JLPT N4
Formal Excuse / Entering a Room
Japanese
しつれいします
Shitsurei shimasu
Lesson & Usage
- [English equivalent: "Excuse me" or "May I come in?"] This phrase is essential for formal social spaces. You say it when knocking on a door to enter an office, when walking past someone in a narrow space, or when hanging up a formal phone call. It signals that you are aware of etiquette and are asking for permission to interrupt or take your leave.
Culture & Etiquette
- The word "Shitsurei" literally means "Loss of etiquette" (Shitsu = loss, Rei = etiquette). By announcing that you are about to "be rude" or "interrupt," you are demonstrating that you actually know the correct etiquette. It is a humble way to ask for permission to break a social boundary.
