Explaining a delay: practice chat in English, Japanese, Korean and Spanish
You tell a client about a delay and offer a fix. Six short lines in English, Japanese, Korean and Spanish, with a translation toggle and a button that opens any version in the editor. A practice tool, not a lesson.
The dialogue
About this dialogue
You tell a client about a delay and offer a fix. It is a advanced-level exchange of six lines between Client and Hugo, opening with "Where is the delivery? It was due yesterday." and ending with "I will take ten percent off this order as an apology.".
Every bubble comes in English, Japanese, Korean and Spanish. If you only want one pair of languages, compare the English with your target language line by line; "It will be with you on Thursday, and I will confirm by email tomorrow." is the longest line to watch.
How to practise it
Cover the translation and read Hugo's lines out loud, then uncover it to check yourself. Start with "Thursday is late. Can you offer anything?" and say it three times at a natural speed before you try the whole chat.
When the lines feel easy, open the chat in the editor and rewrite two of them for your own life: your own time, your own place. Saving the result as a picture gives you something to review later.
Key phrases in four languages
"I am very sorry. A supplier delay held up the shipment." is "大変申し訳ございません。仕入先の遅れで出荷が止まりました。" in Japanese, "정말 죄송합니다. 공급업체 지연으로 출고가 늦어졌어요." in Korean and "Lo siento muchísimo. Un retraso del proveedor detuvo el envío." in Spanish. "It will be with you on Thursday, and I will confirm by email tomorrow." is "木曜日にお届けします。明日メールで確認をお送りします。" in Japanese, "목요일에 도착하고, 내일 이메일로 확인해 드리겠습니다." in Korean and "Lo tendrán el jueves y se lo confirmo por correo mañana." in Spanish. "I will take ten percent off this order as an apology." is "お詫びとして、今回のご注文を一割お値引きします。" in Japanese, "사과의 뜻으로 이번 주문을 십 퍼센트 할인해 드리겠습니다." in Korean and "Les haré un diez por ciento de descuento como disculpa." in Spanish.
Tips
- Record yourself saying "Thursday is late. Can you offer anything?" and listen back for rhythm, not only for words.
- Hide the English and try to say "It will be with you on Thursday, and I will..." in the language you are learning.
- Change one detail, such as a time or a number, and read the dialogue again with your version.
- Ask a native speaker or a teacher about any line that feels odd, because these translations have not been checked by one.
Questions
Are the translations checked by a teacher?
No. The Japanese, Korean and Spanish lines were written by the ChatsRat team for practice and have not been reviewed by a native-speaker teacher. They are natural, polite everyday phrasing, but check anything important with a teacher or a native speaker before you teach or publish it.
Is this a language course?
No. It is a practice tool: a short, realistic chat you can read, say aloud and adapt. It does not track progress or teach grammar. Use it next to a course, a teacher or a tutor.
How do I open the Japanese, Korean or Spanish version in the editor?
Use the language buttons on the page, then press the open button under the chat. The editor loads that version of the six lines in a free look, and the first four messages are available on the Free plan.
Can I make my own version?
Yes. Open any version, edit the lines and names, and export it as a labelled mock-up. Do not use a practice chat to pass off an invented conversation as a real one.
Invented conversation. The people and the situation are made up for practice. Do not present a simulated chat as a real one. See the Acceptable Use policy. Exports on the Free plan carry a visible ChatsRat watermark; Plans list what changes on paid plans.
ChatsRat is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any messaging app. App names describe a style only.