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ごめんなさい (gomennasai) Japanese meaning: I'm sorry | Kotomora
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て
ごめんなさい
。
Pardon me, could you say that again?
Kanji 御 honorable, manipulate, govern Related words· 9 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 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.
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.
Show 5 more 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.
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.
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.
Politeness 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 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.
Written forms 御ご 免めん なさい
Kanji spelling is rare and may appear in formal or literary contexts.
ご 免めん なさい
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; less common than the full kana form.
Etymology Derived from 御免 (gomen, 'pardon, permission') + なさい (nasai, polite imperative of なさる). Literally 'please grant me pardon'.
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.
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.
