1.
sorry to keep you waiting; thanks for waiting
A set phrase used when arriving late or when someone has been waiting for you. Also used by service staff when bringing food or completing a task.
お待たせ！遅れてごめん。
Sorry for the wait! Sorry I'm late.
Shortened form of お待たせしました. The casual form お待たせ is used between friends and family, while お待たせしました is standard polite, and 大変お待たせいたしました is humble/formal.
Politeness levels
- お待たせ: casual, among friends
- お待たせしました: standard polite, used in shops and restaurants
- 大変お待たせいたしました: very formal, used in business or upscale service
Usage
Used in two main contexts:
- When you arrive and someone has been waiting for you
- When service staff deliver something to a customer (food, documents, etc.)
The phrase is almost automatic in service contexts. Even if the wait was very short, staff will say お待たせしました as a courtesy.