恐れ入りますが.. (“Osore irimasuga” ) Formal Japanese
「恐れ入りますが、おかわりを頂けますか？」
Osoreirimasu ga, okawari wo itadakemasuka?
“I am awfully sorry to bother you but could I have a second serving, please?”
（おかわり okawari : seconds, a second helping, a refill
頂けますか？ Itadake masu ka? Could you give me~）
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Today we will learn very formal and polite Japanese expressions.
You say 「恐れ入りますが…」 =”Osore irimasu ga…” before you ask someone a favor or a question.
Ex. １）「恐れ入りますが、ゴミはこちらにお捨て下さい。」
Osore irimasu ga gomi wa kochirani osute kudasai .
I am truly sorry to bother you but please throw away the trash here.
(ex. ゴミ：gomi = trash, こちら: kochira = here/ this way, 捨てる suteru throw away.)
Ex. ２）「恐れ入りますが、駅までの行き方をお教え頂けますでしょうか？」
Osore irimasu ga, eki made no iki kata wo ooshie itadakemasu de shouka?
Excuse me / I am awfully sorry to bother you, but could you tell me how to get to the station please?
(駅 eki station までの madeno : to
行き方 ikikata direction 教える oshieru to teach,to tell, to instruct,
「お教え〜」=”ooshie” is more polite than 「 教えて〜」= “oshiete”
（〜して）頂けますでしょうか？ = itadakemasudeshouka could you do something for me? )
Ex. ３）「恐れ入りますが、そこの塩を取って頂けますか？」
Osore irimasu ga, sokono shio wo totte itadakemasuka ?
Excuse me / I am sorry to bother you, but could you pass me the salt (which is near you) please?
(塩 shio salt そこの sokono : (right) there
取る toru to take, to pass
（~して）頂けますか？ itadakemasuka could you do something for me?
→Note :The former example （~して）頂けますでしょうか？ itadakemasu deshouka sounds a bit more softer.)
Ex. 4) 恐れ入りますが、お名前を頂けますか？
Osore irimasu ga onamae wo itadakemasuka?
I am sorry, but may I have your name, please?
(名前：nama You add the honorific “o” at the beginning to make it more polite. →お名前 onamae )
You say「恐れ入ります。」(osore irimasu) after someone does something for you,too.
That means “Thank you!” or “Sorry for all the trouble.”
•「恐れ入りました。」 (osore irimashita. = past tense) could be translated as “I’ll be damned.”
Also you say that to a person who defeated you in a match or a game with respect implying “You are great/strong/much stronger than I.” or “Now I see your greatness/strength.” Cf. 「参りました！」Mairimashita. ” I lost! ” or “You won!” )
Also you will hear, 恐縮する meaning “to feel very grateful” in a humble way.
Note : Kanji
The kanji,「恐」: On reading＝kyou. Kun reading is 「恐れる」(=osoreru) meaning→“to fear”
「縮 」On reading=shuku. Its Kun reading is 「縮む」(= chijimu) meaning →”to shrink”
So literally you tremble and feel like shrinking for the gratitude or feeling bad for making someone do something for you.
Ex. 5) 「恐縮ですが、コピーを頂けますか？」
Kyoushuku desuga, kopii wo itadakemasu ka?
Sorry to trouble you, but may I have a copy, please?
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「恐縮です！」
Kyoushuku desu.
“Thank you for all your trouble!”
(ガツガツ）
(Gatsu gatsu)
The sound you make when you gorge yourself.
マギー先生より From Maggie-sensei,
ほらね、私はいつでも誰にでも礼儀正しくしているから、見習ってね！
「あっ！また、おかわり、頂戴！」
Horane, watashi wa itsu demo dareni demo reigi tadashiku shiteiru kara minaratte ne! “Ah, Mata Okawari choudai!”
See, I am trying to be polite to everybody all the time. So please learn from my attitude!
“Now gimme a third helping!”
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Leave a Reply
@maggiesensei 
maple on March 6th, 2010
hi Ms. Maggie,
i hope you can make more keigo and formal japanese lessons
i want learn and be able to speak more keigo and formal japanese..
Godbless and More power to your blogsite
ありがとうございます
よろしくお願いします
Maggie on March 6th, 2010
maple-san,
かしこまりました！
I will try to make both formal and casual Japanese for everyone!
henryfreeman on September 19th, 2009
面白い！
あんがとう、マギー先生。
Maggie on September 20th, 2009
Henryfreemanさん
恐れ入ります！こちらこそ有り難うございます！また来てね！
amandaparks on August 18th, 2009
あ。。そうですね。
amandaparks on August 15th, 2009
すみませんが、ちょっと間違いを見つけました。例５のローマ字はkyoushukuでしょう？
授業をありがとうございました。恐縮です！
Maggie on August 15th, 2009
amandaparks様
恐れ入ります。早速、間違いを直しました。前足でタイプするのは大変です。