How do you say "Thank you for waiting." in Japanese?

"Thank you for waiting." in Japanese is "お待たせしました。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

🙏⏳

How to Say ‘Thank you for waiting.’ in Japanese

Q: What does "お待たせしました。" mean in English?

"お待たせしました。" means "Thank you for waiting." in English. Usage tip: [お待たせしました] literally comes from "I kept you waiting," but it's the standard polite way to say "thanks for waiting" in shops and offices. You'll also hear the casual version [お待たせ] or [お待たせしました。では…] when someone is ready to continue.

お待たせしました。

o mata se shi mashi ta

[oh mah-tah seh shee mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: [お待たせしました] literally comes from "I kept you waiting," but it's the standard polite way to say "thanks for waiting" in shops and offices. You'll also hear the casual version [お待たせ] or [お待たせしました。では…] when someone is ready to continue.

Phrase Breakdown

お

[oh]

polite prefix

A polite prefix often added to words or verb forms to make the expression more respectful.

Example

お名前をお願いします。

Your name, please.

待た

mata

[mah-tah]

wait (stem)

From 待つ, meaning to wait. In this phrase it is part of お待たせしました, a polite apology for making someone wait.

Example

少し待たせてしまいました。

I ended up making you wait a little.

せ

[seh]

make/let (part of causative form)

This kana is part of the causative pattern in 待たせる, meaning to make someone wait.

Example

お待たせしました。

Thank you for waiting / Sorry to keep you waiting.

し

shi

[shee]

do (part of します)

This kana is part of する in its polite past form しました.

Example

住所を確認しました。

I confirmed the address.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

did (polite, part of ました)

Part of the polite past ending ました, used to speak politely about completed actions.

Example

手続きを終えました。

I finished the procedure.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

Marks the action as completed in polite past expressions like ました.

Example

申請書を出した。

I submitted the application form.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager