Formal to Superior
Workplace · Reporting
You
誠に恐れ入りますが、ご期限に間に合わない可能性がございます。ご相談させてください。
まことにおそれいりますが、ごきげんにまにあわないかのうせいがございます。ごそうだんさせてください。
I am deeply sorry, but there is a possibility I may not meet the deadline. Please allow me to consult with you.
Romaji: Makoto ni osore irimasu ga, go-kigen ni ma ni awanai kanousei ga gozaimasu. Go-sodan sasete kudasai. / Reply Romaji: Wakarimashita, joukyou wo kikasereba...
Reply
わかりました、状況を聞かせていただければ…
わかりました、じょうきょうをきかせていただければ…
Understood, if you could let me know the situation...
Gesture & etiquette
Approach privately and with composure. Have a concise situation summary ready: current status, cause of delay, impact, and your proposed solution or revised timeline. Speak calmly — panic makes the situation worse and reduces the superior's confidence in your judgment.
Reporting a deadline risk early — rather than waiting until failure — is a mark of professional integrity in Japanese workplaces. The phrase opens with a sincere apology, states the risk clearly, and immediately invites consultation. Always arrive with a proposed revised plan when raising this issue.