この間のことは謝りますから
昨日のフライト前あるお客様とトラブルがありました
Introduction to Formal Business Apologies and Reporting
Today we’re learning professional Japanese expressions used in business contexts, particularly in customer service and incident reporting. These phrases demonstrate formal apology structures and professional problem reporting – essential skills for anyone working in Japanese business environments. For JLPT N3-N2 students, understanding patterns like この間, のこと, から for reasoning, and formal reporting language is crucial for workplace Japanese.
First Expression: この間のことは謝りますから
Word Breakdown
この間 (このあいだ) – the other day, recently, the other time
のこと – matter, thing, incident (nominalizing)
は – topic particle
謝ります (あやまります) – will apologize (polite form of 謝る)
から – because, so (reason/cause particle)
Translation
Literal meaning: As for the matter from the other day, I will apologize, so…
Natural translation: I will apologize for what happened the other day, so… / I’ll apologize for the incident from the other day, so…
Understanding この間 (The Other Day)
この間 is a time expression meaning “the other day,” “recently,” or “the other time.” It refers to a relatively recent past event that both speaker and listener are aware of.
Understanding この間:
この間 can refer to:
A few days ago
Last week
Recently (within the recent past)
“That time we talked about”
The exact time frame depends on context, but it’s always something relatively recent that’s already known to both parties.
Not to be confused with:
この間に (このあいだに) – during this time, in this interval
その間 (そのあいだ) – during that time
Examples with この間
この間 usage:
この間はありがとうございました – Thank you for the other day
この間の会議で – At the meeting the other day
この間話した件 – The matter we discussed recently
この間買った本 – The book I bought the other day
この間会った人 – The person I met recently
この間のパーティー – The party from the other day
Grammar Point: のこと (Nominalizing – The Matter Of)
As we learned in previous episodes, のこと is used to nominalize or turn something into “the matter of” or “the thing about.” In this context, この間のこと means “the matter/incident from the other day.”
のこと pattern:
Without のこと: この間は謝ります
(I’ll apologize for the other day)
With のこと: この間のことは謝ります
(I’ll apologize for the matter from the other day)
The のこと adds:
Reference to the specific incident/matter
More formal and precise
Emphasis on “what happened” rather than just the time
Understanding 謝る (To Apologize)
謝る (あやまる) is a formal verb meaning “to apologize.” It’s more formal than すみません and indicates a serious, deliberate apology.
Different ways to apologize in Japanese:
Casual/Minor:
ごめん – Sorry
すみません – Sorry / Excuse me
Standard Polite:
すみませんでした – I’m sorry (past)
申し訳ありません – I apologize
Formal/Serious:
謝ります – I will apologize
謝罪します (しゃざいします) – I apologize (formal)
お詫び申し上げます (おわびもうしあげます) – I offer my apologies (very formal)
謝る specifically means the act of apologizing and is used when talking about apologizing as an action, not just expressing “sorry” in the moment.
Examples with 謝る
謝る usage:
彼に謝る – Apologize to him
謝らなければならない – Must apologize
謝りに行く – Go to apologize
謝るべきだ – Should apologize
謝って許してもらう – Apologize and be forgiven
謝罪文を出す – Issue a written apology
Grammar Point: から as Reason/Cause
The から at the end indicates reason or cause. When から ends a sentence like this, it typically implies “so please understand” or “so it will be okay” – the consequence is left unsaid but understood.
Understanding sentence-ending から:
この間のことは謝りますから
= I’ll apologize for the other day’s matter, so…
Implied continuations might be:
…許してください (please forgive me)
…大丈夫です (it’ll be okay)
…心配しないで (don’t worry)
…安心してください (please be assured)
This pattern is common in Japanese where the conclusion is left to be understood rather than stated explicitly.
Different から Uses
から patterns:
Complete sentences:
雨だから行かない – Because it’s rain, I won’t go
忙しいから後で – Because I’m busy, later
Trailing sentences (implication):
私がやりますから… – I’ll do it, so… (don’t worry)
大丈夫ですから… – It’s okay, so… (trust me)
謝りますから… – I’ll apologize, so… (it’ll be fine)
The trailing から creates a softer, more indirect communication style.
Context: When This Is Said
This phrase is typically used when someone is promising to make amends for a past incident. It’s often said to a superior, colleague, or third party to assure them that the speaker will take responsibility and apologize to the affected party.
Typical scenario:
上司: 客とトラブルになったそうだね。
社員: はい、申し訳ございません。この間のことは謝りますから、どうかもう一度チャンスをください。
Boss: I heard you had trouble with a customer.
Employee: Yes, I’m very sorry. I will apologize for the other day’s incident, so please give me another chance.
Second Expression: 昨日のフライト前あるお客様とトラブルがありました
Word Breakdown
昨日 (きのう) – yesterday
の – possessive particle
フライト – flight
前 (まえ) – before
ある – a certain, some
お客様 (おきゃくさま) – customer, guest (honorific)
と – with (particle)
トラブル – trouble, problem
がありました – there was (polite past of ある)
Translation
Translation: There was trouble with a certain customer before yesterday’s flight / Yesterday before the flight, there was an incident with a customer
Understanding the Time Expression: 昨日のフライト前
This compound time expression breaks down as: 昨日の (yesterday’s) + フライト (flight) + 前 (before) = “before yesterday’s flight”
Similar time expressions:
会議の前 – Before the meeting
授業の後 – After class
試験の前日 – The day before the exam
出発の30分前 – 30 minutes before departure
昨日の朝 – Yesterday morning
今日の午後 – This afternoon
Understanding ある as “A Certain”
In this context, ある doesn’t mean “to exist” but rather means “a certain” or “some.” It’s used when referring to someone or something without specifying exactly who or what.
ある as “a certain”:
ある人 – A certain person, someone
ある日 – One day, a certain day
ある店 – A certain store
ある理由 – A certain reason, some reason
ある時 – At a certain time, once
This usage adds:
Vagueness or generalization
Avoiding specific identification
Formal, report-like tone
Why use it?
Privacy (not naming the customer)
Professional discretion
Focus on the incident, not the person
Understanding お客様 (Honorific for Customer)
お客様 is the respectful, honorific form of 客 (customer/guest). It’s standard in all customer service contexts in Japan.
Customer terminology:
客 (きゃく) – Customer, guest (neutral)
お客 (おきゃく) – Customer (polite)
お客様 (おきゃくさま) – Honorable customer (formal, respectful)
お客さん (おきゃくさん) – Customer (casual polite)
In business contexts, always use お客様:
お客様は神様です – The customer is god (business motto)
お客様にご案内します – I will guide the customer
お客様がお待ちです – A customer is waiting
Grammar Point: と particle with トラブル
The particle と indicates “with (someone)” in the context of relationships, interactions, or incidents. お客様とトラブル means “trouble WITH a customer.”
と for “with” in incidents:
友達と喧嘩した – Had a fight with a friend
上司と意見が合わない – Don’t agree with my boss
隣人と問題がある – Have a problem with the neighbor
彼とトラブルになった – Got into trouble with him
先生と相談する – Consult with the teacher (positive)
Understanding トラブル (Trouble)
トラブル is a loanword from English meaning trouble, problems, or incidents. It’s commonly used in Japanese, especially in business and formal contexts.
トラブル usage:
トラブルが起きる – Trouble occurs
トラブルになる – Become trouble / Turn into a problem
トラブルがある – There is trouble
トラブルを解決する – Resolve the trouble
トラブルを避ける – Avoid trouble
トラブルに巻き込まれる – Get caught up in trouble
Common types:
人間関係のトラブル – Interpersonal trouble
機械のトラブル – Equipment trouble
金銭トラブル – Money trouble
法律トラブル – Legal trouble
Grammar Point: がありました (There Was)
This is the polite past tense of ある, used to report the existence or occurrence of something. In professional contexts, it’s the standard way to report incidents.
Professional reporting with がありました:
事故がありました – There was an accident
問題がありました – There was a problem
ミスがありました – There was a mistake
変更がありました – There was a change
遅延がありました – There was a delay
クレームがありました – There was a complaint
Why This Phrasing Is Professional
This sentence structure is deliberately formal and objective. Notice how it:
Professional reporting characteristics:
Uses ある instead of specific verbs
Uses お客様 (respectful term)
Uses トラブル (neutral, professional term)
Uses ありました (formal past tense)
Doesn’t assign blame directly
Focuses on the fact of the incident
Compare informal vs formal:
Informal: 昨日、客と喧嘩した
(Yesterday, I fought with a customer)
Formal: 昨日のフライト前あるお客様とトラブルがありました
(There was trouble with a certain customer before yesterday’s flight)
Combining Both Expressions: Complete Context
Flight Attendant Incident Report
Formal incident report scenario:
上司: 昨日のシフトで何かありましたか?
CA: はい、報告があります。昨日のフライト前あるお客様とトラブルがありました。座席の件でクレームを受けまして、少し言い合いになってしまいました。
上司: そうですか。どう対応しましたか?
CA: その場では謝罪し、別の座席をご案内しました。しかし、お客様はまだご不満のようでした。この間のことは謝りますから、直接お客様にもう一度謝罪の機会をいただけないでしょうか。
上司: わかりました。では、正式に謝罪文を用意してください。
Supervisor: Was there anything during yesterday’s shift?
Flight Attendant: Yes, I have something to report. There was trouble with a certain customer before yesterday’s flight. We received a complaint about seating, and it turned into a bit of an argument.
Supervisor: I see. How did you handle it?
Flight Attendant: I apologized on the spot and guided them to a different seat. However, the customer still seemed dissatisfied. I will apologize for the other day’s incident, so could I please have an opportunity to apologize to the customer directly once more?
Supervisor: Understood. Then please prepare a formal written apology.
Hotel Service Incident
Hotel context:
マネージャー: 田中さん、この件について説明してください。
スタッフ: はい。昨日の夜、あるお客様とトラブルがありました。部屋の清掃が不十分だったとのクレームでした。
マネージャー: それで?
スタッフ: すぐに再清掃を手配し、お詫びとして部屋をアップグレードさせていただきました。この間のことは謝りますから、今後はチェック体制を強化いたします。
Manager: Tanaka, please explain this matter.
Staff: Yes. Last night, there was trouble with a certain customer. It was a complaint that the room cleaning was insufficient.
Manager: And then?
Staff: I immediately arranged for re-cleaning and upgraded the room as an apology. I will apologize for the other day’s incident, and going forward I will strengthen the checking system.
Related Business Vocabulary
Incident Reporting Terms
報告する (ほうこくする) – To report
事故 (じこ) – Accident
問題 (もんだい) – Problem
クレーム – Complaint
苦情 (くじょう) – Complaint (formal)
対応する (たいおうする) – To handle, respond to
処理する (しょりする) – To process, handle
解決する (かいけつする) – To resolve
改善する (かいぜんする) – To improve
防止する (ぼうしする) – To prevent
Apology-Related Expressions
謝罪する (しゃざいする) – To apologize (formal)
お詫びする (おわびする) – To apologize (humble)
申し訳ない (もうしわけない) – I’m sorry (formal)
責任を取る (せきにんをとる) – To take responsibility
弁償する (べんしょうする) – To compensate
償う (つぐなう) – To make amends
許しを請う (ゆるしをこう) – To beg forgiveness
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete with この間
1. ＿＿＿＿はありがとうございました (Thank you for the other day)
2. ＿＿＿＿の会議で話した (Talked at the meeting the other day)
3. ＿＿＿＿のことは申し訳ない (Sorry about the other day)
Exercise 2: Create professional incident reports
Report these incidents formally using がありました:
1. System error yesterday
2. Complaint from a customer
3. Delay in delivery
Exercise 3: Write a formal apology
Create a short apology using:
この間のこと (the other day’s matter)
謝ります (will apologize)
から (so/because)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using ある incorrectly
Wrong: ある お客様 (with space – means “existing customer”)
Correct: あるお客様 (no space – means “a certain customer”)
When ある means “a certain,” it directly modifies the noun
Mistake 2: Using 客 instead of お客様 in business
Casual: 客とトラブル
Professional: お客様とトラブル
Always use お客様 in professional contexts
Mistake 3: Being too direct in incident reports
Too direct: 私が客と喧嘩しました (I fought with a customer)
Professional: お客様とトラブルがありました (There was trouble with a customer)
Use neutral, objective language
Mistake 4: Ending から sentence too abruptly
Awkward: 謝りますから。(period feels too final)
Natural: 謝りますから… (trailing off)
OR: 謝りますから、許してください (complete the thought)
Trailing から needs context to work naturally
Key Takeaways for JLPT Students
この間 is essential N4-N3 vocabulary for referring to recent past events. It appears frequently in both casual and formal contexts.
のこと for nominalization is crucial N3 grammar that makes your Japanese more sophisticated and precise, especially in formal situations.
から for trailing sentences represents an important aspect of indirect Japanese communication – leaving conclusions implied rather than stated.
Professional reporting language like トラブルがありました and あるお客様 demonstrates the formal, objective style required in Japanese business communication.
Cultural Context
Japanese Business Apology Culture:
These expressions reveal important aspects of Japanese professional culture:
Proactive Apology: The phrase この間のことは謝りますから shows the Japanese tendency to promise apologies before being asked. Taking initiative to apologize demonstrates responsibility and sincerity.
Objective Reporting: The neutral phrasing トラブルがありました (there was trouble) rather than “I caused trouble” reflects the Japanese preference for indirect, face-saving communication even when accepting responsibility.
Customer Supremacy: Using お客様 with maximum respect even when reporting a problem shows the deeply ingrained customer service culture in Japan (お客様は神様です – the customer is god).
Privacy and Discretion: Using ある to avoid naming the specific customer demonstrates professional discretion and respect for privacy, even in incident reports.
Wrap-up
Today we explored two expressions that represent professional Japanese communication in customer service and business contexts. Through この間のことは謝りますから and 昨日のフライト前あるお客様とトラブルがありました, we learned how to formally apologize and professionally report incidents.
We studied この間 for recent past events, the nominalization pattern のこと, the reasoning particle から with trailing sentences, and professional reporting structures. We also learned how ある can mean “a certain” and how to use formal vocabulary like お客様 and トラブル in business contexts.
These expressions demonstrate the indirect, face-saving communication style of Japanese business culture. Rather than direct blame or confrontational language, Japanese uses neutral reporting structures and proactive apologies to maintain harmony while addressing problems.
For JLPT students and anyone working in Japanese business environments, mastering these formal expressions is essential. They represent not just linguistic patterns but cultural values of responsibility, discretion, and customer service that define Japanese professional interactions.