About This Lesson
Use Apologizing for canceling plans and rescheduling to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
本当にすみませんが、今夜の予定をキャンセルしなければなりません。
hohn-TOH-nee soo-mee-mah-SEN gah, kohn-YAH noh yoh-TEH oh kyahn-SEH-roo shee-nah-keh-reh-bah nah-ree-mah-SEN. I'm really sorry, but I need to cancel tonight's plan.
B
それは残念です。何か急なことがありましたか。
se-reh wah zah-NEN dess. nah-nee-kah kyoo-nah koh-toh gah ah-ree-mah-SHEE-tah kah. That's disappointing. Did something urgent happen?
A
家族のことで問題が起きて、家を出られません。
kah-ZOH-koo noh koh-toh deh mohn-DAI gah oh-KEE-teh, ee-eh oh deh-rah-reh-mah-SEN. A family issue came up, and I can't leave home.
B
わかりました。でも、もっと早く知りたかったです。
wah-kah-ree-mah-SHEE-tah. deh-MOH, moht-toh hah-YAH-koo shee-ree-tah-KAHT-tah dess. I understand, but I wish I had known earlier.
A
その通りです。わかったらすぐに伝えるべきでした。
soh-noh toh-oh-ree dess. wah-kaht-tah-rah soo-GOO-nee tsoo-tah-eh-roo BEH-kee deh-SHEE-tah. You're right. I should have told you as soon as I knew.
B
そう言ってくれてありがたいです。私はもう準備を始めていました。
soh-oh een-deh koo-reh-teh ah-ree-gah-TAI dess. wah-tah-shee wah moh-oh JOOHN-bee oh hah-jee-meh-teh ee-mah-SHEE-tah. I appreciate that. I had already started getting ready.
A
あなたの都合のよい別の日を選んで、埋め合わせをさせてください。
ah-nah-tah noh tsoo-GOH noh yoh-EE beh-tsoo noh hee oh eh-RAHN-deh, oo-meh-ah-wah-seh oh sah-SEH-teh koo-dah-SAI. Let me make it up to you by choosing another date that works for you.
B
予定は変更できますが、状況が落ち着いたら確認してください。
yoh-TEH wah hen-KOH deh-kee-mah-SEN gah, joh-KYOH gah oh-chee-TSOO-ee-tah-rah kah-koo-NIN shee-TEH koo-dah-SAI. We can reschedule, but please confirm once things are calmer.
A
詳しいことがわかったら、メッセージを送ります。
koo-wah-SHEE koh-toh gah wah-kaht-tah-rah, MEHSS-seh-jee oh oh-koo-ree-mahss. I'll message you when I know more.
A
急な変更であなたの夜の予定を乱してしまったとわかっています。
kyoo-nah hen-KOH deh ah-nah-tah noh yoh-roo noh yoh-TEH oh mee-dah-SHEE-teh shee-MAHT-tah toh wah-kaht-teh ee-mah-SEN. I know the late change disrupted your evening.
B
ご家族の皆さんが無事だと願っています。
goh-kah-ZOH-koo noh mee-nah-SAHN gah boo-JEE dah toh nah-gah-TEH ee-mah-SEN. I hope everything is all right with your family.Word by Word
本当に
本当に means “really” here and strengthens the sincerity of the apology in 本当にすみません. It commonly comes before an apology or evaluation when the speaker wants to emphasize it. Use it when apologizing sincerely for causing someone trouble.
すみません
すみません means “I’m sorry” here as a polite apology for canceling the plan. In すみませんが, it also opens the explanation that follows. Use it when apologizing to someone for inconvenience or a change of plans.
が
が connects the apology and the following explanation in すみませんが, giving the transition a softer tone than a direct statement. It commonly follows a polite expression before a request, explanation, or contrasting point. Here the speaker uses it before explaining the cancellation.
今夜
今夜 means “tonight” and specifies when the plan is scheduled in 今夜の予定. It links naturally with の before a noun, as in 今夜の予定. Use it when talking about plans or events happening tonight.
の
の links 今夜 and 予定 in 今夜の予定, giving the meaning “tonight’s plan.” It commonly connects a time, person, or place with the noun it describes. Here it identifies which plan is being canceled.
予定
予定 means “plan” or “schedule” in 今夜の予定をキャンセルしなければなりません. In this dialogue it is the arrangement that has to be canceled. It commonly appears in expressions about canceling, changing, or confirming plans.
を
を marks 予定 as the object of the cancellation action in 予定をキャンセルしなければなりません. It commonly follows the thing directly affected by an action. Here the plan is the thing being canceled.
キャンセル
キャンセル names the cancellation action in 今夜の予定をキャンセルしなければなりません. It is followed by しなければ in the obligation expression キャンセルしなければなりません. Use it when referring to canceling an arrangement or reservation.
しなければ
しなければ means “if I do not do it” within the obligation expression キャンセルしなければなりません. It is the conditional form based on する and does not express the full meaning of “must” by itself here. The pattern Vしなければなりません is used when an action is unavoidable or required.
なりません
なりません completes キャンセルしなければなりません and makes the whole expression mean “must cancel.” The obligation comes from the complete expression しなければなりません, not from なりません alone. Use this polite pattern when explaining something that has to be done.
それ
それ refers to the cancellation or situation just mentioned in それは残念です. It lets the speaker react to information already in the conversation. It commonly appears before は when commenting on something previously mentioned.
は
は marks それ as the topic in それは残念です, meaning “as for that, it is disappointing.” It commonly identifies what the following evaluation or statement is about. Here the topic is the canceled plan or news.
残念
残念 means “disappointing” or “unfortunate” in それは残念です. With です, it gives a polite evaluation of the cancellation. Use it when reacting sympathetically to an unwanted change or outcome.
です
です gives the evaluation 残念 a polite sentence ending in それは残念です. It makes the statement suitable for a respectful conversation. Here it presents the speaker’s reaction politely.
何か
何か means “something” in 何か急なことがありましたか. It asks whether some unspecified event caused the cancellation. It commonly comes before a noun when asking about an unknown thing or matter.
急な
急な means “sudden” or “urgent” before こと in 何か急なことがありましたか. It describes the matter as unexpected or requiring immediate attention. Use it when asking about an unforeseen situation.
こと
こと means “thing” or “matter” in 急なこと, packaging the unspecified event being asked about. Together with 何か and 急な, it refers to some urgent matter rather than a physical object. It commonly appears when discussing an event or situation in an abstract way.
ありました
ありました means “happened” in 何か急なことがありましたか. It is the polite past form based on ある and asks whether the matter occurred. Use it in questions about whether something happened, often with 何かありましたか.
か
か marks 何か急なことがありましたか as a question. It turns the preceding polite statement into a request for information. Here it is used to ask gently whether an urgent matter happened.
家族
家族 means “family” in 家族のことで問題が起きて. It identifies the family-related matter behind the cancellation. It commonly appears with のこと when discussing an issue concerning one’s family.
で
で helps connect 家族のこと with the cause or context of the problem in 家族のことで問題が起きて. The complete phrase 家族のことで presents a family-related matter as the reason for the following situation. Use this kind of connection when explaining what an issue concerns.
問題
問題 means “problem” or “issue” in 家族のことで問題が起きて. It is the event that has arisen and prevents the speaker from leaving home. It commonly appears as the subject in 問題が起きる when a problem occurs.
起きて
起きて means “having happened” or “arising” in 問題が起きて、家を出られません. It is the te-form based on 起きる and links the problem to its consequence. Use 問題が起きて、... when explaining that a problem has led to another situation.
家
家 means “home” or “house” in 家を出られません. Here it is the place the speaker cannot leave because of the family issue. It commonly appears before を in expressions about leaving home.
出られません
出られません means “cannot leave” in 家を出られません. It is the polite negative ability form based on 出る, describing the speaker’s inability in the current situation. Use it after a place when explaining that you cannot leave that place.
わかりました
わかりました means “I understand” or “okay” as a polite acknowledgment of the family problem. It is the polite past form based on わかる and shows that the listener has accepted the explanation. Use it after someone gives you information or explains a situation.
でも
でも means “but” or “however” and introduces the speaker’s remaining disappointment in でも、もっと早く知りたかったです. It acknowledges the explanation while adding a complaint or contrasting feeling. Use it when accepting one point but expressing another concern.
もっと
もっと means “more” in もっと早く知りたかったです, where it strengthens 早く to mean “earlier” or “sooner.” It commonly comes before a time or degree expression to request a greater amount or earlier timing. Here it emphasizes that the speaker wanted earlier notice.
早く
早く means “earlier” or “sooner” in もっと早く知りたかったです. It is the adverbial form based on 早い and describes when the information should have been given. Use it before a verb when discussing an earlier action or notice.
知りたかった
知りたかった means “wanted to know” in もっと早く知りたかったです. It expresses that the speaker wanted the information at an earlier time, which is why the late notice was frustrating. It is based on 知る and commonly follows a time expression such as もっと早く.
その
その means “that” in その通りです and points to the other person’s preceding statement. It modifies 通り to refer to what was just said. Use it before a noun when referring to something already mentioned.
通り
通り means “way” in the expression その通りです, which as a whole means “That’s right.” It contributes the idea that the previous statement is exactly as said. Use その通りです when agreeing with someone’s assessment.
わかったら
わかったら means “when I know” or “once I know” in わかったらすぐに伝えるべきでした. It is the conditional form based on わかる and sets the point at which the information should have been communicated. Use it before a following action that should happen once something becomes known.
すぐに
すぐに means “immediately” or “as soon as possible” in わかったらすぐに伝えるべきでした. It shows that the message should have followed the discovery without delay. Use it before an action when emphasizing prompt timing.
伝える
伝える means “to tell” or “to inform” in 伝えるべきでした. It identifies the action the speaker admits should have been done. It commonly appears with information or a person as the thing or recipient being informed.
べき
べき expresses what should have been done in 伝えるべきでした. Together with 伝える and でした, the expression means that telling the listener was the proper action in the past. The pattern Vるべきでした is used when acknowledging a past responsibility.
でした
でした completes 伝えるべきでした and places the statement about what was proper in the past. It is the polite past form related to です. Here it helps express regret about an action that should have happened earlier.
そう
そう means “so” or “that way” in そう言ってくれてありがたいです and refers to the words the other person just said. Together with 言ってくれて, it identifies the other person’s supportive statement as the favor being appreciated. Use it when referring to something just said or done in that manner.
言って
言って means “saying” in そう言ってくれてありがたいです. It is the te-form based on 言う and connects the act of saying with くれて. Use そう言ってくれて when thanking someone for expressing something in a helpful way.
くれて
くれて in そう言ってくれてありがたいです shows that the other person’s saying it was a favor for the speaker. It is the te-form based on くれる and combines with ありがたい to express appreciation. This pattern is useful when thanking someone for something they did for you.
ありがたい
ありがたい means “appreciated” or “grateful” in そう言ってくれてありがたいです. The speaker values the other person’s understanding or supportive words. It commonly follows an action with くれて when expressing appreciation for that action.
私
私 means “I” or “me” and is explicitly marked as the topic in 私はもう準備を始めていました. It makes clear that the speaker had already begun preparing. Use 私は when identifying your own situation or action.
もう
もう means “already” in もう準備を始めていました. It shows that preparation had begun before the cancellation message was received. Use it before an action when emphasizing that something has happened by the relevant time.
準備
準備 means “preparation” or “getting ready” in 準備を始めていました. It names the activity the listener had already begun for the evening plan. It commonly appears with 始める when someone starts getting ready.
始めて
始めて means “having started” in 準備を始めていました. It is the te-form based on 始める and combines with いました to describe preparation that had already begun. Use 準備を始めていました when explaining that you had started getting ready.
いました
いました completes 準備を始めていました and presents the starting of preparation as an already existing past situation. It is the polite past form related to いる. Here it shows that the listener was already in the process of preparing when the plan changed.
あなた
あなた means “you” in あなたの都合のよい別の日. It identifies whose availability determines the suitable date. It commonly appears before の when describing something belonging to or concerning the listener.
都合
都合 means “availability” or “convenience” in あなたの都合のよい別の日. It refers to whether the other person can make the proposed date. It commonly appears in 都合のよい before a time, date, or plan.
よい
よい means “suitable” or “convenient” in 都合のよい別の日. It describes a date that fits the other person’s availability. Use it before a noun when describing a suitable option.
別
別 means “another” or “different” in 別の日. It shows that the speaker is proposing a day other than the canceled one. It commonly comes before a noun when selecting an alternative.
日
日 means “day” or, in this scheduling context, “date” in 別の日. It is the time option the speaker offers to choose. It commonly appears after 別 when discussing an alternative day.
選んで
選んで means “choosing” in 別の日を選んで、埋め合わせをさせてください. It is the te-form based on 選ぶ and links choosing a suitable date with the offer to make up for the cancellation. Use it when presenting one action as the way to carry out a following action.
埋め合わせ
埋め合わせ means “making up for” or “compensation” in 埋め合わせをさせてください. Here it refers to repairing the inconvenience caused by canceling late. Use it when offering to compensate someone for a disruption or disappointment.
させて
させて in 埋め合わせをさせてください means “let me do” or “allow me to do.” Together with ください, it makes a polite request for permission to make up for the cancellation. Use this form when asking someone to let you take an action on their behalf or to repair a situation.
ください
ください completes 埋め合わせをさせてください and makes it a polite request. With させて, the whole expression means “please let me do it.” Use it at the end of a request when asking permission in a respectful way.
変更
変更 means “change” or “rescheduling” in 予定は変更できます. It refers to moving the existing plan to a different date rather than abandoning it completely. It commonly appears when discussing changes to plans, schedules, or arrangements.
できます
できます means “can” or “is possible” in 予定は変更できます. It politely states that rescheduling remains possible. It commonly follows an action or noun describing what can be done.
状況
状況 means “situation” or “circumstances” in 状況が落ち着いたら. It refers to the family circumstances that are currently unsettled. It commonly appears as the subject when describing whether circumstances improve or change.
落ち着いたら
落ち着いたら means “when things settle down” in 状況が落ち着いたら、確認してください. It is the conditional form based on 落ち着く and sets a calmer future point for confirmation. Use it when asking someone to act after a situation becomes stable.
確認
確認 means “confirmation” or “checking” in 確認してください. It refers to checking or confirming the new plan after the situation becomes calmer. It commonly combines with してください when making a polite request to confirm information.
して
して is the te-form based on する in 確認してください. Together with ください, it forms the polite request “please confirm.” Use it after an action word when asking someone to carry out that action.
詳しい
詳しい means “detailed” or “more specific” in 詳しいことがわかったら. It describes information that is not yet fully known. It commonly comes before こと when referring to detailed facts or circumstances.
メッセージ
メッセージ means “message” in メッセージを送ります. It is the form of communication the speaker promises to send after learning more. It commonly appears before を with 送ります when talking about sending a message.
送ります
送ります means “will send” in メッセージを送ります. In this dialogue it is a polite promise to contact the other person once more information is available. It commonly appears with メッセージを when promising written contact.
夜
夜 means “evening” or “night” in あなたの夜の予定. Here it identifies the part of the day whose plans were disrupted. It commonly comes before の when describing an evening or nighttime plan.
乱して
乱して means “disrupting” in 夜の予定を乱してしまった. It is the te-form based on 乱す and connects the disruption with the regret expressed by しまった. Use it when acknowledging that an action disturbed someone’s plans or routine.
しまった
しまった in 乱してしまった expresses regret that the disruption ended up happening. Together with 乱して, the phrase means that the speaker unfortunately disrupted the other person’s evening plans. The pattern Vてしまった is useful when apologizing for an unwanted result.
と
と marks 乱してしまったとわかっています as the statement that the speaker knows. It connects the quoted fact with わかっています. Use it after a complete statement when saying that you know, think, or understand that statement.
わかって
わかって means “knowing” or “being aware” in 乱してしまったとわかっています. It is the te-form based on わかる and connects the recognized fact with います. Use it in the pattern 〜とわかっています when acknowledging responsibility or awareness.
います
います completes 乱してしまったとわかっています and expresses the speaker’s continuing awareness of the disruption. It is the polite form used with the ongoing state of knowing. Here it shows that the speaker recognizes the effect of the late change.
ご家族
ご家族 means “your family” in ご家族の皆さん. The ご- prefix makes the reference to the listener’s family respectful. Use it when speaking politely about another person’s family.
皆さん
皆さん means “everyone” or “all of you” in ご家族の皆さん. Here it refers collectively to the members of the other person’s family. It commonly follows a group noun when addressing or referring to all members respectfully.
無事
無事 means “safe” or “well” in 無事だと願っています. It describes the hoped-for condition of the family. It commonly appears with だ when stating that someone or something is safe.
だ
だ is the plain copula in 無事だと願っています and marks 無事 as the condition being hoped for. It appears inside the statement connected by と, rather than as the polite ending of the whole sentence. The pattern Xだと願っています expresses hope that X is true.
願って
願って means “hoping” or “wishing” in 無事だと願っています. It is the te-form based on 願う and combines with います to express an ongoing hope. Use 無事だと願っています when expressing concern and hope for someone’s safety.
Grammar Points
〜たら
落ち着いたら、詳しいことを確認してください。
oh-chee-TSOO-ee-tah-rah, koo-wah-SHEE koh-toh oh kah-koo-NIN shee-TEH koo-dah-SAI.Once things have calmed down, please confirm the details.
〜たら means “if” or “when.” Here, it shows that confirming should happen after things have calmed down.
〜べきでした
もっと早く伝えるべきでした。
moht-toh hah-YAH-koo tsoo-tah-eh-roo BEH-kee deh-SHEE-tah.I should have told you sooner.
〜べきでした expresses regret about something that should have been done in the past.
Japanese Vocabulary
キャンセル
noun
kyahn-SEH-roo
cancellation; cancel
すみません
intj
soo-mee-mah-SEN
I'm sorry
本当にすみませんが
その通り
phrase
soh-noh toh-oh-ree
that's right; exactly
家を出られません
phrase
ee-eh oh deh-rah-reh-mah-SEN
cannot leave home
家族
noun
kah-ZOH-koo
family
起きて
verb
oh-KEE-teh
happened; occurred
急な
adj
kyoo-nah
sudden; urgent
今夜
noun
kohn-YAH
tonight
残念
adj
zah-NEN
disappointing; unfortunate
本当に
adv
hohn-TOH-nee
really
本当にすみませんが
問題
noun
mohn-DAI
problem; issue
予定
noun
yoh-TEH
plan; schedule
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
I'm sorry
Show Answer
すみませんcancellation; cancel
Show Answer
キャンセルcannot leave home
Show Answer
家を出られませんthat's right; exactly