1.
(while you are) busy; at such a busy time (a polite preface acknowledging the listener's busyness)
A polite set phrase used to preface a request, thanks, or imposition on someone who is presumed to be busy. It softens the request by acknowledging that the listener's time is valuable. Almost always followed by a phrase like すみません, 申し訳ありません, ありがとうございます, or a request verb.
お忙しいところすみません。
Sorry to bother you when you're busy.
お忙しいところ、ありがとうございます。
Thank you for taking the time despite being busy.
お忙しいところ恐縮ですが、少々お時間よろしいでしょうか。
I'm sorry to trouble you when you're busy, but could I have a moment of your time?
お忙しいところ、わざわざお越しいただきありがとうございました。
Thank you for going out of your way to come despite your busy schedule.
Formed from お + 忙しい ('busy') + ところ ('situation, point in time'). The ところ here means 'moment' or 'time' rather than a physical place. The whole phrase functions adverbially, softening what follows.
USAGE:
- Used to preface requests, apologies, or thanks in business emails, phone calls, and meetings.
- Typically combined with one of: すみません, 申し訳ありません, 恐縮ですが, ありがとうございます, ご協力ください, etc.
- Appropriate whether or not the listener is actually busy — the phrase is formulaic politeness, not a factual claim.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- お忙しいところすみません: sorry to bother you when you're busy
- お忙しいところ恐縮ですが: I'm sorry to trouble you when you're busy, but...
- お忙しいところ申し訳ありませんが: I apologize for imposing when you're busy, but...
- お忙しいところありがとうございます: thank you for [doing X] despite being busy
- お忙しい中: a near-synonymous variant using 中 instead of ところ
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- お忙しい中: (in the midst of) your busy [schedule] — interchangeable in most uses
- お手数をおかけしますが: I'm sorry to trouble you — focuses on the effort requested, not the listener's schedule
- 恐れ入りますが: excuse me, but — a more general polite preface
REGISTER:
- Formal/business register. Not used casually.
- Written form is identical to spoken form.
- Combined with the listener's title, it produces very polite sentences: 先生、お忙しいところ申し訳ございません.