How do you say "Mendo-kusai" in English?
For example, a request by a friend that you care, "Sorry for the trouble" at a time when, in fact, what would you say in English?

「めんどうだなぁ」
「めんどくさくてごめん！」

Question

How do you say "Mendo-kusai" in English?
For example, a request by a friend that you care, "Sorry for the trouble" at a time when, in fact, what would you say in English?

「めんどうだなぁ」
「めんどくさくてごめん！」

Answer

めんどうだなぁ= It's a pain! He's a pain in the ass.
めんどくさくてごめん = Sorry to trouble you; Sorry to have troubled you.
If you're turning down an invitation you say: Sorry I can't come.

Answer

Japanese and English have very different rules regarding politeness and therefore the Japanese tend to use this kind of phrase in situations where we simply wouldn’t bother in English. But, if you really want to say something along those lines, then you should say “sorry to bother you” or “sorry to trouble you”. If you do use these expressions though, in many situations in English you may be viewed as being overpolite.

Answers · 2

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