Learn Japanese
5 ways to say “sorry” in Japanese: a simple instruction from casual to formal
1. ごめん (Gomen) = Sorry / My bad
→ Casual (friends and family)
2. ごめんなさい (Gomennasai) = A softer and more polite “sorry”
→ Still friendly and very common in daily conversation.
Example: 遅れてごめんなさい (Oso kurete gomennasai.) = Sorry I’m late.
3. すみません (Sumimasen) = Sorry / Excuse me
→ Polite (people you don’t know well, seniors, or in public)
This is one of the most useful Japanese words. You can use it when you bump into someone, get someone’s attention, or make a small mistake.
4. 申し訳ありません (もうしわけありません)
(moshiwake arimasen) = I apologize./ I’m sorry.
→ Very polite and formal.
Used in business settings and when taking responsibility.
5. ご迷惑をおかけして、申し訳ございません。
(Gomeiwaku wo okakeshite, moushiwake gozaimasen.)
I sincerely apologize for the trouble I caused.
→ Formal and serious (work, business, or when you caused trouble)
This is used when: you caused inconvenience, speaking to a client, your boss, a company or the situation is more serious.
Related Post:
What to Say When Giving a Present in a Japanese Office
How to Say Sorry in Japanese
