申し訳ありません
mōshiwake arimasen[mo̞ːɕiβ̞a̠ke̞ a̠ɾʲima̠sẽ̞ɴ]
申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen) is the Japanese phrase for "I apologize."
申し訳ありません is a formal expression used to say sorry for a mistake or an offense. To convey a deeper sense of apology and remorse, you can use 大変申し訳ございません (taihen mōshiwake gozaimasen).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun 申し訳 (mōshiwake), which means an excuse or an explanation and ありません (arimasen), which means does not exist. Together, they literally mean "there is no excuse (that I can offer)."
Which one should you use?
For even higher levels of politeness, especially in professional or high-stakes situations, use 申し訳ございません (mōshiwake gozaimasen).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
申し訳ありません is a formal way to apologize. For even greater politeness, use 申し訳ございません. In contrast, if you are speaking with friends or family, you might use the more casual ごめんなさい (gomen nasai) or its shortened form ごめん (gomen). Additionally, 失礼 (shitsurei) can be used to apologize for being rude or impolite.
How do you pronounce it?
mōshiwake arimasen
Did you know?
- In extreme corporate or political scandals, people may use 申し訳ございません while bowing so low their forehead nearly touches the floor, a gesture known as dogeza.
- Even if you are not at fault, you might use 申し訳ありません in a professional setting to acknowledge a customer's frustration. In this context, it functions more to smooth a social interaction than to admit a specific mistake.
- While English speakers might follow 'I apologize' with a reason, adding a 'but' or a detailed excuse after 申し訳ありません can sometimes be seen as avoiding responsibility.
Examples in context
- 遅れて申し訳ありません。I apologize for being late.This sentence is useful for apologizing for being late using 申し訳ありません.Tatoeba #126707 by tommy_san, translation #1587981 by riccioberto
- 字が汚くて申し訳ありません。I apologize for my bad handwriting.This sentence is useful for apologizing for bad handwriting using 申し訳ありません.Tatoeba #11093646 by small_snow, translation #11093638 by CK
- 昨日は申し訳ありませんでした。I apologize for yesterday.This sentence is useful for apologizing for a past event using 申し訳ありません.Tatoeba #4299820 by tommy_san, translation #4299418 by marllboro06
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A business setting where Youta has made a mistake in a report.
- 陽太 Yota書類にミスがあり、申し訳ありません。Shorui ni misu ga ari, moushiwake arimasen.There is a mistake in the document, and I apologize.
- 結衣 Yui大丈夫ですよ。すぐに直してください。Daijoubu desu yo. Sugu ni naoshite kudasai.It's okay. Please fix it immediately.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、すぐに対応いたします。Hai, sugu ni taiou itashimasu.Yes, I will handle it right away.
- 結衣 Yuiよろしくお願いしますね。Yoroshiku onegaishimasu ne.I'm counting on you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 申し訳ありません, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
