申し訳ありません
mōshiwake arimasen[mo̞ːɕiβ̞a̠ke̞ a̠ɾʲima̠sẽ̞ɴ]
The English phrase "apologies" can be translated into Japanese as 申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen).
申し訳ありません is used when you have made a mistake, caused an inconvenience or are unable to meet a request.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun part 申し訳 (mōshiwake) literally means an excuse or an explanation.
Which one should you use?
While 申し訳ありません is a standard polite apology, 申し訳ございません is a more formal and humble version used in high-level business or very serious situations. In contrast to this formal expression, ごめんなさい is much more casual and should not be used in a professional business context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
申し訳ありません is a polite and standard way to apologize in professional or formal settings. For informal situations, you might use ごめん to say "I'm sorry" or the slightly softer and more empathetic ごめんね.
How do you pronounce it?
mōshiwake arimasen
Did you know?
- While English speakers might say 'I'm sorry' to express sympathy, using the formal 申し訳ありません to show sympathy for someone else's misfortune can actually sound like you are taking personal responsibility for their bad luck.
- In very formal settings, using the most humble form 申し訳ございません while avoiding eye contact is considered more respectful than looking the person in the eye.
- The literal translation of 申し訳ありません is 'There is no excuse,' which implies that your mistake was so great that no explanation could possibly justify it.
Examples in context
- 返信が遅れて、申し訳ありません。Henshin ga okurete, mōshiwake arimasen.I apologize for the delay in my reply.
- ミスがあり、申し訳ありません。Misu ga ari, mōshiwake arimasen.I apologize because there was a mistake.
Example conversation
Kenta apologizes to Misaki for being late to a meeting.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さん、会議に遅れましたね。Kenta-san, kaigi ni okuremashita ne.Kenta, you were late for the meeting, weren't you?
- 健太 Kentaはい、遅れて申し訳ありません。Hai, okurete mōshiwake arimasen.Yes, I am sorry for being late.
- 美咲 Misaki次は気をつけてください。Tsugi wa ki o tsukete kudasai.Please be careful next time.
- 健太 Kenta承知いたしました。Shōchi itashimashita.Understood.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 申し訳ありません, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 申し訳ありません, CC BY-SA 4.0.
