失礼|しつれいshitsurei[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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- noun, suru verb, intransitive verb, na-adjectivediscourtesy; impoliteness
- expressionexcuse me; goodbye
- suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto leave
- suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto be rude
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 失礼する(しつれいする) |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 失礼します(しつれいします) |
| Negative (nai) | 失礼しない(しつれいしない) |
| polite (masen) | 失礼しません(しつれいしません) |
| classical zu / nu | 失礼せず・失礼せぬ(しつれいせず・しつれいせぬ) |
| Past (ta) | 失礼した(しつれいした) |
| polite (mashita) | 失礼しました(しつれいしました) |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 失礼しなかった(しつれいしなかった) |
| polite (masen deshita) | 失礼しませんでした(しつれいしませんでした) |
| Te form | 失礼して(しつれいして) |
| Potential | 失礼できる(しつれいできる) |
| Passive | 失礼される(しつれいされる) |
| Causative | 失礼させる(しつれいさせる) |
| Causative passive | 失礼させられる(しつれいさせられる) |
| Conditional (ba) | 失礼すれば(しつれいすれば) |
| tara | 失礼したら(しつれいしたら) |
| Volitional | 失礼しよう(しつれいしよう) |
| polite (mashou) | 失礼しましょう(しつれいしましょう) |
| Imperative | 失礼しろ(しつれいしろ) |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- Synonym無礼ぶれいWrittenWritten/formal prose. An outright lack of courtesy toward anyone, as in 「無礼者」; heavier than 「失礼」 and carrying a tone of rebuke.
- Synonym非礼ひれいWrittenWritten/formal prose for a breach of etiquette, as in 「非礼を詫びる」; used less often than 「失礼」.
- Synonym失敬しっけいCasualColloquial. Covers rudeness and taking leave, as in 「失敬な」 and 「では失敬」 (the latter masculine); also used jokingly for taking something without permission.
- Synonym無作法ぶさほうNeutralUnversed in manners and etiquette, as in 「無作法な食べ方」; the focus is on how one conducts oneself.
- Related傍若無人ぼうじゃくぶじんWrittenA four-character idiom for acting as if no one were around, as in 「傍若無人な振る舞い」.
- Related無骨ぶこつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Rough and unversed in etiquette, as in 「無骨な男」; not necessarily derogatory.
- Related生意気なまいきCasualColloquial. A junior acting big-headed and presumptuous, as in 「生意気な後輩」.
- Related傲慢ごうまんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Arrogance that looks down on others, as in 「傲慢な態度」.
- Related粗野そやNeutralCoarse, vulgar speech or behavior, as in 「粗野な言葉」; stresses vulgarity rather than disrespect.
- Related不躾ぶしつけWrittenWritten/formal prose. Presumptuous or abrupt behavior, as in 「不躾なお願い」; often used in self-deprecating apologies.
- Related僭越せんえつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Overstepping one's station, as in 「僭越ながら」, a humble way to excuse speaking out of turn.
- RelatedちょこざいCasualColloquial. Smart-alecky cheek and arrogance, as in 「猪口才な」; heard mostly in period-drama dialogue.
- Related不埒ふらちFormalFormal written language. Conduct that defies morality, as in 「不埒な奴」; carries strong condemnation.
- Related不行儀ふぎょうぎWrittenWritten/formal prose. Improper behavior, as in 「不行儀な子」; focuses on deportment and manners.
- Related無遠慮ぶえんりょNeutralUtterly unrestrained, as in 「無遠慮な質問」; stresses paying no heed to the other person's feelings.
- Related小賢しいこざかしいCasualColloquial. Smart-alecky and presumptuous, as in 「小賢しい口をきく」.
- RelatedこしゃくCasualColloquial. Cheeky without knowing one's place, as in 「小癪な真似」; said with disdain.
- Related厚顔こうがんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Brazen shamelessness, as in 「厚顔無恥」.
- Related不遜ふそんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Arrogant and insolent, as in 「不遜な態度」.
- Related小生意気こなまいきCasualColloquial. A youngster acting cheeky and full of himself; more contemptuous than 「生意気」.
- Antonym丁寧ていねいNeutralThe opposite of 「失礼」: polite and attentive, as in 「丁寧な言葉遣い」.
- Antonym礼儀正しいれいぎただしいNeutralThe opposite of 「失礼」: well-mannered and courteous, as in 「礼儀正しい青年」; common in both speech and writing.
Use 「失礼」 by default for rudeness or for excusing yourself and leaving. For a heavier, rebuking tone use 「無礼」; for presumptuous requests or apologies 「不躾」 or 「僭越ながら」; for a cheeky junior 「生意気」; for arrogance 「傲慢」 or 「不遜」; for ill-mannered behavior 「無作法」. The opposite quality is 「丁寧」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


