Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ごめんなさい | gomennasai | [ɡo̞mẽ̞nːa̠sa̠i] (narrow) | |
| すみません | sumimasen | [sɨmʲima̠sẽ̞ɴ] (narrow) | |
| ごめん 失礼しました | gomen | informal | |
| 申し訳ありません | mōshiwake arimasen | [mo̞ːɕiβ̞a̠ke̞ a̠ɾʲima̠sẽ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
These phrases are used to express regret or sorrow. Some forms are specific to personal apologies, while others function in wider social contexts, such as apologizing for a small inconvenience or thanking someone for a favor by implying you are sorry to have caused them trouble.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 申し訳ありません literally means "there is no excuse."
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the context of the apology. すみません is a versatile social term used both to apologize and to say "excuse me" when approaching someone. In contrast, ごめんなさい is used for personal apologies to people you know. 申し訳ありません is used for much more serious or formal situations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality varies significantly between the options. ごめん is an informal, shortened version of ごめんなさい used in everyday conversations among friends. ごめんなさい itself is a standard formal apology for everyday situations. For highly formal or business settings, especially when addressing superiors, use 申し訳ありません.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
gomennasai
Did you know?
- The apology ごめんなさい (gomennasai) contains a hidden command. The end of the phrase, なさい (nasai), is an imperative form used to give orders or instructions.
- A deep bow often accompanies these phrases, and the lower the bow, the more sincere the apology. In extreme cases, a 'dogeza' bow involves kneeling and touching the forehead to the floor.
- Japanese has a specific social logic where apologizing is used as a 'social lubricant'. People often say すみません even when they have done nothing wrong, simply to acknowledge the other person's presence.
Examples in context
- すみません。I'm sorry.This sentence uses すみません to express a simple apology.Tatoeba #408301 by bunbuku, translation #38387 by CK
- すみませんね。Sorry about that.This sentence uses すみません to express being sorry about a specific situation.Tatoeba #10910321 by small_snow, translation #869496 by CK
- すみません…Sorry…This sentence uses すみません as a hesitant apology.Tatoeba #8613880 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #39996 by pierrephi
- 299 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta accidentally broke Yui's favorite mug.
- 健太 Kentaごめんなさい、壊してしまいました。Gomen nasai, kowashite shimaimashita.I am sorry, I broke it.
- 結衣 Yui大丈夫ですよ、健太さん。Daijoubu desu yo, Kenta-san.It is okay, Kenta.
- 健太 Kenta本当にごめんなさい。Hontou ni gomen nasai.I am really sorry.
- 結衣 Yui気にしないでください。Ki ni shinaide kudasai.Please don't worry about it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations and entries ごめんなさい, すみません, 申し訳ありません, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ごめんなさい, すみません, 申し訳ありません, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
