Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Expresses a reason or cause for a situation, often implying that the resulting situation is understandable or excusable given the circumstances.
🎯 Primary Function
To provide a reason for something, typically a negative result or a situation requiring understanding, often in a formal or apologetic context.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Noun] + のこととて
[Verb (Dictionary, た, ない)] + こととて
[い-Adj (Dictionary)] + こととて
[な-Adj] + なこととて
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Frequently used in formal apologies, explanations, or official statements.
Informal Situations
Rarely used in informal conversation; sounds overly formal.
Written Language
Most commonly found in written Japanese (letters, reports, formal documents).
Spoken Language
Occasionally used in very formal speeches or presentations, but generally avoided in daily speech.
💡 Common Applications
Explaining lack of experience as a reason for a mistake or inability.
Used when explaining that a negative outcome occurred because the speaker or subject lacked experience.
Example: 不慣れなこととて、失礼いたしました。 (Funare na koto tote, shitsurei itashimashita.) – Because I am inexperienced, I apologize for the rudeness.
Explaining a delay or difficulty due to unavoidable circumstances.
Used to state a reason for a delay, difficulty, or inconvenience that was beyond control.
Example: 週末で道が混雑していたこととて、到着が遅れてしまいました。(Shūmatsu de michi ga konzatsu shite ita koto tote, tōchaku ga okurete shimaimashita.) – Because the roads were congested due to the weekend, my arrival was delayed.
Apologizing for a first-time situation.
Used when explaining that something is the first time doing something as a reason for any imperfections or issues.
Example: 初めてのこととて、至らない点もあったかと存じますが、ご容赦ください。(Hajimete no koto tote, itaranai ten mo atta ka to zonjimasu ga, goyōsha kudasai.) – As it was my first time, I believe there may have been some shortcomings, but please forgive me.
Frequency
Not very frequent in daily conversation, moderately frequent in formal writing.
Difficulty
N1
Example Sentences
まだ研修期間中のこととて、担当者がすぐにお答えできません。
Because they are still in the training period, the person in charge cannot answer immediately.
何分初めてのこととて、どうぞお許しください。
As it is my first time, please forgive me.
連休明けのこととて、窓口が大変混雑しております。
Because it is the end of the long holiday, the service counter is extremely crowded.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Formal Expression
こととて is a formal expression used primarily in written or very formal spoken Japanese.
Example: 日常会話では「～ので」「～から」を使うのが一般的です。(Nichijō kaiwa de wa “~node” “~kara” o tsukau no ga ippanteki desu.) – In daily conversation, using “~node” or “~kara” is common.
Implies Reason for Leniency/Understanding
The phrase before こととて is presented as a justifiable reason for the subsequent situation, often implying that understanding or forgiveness is expected.
Example: 不慣れなこととて、お見苦しい点もあったかと存じます。(Funare na koto tote, omigurushii ten mo atta ka to zonjimasu.) – Because I am inexperienced, I believe there may have been some unsightly points (implying “please understand/forgive me”).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it in casual conversation.
✅ Use ～ので or ～から instead.
こととて is too formal for everyday conversation and would sound unnatural.
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🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: High. It is a very polite way to state a reason, particularly when it leads to a negative outcome for others.
Social Situations: Used in situations requiring formal communication, apologies, official explanations, business contexts, or when speaking to superiors/clients.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; no significant regional variations.
🔍 Subtle Differences
～こととて vs ～ので / ～から
こととて is much more formal and implies the reason is understandable or warrants leniency. ～ので/～から are general reasons.
When to use: Use こととて in formal/written contexts when seeking understanding or forgiveness for a result due to a specific circumstance. Use ～ので/～から in general contexts, both formal and informal.
～こととて vs ～ために
こととて focuses on presenting a circumstance as an *understandable reason* for a situation, often negative. ～ために indicates cause or purpose, and can be more neutral or even positive.
When to use: Use こととて when the reason is a circumstance justifying the outcome (often undesirable). Use ～ために for direct cause or purpose.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
Connects to nouns via の, and to verbs, i-adjectives, and na-adjectives directly (na-adjectives take な). Past tense verbs/adjectives are common before こととて.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced “ko-to-to-te”. The “to” sounds are short and clear.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of こととて as “the *reason* being [X circumstance], therefore [Y result]”. Associate “こと” with “fact/matter/reason”.
Vocabulary List
不慣れ
funare
inexperienced, unfamiliar
失礼
shitsurei
rudeness, discourtesy
混雑
konzatsu
congestion, crowd
至らない
itaranai
imperfect, inadequate, not reaching the mark
ご容赦ください
goyōsha kudasai
Please forgive me.
お咎めなく
otogame naku
without blame/reprimand (please do not blame/reprimand)
恐縮
feeling obliged, apologetic, grateful
Kanji List
慣
な.れる, カン
get used to, habituated
失
うしな.う, シツ
lose, error, fault
礼
レイ, ライ
bow, etiquette, thanks, salute
混
ま.ざる, ま.ぜる, コン
mix, blend, confusion
雑
まじ.える, ザツ, ゾウ
mixed, rough, miscellaneous
至
いた.る, シ
reach, arrive, utmost
容
い.れる, ヨウ
contain, form, looks
赦
ゆる.す, シャ
forgive, pardon
咎
とが.める, とが, キュウ
blame, censure, fault
恐
おそ.れる, おそ.ろしい, キョウ
fear, dread
縮
ちぢ.む, ちぢ.まる, シュク
shrink, contract
Practice Exercises
来日して間もない（ ）、日本の習慣に詳しくありません。
こととて
ために
せいで
おかげで
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