The most versatile apology is すみません (sumimasen) — it covers light apologies, “excuse me,” and even “thank you.” ごめんなさい (gomen nasai) is a personal, heartfelt sorry for people you know. 申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen) is the formal, business-level apology. For “excuse me” when entering or leaving, use 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu).
Apologising well matters more in Japanese than in almost any other language — it’s woven into daily courtesy. The good news: you only need three core phrases, and the choice between them comes down to two simple factors: how formal the situation is and how close you are to the person.
The Three Core Apologies
| Japanese | Romaji | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| すみません | sumimasen | Light apology, “excuse me,” strangers, public |
| ごめんなさい | gomen nasai | Personal, sincere sorry to people you know |
| 申し訳ありません | mōshiwake arimasen | Formal / business / serious apology |
Casually, ごめんなさい shortens to just ごめん (gomen) with close friends. And 申し訳ありません goes even more formal as 申し訳ございません (mōshiwake gozaimasen) in business.
The すみません vs ごめんなさい Decision
This is the pair beginners mix up. The rule:
すみません — sumimasen
More formal and versatile. Safe with strangers, staff and in public. Also means “excuse me” and “thank you (for the trouble).”
ごめんなさい — gomen nasai
More personal and emotional. Use it with friends, family and people you know when you genuinely feel bad. Casual form: ごめん.
Quick guide: with a stranger or in a shop, reach for すみません. Apologising to a friend you let down, use ごめん(なさい). It carries warmth that すみません doesn’t.
“Excuse Me” and Other Useful Forms
| Japanese | Romaji | English / when |
|---|---|---|
| 失礼します | shitsurei shimasu | Excuse me (entering/leaving a room) |
| 失礼しました | shitsurei shimashita | Sorry for the rudeness (after the fact) |
| ごめんください | gomen kudasai | Excuse me / anyone home? (at a door) |
| 許してください | yurushite kudasai | Please forgive me |
| 反省しています | hansei shite imasu | I’m truly reflecting on it (deep) |
Apologies in Action
すみません、ちょっといいですか。
sumimasen, chotto ii desu ka.
Excuse me, do you have a moment? (getting attention)
遅れてごめんね。
okurete gomen ne.
Sorry I’m late. (casual, to a friend)
ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ありません。
go-meiwaku o okake shite mōshiwake arimasen.
I deeply apologise for the trouble I’ve caused. (formal/business)
Make the Right Apology Automatic
The challenge isn’t memorising three phrases — it’s reaching for the right one instantly, matched to the formality and relationship. Kanjijo trains that judgement. Each apology is taught inside example sentences that make the social context concrete, exclusive mnemonics anchor the すみません/ごめん/申し訳ありません trio so you never blur them, and SRS resurfaces them right before you forget. Listening practice tunes your ear to how 失礼します sounds in real offices, the OCR scanner decodes apologetic signage and business email phrasing, and home and lock screen widgets keep the set fresh — so the correct apology becomes instinct.
Apologise Like a Native
Kanjijo locks in すみません, ごめんなさい and 申し訳ありません with example sentences, exclusive mnemonics, SRS, reading, listening, OCR scanning, widgets, and mock JLPT practice.
Download Kanjijo FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. When someone goes out of their way for you, すみません expresses thanks tinged with “sorry for the trouble.” It’s very common.
Not among friends — it’s the natural casual sorry. But it’s too informal for strangers, work or serious apologies; use すみません or 申し訳ありません there.
申し訳ございません (mōshiwake gozaimasen), often with a bow, is the standard for business and serious situations.
When entering or leaving a room or office, ending a phone call, or politely excusing yourself — literally “I’m being rude (by intruding/leaving).”