Phrase in 30 Seconds
A highly formal way to say 'I sympathize with your situation' without needing to hear all the details.
- Means: I empathize with your feelings/situation (max 15 words)
- Used in: Funerals, business apologies, or hearing about someone's misfortune (max 15 words)
- Don't confuse: Never use this for happy news or with close friends (max 15 words)
شرح بمستواك:
المعنى
Expressing understanding and empathy for someone's feelings or situation.
خلفية ثقافية
The phrase reflects 'Ishin-denshin' (telepathy/heart-to-heart), where verbalizing everything is seen as unnecessary or even rude. Understanding through silence is a high virtue. It acts as a 'cushion word' (Kushon kotoba). It softens the impact of business negotiations by acknowledging the other party's stress first. In news reporting, anchors use this to maintain a neutral yet empathetic stance toward victims, avoiding overly emotional language. Because it is Kenjougo (humble), it is technically the speaker lowering themselves. This makes it very safe to use toward superiors.
The 'Shinchuu' Combo
Pairing this with '{心中|しんちゅう}' (inner heart) is the gold standard for funerals. It shows you aren't just looking at their face, but their soul.
Don't be a Robot
While formal, your tone should still carry warmth. If said too flatly, it can sound like you're just following a script without caring.
The 'Shinchuu' Combo
Pairing this with '{心中|しんちゅう}' (inner heart) is the gold standard for funerals. It shows you aren't just looking at their face, but their soul.
Don't be a Robot
While formal, your tone should still carry warmth. If said too flatly, it can sound like you're just following a script without caring.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the blank with the correct humble form to complete the formal sympathy phrase.
ご{心中|しんちゅう}、お[ ]いたします。
The set phrase is '{お察|おさっ}しいたします'.
Choose the most appropriate situation to use '{お察|おさっ}しいたします'.
Which situation fits this phrase?
This phrase is for formal sympathy during misfortunes.
Complete the dialogue between a client and a provider.
Client: '{急|いそ}ぎの{仕事|しごと}が{重|かさ}なってしまい、{返信|へんしん}が{遅|おく}れました。' Provider: 'さぞご[ ]のことと{お察|おさっ}しいたします。'
The client said they are busy with urgent work, so '{多忙|たぼう}' (busy) is the correct context.
🎉 النتيجة: /3
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينご{心中|しんちゅう}、お[ ]いたします。
The set phrase is '{お察|おさっ}しいたします'.
Which situation fits this phrase?
This phrase is for formal sympathy during misfortunes.
Client: '{急|いそ}ぎの{仕事|しごと}が{重|かさ}なってしまい、{返信|へんしん}が{遅|おく}れました。' Provider: 'さぞご[ ]のことと{お察|おさっ}しいたします。'
The client said they are busy with urgent work, so '{多忙|たぼう}' (busy) is the correct context.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
3 أسئلةYes, it is very appropriate if your teacher is going through a hard time or is extremely busy.
Yes! That's the beauty of it. It acknowledges they are in a 'situation' without forcing them to explain it.
'Zannen desu' means 'That's a pity' and focuses on the event. '{お察|おさっ}しいたします' focuses on the person's feelings.
عبارات ذات صلة
ご{同情|どうじょう}申し上げます
similarI offer my sympathy.
{心中|しんちゅう}お{察|おさっ}しします
specialized formI sympathize with your heart.
お{気持|きも}ちはわかります
synonymI understand your feelings.
{同感|どうかん}です
contrastI agree / I feel the same.
أين تستخدمها
At a funeral
Visitor: この{度|たび}はご{愁傷様|しゅうしょうさま}でございます。ご{心中|しんゅう}、{お察|おさっ}しいたします。
Bereaved: お{気遣|きづか}い、ありがとうございます。
Business project failure
Partner: {企画|きかく}が{中止|ちゅうし}になったとのこと、ご{苦労|くろう}を{お察|おさっ}しいたします。
Manager: ありがとうございます。また{次|つぎ}の{機会|きかい}に{頑張|がんば}ります。
Client is extremely busy
Salesperson: ご{多忙|たぼう}の{折|おり}、{状況|じょうきょう}は{お察|おさっ}しいたしますが、こちらの{件|けん}いかがでしょうか。
Client: すみません、{明日|あした}までには{返信|へんしん}します。
Hearing about a disaster
News Anchor: {被災地|ひさいち}の{皆様|みなさま}のご{不自由|ふじゆう}、{お察|おさっ}しいたします。
A colleague's long commute
Colleague A: {毎日|まいにち}２{時間|じかん}かけて{通勤|つうきん}されているとか。ご{苦労|くろう}を{お察|おさっ}しいたします。
Colleague B: ええ、なかなか{大変|たいへん}ですが、{慣|な}れました。
Apologizing for a delay
Vendor: {配送|はいそう}が{遅|おく}れ、ご{迷惑|めいわく}をおかけしております。ご{不便|ふべん}を{お察|おさっ}しいたします。
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Think of 'Sasshi' as 'Searching' for the 'Secret' feelings of others. 'Itashimasu' is the formal bow you do while searching.
ربط بصري
Imagine a person standing in the rain holding an umbrella for someone else, but looking away to give them privacy. The umbrella is the 'O-sasshi'—protection and empathy without being intrusive.
Story
A businessman named Sato-san sees his partner looking pale after a failed project. Instead of asking 'What happened?' (too nosy), he bows and says '{お察|おさっ}しいたします.' The partner feels understood and respected, and the bond between them grows stronger without a single detail being shared.
In Other Languages
In English, 'I can only imagine' or 'My heart goes out to you' are close. In Korean, '짐작이 갑니다' (Jimjagi gamnida) shares the 'surmising' root.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Write a formal 3-sentence email to a hypothetical boss who just lost their favorite pen (treat it like a major tragedy to practice the register!).
Review this phrase whenever you see a formal apology in Japanese news or anime.
النطق
The 'o' is short, and the double 's' (small tsu) creates a slight pause.
The 'u' at the end is often devoiced (silent).
طيف الرسمية
ご{苦労|くろう}を{お察|おさっ}しいたします。 (Acknowledging effort)
ご{苦労|くろう}、お{察|おさっ}しします。 (Acknowledging effort)
{大変|たいへん}だよね、わかるよ。 (Acknowledging effort)
それな、まじおつ。 (Acknowledging effort)
Derived from the verb {察|さっ}する (sassuru), which entered Japanese from Middle Chinese. The kanji {察|さっ} implies 'investigating' or 'observing' (as in {警察|けいさつ} - police).
حقيقة ممتعة
The kanji {察|さっ} contains the radical for 'altar' or 'ritual,' suggesting that 'surmising' was once a spiritual act of reading divine intent.
ملاحظات ثقافية
The phrase reflects 'Ishin-denshin' (telepathy/heart-to-heart), where verbalizing everything is seen as unnecessary or even rude. Understanding through silence is a high virtue.
“A simple bow and this phrase can say more than a 10-minute speech.”
It acts as a 'cushion word' (Kushon kotoba). It softens the impact of business negotiations by acknowledging the other party's stress first.
“Using it before asking for a difficult favor.”
In news reporting, anchors use this to maintain a neutral yet empathetic stance toward victims, avoiding overly emotional language.
“Reporting on economic downturns or natural disasters.”
Because it is Kenjougo (humble), it is technically the speaker lowering themselves. This makes it very safe to use toward superiors.
“Speaking to a CEO who is facing a PR crisis.”
بدايات محادثة
{最近|さいきん}、{仕事|しごと}がとても{忙|いそが}しいんです。
{大切|たいせつ}な{書類|しょるい}を{無|な}くしてしまいました...
أخطاء شائعة
ご{結婚|けっこん}おめでとうございます。{お察|おさっ}しいたします。
ご{結婚|けっこん}おめでとうございます。{末永|すえなが}くお{幸|しあわ}せに。
L1 Interference
（友達に）テストだめだったの？{お察|おさっ}しいたします。
（友達に）テストだめだったの？{大変|たいへん}だったね。
L1 Interference
私の{苦労|くろう}を{お察|おさっ}しいたします。
私の{苦労|くろう}をわかってください。
L1 Interference
{心中|しんちゅう}を{お察|おさっ}しします。
{心中|しんちゅう}お{察|おさっ}しいたします。
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
I can only imagine what you're going through.
English is more personal; Japanese is more formal/distanced.
Le acompaño en el sentimiento.
Spanish focuses on shared presence; Japanese focuses on intuitive understanding.
Je compatis à votre douleur.
French uses a specific verb for sympathy (compatir); Japanese uses 'surmise'.
Ich fühle mit Ihnen.
German is more direct about 'feeling'; Japanese is about 'guessing'.
أقدر موقفك (Aqdar mawqifak)
Arabic focuses on 'appreciation' of the situation's weight.
感同身受 (Gǎntóngshēnshòu)
Chinese emphasizes 'feeling it yourself'; Japanese emphasizes 'observing from outside'.
심정을 이해합니다 (Simjeong-eul ihaehapnida)
Korean is slightly more likely to use the verb 'understand' (ihae).
Imagino o que está passando.
Portuguese is less formal in its grammatical structure.
Spotted in the Real World
“ご{心労|しんろう}、お{察|おさっ}しいたします。”
Hanzawa says this to a colleague who is being pressured by the bank's upper management.
“{被災者|ひさいしゃ}の{皆様|みなさま}のご{苦労|くろう}を{お察|おさっ}しいたします。”
Reporting on the Noto Peninsula earthquake.
سهل الخلط
Both mean 'to guess' or 'surmise.'
{推測|すいそく} is for logical guessing (like the weather), while {察|さっ}し is for emotional empathy.
Both involve the word 'hardship' ({苦労|くろう}).
Gokurousama is said by a superior to an inferior to thank them for work; {お察|おさっ}しいたします is for empathy.
الأسئلة الشائعة (3)
Yes, it is very appropriate if your teacher is going through a hard time or is extremely busy.
usage contextsYes! That's the beauty of it. It acknowledges they are in a 'situation' without forcing them to explain it.
practical tips'Zannen desu' means 'That's a pity' and focuses on the event. '{お察|おさっ}しいたします' focuses on the person's feelings.
comparisons
