my fault; due to my lack of virtue; mea culpa
A formal, self-deprecating set phrase used in apologies, often by public figures or in official statements, to take personal responsibility for an undesirable outcome. Carries a strong apologetic tone.
This scandal is entirely my fault, due to my own lack of virtue.
That things turned out this way is solely because of my own moral failings.
自業自得 means 'you reap what you sow' and can be used about oneself or others, often with a nuance of deserved consequences. 不徳の致すところ is a formal, self-blaming apology phrase used only about the speaker's own responsibility.
A general very polite apology. 不徳の致すところ is more specific, explicitly attributing fault to one's own moral inadequacy, and is used in formal statements rather than everyday apologies.
Standard kanji form of this set phrase.
Variant with 所 instead of ところ; less common but still seen.
A set phrase combining 不徳 (lack of virtue) and 致すところ (what is brought about). The expression is rooted in Confucian-influenced formal apology language, where a leader takes moral responsibility for failures.