Bedeutung
A polite apology for having disturbed or interrupted someone.
Kultureller Hintergrund
When visiting a Japanese home, the ritual of entering and leaving is highly structured. You say '{お邪魔|おじゃま}します' when entering, and '{お邪魔|おじゃま}しました' when leaving. This frames the entire visit as a temporary 'intrusion' that you are grateful for. In Japanese business, time is seen as a finite resource. Using '{お邪魔|おじゃま}してしまいました' at the end of a meeting acknowledges that you have 'consumed' the other person's resource, which builds trust and rapport. Often, when you say '{お邪魔|おじゃま}します' (entering), you present a small gift. The exit phrase '{お邪魔|おじゃま}しました' then closes the 'social debt' created by the visit. This phrase is a linguistic manifestation of 'Enryo' (restraint). By calling yourself a 'hindrance', you are showing that you are not arrogant and that you value the other person's space more than your own.
The 'Nagai' Combo
Combine it with '{長居|ながい}して' (staying long) to sound like a native. '{長居|ながい}して{お邪魔|おじゃま}してしまいました' is the gold standard for leaving a house.
Don't drop the 'O'
Dropping the 'o' from '{お邪魔|おじゃま}' makes it sound like you're a character in an anime or talking to a very close sibling. Keep the 'o' for everyone else.
Bedeutung
A polite apology for having disturbed or interrupted someone.
The 'Nagai' Combo
Combine it with '{長居|ながい}して' (staying long) to sound like a native. '{長居|ながい}して{お邪魔|おじゃま}してしまいました' is the gold standard for leaving a house.
Don't drop the 'O'
Dropping the 'o' from '{お邪魔|おじゃま}' makes it sound like you're a character in an anime or talking to a very close sibling. Keep the 'o' for everyone else.
The Host's Response
When you say this, the host will almost always say 'Iie, tondemo nai desu' (No, not at all!). This is a scripted dance—don't take their denial literally; they're just being polite back!
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct phrase to say when leaving a teacher's office after a 10-minute talk.
{先生|せんせい}、お{忙|いそが}しいところを＿＿＿＿。
Since you are leaving, you need the past tense. '{お邪魔|おじゃま}してしまいました' is the polite, regretful form.
Fill in the blank to complete the apology for staying too long.
{長居|ながい}をして、{お邪魔|おじゃま}して＿＿＿＿。
The auxiliary '~te shimau' is used to express regret for the intrusion.
Match the phrase to the correct timing.
When should you say '{お邪魔|おじゃま}してしまいました'?
This is an 'exit' phrase used after the intrusion has occurred.
Complete the dialogue between two colleagues.
A: {今日|きょう}は{相談|そうだん}に{乗|の}ってくれてありがとう。{お仕事中|しごとちゅう}に＿＿＿＿。 B: いいえ、またいつでもどうぞ。
A simple past polite form is appropriate here for a colleague.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Common 'Jama' Scenarios
Physical Space
- • Visiting a home
- • Entering an office
- • Hospital visits
Time/Attention
- • Phone calls
- • Long emails
- • Interrupting work
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgaben{先生|せんせい}、お{忙|いそが}しいところを＿＿＿＿。
Since you are leaving, you need the past tense. '{お邪魔|おじゃま}してしまいました' is the polite, regretful form.
{長居|ながい}をして、{お邪魔|おじゃま}して＿＿＿＿。
The auxiliary '~te shimau' is used to express regret for the intrusion.
When should you say '{お邪魔|おじゃま}してしまいました'?
This is an 'exit' phrase used after the intrusion has occurred.
A: {今日|きょう}は{相談|そうだん}に{乗|の}ってくれてありがとう。{お仕事中|しごとちゅう}に＿＿＿＿。 B: いいえ、またいつでもどうぞ。
A simple past polite form is appropriate here for a colleague.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt's usually too formal. If you've been at their house, just say 'Arigato' or 'Tanoshikatta'. Using this might make them feel like you're being too distant.
Yes! If you've sent a long email or multiple emails in one day, you can end with '{お邪魔|おじゃま}いたしました' to acknowledge the 'inbox clutter'.
'Gomen nasai' is a general apology. '{お邪魔|おじゃま}...' specifically apologizes for the act of being in someone's space or taking their time.
Yes, a slight bow (ojigi) while saying this as you leave is the standard and expected behavior.
Yes, if you talked at the doorway for a long time, it still counts as an 'intrusion' on their time.
Yes, kids often say 'Jama shita!' when leaving a friend's house, though parents will encourage them to say the full polite version.
Yes! In Japan, even if you were invited, your presence is still technically a 'hindrance' to the host's normal routine.
Use '{邪魔|じゃま}しちゃった' (Jama shichatta) with close friends.
Yes, especially when visiting another company's office. It's a very common way to end the meeting.
To a Western ear, yes. To a Japanese ear, it sounds like you are respectful and socially aware.
Verwandte Redewendungen
{失礼|しつれい}しました
similarI was rude / Excuse me.
{長居|ながい}しました
specialized formI stayed too long.
{迷惑|めいわく}をかけました
similarI caused you trouble.
お{騒|さわ}がせしました
similarSorry for causing a stir.
{邪魔|じゃま}しないで
contrastDon't bother me.
