詫び（わび、wabi）
- apology

The Japanese word 詫び (わび, wabi) primarily refers to an apology or expression of regret. It encompasses acknowledging a mistake, expressing remorse for causing inconvenience or harm, and seeking forgiveness. It goes beyond a simple "sorry" and often implies a deeper sense of responsibility and humility. 詫び can also refer to an apology itself, the act of apologizing, or even the feeling of apology.

⚫︎ ご迷惑をおかけして、詫び申し上げます。 Translation: I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. ⚫︎ 詫びの言葉を述べた。 Translation: He/She offered words of apology. ⚫︎ 彼女は深く詫び》た。 Translation: She apologized deeply.

You use 詫び in situations where you want to express your regret for an action, a mistake, or something you've done that has caused someone else trouble or harm. It is suitable for both formal and informal settings, although the specific expressions and level of formality might change. The usage of 詫びoften appears in formal settings, depending on the grammar attached to it. For example: ⚫︎ When you've made a mistake at work. ⚫︎ When you've inconvenienced a friend or family member. ⚫︎ When you want to express remorse for your actions. The appropriate usage will also depend on the context and the relationships with the people you are speaking to.

The word 詫び is typically written in hiragana as わび. The kanji for 詫び is 詫. When used with other words such as verbs, such as 詫びる, the word 詫 is usually used. There is generally no variation in the okurigana, as it is a base word. The okurigana is added to the verb.

⚫︎ 謝罪 (しゃざい) - apology ⚫︎ お詫び (おわび) - apology (more polite) ⚫︎ 反省 (はんせい) - reflection, remorse ⚫︎ すいません - Sorry (casual) ⚫︎ ごめんなさい - Sorry (casual)

There aren't direct antonyms for 詫び, as the concept is about acknowledging wrongdoing. However, words that express a lack of remorse or refusal to apologize could be considered opposite in meaning.

この度は、私の不手際によりご迷惑をおかけし、深く詫び申し上げます。 ・Translation: I sincerely apologize for the trouble caused by my mistake this time. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses a formal apology for causing trouble due to a mistake.

遅刻してしまい、詫びの言葉を述べた。 ・Translation: Having been late, I offered words of apology. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the act of offering an apology after being late.

The kanji 詫 is composed of two parts: the radical 言 (げん), meaning "word" or "speech," and the phonetic component 宅 (たく). The origin of the kanji suggests that 詫び is expressing remorse through words. The etymology points to the act of verbalizing regret and expressing contrition.