 expresses that someone did something for you, with gratitude, and can also be used to make requests; 「てすみません」 is used to apologize. The two cannot be swapped, but they are often used together as 「てくれてすみません」, expressing both apology and thanks.
- おかげでN3「おかげで」 explains the cause of a good result (or a bad one when used ironically) and is followed by a result clause; 「てすみません」 directly apologizes to the other person or combines apology with thanks. 「おかげで」 attaches to noun＋の or the plain form, not the て form, so the two cannot be swapped.
- てよかったN4Both attach to the て form to state a reason. 「てすみません」 apologizes for causing someone trouble or offers thanks with an apologetic nuance; 「てよかった」 expresses relief or gladness about a result that has already happened, and can also express happiness for someone else, with no apologetic nuance. The two cannot be swapped.
もので and ものだから state reasons or excuses without apology; てくれる expresses receiving a favor and often combines with this pattern as 「てくれてすみません」; おかげで indicates a cause bringing a good result, and てよかった expresses relief—neither carries any sense of apology.
