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すまなかった Japanese meaning | Kotomora

すまなかった

also: すまんかった

Meanings

1

interjection

sorry; my bad

familiar language

Casual, familiar apology used among friends or in informal situations. Past tense of すまない, often used when the speaker feels they have already caused inconvenience.

See also: すまない

遅おくれてすまなかった。
Sorry I'm late.
昨日きのうは手て伝つだえなくてすまなかった。
Sorry I couldn't help you yesterday.

Similar words

すまない
Non-past form; used similarly but can also be used before the inconvenience occurs. すまなかった is explicitly past tense, often for something already done.
ごめん
More common casual apology; すまなかった sounds slightly more masculine or old-fashioned in some contexts.

Etymology

Past tense of すまない, from the negative form of 済む (to finish, to be settled). The apology sense comes from the idea that one's feelings are not settled or that the debt is not cleared.