A1 Expression ニュートラル

Ma olen hiljaks jäänud.

I am late.

意味

Apologizing for not being on time.

🌍

文化的背景

Punctuality is a sign of respect. Arriving exactly on time or 2 minutes early is the norm. Being late without a text is considered rude. The 'Academic Quarter' (akadeemiline veerand) allows students to arrive 15 minutes late to lectures, but not to seminars or exams. In business, 'Ma olen hiljaks jäänud' should be followed by a brief, honest reason. Long excuses are often seen as unprofessional. Even in casual settings, Estonians don't usually practice 'fashionable lateness'. If a party starts at 19:00, people arrive at 19:00.

💡

Add 'veidi'

If you are only a few minutes late, say 'Ma olen veidi hiljaks jäänud' to soften the blow.

⚠️

Don't just say 'Hilja'

Saying just 'hilja' sounds like you are commenting on the time of day, not your arrival.

意味

Apologizing for not being on time.

💡

Add 'veidi'

If you are only a few minutes late, say 'Ma olen veidi hiljaks jäänud' to soften the blow.

⚠️

Don't just say 'Hilja'

Saying just 'hilja' sounds like you are commenting on the time of day, not your arrival.

💬

Eye Contact

When saying this, make brief eye contact to show sincerity in your apology.

自分をテスト

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'jääma'.

Vabandust, ma olen hiljaks _______.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: jäänud

The present perfect tense requires the past participle 'jäänud'.

Which case ending is used for 'late' in this phrase?

Ma olen hilja__ jäänud.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: -ks

The translative case (-ks) is used with 'jääma' to show the result of being late.

What would you say if you arrived 10 minutes late to a meeting?

Boss: 'Tere, me juba alustasime.' You: '_______'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Vabandust, ma olen hiljaks jäänud.

This is the most polite and natural way to apologize for tardiness.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You are calling your friend to say you will be late in 10 minutes.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Ma jään hiljaks.

'Ma jään hiljaks' (present/future) is used for warnings; 'Ma olen hiljaks jäänud' is for when you have already arrived.

🎉 スコア: /4

ビジュアル学習ツール

練習問題バンク

4 問題
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'jääma'. Fill Blank A1

Vabandust, ma olen hiljaks _______.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: jäänud

The present perfect tense requires the past participle 'jäänud'.

Which case ending is used for 'late' in this phrase? Choose A2

Ma olen hilja__ jäänud.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: -ks

The translative case (-ks) is used with 'jääma' to show the result of being late.

What would you say if you arrived 10 minutes late to a meeting? dialogue_completion A1

Boss: 'Tere, me juba alustasime.' You: '_______'

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Vabandust, ma olen hiljaks jäänud.

This is the most polite and natural way to apologize for tardiness.

Match the phrase to the situation. situation_matching B1

You are calling your friend to say you will be late in 10 minutes.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Ma jään hiljaks.

'Ma jään hiljaks' (present/future) is used for warnings; 'Ma olen hiljaks jäänud' is for when you have already arrived.

🎉 スコア: /4

よくある質問

5 問

Yes, it is correct and slightly more formal, but 'hiljaks jäänud' is more common in spoken Estonian.

You say 'Ma jäin bussist hiljaks'. Note the use of the elative case (-st).

Yes, 'sori' is very common among younger people, but 'vabandust' is better for A1 learners to master first.

The '-ks' ending shows you have *become* late. It's a change of state.

Vabandust, et ma olen hiljaks jäänud.

関連フレーズ

🔄

ma hilinen

synonym

I am being late

🔗

ma jään hiljaks

similar

I will be late

🔗

ma jäin hiljaks

similar

I was late

🔗

ma olen täpselt kohal

contrast

I am here exactly on time

🔗

hilinemine

builds on

tardiness / delay

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