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    ご心配をおかけしました。 (I caused you worry. - slightly less formal, past tense)

    Grammar & Usage

    fixed expression
    polite, neutral to slightly formal

    How it works

    This phrase uses the honorific prefix ご (go) for 心配 (shinpai, worry/concern), followed by the direct object marker を (o). おかけしました (okake shimashita) is the past tense of the humble verb かける (kakeru, to cause/impose), used here in its humble form to show respect to the listener. It literally means 'I caused you worry'.

    Sample sentences

    体調不良で会議を欠席して、ご心配をおかけしました。

    I apologize for causing you worry by missing the meeting due to poor health.

    連絡が遅れて、皆様にご心配をおかけしましたことをお詫び申し上げます。

    I sincerely apologize for causing everyone worry due to my late communication.

    この度は、大変ご心配をおかけしました。もう大丈夫です。

    I caused you a lot of worry this time. I'm okay now.

    Quick facts

    nuance:While the prompt says 'slightly less formal', it's still a standard polite expression. It's less formal than a deeply apologetic phrase like 誠に申し訳ございません (makoto ni moushiwake gozaimasen) but more formal than a simple ごめんね (gomen ne).
    politeness:This phrase is polite and apologetic. The use of ご (go) and the humble verb form おかけしました (okake shimashita) elevates the listener's status and humbles the speaker, making it suitable for a wide range of situations where one apologizes for causing concern.

    Mnemonic

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    Example

    体調不良で会議を欠席して、ご心配をおかけしました。

    I apologize for causing you worry by missing the meeting due to poor health.

    連絡が遅れて、皆様にご心配をおかけしましたことをお詫び申し上げます。

    I sincerely apologize for causing everyone worry due to my late communication.

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