Signification
Apologizing for causing extra work or effort for someone.
Contexte culturel
In Japanese offices, acknowledging the 'invisible labor' of others is crucial for career advancement. Failing to say 'Otema o okakeshimashita' after a colleague helps you can make you seem arrogant or ungrateful. Service staff often use this phrase even if the 'trouble' was caused by the company's own rules. It shifts the blame onto the situation and shows empathy for the customer's lost time. The Japanese education system emphasizes 'not causing trouble for others' (meiwaku o kakenai). This phrase is the linguistic tool used to repair the social bond when that rule is inevitably broken. When giving a 'thank you' gift (Orei), it is common to include a note saying '{先般|せんぱん}は{多大|ただい}な{お手間|おてま}をおかけしました' to remind the receiver why they are getting the gift.
The 'Buffer' Technique
Use '{お手間|おてま}をおかけしますが' *before* asking for a favor to soften the request.
Hierarchy Matters
Using this with a subordinate can sound sarcastic unless you genuinely caused them a lot of extra work.
Signification
Apologizing for causing extra work or effort for someone.
The 'Buffer' Technique
Use '{お手間|おてま}をおかけしますが' *before* asking for a favor to soften the request.
Hierarchy Matters
Using this with a subordinate can sound sarcastic unless you genuinely caused them a lot of extra work.
Apology vs Thanks
In Japan, an apology for trouble is often seen as more polite than a simple 'thank you'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing particles and honorifics.
{私|わたし}の{不手際|ふてぎわ}で、{部長|ぶちょう}に（ ）{手間|てま}（ ）おかけしました。
The honorific prefix for 'Tema' is 'O', and the object particle 'o' is required before 'okakeshimashita'.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate situation.
When would you say '{お手間|おてま}をおかけしました'?
Option B involves someone else's labor and time, which is the core meaning of 'Otema'.
Complete the business email sentence.
{資料|しりょう}の{再送|さいそう}、ありがとうございました。何度も（ ）。
In a business email, the full formal version '{お手間|おてま}をおかけしました' is the most natural way to apologize for repeated requests.
Which adverb best fits to emphasize a large amount of trouble?
（ ）なる{お手間|おてま}をおかけしました。
{多大|ただい}なる (Tadainaru) is the standard formal adverb used to describe 'great' or 'significant' trouble/labor.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercices{私|わたし}の{不手際|ふてぎわ}で、{部長|ぶちょう}に（ ）{手間|てま}（ ）おかけしました。
The honorific prefix for 'Tema' is 'O', and the object particle 'o' is required before 'okakeshimashita'.
When would you say '{お手間|おてま}をおかけしました'?
Option B involves someone else's labor and time, which is the core meaning of 'Otema'.
{資料|しりょう}の{再送|さいそう}、ありがとうございました。何度も（ ）。
In a business email, the full formal version '{お手間|おてま}をおかけしました' is the most natural way to apologize for repeated requests.
（ ）なる{お手間|おてま}をおかけしました。
{多大|ただい}なる (Tadainaru) is the standard formal adverb used to describe 'great' or 'significant' trouble/labor.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsYes, if they did something big for you like driving you to the airport. It shows you appreciate their effort.
'Otema' is about time/labor. 'Otesuu' is about the number of steps or procedures involved.
It's grammatically correct but lacks the humble 'itashimashita' or 'shimashita' needed for true politeness.
Yes, a slight bow (15-30 degrees) makes the apology feel much more sincere.
Expressions liées
お{手数|てすう}をおかけしました
synonymSorry for the trouble (focus on steps/process).
ご{迷惑|めいわく}をおかけしました
similarSorry for the inconvenience/nuisance.
お{待|ま}たせいたしました
similarI'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
{手間|てま}が{省|はぶ}ける
contrastTo save trouble/labor.
