Keigo at work · Lesson 11

Refusing and apologising: 「あいにく」, 「〜かねます」

あいにく、月曜日げつようびまでに五十台ごじゅうだいはご用意よういいたしかねます。

Refuse gracefully with 「あいにく」, 「〜かねます」: apology, reason, refusal, alternative; apologies from 「失礼しつれいいたしました」 to 「お詫わび申もうし上あげます」.

Practise Paid

In this lesson

  1. 01Main dialogue: an extra order you can’t accept
  2. 02How to refuse softly: あいにく、〜かねます
  3. 03Turning down invitations, gifts and terms
  4. 04How heavy an apology is, and how to build one
  5. 05Wrong → right

Practice

  • Match each phrase to its meaning
  • Which one is appropriate?
  • How would you reply?
  • Choose the phrase for each blank
  • Change to the formal version for outsiders
  • Put the pieces in order

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Practice

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