Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "行きます" vs "しつれいします"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
行きます
いきます (ikimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
しつれいします
しつれいします (shitsurei shimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 行きます and しつれいします are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
行きます (いきます (ikimasu)) represents "to go (polite form)" (Level: N5) and typically represents Polite form of 行く.
On the other hand, しつれいします (しつれいします (shitsurei shimasu)) translates to "Excuse me; Sorry to bother you; Goodbye (when leaving someone's office/home)" (Level: N5) and is used for Literally 'I'm committing a rudeness.' Used when entering/leaving a room, interrupting someone, or asking to pass by. It's a polite apology for a potential inconvenience.. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "行きます"
学校へ行きます。
I go to school.
Bilingual Sentence for "しつれいします"
お先に失礼します。
Excuse me, I'm leaving first.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "学校へ ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I go to school.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "行きます" fits here because it represents "to go (polite form)" in the context: "I go to school.".