What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the noun ごめん, which means "forgiveness" or "pardon".
Which one should you use?
While ごめんなさい is a standard way to apologize to peers or those below you, it is specifically used for apologizing for a mistake. This distinguishes it from すみません, which is more versatile and can also mean "excuse me" or be used as a polite way to thank someone for their trouble.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ごめんなさい is a standard apology, but it is considered too casual for formal business settings or for apologizing to superiors. For the most common informal way to say "I am sorry", you can use ごめん. In highly formal or professional situations, such as a business apology, you should use 申し訳ございません to express a profound sense of regret or remorse.
How does it change in a sentence?
ごめんなさい is a fixed expression and does not change its form based on the gender or number of the speaker.
How do you pronounce it?
gomennasai
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific concept called 謝罪 'shazai' for a formal apology. This is a ritualized process that can involve a physical 'dogeza' or kneeling prostration for extreme transgressions.
- The core of the phrase, めん (men), stems from a verb meaning 'to exempt' or 'to spare'. When you say ごめんなさい, you are literally asking someone to 'spare' or 'exempt' you from the consequences of your actions.
- While English speakers use 'I am sorry' to express sympathy, such as 'I am sorry for your loss', using ごめんなさい in this context would be incorrect. In Japanese, an apology for a mistake is conceptually different from expressing sympathy for someone's misfortune.
Examples in context
- ごめんなさい。私のせいです。I am sorry, It's all my fault.This sentence is useful for apologizing and taking responsibility with ごめんなさい.Tatoeba #219058 by tommy__san, translation #6486212 by WizardGed
- 「変な日本語でごめんなさい。でも英語もできません」「ちょっと、聞いてもいい？君は日本人？」「いいえ、宇宙人です」「あ、そういうことね！僕もキツネで、まだ人間の言葉を勉強してるところだから、その気持ち分かるよ！英語、やけに難しいしね〜」"I am sorry for my odd Japanese. But I cannot speak English." "Hey, can I ask you something? Are you Japanese?" "No. I am an alien." "Ah, I gotcha! I'm a fox, and I'm still trying to learn human languages, so I get what you're going through. English is so friggin' hard, isn't it?"This sentence is useful for apologizing for using odd Japanese with ごめんなさい.Tatoeba #10593487 by small_snow, translation #10596457 by DJ_Saidez
- 遅れてごめんなさい。Okurete gomen nasai.I am sorry for being late.
Example conversation
Kenta accidentally bumped into Yui at school.
- 健太 Kentaあ、ごめんなさい！a, gomen nasai!Oh, I am sorry!
- 結衣 Yuiいいですよ。ii desu yo.It's okay.
- 健太 Kenta大丈夫ですか？daijoubu desu ka?Are you alright?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、大丈夫です。hai, daijoubu desu.Yes, I am fine.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ごめんなさい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ごめんなさい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
