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すいません Japanese meaning | Kotomora

すいません

also: すんません · すぃません

Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

expression

sorry; excuse me; thank you

Colloquial contraction of すみません. Used in the same range of situations: apologizing, getting attention, or expressing gratitude. Slightly more casual than すみません.

See also: すみません

すいません、ちょっと通とおしてください。
Excuse me, please let me through.
遅おくれてすいません。
Sorry I'm late.
わざわざ届とどけてくれてすいません。
Thank you for going out of your way to deliver it.

Written forms

すんません
Further contracted casual form, often heard in informal Kansai speech.
スイマセン
Katakana spelling, sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.
スンマセン
Katakana spelling of the contracted form.

Similar words

すみません
The standard form; more polite and widely used in formal situations. すいません is a colloquial contraction.
ごめんなさい
A more direct apology, often used among friends or in personal contexts. すいません can also express gratitude or get attention.

Etymology

Colloquial contraction of すみません, which itself is the polite negative form of 済む (to finish, to be settled). The sound change from /mi/ to /i/ is common in casual speech.