B2 Expression フォーマル 2分で読める

We offer our sincere apologies

Formal business communication expression

Use this phrase to professionally apologize for business errors and maintain a positive corporate image.

15秒でわかる

  • A professional way for groups to say they are sorry.
  • Best used in business emails, letters, and official announcements.
  • Shows high accountability and respect for the other person's time.

意味

This is a very polite and professional way for a company or group to say they are sorry for a mistake. It shows that the organization takes the problem seriously and wants to make things right.

主な例文

3 / 6
1

A flight is delayed by four hours

We offer our sincere apologies for the delay to your flight today.

We offer our sincere apologies for the delay to your flight today.

💼
2

A restaurant brings the wrong meal

We offer our sincere apologies for the mix-up with your order.

We offer our sincere apologies for the mix-up with your order.

👔
3

A software company has a server outage

We offer our sincere apologies for the service interruption this morning.

We offer our sincere apologies for the service interruption this morning.

💼
🌍

文化的背景

In Western business culture, the 'corporate apology' is a vital tool for maintaining brand reputation. Using the word 'sincere' is a linguistic attempt to humanize a large, faceless corporation. It became a standard part of customer service scripts during the rise of the service economy in the late 20th century.

💡

The 'We' vs 'I' Secret

Always use 'we' when writing for a company. It makes the apology feel like it comes from the whole brand, not just one person.

⚠️

Don't Overuse It

If you say this for every tiny thing, it starts to sound fake. Save it for mistakes that actually inconvenienced someone.

15秒でわかる

  • A professional way for groups to say they are sorry.
  • Best used in business emails, letters, and official announcements.
  • Shows high accountability and respect for the other person's time.

What It Means

This phrase is the gold standard for professional regrets. It tells someone that your entire organization feels bad about a mistake. It sounds much heavier and more respectful than a quick sorry. You are basically handing over a formal gift of regret. It moves the conversation from a mistake to a solution.

How To Use It

Put this right at the start of your communication. It sets a tone of accountability immediately. You usually follow it with the word for to explain the mistake. For example, We offer our sincere apologies for the delay. It works best in writing, like emails or formal letters. It sounds polished and prepared.

When To Use It

Use this when a business mistake affects a customer. If a flight is canceled, the airline says this. If a hotel loses a reservation, they say this. It is perfect for situations where money or time was lost. It shows you take the person's frustration seriously. It is a bridge back to a good relationship.

When NOT To Use It

Never use this with your best friend. If you forget to text them back, don't say this. It will sound like you are a robot or a bank. Also, avoid it for tiny, harmless mistakes. It can feel a bit dramatic if the problem was small. Keep it for when professionalism is required.

Cultural Background

In many English-speaking cultures, a formal apology is a social shield. It helps de-escalate angry customers before things get worse. There is a huge emphasis on "customer service excellence" in the US and UK. This phrase is a key tool in that world. It acknowledges the customer's value.

Common Variations

You might hear Please accept our apologies or We sincerely apologize. If the mistake is huge, people say We offer our deepest apologies. For something slightly less formal, try We are very sorry for the inconvenience. Each one changes the "temperature" of the apology slightly.

使い方のコツ

This is a high-register phrase. Use it in emails, official letters, or when speaking as a representative of a company. Avoid using it in casual conversations as it may come across as cold or sarcastic.

💡

The 'We' vs 'I' Secret

Always use 'we' when writing for a company. It makes the apology feel like it comes from the whole brand, not just one person.

⚠️

Don't Overuse It

If you say this for every tiny thing, it starts to sound fake. Save it for mistakes that actually inconvenienced someone.

💬

The British Nuance

In the UK, people might say 'My apologies' in a semi-formal way, but 'We offer our sincere apologies' remains strictly for business.

例文

6
#1 A flight is delayed by four hours
💼

We offer our sincere apologies for the delay to your flight today.

We offer our sincere apologies for the delay to your flight today.

Standard airline communication to keep passengers calm.

#2 A restaurant brings the wrong meal
👔

We offer our sincere apologies for the mix-up with your order.

We offer our sincere apologies for the mix-up with your order.

Used by the manager to show the restaurant cares about quality.

#3 A software company has a server outage
💼

We offer our sincere apologies for the service interruption this morning.

We offer our sincere apologies for the service interruption this morning.

Common in tech support emails to all users.

#4 A friend uses it sarcastically after being 1 minute late
😄

Oh, we offer our sincere apologies for keeping your majesty waiting!

Oh, we offer our sincere apologies for keeping your majesty waiting!

The high formality makes it sound funny in a casual setting.

#5 A bank makes a major billing error
👔

We offer our sincere apologies for the error on your monthly statement.

We offer our sincere apologies for the error on your monthly statement.

Crucial for rebuilding trust after a financial mistake.

#6 A company accidentally leaks customer data
💭

We offer our sincere apologies for this breach of your privacy.

We offer our sincere apologies for this breach of your privacy.

Used in very serious, high-stakes emotional situations.

自分をテスト

Complete the professional email sentence.

We ___ our sincere apologies for the technical issues you experienced.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: offer

In formal English, we 'offer' apologies rather than 'giving' them.

Choose the correct adjective to complete the phrase.

Please accept our ___ apologies for the late delivery.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: sincere

'Sincere' is the standard adjective used to show genuine regret in business.

🎉 スコア: /2

ビジュアル学習ツール

Apology Formality Scale

Casual

Used with friends for small mistakes.

My bad!

Neutral

Standard everyday apology.

I'm so sorry.

Formal

Professional business communication.

We offer our sincere apologies.

Very Formal

High-level legal or diplomatic regret.

We express our deepest regrets.

When to Use 'We Offer Our Sincere Apologies'

Formal Apology
📦

Shipping Delay

Package is late.

💰

Billing Error

Overcharged customer.

😠

Bad Service

Rude staff member.

🎟️

Event Cancellation

Concert is called off.

よくある質問

12 問

It means 'honest' or 'genuine.' It tells the customer that you aren't just saying sorry because you have to, but because you actually feel bad.

Only if you are texting a client in a very professional capacity. For friends, it sounds way too stiff and robotic.

In business, yes. 'We are sorry' is okay, but 'We offer our sincere apologies' sounds more structured and respectful.

Yes, usually you add for [the reason] right after the phrase, like for the inconvenience or for the error.

It is used in both! It is a universal standard for professional English worldwide.

Yes, as a leader, using 'we' shows that you take responsibility for your team's mistakes.

In this specific phrase, we almost always use the plural apologies to make it sound more formal and substantial.

You can, but it sounds very old-fashioned. 'We' is much more common in modern business.

Often, yes. Lawyers use it because it acknowledges a mistake without necessarily admitting legal guilt in some contexts.

Usually, you should offer a solution, like: We will issue a full refund immediately.

Yes! We offer our sincerest apologies is even more formal and emphasizes the regret even more.

Not at all. While some startups prefer casual language, most established businesses still rely on this for serious issues.

関連フレーズ

Please accept our apologies

A slightly softer but still formal way to say sorry.

We deeply regret the inconvenience

Used for very serious service failures or delays.

We are sorry for the trouble

A more neutral, less formal version of the phrase.

Much to our regret

A very formal way to introduce bad news or an apology.

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