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.
I'm sorry to trouble you when you're busy, but could I have a moment of your time?
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 words
- 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