Formal to Client
Workplace · Meeting
お待たせいたしました。大変失礼いたしました。 — Thank you for your patience. I sincerely apologize for the wait. (Workplace · Meeting, Formal to Client, JLPT N3)
You
お待たせいたしました。大変失礼いたしました。
おまたせいたしました。たいへんしつれいいたしました。
Thank you for your patience. I sincerely apologize for the wait.
Romaji: O-matase itashimashita. Taihen shitsurei itashimashita. / Reply Romaji: Iie, daijoubu desu yo.
Reply
いいえ、大丈夫ですよ。
いいえ、だいじょうぶですよ。
Not at all, it is fine.
Gesture & etiquette
Bow immediately upon arrival — at least 30 degrees. Keep the apology sincere but brief, then transition swiftly to the agenda to make productive use of the remaining time. Do not over-apologize in a loop, which delays the meeting further.
This phrase pairs an acknowledgment of the wait with a genuine apology — always use both elements, not just one. In Japanese business culture, keeping someone waiting is a serious offense. Follow immediately with a brief explanation and then proceed efficiently to respect the time already lost.