Why does the person who wants to cancel an appointment say キャンセルさせてください to his/her partner?


Assume A has a partner named B. Last week both made an appointment to have
dinner (dating). For a certain reason, A cannot come for the appointment and
calls B by phone saying

> ・・・キャンセルさせてください。 Please make me cancel ...

## Question

A wants to cancel the appointment, but why does A ask B to make A cancel it as
if the source of problem is on B's side? I think A should say

> ・・・キャンセルしてください。 Please cancel ...




It works like "Please let me", so

> キャンセルさせてください = Please let me cancel [our appointment]

(It wouldn't be interpreted as "Please make me cancel [our appointment]".)

You could also say

> キャンセルしてください = Please cancel [our appointment]

but it is a lot more direct (and thus less polite).




It works like "Please let me", so

> キャンセルさせてください = Please let me cancel [our appointment]

(It wouldn't be interpreted as "Please make me cancel [our appointment]".)

You could also say

> キャンセルしてください = Please cancel [our appointment]

but it is a lot more direct (and thus less polite).

