KaiwaGoCommon Apologies in Japanese
12 Japanese phrases for common apologies, for example すみません (Excuse me / Sorry).
Japanese has several ways to say sorry. すみません is the all-purpose apology, ごめんなさい is personal and used with friends and family, and 申し訳ありません is the formal apology heard at work and in customer service.
Hands-free listening
Play every phrase in order with its English meaning between the repeats. Keep the page open and listen while you do something else.
| Japanese | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| すみません sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry | |
| ごめんなさい gomennasai | I'm sorry | |
| 私のせいです | It's my fault | |
| 私の不注意でした | I was very careless | |
| そんな心算じゃありませんでした | I didn't mean it that way. | |
| 次からは注意します | I'll be more careful next time | |
| お待たせして申し訳ありません | Sorry for keeping you waiting | |
| 遅くなってすみません | Please forgive me for being late | |
| ご迷惑ですか？ | Am I bothering you? | |
| ちょっと、お手数をおかけしてよろしいでしょうか | May I trouble you for a moment? | |
| 少々、失礼します | Excuse me, please wait a moment | |
| 申し訳ございません | I'm terribly sorry (polite) |
Usage notes
- ごめん is very casual; avoid it with teachers, customers or older people.
- Add a reason with ～て、すみません: 遅れて、すみません (sorry for being late).
- A bow often matters as much as the words in a formal apology.
FAQ
How do you say sorry in Japanese?
すみません (sumimasen) works almost everywhere. ごめんなさい (gomen nasai) is for friends and family, 申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen) for formal apologies.
What is the difference between すみません and ごめんなさい?
すみません is polite and also means “excuse me”. ごめんなさい is a personal apology that sounds a little childish or too casual at work.