Japanese Apology Expressions

How to Say Sorry in Japanese

Japanese Apology Expressions

In Japanese, how you apologize depends on your relationship with the other person and how serious the situation is.

1. ごめんなさい go me n na sa i (or the short form ごめん go me n — used by children or with close friends and family, for small matters)

2. すみません su mi ma se n (or the casual すいません su i ma se n — polite; used with people you don't know well)

3. 申し訳ございません mo u shi wa ke go za i ma se n (very polite; literally "there is no excuse"; for business or serious matters)

Depending on severity, you can add 「本当に ho n to u ni」 before 1 or 2 ("truly… sorry"), and 「誠に ma ko to ni」 before 3 ("sincerely… sorry").

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