Translation guide
How to apologise naturally in Japanese, from casual 'sorry' to formal apologies.
A light, everyday apology for small mistakes or inconveniences.
Very common casual apology among friends, family, or close colleagues. Can sound too informal in polite settings.
ごめん、遅れた。
Sorry I'm late.
Slightly softer, often used by women or when seeking sympathy.
ごめんね、忘れちゃった。
Sorry, I forgot.
A versatile apology that can be casual or polite. Also used to get attention or thank someone.
すみません、ちょっと通してください。
Excuse me, please let me through.
Very casual, mainly used by men. Literally 'my bad'.
悪い、今気づいた。
My bad, I just noticed.
A standard polite apology for everyday situations, suitable for strangers, colleagues, or service encounters.
The most common polite apology. Also used to mean 'excuse me' or 'thank you'.
すみません、間違えました。
I'm sorry, I made a mistake.
A formal apology, often used in business or when the mistake is serious.
申し訳ありません、ご迷惑をおかけしました。
I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
A sincere, often public apology for a serious mistake or wrongdoing.
Very formal, humble apology. Standard in business and customer service.
この度は申し訳ございませんでした。
I deeply apologize for this incident.
A very formal, written-style apology. Often used in official statements.
心よりお詫び申し上げます。
I offer my sincerest apologies.
Literally 'I apologize'. Very formal, used in press conferences or official contexts.
深く謝罪いたします。
I deeply apologize.
Saying sorry for doing something specific, often using the te-form + すみません/ごめんなさい.
Attach to the te-form of a verb to apologize for that action. Polite.
遅れてすみません。
Sorry for being late.
Similar to above, but slightly more personal.
忘れてごめんなさい。
Sorry for forgetting.
Formal version for specific actions.
ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ありません。
I apologize for causing you trouble.
Expressing regret for something you did or failed to do.
Past tense apology for a specific action. Polite.
昨日は失礼なことを言ってすみませんでした。
I'm sorry for saying something rude yesterday.
Expresses regret: 'I should have done ~'. Often combined with an apology.
もっと早く言うべきだった。ごめん。
I should have told you sooner. Sorry.
Accepting an apology or saying 'it's okay'.
Polite way to say 'it's fine' or 'no problem'.
A: すみません。B: 大丈夫です。
A: I'm sorry. B: It's okay.
Casual 'don't worry about it'.
気にしないで、大したことじゃないから。
Don't worry, it's not a big deal.
Literally 'no', used to dismiss an apology politely. Often combined with 大丈夫です.
すみません is more versatile and can be used to get attention, express gratitude, or apologize lightly. ごめんなさい is a clearer apology and feels more personal. In business, すみません is common, but 申し訳ありません is safer for serious mistakes.
Japanese culture values apologies, but overusing them can sound insincere or weak. Match the level of apology to the situation.
Polite but slightly more personal than すみません. Often used when you have clearly done something wrong.
ごめんなさい、約束を忘れていました。
I'm sorry, I forgot our promise.
No, it's fine.