noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
belated; late; eleventh-hour
Describes something done later than expected or appropriate. Most commonly used in the set phrase 遅ればせながら (meaning 'belatedly' or 'better late than never') to apologize for a late action or greeting.
See also: 遅ればせながら (おくればせながら)
Belatedly, Happy New Year.
I'm sorry for the belated reply.
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
Kana spelling; often used in the common phrase おくればせながら.
Rare spelling with 馳せ; the 馳 kanji is not a jōyō kanji and is seldom used.
Alternate kanji spelling using 後; less common than 遅ればせ.
Rare spelling combining 後 and 馳; very uncommon.
From 遅れ, “lateness,” and 馳せ, the continuative form of 馳せる, “to hurry or run.” The image is of someone hurrying after falling behind.