New here? This is lesson 122 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Cancel plans in Japanese
Leo had coffee plans with Haruka at Kissa Hotaru. Something comes up before he can leave his room, so he cannot go.
He calls her from his room, says sorry twice, and explains he has to cancel. Masako, wiping a cup at the counter, tells him one sorry is enough.
You will say you cannot go, give a reason, and thank someone for understanding.
Keep it polite. A new time comes in the next lesson.
By the end of this lesson
Say you cannot make it, give a reason, and thank someone.
- すみません、行けなくなりました。Sorry, I can't make it.
- 急用ができました。Something came up.
- 体調が悪いです。I'm not feeling well.
- 予定をキャンセルしないといけません。I have to cancel our plans.
- わかってくれてありがとうございます。Thanks for understanding.
- また今度にしましょう。Let's do it another time.
Scene — coffee he cannot keep
Leo planned coffee with Haruka at Kissa Hotaru, but he cannot go. He calls from his small second-floor room in Yanaka.
Haruka is already in a booth with her sketchbook. Masako wipes a cup at the wooden counter and can hear the phone.
Goro sits in the corner with unfinished blend coffee. The old black umbrella still stands by the door, tag unread.
Learn — say you cannot come
These six lines help you cancel. You say you cannot go, give a short reason, and thank the other person.
One line offers another time, without setting a date.
すみません、行けなくなりました。
Sorry, I can't make it.
When to use it: Use this when you must drop a plan you already made.
なくなりました shows a change: you became unable to go.
急用ができました。
Something came up.
When to use it: Give this as a short reason when you cancel.
が marks 急用 as the thing that suddenly appeared.
Say it: Both vowels in 急用 are long; do not clip them.
体調が悪いです。
I'm not feeling well.
When to use it: Use this when you cancel because you feel unwell.
が marks 体調 as the thing that feels bad.
予定をキャンセルしないといけません。
I have to cancel our plans.
When to use it: Use this when you must call off plans you already made.
しないといけません after キャンセル means you have to cancel.
Say it: Give ん its own beat in いけません.
わかってくれてありがとうございます。
Thanks for understanding.
When to use it: Thank someone after they accept that you cannot come.
くれて follows a て-form and marks a kindness to you.
Say it: Hold the small っ in わかって; do not skip it.
また今度にしましょう。
Let's do it another time.
When to use it: Offer another time without naming a day yet.
に marks 今度 as the new time you suggest.
Story — one sorry is enough
Leo has to cancel coffee with Haruka. He calls from his room before he can get to the kissa. He says sorry more than once.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Leo stands in his small second-floor room and calls Haruka.
Harukaもしもし。Hello?
Leoすみません、行けなくなりました。Sorry, I can't make it.- Harukaどうしたんですか。What happened?
- Leo急用ができました。Something came up.
- Harukaどうしてですか。Why is that?
- Leo体調が悪いです。I'm not feeling well.
- Leo予定をキャンセルしないといけません。I have to cancel our plans.
- Harukaそうなんですね。Oh, I see.
- Leoすみません。Sorry.
- Haruka's phone sits on the table. Masako wipes a cup and leans toward the speaker.
Masakoすみませんは一回でいいですよ。One sorry is enough.- Harukaそれは残念ですね。That's too bad.
- Leoわかってくれてありがとうございます。Thanks for understanding.
- Leoまた今度にしましょう。Let's do it another time.
- Harukaはい、そうしましょう。Yes, let's do that.
- Goro nods from the corner. His blend coffee is still full.
Practice — pick a cancel
Eleven short tasks wait here for you. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and pick a reply.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
急用ができました。
What do you say?
What do you say?
You need to cancel coffee because you feel unwell. Give the reason.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Something came up.
急用____できました。
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
それは残念ですね。
That's too bad.
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
Let's do it another time.
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You have to call the plans off, not change them.
予定を____しないといけません。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
True or false?
True or false?
This line only means hello.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
どうしたんですか。
True or false?
True or false?
Say this when you are glad to hear the news.
Say it — your turn to cancel
You are Leo in your room in Yanaka. You call Haruka to cancel coffee, then hang up. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Harukaもしもし。Hello?
- Leo (you)Tell her you cannot make it.
Tell her you cannot make it.
すみません、行けなくなりました。
Sorry, I can't make it.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| すみません、行けなくなりました。 | Sorry, I can't make it. | |
| 急用ができました。 | Something came up. | |
| 体調が悪いです。 | I'm not feeling well. | |
| 予定をキャンセルしないといけません。 | I have to cancel our plans. | |
| わかってくれてありがとうございます。 | Thanks for understanding. | |
| また今度にしましょう。 | Let's do it another time. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these cancel lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round after a cancel keeps the apology ready.
Open Yak Cards