Japanese phrase
お待たせして申し訳ございません。 o ma ta se shi te mō shi wake go za i ma se n
Meaning
I am very sorry to have kept you waiting.
When to use it
A polite apology given after causing a delay. It carries a strong sense of regret and suits formal interactions with customers or colleagues.
Example dialogue
お待たせして申し訳ございません。確認に時間がかかりました。 o ma ta se shi te mō shi wake go za i ma se n kaku nin ni ji kan ga ka ka ri ma shi ta
I am very sorry to have kept you waiting. The check took some time.
いえいえ、急ぎませんので。 i e i e iso gi ma se n no de
No worries. There is no rush.