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相あい済すまぬ

あ

い

す

ま

ぬ

Meanings

1

very sorry; remorseful; apologetic

archaic

Archaic expression of deep apology or regret, equivalent to modern 相済まない. Used in historical or formal literary contexts.

See also: 相済む (あいすむ) · 相済まない (あいすまない)

「相あい済すまぬ」と、武ぶ士しは深ふかく頭あたまを下さげた。
"I am deeply sorry," said the samurai, bowing his head.

Kanji

相inter-, mutual, together
済settle (debt, etc.), relieve (burden), finish

Related words

相あい済すまない
Modern equivalent; 相済まぬ is its archaic negative form, now rarely used outside historical or literary contexts.
相あい済すむ
Base verb meaning 'to be settled' or 'to be accomplished'; the negative form 相済まぬ expresses that something cannot be settled, hence an apology.

Built from

相あい+すまぬ

Etymology

Archaic negative form of 相済む (あいすむ), a compound of 相 (mutual) and 済む (to finish, be settled). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the expression is conventionally associated with formal apology.