How to Say “Sorry. / I’m sorry.” in Japanese

How do you say “Sorry.” in Japanese?

Today’s phrase is :

Sorry.

すみません。

 sumimasen*

*”すみません (sumimasen)” often becomes “すいません (suimasen)” in spoken language.

If you are walking down the street and accidentally hit someone’s shoulder or arm, you say “すみません”.

If you have disappointed someone and really want to apologize, you say this instead :

ごめんなさい。

 gomennasai

Or you can say like this to your friends :

ごめん。

 gomen

Pronunciation


Sorry.

すみません。
(polite)

ごめん。
(casual)

I’m sorry.

ごめんなさい。
(polite)

ごめん。
(casual)