失礼(しつれい)

失礼(しつれい) is a na-adjective meaning 'rude' and also functions as a noun/set expression.

Forms

• Adverbial: 失礼(しつれい)に (rarely used)
• Modifier: 失礼(しつれい)な + noun

Conjugation

• Negative: 失礼(しつれい)ではない / 失礼(しつれい)じゃない
• Te-form: 失礼(しつれい)で
• Past: 失礼(しつれい)だった

Key expressions

• 失礼(しつれい)します: Used when entering someone's space, leaving a room, or before doing something that might inconvenience others
• 失礼(しつれい)しました: Apologizing for past rudeness
• お先(さき)に失礼(しつれい)します: Said when leaving work before colleagues
• 失礼(しつれい)ですが...: "Excuse me, but..." (before asking a potentially sensitive question)

USAGE — WHERE YOU HEAR IT:

• Ending a 電話(でんわ) call to a customer or a 目上(めうえ) person: 失礼(しつれい)します is the standard sign-off, not さようなら.
• Leaving a 会議(かいぎ) or an office before others: お先(さき)に失礼(しつれい)します.
• In business writing and formal speech the humble 失礼(しつれい)いたします replaces 失礼(しつれい)します.

Similar adjectives and phrases

• すみません: apologizes for trouble caused; 失礼(しつれい)します announces the act itself and needs no fault
• ごめんなさい: casual apology between equals or to children; never used as 失礼(しつれい)します is
• 無礼(ぶれい): rude in a stronger, more formal register — used of serious offense, and never as a set greeting
• 礼儀(れいぎ): manners, etiquette (the noun for the standard 失礼(しつれい) falls short of)