expression
not to be rude, but; excuse the phrasing, but
A set phrase used to soften a potentially blunt or critical statement. It acknowledges that the following words may sound harsh.
言い方は悪いですが、その計画は現実的ではありません。
Not to be rude, but that plan isn't realistic.
言い方は悪いですが、彼の説明はわかりにくかったです。
Excuse the phrasing, but his explanation was hard to understand.
Means 'frankly speaking' and is more direct, without the built-in apology for harsh wording.
A fixed phrase composed of 言い方 (way of speaking), は (topic marker), 悪い (bad), and ですが (but it is). The expression literally means 'my way of saying it is bad, but...' and serves as a conventional hedge.