Sorry In Japanese: Learn How And When To Apologize In Japanese

Causing trouble or mistakes for others is something every person has done at some point in their lives. Whether it be an accident or something you did on purpose, knowing how to say sorry is very important. Apologizing in the right way can make all the difference between forgiveness and resentment.

When you are learning a new language, one of the first phrases you should learn is how to express a genuine apology. Since cultures are different, what may occasion someone to apologize in Japanese may be different from Singapore or any other part of the world. Also, the phrases to use may vary with the situation.

For instance, we can say “I’m sorry” when you inconvenience a person or hurt them. But, we say “Sorry for your loss” to express sympathy. In both cases, the primary word is sorry, but the expression varies with the situation. You don’t want to be tongue-tied or use the wrong phrase when it comes to apologizing. Not only is it embarrassing, but it can also be deemed rude.

There are many ways to apologize in Japanese for differing situations, and we will learn all about them here!

When Is It Appropriate to Apologise in Japan?

Being apologetic is a sign of respect and appreciation in Japanese culture. It is considered rude not to express your regret when you have done mistakes.

Various scenarios can call for an apology. These three represent the most common among language learners. You can ask your tutor to help you to role-play the scenarios during your Japanese language classes.

• When you inconvenience a person or hurt a person unintentionally.
• When a person goes out of their way to do you a favour, the apology is an outside gesture of your gratitude.
• When you cause a minor accident or want to interrupt someone. For instance, if you accidentally bump into someone or stop a person on the street to ask for directions.

Different Ways to Apologise in Japanese Culture

Sorry — ごめんなさい — Gomen / Gomen ne / Gomen-nasai / Gomen-kudasai

Sorry is the most common word used to apologise, not just in Japanese but also in many cultures and languages around the world. Because it’s short, simple and effective, a lot of people use it in their everyday life.

You can say ごめんなさい / Gomen-nasai / Gomen ne which means “sorry” in Japanese when you inconvenience a person or hurt them. Most Japanese language speakers will be able to tell what they want to express and will understand the expression when they say Gomen-nasai.

However, it is considered less polite to use ごめんなさい or Gomen-nasai when addressing your seniors. If you are addressing a superior, you say これは失礼しました or “sorry that was rude of me.” So, be mindful of the age or official rank of the addressee.

You can also say ごめんなさい to your friends or families as it can be considered as a casual form saying that you apologize in Japanese.

Excuse me —すみません — Sumimasen

This is a popular way of expressing a Japanese apology amongst native Japanese speakers. It is used when you want to show that you are apologizing for minor social accidents. For instance, when you sneeze in public or accidentally bump into another person on the street.

You can say お邪魔します to interrupt someone in a sort of non-apologetic scenario. For example, if you want to interrupt someone on the street and ask for directions, you can say おじゃま します or “excuse me for disturbing you.”

You need to know when to use すみません because it may be deemed rude or that you lack good manners if the situation doesn’t call for a sincere apology.

I’m sorry for all the trouble —ご面倒をお掛けして、すみません — Gomeiwaku o okake shite mōshiwakearimasen

Learning Japanese culture is part and parcel of any meaningful Japanese course in Singapore, and this is one of the practices you will learn. When someone does you a favour, you should show that you are apologizing for the “inconvenience” you have caused them.

It’s what we have mentioned earlier. You can apologize as a polite way of expressing your gratitude. Don’t worry, it’s not some deep reverence act, but rather a deeper, more intense way of expressing your gratitude the Japanese way.

Another instance would be when you want to apologize for causing a minor accident. For instance, when you cause someone to drop their shopping bags or break something accidentally.

You can also use this apologetic phrase when you want to stop someone. For instance, if you are approaching an old lady with a baby, you can say ご面倒をお掛けします / Gomeiwaku o okake shimasu. However, it may be inappropriate to use the expression when it comes to apologising for inconveniencing your superiors in Japanese culture.

Excuse me for bothering you — 邪魔します — Ojama Shimasu

There are some Japanese phrases that you only use in certain situations. If you want to approach someone and ask for permission to ask them a question or speak to them, this phrase is the correct way to go about it.

Ojama Shimasu is not the same phrase as Sumimasen. The difference between 邪魔します and すみません is that 邪魔します puts emphasis on your official standing. If you want to speak to someone who is busy, but not superior in rank, you can use the phrase 邪魔します — Ojama Shimasu.

If used in a work environment or when talking to superiors, this expression means that it would be best to stay formal and refrain from using the casual version.

I apologise — 謝罪いたします — Shazai Itashimasu

When you cause a small accident or unintentionally do something wrong and you feel bad, you can use this phrase to show that you are sincerely apologizing. 謝罪いたします literally means or translates to “apologies and atonement”, but it can be used as one word as it is an interesting use.

You don’t need to mention the thing that you are apologising for; no specific reason is required to convey your regretful feelings. However, if someone who has suffered from your mistake asks you about the accident, it is best to admit the wrongdoing and offer a formal and proper Japanese apology.

Excuse me, please — 失礼します — Shitsurei / Shitsurei-shimasu

Some instances require you to express your apologies for being impolite. When you need to leave the room or enter a room, saying excuse me is considered as such an action. You can also use “excuse me, please” or 失礼します whenever certain formalities are required like giving and receiving presents, getting out of vehicles and so on.

Forgive me / Please forgive me — 許してください — Yurushite Kudasai

There are some situations or instances where you need to apologise, but the ‘oops’ isn’t enough. For example, when a friend who you have hurt needs your forgiveness, saying sorry just won’t cut it. So express your regret with 許してください or Yurushite Kudasai. This phrase means please forgive me.

This expression will work in informal situations; you can say 許して or ゆるして if you want to sound more polite. This phrase will be useful when you apologize for your misdeeds towards someone who has always been kind and generous towards you (e.g., your teacher).

Show me mercy / Please show me mercy — 勘弁してください — Kanben Shite Kudasai

When you have done something really bad, said something that made someone angry or upset them, apologised for it repeatedly, but the other person is still not willing to forgive you, then this expression is your last resort.

The translation for 勘弁してください is “show me mercy so please let me off easy!” It’s best to use this phrase only at your wits’ end. You can also use it when someone has done something to you and continues to push their luck by asking one more favour of you.

Japanese phrases like these can get you out of uncomfortable situations ranging from embarrassing to frightening. With the right occasion and choice of a Japanese word, you will be able to express yourself better in Japanese and build rapport with native speakers.

I apologise — お詫びします — Owabi shimasu

Use this expression when you must apologize but can’t find the right Japanese phrase. It is used to express your regret for any bad thing that has happened and to express your gratitude when someone has done something nice for you.

Owabi shimasu and Shitsurei-shimasu are not the same thing. The difference between Owabi shimasu from Shitsurei-shimasu is that you apologize for your own actions and not for someone else’s.

My bad — 悪い。— warui

There are occasions when you don’t need to apologize in the Japanese language using complicated Japanese phrases. You just have to be frank and say 悪い。or warui, which means “bad” in Japanese.

This term may seem informal and used in a very casual way, but it can be used in informal contexts with good communication. Simply use this apology with your friends, when you are scolded, or when someone gives you a look that says, “I told you so”. The elder Japanese people may enjoy to hear a more polite form to express a Japanese apology, but you can use this phrase if they are not around.

Apologising to show appreciation

With so many ways of saying sorry in Japanese, you can choose the most appropriate one depending on who your audience is. But there are some instances where no matter how many apologies you give, it’s just not enough to show gratitude.

In this case, saying “arigato gozaimasu” or ありがとうございます would be a good idea. This phrase simply means “thank you” and expresses deep gratitude towards someone for something done for us. It’s a very simple way of apologising as these phrases are a form of light apologies that anyone can understand.

But if you want to apologize to someone from Japan and to show appreciation for something done for you, you can use the phrase “mou ichido arigato gozaimasu” or もう一度ありがとうございます. This means “thank you again” and show how very thankful you are. Some people still say sorry in Japanese when they express their gratitude, but others do not. So saying mou ichido arigato gozaimasu can soften the impact of your deep appreciation for something done for you.

In Conclusion

You can always find the right phrase to say sorry in Japanese for whatever reason you have done a mistake towards someone. There are many ways of saying sorry in Japanese that will surely help you express yourself better next time. Just make sure you sincerely apologize and they will be more willing to accept your apology.

Finding the proper way to show your heartfelt apology or to say “I’m sorry” in another language is tough, but anyone can master this phrase with enough practice. Even if it may take several tries for some people to properly say sorry in Japanese, learning how to apologize is not impossible.

If you want to learn Japanese apologies and how or when to say these Japanese terms, our teachers at Japanese Explorer are more than ready to teach you. You can enroll in our classes or schedule lessons online with us anytime!

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