御無沙汰
ごぶさた
not writing or contacting for a while
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
大変御無沙汰しております。
たいへんごぶさたしております。
It has been far too long since I last wrote to you.
御無沙汰していますが、お元気ですか。
ごぶさたしていますが、おげんきですか。
Sorry for being out of touch — how have you been?
二年間も御無沙汰してしまい、申し訳ありません。
にねんかんもごぶさたしてしまい、もうしわけありません。
I am sorry to have let two whole years go by without contacting you.
Common patterns
- ご無沙汰しております
- it has been a long time (formal)
- ご無沙汰しています
- sorry for not being in touch
- すっかりご無沙汰する
- to fall completely out of touch
Memory tip
In practice always written ご無沙汰 and used as a set opening when you meet or write to someone after a long silence. It apologises for your own silence, so never aim it at the other person.
Kanji in this word
- 御honorable, manipulate, governぎょ・ご・おん-・お-・み-
- 無Not in the N5–N1 kanji lists
- 沙sandサ
- 汰wash out, sift, selectタ
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5
What does 御無沙汰 mean?