How to Say Sorry in Japanese: Mastering Sumimasen, Gomen, and Beyond

The Short Answer

The most common way to say sorry in Japanese is Sumimasen (すみません, soo-mee-mah-sehn). It is one of the most versatile words in the entire language, functioning simultaneously as an apology, a thank-you, and an "excuse me." But Japanese has an entire ecosystem of apology expressions, ranging from the breezy Gomen (ごめん) between friends to the gravely formal Moushiwake gozaimasen (申し訳ございません) in boardrooms and press conferences.

Japanese is spoken by approximately 125 million people, according to Ethnologue's 2024 data. Japan's apology culture is one of the most extensively studied aspects of its society. The Agency for Cultural Affairs' 2023 National Language Survey found that Japanese speakers use apology-related expressions more frequently than any other category of polite speech, even more than greetings or expressions of gratitude.

"In Japanese culture, the apology is not merely an admission of fault; it is a social tool for maintaining harmony, expressing empathy, and restoring the delicate balance of interpersonal relationships."

(Anna Wierzbicka, Cross-Cultural Pragmatics, Mouton de Gruyter, 2003)

This guide covers 15 essential ways to say sorry in Japanese, organized by formality level: casual expressions for friends and family, polite everyday apologies, formal business language (keigo), and the uniquely Japanese phenomenon of sumimasen as gratitude. Each includes Japanese script, romaji pronunciation, and cultural context so you know exactly which apology fits which situation.

Quick Reference: Japanese Apology Expressions at a Glance

Casual Apologies: Among Friends and Family

These expressions are reserved for people you are close to. Using them with a stranger or superior would come across as disrespectful. According to linguist Sachiko Ide's research on Japanese politeness, the casual-formal distinction in apologies is one of the clearest markers of social distance in the language.

ごめん

Gomen is the stripped-down core of Japanese apology. It comes from gomen nasai with the polite suffix removed, much like how arigatou drops gozaimasu in casual speech. This is the apology you reach for when you bump into a friend, show up five minutes late, or forget to reply to a text. It carries no weight of formality; it is warm, direct, and quick.

ごめんね

The particle ne (ね) adds a gentle, empathetic layer: it seeks the listener's understanding rather than simply stating regret. Gomen ne feels warmer and more affectionate than plain gomen. You will hear it frequently between couples, close female friends, and parents speaking to children. Among younger speakers, the elongated ごめーんね (gomeen ne) adds a playful, drawn-out quality.

ごめんなさい

Gomen nasai is the first apology Japanese children learn. The nasai suffix comes from nasaru (a respectful form of "to do"), making the literal meaning "please do me the favor of forgiving." Despite this etymological politeness, in modern usage gomen nasai sits firmly in the casual-to-neutral range. It is the apology of choice when you genuinely feel bad about something but are speaking to someone you know personally.

Standard Polite Apologies: Everyday Use

These expressions work in most daily situations: with strangers, shop staff, acquaintances, and colleagues. They strike the balance between being respectful and not overly formal.

すみません

Sumimasen is arguably the most important word to know in Japanese. Its literal root, sumu (to end, to be settled) in the negative form, means "it is not settled," referring to one's feeling of unresolved indebtedness. This etymology reveals why sumimasen works as both an apology and an expression of gratitude: in both cases, you are acknowledging a debt to the other person.

According to the Japan Foundation's 2021 education survey, sumimasen is one of the top five most frequently taught words in Japanese language programs worldwide, and for good reason. A single day in Tokyo involves saying sumimasen to get a waiter's attention, to apologize for bumping someone on a crowded train, and to thank a stranger who picks up something you dropped.

すいません

In rapid everyday speech, sumimasen naturally contracts to suimasen. The meaning is identical; the difference is purely phonetic convenience. You will hear suimasen far more often than the full sumimasen in casual restaurants, on trains, and in street interactions. It is completely standard spoken Japanese, though formal writing always uses the full form.

失礼します

Shitsurei shimasu translates literally as "I am about to commit a rudeness." It is the polite way to excuse yourself when entering someone's office, interrupting a conversation, or leaving a gathering. The past-tense form, shitsurei shimashita (失礼しました), is used to apologize after the fact ("that was rude of me"). You will hear this pair constantly in Japanese workplaces and in Japanese films and dramas.

Formal and Business Apologies: Keigo Level

These expressions belong to the world of keigo (敬語, honorific language), the formal register used in business, customer service, and public life. Mastering even one or two of these marks you as a serious student of Japanese. For more on navigating Japanese formality, visit our Japanese learning page.

申し訳ありません

Moushiwake (申し訳) literally means "something to say in one's defense" or "excuse." Adding arimasen (there is not) produces "there is no excuse," a powerful admission that the speaker cannot justify their error. This is the baseline formal apology in Japanese business culture, used in meetings, emails, and any professional context where sumimasen would feel too light.

申し訳ございません

Replacing arimasen with the more humble gozaimasen elevates this expression to the highest tier of formal apology. This is the phrase you see in Japanese corporate press conferences, the shazai kaiken (謝罪会見), where executives bow deeply before cameras. According to a 2023 NHK analysis, moushiwake gozaimasen appeared in over 85% of corporate apology statements broadcast that year.

深くお詫び申し上げます

This is the nuclear option of Japanese apologies. Fukaku (deeply) + owabi (apology, with the honorific o-) + moushiagemasu (humbly offer/state) creates the most solemn expression of remorse in the language. You will encounter it in formal press conferences, official company statements, and written apologies from public figures. In daily life, you will almost never need this, but recognizing it helps you understand Japanese news and corporate culture.

The Many Faces of すみません: Apology, Gratitude, and Attention

One of the most fascinating aspects of Japanese is how sumimasen seamlessly shifts between three entirely different functions. Understanding this versatility is key to sounding natural.

The underlying logic is consistent: in all four cases, sumimasen acknowledges that the other person was affected by your existence or actions. Bumping into someone affected them physically. Someone holding a door affected them by costing their time. Getting a waiter's attention interrupts their work. Japanese linguist Sachiko Ide argues that this unified function reflects the Japanese cultural value of meiwaku (迷惑), the deep awareness of causing trouble or inconvenience to others.

Slang and Very Casual Apologies

Among close friends and in informal settings, Japanese speakers reach for abbreviated and playful forms. These are common in anime, manga, and casual conversation but should never be used in formal contexts.

すまん

Suman (and its slightly longer form sumanai) is the informal, masculine contraction of sumimasen. You will hear it constantly from male characters in anime and Japanese films. It carries a gruff, no-nonsense quality, an apology that acknowledges the fault without excessive ceremony.

わりぃ

Warii is a slang deformation of warui (悪い, meaning "bad"). Saying warii is the Japanese equivalent of "my bad": it acknowledges fault in the most minimal, casual way possible. Doubling it to warii warii is extremely common and signals a lighthearted, non-serious apology between close friends.

Bowing and Body Language with Apologies

In Japanese culture, the physical bow (ojigi, お辞儀) is inseparable from the verbal apology. The depth of your bow communicates sincerity as powerfully as the words themselves.

The 30-degree keirei bow accompanies most everyday apologies, like saying sumimasen on the street or apologizing to a colleague. The 45-degree saikeirei is reserved for serious situations: a business failure, a significant personal offense, or a public apology. Dogeza (kneeling with the forehead touching the floor) is the most extreme form and is almost never seen outside of historical dramas, though it occasionally appears in real corporate apology situations.

How to Respond to Japanese Apologies

Knowing how to accept an apology gracefully is essential. Japanese responses to apologies tend to minimize the offense, reassuring the apologizer that no harm was done.

The pattern mirrors how Japanese speakers respond to gratitude: deflect and minimize. Just as "no, not at all" is the standard response to thanks, "it's fine, don't worry" is the standard response to apologies. Directly saying "I forgive you" (yurushimasu, 許します) sounds overly dramatic in daily conversation, so save it for serious situations.

Practice With Real Japanese Content

Reading about apology expressions gives you the foundation, but hearing them spoken naturally (with proper intonation, bowing cues, and social context) is what transforms knowledge into instinct. Japanese dramas and films are perfect for this because characters constantly navigate the sumimasen vs. gomen vs. moushiwake gozaimasen spectrum, giving you an intuitive feel for when each expression fits.

Wordy lets you watch Japanese movies and shows with interactive subtitles. Tap on any apology expression to see its meaning, romaji pronunciation, formality level, and cultural context in real time. Instead of memorizing phrases from a list, you absorb them from authentic conversations where body language, tone, and social dynamics make the meaning unmistakable.

For more Japanese content, explore our blog for language guides including the best movies to learn Japanese. You can also visit our Japanese learning page to start practicing with real content today.