お邪魔(じゃま)しました

Past tense of お邪魔(じゃま)します. Used at the moment of departure, typically at the entryway of the host's home. The phrase is expected etiquette after a visit, no matter how brief.

Usage

• Said as the guest leaves, either at the door or when stepping outside.
• Also used to end phone calls, especially ones where the caller feels they have taken up the listener's time.
• Can be used after interrupting a coworker briefly to mean 'sorry for the interruption.'

Common collocations

• 今日(きょう)はお邪魔(じゃま)しました: thank you for today
• 長時間(ちょうじかん)お邪魔(じゃま)しました: sorry for imposing for so long
• 突然(とつぜん)お邪魔(じゃま)しました: sorry for dropping in unexpectedly

Related words

• お邪魔(じゃま)します: said when entering (present tense)
• 失礼(しつれい)します / 失礼(しつれい)しました: excuse me / excuse me (for what I've done) — broader in use
• ありがとうございました: thank you — often said together with お邪魔(じゃま)しました

Cultural note

• The pairing of お邪魔(じゃま)します on entering and お邪魔(じゃま)しました on leaving frames a visit politely. The host usually replies with いえいえ ('not at all') or また来(き)てください ('please come again').