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    大変ご無沙汰しております (Taihen gobusata shite orimasu - It has been an extremely long time)

    Grammar & Usage

    fixed expression
    formal / business polite (keigo)

    How it works

    This phrase begins with the adverb '大変' (taihen, very/greatly), modifying 'ご無沙汰' (gobusata), which attaches the honorific prefix 'ご-' (go-) to '無沙汰' (busata, neglecting to contact/visit). It concludes with 'しております' (shite orimasu), the humble auxiliary verb 'おる' (oru) in polite form (-masu), lowering the speaker's status to show respect while acknowledging a lapse in communication.

    Sample sentences

    鈴木様、大変ご無沙汰しております。お元気でお過ごしでしょうか。

    Dear Mr. Suzuki, it has been a very long time. I hope you are doing well.

    大変ご無沙汰しておりますが、その後のプロジェクトの進捗はいかがでしょうか。

    I apologize for the long silence, but could you let me know how the project has been progressing since then?

    前回の展示会以来、大変ご無沙汰しております。

    It has been a very long time since we last saw each other at the previous exhibition.

    Quick facts

    nuance:Implies a respectful apology for the speaker's failure to maintain regular contact.
    formalityContext:Standard formal opening in business emails, letters, and polite verbal greetings when contacting someone after a significant period of time
    honorificCategory:Kenjōgo (Humble language) combined with Teineigo (Polite language)

    Mnemonic

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    Example

    鈴木様、大変ご無沙汰しております。お元気でお過ごしでしょうか。

    Dear Mr. Suzuki, it has been a very long time. I hope you are doing well.

    大変ご無沙汰しておりますが、その後のプロジェクトの進捗はいかがでしょうか。

    I apologize for the long silence, but could you let me know how the project has been progressing since then?

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