Apologising and Explaining a Delay

What you’ll learn

Acknowledge a problem and give a practical update.

សុំទោសចំពោះការយឺត និងផ្ដល់ព័ត៌មានមានប្រយោជន៍។

Situation and purpose

A helpful apology acknowledges the inconvenience and gives a clear update. Sorry I am late addresses the current arrival; sorry for being late names the behaviour. If you are still travelling, give a realistic estimate and explain any change to the plan. A brief reason is usually enough.

ការសុំទោសគួរទទួលស្គាល់ការរំខាន និងប្រាប់ព័ត៌មានថ្មី។ បើនៅធ្វើដំណើរ ប្រាប់ពេលប៉ាន់ស្មានច្បាស់ និងស្នើការប្ដូរបើចាំបាច់។

Useful expressions

Pattern	Example or form
Apologise	I’m sorry I’m late.
Give a reason	The bus was delayed.
Update	I expect to arrive in fifteen minutes.
Check the plan	Should we still meet at the same place?

Examples

1. Sorry for keeping you waiting.

   សុំទោសដែលធ្វើឱ្យអ្នករង់ចាំ។

2. I’m on my way.

   ខ្ញុំកំពុងធ្វើដំណើរទៅ។

3. Thanks for letting me know.

   អរគុណដែលបានប្រាប់ខ្ញុំ។

4. Please start without me.

   សូមចាប់ផ្ដើមដោយមិនចាំខ្ញុំ។

Model conversation

Dara: Hi, I’m sorry, but my bus is delayed.

Maly: Thanks for letting me know. How long will you be?

Dara: I expect to arrive in fifteen minutes.

Maly: All right. We’ll wait at the café.

Dara: Sorry for keeping you waiting.

Maly: No problem. Send a message when you arrive.

Common mistakes

Instead of	Use	Why
Sorry for be late.	Sorry for being late.	For takes an -ing form.
I will arrive after fifteen minutes. (intended: fifteen minutes from now)	I will arrive in fifteen minutes.	In measures time from now; after normally relates to another reference event.

Practice

Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.

សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។

1. Apologise for making someone wait.
2. Say you expect to arrive ten minutes from now.
3. Ask whether the meeting place is unchanged.

Answers and explanations

Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ

1. Sorry for keeping you waiting.

   Model answer: name the inconvenience.

2. I expect to arrive in ten minutes.

   In ten minutes is relative to now.

3. Should we still meet at the same place?

   Model answer: check the practical arrangement.

Quick recap

• Apologise and acknowledge the inconvenience.
• Give a realistic update.
• Use in for time measured from now.