As important as it is to show gratitude by saying “thank you” in Japanese, expressing humility and showing accountability by saying “sorry” in Japanese is equally so. To take it one step further, you’ll need to know a few apologies that fit different social situations. By mastering these expressions, your sincerity will be crystal clear as you learn how to speak Japanese.
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2 essential ways to say ‘sorry’ in Japanese
Most of the time, you don’t need to worry about being extra formal with your apologies. These two Japanese phrases are the most essential apologies to remember for beginners and advanced learners alike.
Gomennasai (I’m sorry)
Offering a simple “I’m sorry” is as easy as saying gomennasai (ごめんなさい).
- Dare ga watashi no chokorēto o tabemashita ka.（誰が私のチョコレートを食べましたか。）= Who ate my chocolate?
- Gomennasai. Watashi ga tabemashita.（ごめんなさい。私が食べました。）= I’m sorry. I ate it.
- Daijōbu desu yo.（大丈夫ですよ。）= No problem.
In descending order of politeness, you can also say “I’m sorry” like this:
- gomennasai (polite)
- gomen (casual)
- gomen ne (casual, with a little extra emotion)
Sumimasen (excuse me)
Sometimes it’s more appropriate to say “excuse me,” or sumimasen (すみません) than “I’m sorry” (gomennasai). This is a good choice if you think you’re causing someone an inconvenience or if you accidentally do something wrong (like bumping into someone). Even so, sumimasen can be translated as “I’m sorry” or “excuse me” depending on what someone is likely to say in English in a given scenario.
- Moshimoshi, otōsan o onegaishimasu.（もしもし、お父さんをお願いします。）= Hello. May I please speak to your father?
- Sumimasen. Otōsan wa imasen. （すみません。お父さんはいません。）= I’m sorry. He is not here. (Literally: Excuse me. He is not here.)
Like gomennasai, you have a few options for saying sumimasen with varying levels of politeness.
- sumimasen (polite)
- suimasen (polite, similar to “‘scuse me.”)
- sumanai (casual)
- suman (extra casual)
If you want to be extra humble, you can also use sumimasen as a thank you! For example, if someone brings you a gift, it’s not unusual to mix sumimasen with another word of thanks, like arigatō (ありがとう).
3 formal ways to say ‘sorry’ in Japanese
In formal or business situations, you’ll need a few more expressions to say “I’m sorry.” If you use Japanese honorifics with someone’s name, it may be appropriate to use these apologies.
Ojama shimasu (please excuse the intrusion)
When you enter someone’s home, it’s polite to announce your arrival with ojama shimasu (お邪魔します), which literally translates to “I am interrupting.” You can also use the past tense of the verb when you leave the house.
- Konbanwa yamamoto san. Ojama shimasu.（こんばんは山本さん。お邪魔します。）= Good evening, Mr./Ms. Yamamoto. Please excuse the intrusion.
- Kaerimasu! Ojama shimashita.（ 帰ります! お邪魔しました。）= I’m going home! Sorry for intruding.
Shitsurei shimasu (I beg your pardon)
Shitsurei shimasu (失礼します), literally meaning “I am being rude,” is similar to ojama shimasu, except you use it often when entering someone’s office or workspace. Essentially, if you would say “excuse me” at work, consider using shitsurei shimasu instead of sumimasen.
- Dewa, osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.（では、お先に失礼します。）= Well then, pardon me for leaving ahead of you.
Mōshiwake arimasen (I’m terribly sorry)
The most humble and formal apology you’ll probably ever use is mōshiwake arimasen (申し訳ありません), meaning, “There is no excuse.” Reserve this expression for big mistakes!
- Okurete mōshiwake arimasen.（遅れて申し訳ありません。）= I’m terribly sorry for being late.
How to say ‘I’m sorry’ in Japanese for every situation
If you want to add a little more nuance to say “sorry” in Japanese, try these expressions, including some Japanese slang!
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| 残念ですが。 | Zannen desu ga. | I’m sorry, but… (polite) |
| 気の毒です。 | Ki no doku desu. | I’m very sorry to hear that. (polite) |
| 悪い！ | Warui! | My bad! (as the action is happening; casual) |
| 悪かった！ | Warukatta! | My bad! (the action has passed; casual) |
| わりぃわりぃ。 | Warī warī | My b, my b. (casual) |
| 私のミスだ。 | Watashi no misu da. | That’s my mistake. (casual) |
| ミスしたんだ。 | Misu shitan da. | I made a mistake. (casual) |
| もうしません。 | Mō shimasen. | I won’t do it again. (polite) |
| お許しください。 | Oyurushi kudasai. | Please, forgive me. (formal) |
| お詫び申し上げます。 | Owabi mōshi agemasu. | I offer my humble apologies. (formal) |
| 後悔しております。 | Kōkai shite orimasu. | I regret my actions, and I am sorry. (formal) |
| 反省しております。 | Hansei shite orimasu. | I have reflected on my actions, and I am sorry. (formal) |
| ご迷惑をかけてすみません。 | Gomeiwaku o kakete sumimasen. | I’m sorry for the trouble. (polite) |
| ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ございません。 | Gomeiwaku o okake shite mōshiwake gozaimasen. | I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience. (formal) |
Hopefully, you’ll have more cause to express thanks than regret, but knowing how to say “sorry” in Japanese will give you the tools you need to show your good manners. Whenever you apologize, remember to add a bow. The Japanese etiquette around bowing can be complex, but a bob or lowering of the head is sufficient for casual situations, while bowing at the waist is more appropriate for polite or formal situations.
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