申し訳ありません
mōshiwake arimasen[mo̞ːɕiβ̞a̠ke̞ a̠ɾʲima̠sẽ̞ɴ]
The Japanese phrase for saying sorry formally is 申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen).
申し訳ありません is used to apologize in professional settings, such as when speaking to a customer or a superior at work.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the noun 申し訳 (mōshiwake), which literally means an excuse or an explanation.
Which one should you use?
For an even more formal apology, you can use 申し訳ございません (mōshiwake gozaimasen), which replaces ありません with ございません.
How do you pronounce it?
mōshiwake arimasen
Did you know?
- In a professional apology, it is considered rude to make direct eye contact with the superior while saying 申し訳ありません, as looking down shows humility.
- In Japanese business etiquette, the phrase is often accompanied by 'ojigi', where you must hold your bow at a specific angle, usually 30 or 45 degrees, to match the level of the apology.
- In Japanese business culture, an apology like 申し訳ありません is often used to express regret for a situation even if the speaker is not personally responsible for the mistake.
Examples in context
- ご迷惑をおかけして、申し訳ありません。Gomeiwaku o okakeshite, moushiwake arimasen.I am sorry for causing you trouble.
- 返信が遅くなり、申し訳ありません。Henshin ga osokunari, moushiwake arimasen.I am sorry for the late reply.
- 言葉が足りず、申し訳ありません。Kotoba ga tarizu, moushiwake arimasen.I am sorry for not explaining clearly.
Example conversation
Ren apologizes to Himari for a mistake at work.
- 陽葵 Himariこの資料、間違いがありますよ。Kono shiryou, machigai ga arimasu yo.There is a mistake in this document.
- 蓮 Renすみません、申し訳ありません。Sumimasen, moushiwake arimasen.I am sorry, I am truly sorry.
- 陽葵 Himariすぐに直してくださいね。Sugu ni naoshite kudasai ne.Please fix it immediately.
- 蓮 Renはい、すぐに対応いたします。Hai, sugu ni taiou itashimasu.Yes, I will handle it right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 申し訳ありません, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
