Cushion Words (クッション言葉)

One can make the conversation soft, impressive and smart with the use of cushion words. Speaker can use cushion words for polite decline, request and something may not like by listener. With the help of these words speaker can convey the massage softly and smartly. For example if speaker want to say;

Tanaka is out of office. 田中は外出しております。

With cushion words we can make this sentence more polite;

I am sorry, but Tanaka is out office. 申し訳ございません。あいにく田中は外出しております。

With the addition of申し訳ございません。あいにくsentence become more polite and soft. It will leave the good impression on listener.

Let’s take another example;

Would you repeat it once more? もう一度繰り返してください。

Now add cushion words

I am sorry / I am afraid, but would you repeat it once more? 恐れ入りますが、もう一度繰り返してください。
恐れ入りますがhas made the request more polite.

 

Here is the list of few cushion words;

クッション言葉	Example (例文)
あいにく「ですが」、 Sorry, Unluckily, Unfortunately  あいにくではございますが、	相手が残念に思うことがあった時 When you feel disappointing for other person 例：「あいにく、田中はただいま外出しております。」 [Here you are feeling sorry for other person because, Tanaka is out of office and can’t receive the call]
申し訳ございませんが、 I beg your pardon	相手に申し訳ないと思う時 When you make excuse [apology] 例：「申し訳ございませんが、明日は別の予定が入っております。」 [Due to different engagement, you won’t be able meet the other person]
恐れ入りますが、 I am afraid	分からないことを質問する時 何かをお願いする時 When request the other person to repeat something , you don’t know or you don’t understand 例：「恐れ入りますが、本日は何時ごろまで事務所にいらっしゃいますでしょうか？」 [You want to know till what the other person available in the office, and you are afraid in asking the same from other person]
お手数ですが、 Sorry to have troubled you	相手の仕事を増やす時 When you think you action will increase the other person’s work 例：「お手数ですが、お電話頂けますでしょうか？」 [Here you want other person to call you back, and increasing his/her work]
お差し支えなければ、 If it is not inconvenient for you	自分の行動が問題ないか相手に確認する時 When you want to confirm from other person, whether listener is ok with your action. 例：「お差し支えなければ、今晩伺います。」 [Here you are asking if other person is ok, you visiting him/her this evening]
失礼ですが、 I beg your pardon	相手が名乗らない時 When you miss what other person just said. 例：「失礼ですが、お名前を伺いてもよろしいでしょうか？」 [Here you are asking for name again]
お言葉を返すようですが、 I am sorry to contradict you	目上の人に反対の意見を言う時 When you have different opinion from your senior 例：「お言葉を返すようですが、私の言った意味はちょっと違うのです。」 [Here speaker has the different meaning]

 

Practice these words and start using in you conversation with client and seniors and make your conversation more effective and smart. Please feel free to share your thought on cushion words.