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 expressions are used to convey regret or sorrow. Depending on the situation, you might use them to apologize for a mistake, to get someone's attention or to acknowledge the trouble someone took to help you. For more formal or professional settings, the verb shazai suru can be used to indicate a sincere act of apology, especially in public contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 申し訳ありません literally means 'there is no way to say' or 'there is no excuse' for one's actions.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on how personal or versatile the apology needs to be. すみません is very versatile. It can be used to apologize, to say 'excuse me' to get someone's attention or even to say 'thank you' when acknowledging someone's effort. ごめんなさい is used for personal apologies to people you know. For minor mistakes or when speaking with friends, you can use the casual gomen.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of politeness varies significantly across these forms. 申し訳ありません is a very formal apology used in business or professional settings to express deep regret. すみません is a polite, versatile option. ごめんなさい is a standard way to apologize to acquaintances or people you know. The casual gomen is appropriate for friends, and adding ne to the end of gomen makes the tone softer, friendlier and more sympathetic. Note that gomen nasai is slightly more formal than its casual counterpart gomen.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
gomennasai
When do people say it?
Japanese speakers often use すみません as a social tool to acknowledge the trouble someone has caused while helping them, effectively serving as a way to say 'thank you'.
Did you know?
- The word ごめんなさい is actually a request for forgiveness. It uses an honorific imperative form that essentially asks the other person to 'spare' or 'exempt' the speaker from blame.
- In Japanese business culture, a deep bow often accompanies 申し訳ありません. The lower the bow and the longer it is held, the more sincere the apology is considered to be.
- Unlike in English, where 'sorry' can be used to express sympathy for someone else's misfortune, ごめんなさい is almost exclusively used for things the speaker is responsible for.
Examples in context
- すみません。I'm sorry.This sentence is useful for saying すみません.Tatoeba #408301 by bunbuku, translation #38387 by CK
- すみませんね。Sorry about that.Tatoeba #10910321 by small_snow, translation #869496 by CK
- すみません…Sorry…Tatoeba #8613880 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #39996 by pierrephi
- 299 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
陽葵 accidentally breaks 陽太's favorite mug.
- 陽葵 Himariごめんなさい、わざとじゃなかったの。Gomen nasai, wazato janakatta no.I'm sorry, I didn't do it on purpose.
- 陽太 Yota大丈夫だよ、気にしないで。Daijoubu dayo, ki ni shinaide.It's okay, don't worry about it.
- 陽葵 Himari新しいのを買ってくるね。Atarashii no o katte kuru ne.I'll go buy a new one.
- 陽太 Yota本当にいいから、そんなに謝らないで。Hontou ni ii kara, sonna ni ayamanaide.It's really fine, don't apologize so much.
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.
