おくれます（遅れます、遅remasu）
- to be late

The Japanese word おくれます, written in hiragana as 遅れます, primarily means "to be late", "to be delayed", or "to be behind schedule." It refers to a situation where something doesn't happen at the expected or scheduled time. The word implies a deviation from a planned timetable or an expected arrival time. The word can be used both transitively and intransitively. The verb is in the potential form, which expresses a sense of being capable of or likely to be late.

⚫︎電車に遅れます。 Translation: I will be late for the train. ⚫︎会議に遅れてすみません。 Translation: Sorry for being late to the meeting. ⚫︎授業に遅れました。 Translation: I was late for class.

⚫︎おくれます is used in various contexts, from being late for appointments and meetings to delays in transportation or project completion. ⚫︎ It is a versatile word, and can be used in both formal and informal situations. ⚫︎ It is important to consider the level of politeness depending on the context. If you are apologizing, use polite forms (e.g., 遅れてすみません - sorry for being late). ⚫︎ Consider the politeness level of your listener and context when speaking.

⚫︎The base form is 遅れる (okureru). ⚫︎ The word is usually written with the kanji 遅 combined with hiragana れます to create 遅れます. ⚫︎ The kanji 遅 means "late" or "slow." ⚫︎ The れる ending indicates the potential form, indicating the possibility of being late. ⚫︎ Other conjugations include 遅れない (okurenai - will not be late), 遅れた (okureta - was late), etc. ⚫︎The okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) is consistent: 遅れます.

⚫︎ 遅刻する (chikoku suru) - to be late (for school, work, etc.) ⚫︎ 間に合わない (maniawanai) - to not be in time, to miss (a train, meeting, etc.) ⚫︎ 延期する (enki suru) - to postpone, to delay (used for events or plans)

⚫︎ 間に合う (maniau) - to be in time, to make it ⚫︎ 早い (hayai) - early (adjective), 早く (hayaku) - early (adverb)

すみません、電車が遅れて、約束の時間に間に合いませんでした。 ・Translation: I'm sorry, the train was delayed, and I couldn't make it on time for our appointment. ・Explanation: This sentence explains a situation where someone was late due to a train delay, using the verb 遅れる to describe the delay.

プロジェクトが遅れていて、締め切りに間に合うか心配です。 ・Translation: The project is behind schedule, and I'm worried about meeting the deadline. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 遅れる to describe a delay in a project, expressing a concern about the deadline.

⚫︎ The kanji 遅 combines with the verb stem of れる to create 遅れる (okureru). ⚫︎ The kanji 遅 itself is made up of two parts: the radical 辶 (shinnyou) indicating "movement" and the phonetic component 直 (choku), which provides the sound. ⚫︎ The kanji implies a movement that is behind, not in the correct timing, or slow.