| Kanji | Hiragana |
|---|---|
| ごめんなさい | ごめんなさい |
Pronunciation: gomennasai
How to Say It Outloud: go-men-na-sai
Usage: A polite and formal way to apologize, often used in personal and informal contexts.
Example Sentence Japanese:
遅れてごめんなさい。
遅れてごめんなさい。Example Sentence English:I'm sorry for being late.
I'm sorry for being late.| Kanji | Hiragana |
|---|---|
| すみません | すみません |
Pronunciation: sumimasen
How to Say It Outloud: su-mi-ma-sen
Usage: A versatile expression used to apologize, thank, or get someone's attention. More formal than ごめんなさい.
Example Sentence Japanese:迷惑をかけてすみません。
迷惑をかけてすみません。Example Sentence English:I'm sorry for causing trouble.
I'm sorry for causing trouble.| Kanji | Hiragana |
|---|---|
| 申し訳ありません | もうしわけありません |
Pronunciation: moushiwake arimasen
How to Say It Outloud: mo-u-shi-wa-ke a-ri-ma-sen
Usage: A very formal and humble way to apologize, often used in business contexts.
Example Sentence Japanese:ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ありません。
ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ありません。Example Sentence English:I'm deeply sorry for causing inconvenience.
I'm deeply sorry for causing inconvenience.| Kanji | Hiragana |
|---|---|
| ごめん | ごめん |
Pronunciation: gomen
How to Say It Outloud: go-men
Usage: A very casual and informal way to apologize, often used among close friends or family.
Example Sentence Japanese:悪かった、ごめん。
悪かった、ごめん。Example Sentence English:My bad, sorry.
My bad, sorry.Dictionary
済まないすまないCommon wordjlpt-n2jlpt-n1
I-adjective (keiyoushi)- inexcusable; unjustifiable; unpardonable
- sorry; remorseful; apologetic; conscience-stricken; contrite
- excuse me; (I'm) sorry; thank you
すいませんすいません
Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.)- sorry; excuse me; thank you
生憎あいにくCommon wordjlpt-n3
Na-adjective (keiyodoshi)Adverb (fukushi)
Noun
Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
- unfortunately; sorry, but ...
御免ごめんCommon wordjlpt-n2
- I'm sorry; my apologies; excuse me; pardon me
- may I come in?
- permission; leave; license
- dismissal; discharge
- not wanting; objecting to; being fed up with; wishing to avoid
- Gomen
申し訳ないもうしわけないCommon wordjlpt-n2
Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.)I-adjective (keiyoushi)
- I'm sorry; (it's) inexcusable; I feel regretful; I feel guilty
I-adjective (keiyoushi)
- thank you very much (for help, etc.)
済みませんすみませんCommon wordjlpt-n3jlpt-n1
Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.)- excuse me; pardon me; I'm sorry; I beg your pardon
- thank you; you shouldn't have; it's too much
済まなそうすまなそう
Na-adjective (keiyodoshi)- sorry; apologetic; remorseful
お生憎さまおあいにくさま
Na-adjective (keiyodoshi)- sorry
- too bad (for you)!; tough luck!
サーセンサーセンCommon word
Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.)- sorry
おっとおっとCommon word
- uh-oh; oops; sorry
心苦しいこころぐるしい
I-adjective (keiyoushi)- painful; being sorry; feeling sorry
恐れ入るおそれいるjlpt-n1
Godan verb with 'ru' endingIntransitive verb
- to be sorry; to beg someone's pardon; to feel small
Intransitive verb
- to be much obliged; to be grateful; to be thankful
Intransitive verb
- to be amazed; to be greatly impressed; to admire
Intransitive verb
- to be dumbfounded; to be confounded; to be stunned; to be fed up (with); to be defeated; to be beaten
すまんすまん
Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.)- sorry; excuse me
すんまへんすんまへん
Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.)- sorry; excuse me; thank you
すまなかったすまなかった
- sorry; my bad
わりーわりーわりーわりー
- sorry
ソーリーソーリー
- sorry
めんちゃいめんちゃい
Noun- sorry
めんごめんご
Noun- sorry
恐れ入谷の鬼子母神おそれいりやのきしぼじん
Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.)- sorry; beg pardon; much obliged
See also
Hi, I’m Aura Ruggeri and I want to make sure that no one makes the same mistake that I did.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Japan anytime soon, do exactly that - plan! Read up on all of the amazing things to do here to make the most of your time. I can bet that you’ll still return home feeling like you could’ve explored much more.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Japan anytime soon, do exactly that - plan! Read up on all of the amazing things to do here to make the most of your time. I can bet that you’ll still return home feeling like you could’ve explored much more.
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