But I can’t make it on Monday.

2024年8月5日

A: We’re having a little party next Monday. Would you like to come?
B: That sounds fun! But I can’t make it on Monday.
A: What a shame.
B: Yes, thank you for the invitation. I look forward to the next opportunity.

In this situation, what should you say “I can’t make it on Monday.” in Japanese?

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B：あいにく月曜日げつようびは都合つごうがつかないんです。

Note: This is not a word-for-word translation.

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A word-for-word translation

B：でも、月曜日げつようびはいけません。

This can be a bit rude, so you should use あいにく for ‘but’ and 都合つごうがつく for ‘make it’.
The English idiom ‘make it’ has a variety of meanings.
For example,

You won’t make it to class.

授業じゅぎょうに間まに合あわないよ。

She’ll make it as an actress.

彼女かのじょは女優じょゆうとして成功せいこうするでしょう。

I can make it tomorrow.

明日あしたは都合つごうがつきます。

She is seriously ill. I hope she makes it.

彼女かのじょは思おもい病気びょうきです。助たすかってほしいです。

In all cases, they can be rephrased as 大丈夫だいじょうぶ.
To be honest, some of them sound a bit odd in 大丈夫だいじょうぶ, but you can get across what you want to say.

授業じゅぎょう大丈夫だいじょうぶなの？
It may be a little unclear what is 大丈夫だいじょうぶ in class. Progress in class? Being late to class? But it’s no problem if the two understand the situation.

彼女かのじょは女優じょゆうとして大丈夫だいじょうぶでしょう。
It’s a bit weird, but you can get the point across.

明日あしたは大丈夫だいじょうぶです。

彼女かのじょは重おもい病気びょうきです。大丈夫だいじょうぶだといいのですが。