A1 Expression Neutre 1 min de lecture

お先に

osaki ni

Excuse me (for going first)

Entraîne-toi

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'Osaki ni' to politely excuse yourself when leaving a group or workplace before others.

  • Means: 'Before you' or 'Ahead of you'.
  • Used in: Leaving the office, exiting a group, or moving ahead in a queue.
  • Don't confuse: It is not a goodbye; it is an apology for leaving first.
Leaving early + polite nod = respectful exit

Explication à ton niveau :

Use 'Osaki ni' to say you are leaving first. It is polite and helps you stay friends with your colleagues.
This expression is used to excuse yourself when departing before others. It is a crucial part of Japanese etiquette, showing respect for those who remain behind.
In Japanese, leaving a group early can be perceived as disruptive. 'Osaki ni' acts as a social buffer, acknowledging the group's status while asserting your need to depart. It is a standard formulaic expression in professional and social settings.
The phrase functions as a performative apology. By using 'Osaki ni', the speaker validates the collective activity they are leaving, thereby mitigating the potential for social friction. It is highly context-dependent and requires an understanding of Japanese group dynamics.
Linguistically, 'Osaki ni' is a pragmatic marker of deference. It functions as a 'cushioning' device that aligns the speaker with the group's norms despite their non-conformity in timing. Mastery involves knowing when to truncate the phrase for intimacy versus when to use the full 'shitsurei shimasu' for professional distance.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, 'Osaki ni' is an indexical expression of the Japanese 'uchi-soto' (inside-outside) dynamic. It serves to maintain the 'wa' (harmony) by explicitly verbalizing the transgression of leaving early, thus neutralizing the potential for perceived arrogance. Its usage is a hallmark of high-level pragmatic competence in Japanese, requiring nuanced judgment of social hierarchy and situational context.

Signification

Informal way to say 'Excuse me for leaving first'.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Leaving before your boss is generally frowned upon. This phrase is mandatory to soften the blow. In a queue, saying 'Osaki ni dozo' is a sign of high social status and kindness.

🎯

The Bow

Always bow slightly when saying this phrase to add sincerity.

🎯

The Bow

Always bow slightly when saying this phrase to add sincerity.

Teste-toi

Which is the most polite way to leave the office?

Which phrase should you use?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : お先に失礼します。

This is the standard polite form for professional settings.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Banque d exercices

2 exercices
Choisis la bonne réponse Fill Blank

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Which is the most polite way to leave the office? Choose A1

Which phrase should you use?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : お先に失礼します。

This is the standard polite form for professional settings.

🎉 Score : /2

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

Yes, but use the full 'Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu'.

Expressions liées

🔗

お疲れ様です

builds on

Thank you for your hard work

Où l'utiliser

💼

Leaving work

You: お先に失礼します。

Boss: お疲れ様でした。

formal
🚶

Entering a line

You: お先にどうぞ。

Stranger: ありがとうございます。

neutral

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Oh, Saki (a friend) is leaving!' to remember the sound.

Association visuelle

Imagine a person bowing slightly while walking out of a door, with others waving back.

Rhyme

Leaving early, don't be risky, just say 'Osaki'!

Story

Ken is at work. It is 5 PM. He wants to go home. He stands up, bows to his boss, and says 'Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu'. The boss smiles and nods. Ken leaves happily.

In Other Languages

Similar to 'Excuse me' in English, but more specific to the act of leaving.

Word Web

失礼帰るどうぞ先挨拶マナー

Défi

Next time you leave a room, say it out loud to yourself.

Review in 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month.

Prononciation

Stress Flat pitch accent.

Clear, crisp syllables.

Spectre de formalité

Formel
お先に失礼いたします。

お先に失礼いたします。 (Leaving a group)

Neutre
お先に失礼します。

お先に失礼します。 (Leaving a group)

Informel
お先に！

お先に！ (Leaving a group)

Argot
先行くね！

先行くね！ (Leaving a group)

Derived from 'saki' (front) and the honorific 'o'. It evolved from courtly language where one had to ask permission to move.

Edo:

Le savais-tu ?

It is one of the first phrases Japanese children are taught to say at school.

Notes culturelles

Leaving before your boss is generally frowned upon. This phrase is mandatory to soften the blow.

“お先に失礼します。”

In a queue, saying 'Osaki ni dozo' is a sign of high social status and kindness.

“お先にどうぞ。”

Amorces de conversation

“

When is it okay to leave a party?

Erreurs courantes

✗

お先にさようなら

✓

お先に失礼します

wrong register
Saying 'Sayonara' sounds like a final goodbye. 'Shitsurei shimasu' is the correct way to apologize for leaving.

L1 Interference

0 1
✗

お先に

✓

お先に失礼します

wrong register
In a professional setting, just saying 'Osaki ni' is too blunt. Always add the polite verb.

L1 Interference

0
✗

お先にすみません

✓

お先に失礼します

wrong register
While 'sumimasen' is an apology, 'shitsurei shimasu' is the specific phrase for this social situation.

L1 Interference

0

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Con permiso

Japanese is more specific to the act of leaving early.

French moderate

Je vous laisse

Japanese requires a formal apology component.

German Different

Ich verabschiede mich

German lacks the specific 'apology for leaving' ritual.

Japanese Very Similar

お先に失礼します

It is the source of all other variations.

Arabic Very Similar

عن إذنكم

Arabic is more religious/cultural in its roots.

Spotted in the Real World

📺

(2019)

“お先に失礼します。”

Leaving the house for work.

Facile à confondre

お先に vs お先にどうぞ

Learners mix up leaving vs. giving way.

Use 'dozo' when giving way to someone.

Questions fréquentes (1)

Yes, but use the full 'Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu'.

usage contexts

Learning Path

Prerequisites

C'tait utile ?

Commentaires (0)

Connectez-vous pour Commenter
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !