ごめんなさい

ご

め

ん

な

さ

い

JLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

A polite apology or request for forgiveness, used in everyday situations. Slightly more formal than ごめん, but less formal than すみません in some contexts.

ごめんN2
ごめん is the casual, shortened form of ごめんなさい, used with close friends or family rather than in polite contexts.
すみませんN4
すみません is more versatile than ごめんなさい, working as an apology, an attention-getter, or even thanks, and is safe with strangers.
ごめんくださいN2
ごめんなさい is the everyday, common apology for 'I'm sorry', while ごめんください as an apology sounds more set-phrase and old-fashioned.
すいません
ごめんなさい is a direct, personal apology, whereas すいません can also be used to get attention or express thanks, not just to apologize.

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申もうし訳わけないN2
ごめんなさい is a casual, everyday apology among friends or family, whereas 申し訳ない is heavier and used in more serious or formal situations.
失しつ礼れいしました
ごめんなさい is a plain, personal apology used with friends or family, whereas 失礼しました is more formal and typical of business or polite social settings.
失しつ礼れいしますN5
ごめんなさい is a personal, heartfelt apology for a mistake, whereas 失礼します is a fixed, formal phrase for everyday social courtesy like leaving a room.
すまないN2
ごめんなさい is a softer, more universally polite apology than すまない, which sounds blunt or masculine.
申もうし訳わけありません
ごめんなさい is a personal, casual apology used with friends and family, whereas 申し訳ありません is the formal expression expected toward superiors, customers, or in business settings.

申もうし訳わけありませんhumble 謙譲語
申し訳ありません is the very formal, humble counterpart of ごめんなさい, used in business or serious situations rather than everyday ones.
ごめんplainN2
ごめん is the casual, clipped apology used among friends and family, while ごめんなさい is the fuller, more polite form of the same apology.

Derived from 御免 (gomen, 'pardon, permission') + なさい (nasai, polite imperative of なさる). Literally 'please grant me pardon'.