大変申し訳ありません
taihen moushiwake arimasen
In Japanese, "I am very sorry" is expressed as 大変申し訳ありません (taihen moushiwake arimasen).
大変申し訳ありません is used when you have caused significant trouble or a serious mistake, rather than for minor social slips.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "there is no excuse (for my actions) at all".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
大変申し訳ありません is a formal apology. Compared to sumimasen, it is much more formal and is used for serious errors or in business settings. For an even more polite and professional version, you can replace arimasen with gozaimasen to say 大変申し訳ございません. For an informal way to say sorry, you can use Gomen or the concise, informal Mōshiwake nai. In a formal context, you might also use Watashi wa hontōni mōshiwake arimasen to say "I am truly sorry."
How does it change in a sentence?
The word taihen (very/greatly) can be removed to make the apology less intense, resulting in 申し訳ありません.
How do you pronounce it?
taihen moushiwake arimasen
Did you know?
- While English speakers often say 'I am sorry' to express sympathy, such as for a death or an accident, using 申し訳ありません in those contexts would be incorrect. In Japanese, that specific phrase is strictly for admitting fault or responsibility.
- In Japanese culture, an apology is sometimes offered to maintain social harmony, even if the speaker is not technically at fault for the error.
- While sumimasen can mean 'sorry', it is also frequently used to say 'thank you' when someone has gone out of their way to help you.
Examples in context
- 大変申し訳ありません。I am very sorry.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 大変申し訳ありません.Tatoeba #137257 by bunbuku, translation #436449 by lukaszpp
- 遅れてしまい、大変申し訳ありません。Okurete shimai, taihen moushiwake arimasen.I am very sorry for being late.
- ご迷惑をおかけして、大変申し訳ありません。Gomeiwaku o okakeshite, taihen moushiwake arimasen.I am very sorry for causing you inconvenience.
Example conversation
A business employee apologizes to a client for a mistake in a report.
- 美咲 Misaki書類に誤りがあり、大変申し訳ありません。Shorui ni ayamari ga ari, taihen moushiwake arimasen.There was an error in the document, and I am very sorry.
- 大翔 Hiroto次は間違えないように気をつけてください。Tsugi wa machigaenai you ni ki o tsukete kudasai.Please be careful not to make mistakes next time.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、以後気を付けます。Hai, igo ki o tsukemasu.Yes, I will be careful from now on.
- 大翔 Hiroto分かりました。よろしくお願いします。Wakarimashita. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.I understand. I am counting on you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
