Saying sorry
Conversation phrases, Stage 1chunk 65 of 68Greetings, thanks and sorry
Lets you apologise to a friend, lightly or properly.
- gomen gomensorry, sorry (light)
- gomen nasaiI'm sorry
- watashi ga warukattait was my fault; my bad
- sumansorry; my bad
Mix-ups gomen gomen is light, and suman is masculine.
gomen gomen
sorry, sorry (light)
Quick, breezy apology to a friend for something small, like being a bit late.
Too light for anything serious; it can sound like you don't care.
gomen gomen, densha okureta.
Sorry, sorry, my train was late.
ごめんごめん、電車遅れた。
Written ごめんごめんWho you say itHeard 15× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
gomen nasai
I'm sorry
A sincere personal apology to family, friends or a partner; children use it with anyone.
Gomen alone is the casual short form. At work or with strangers, sumimasen fits better.
gomen nasai, kinou no yakusoku wasureteta.
I'm sorry, I forgot our plans yesterday.
ごめんなさい、昨日の約束忘れてた。
gomen nasai, kinou no yakusoku o wasurete imashita.
I'm sorry, I forgot about yesterday's appointment.
ごめんなさい、昨日の約束を忘れていました。
Written ごめんなさいWho you say itHeard 3435× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
watashi ga warukatta
polite watashi ga warukatta desu
it was my fault; my bad
A sincere apology that takes the blame, usually after an argument; often paired with 'gomen'.
Men often say 'ore ga warukatta'. Stronger than plain 'gomen' because it admits fault.
gomen, watashi ga warukatta. mou shinai.
Sorry, it was my fault. I won't do it again.
ごめん、私が悪かった。もうしない。
kono ken wa watashi ga warukatta desu. sumimasen.
This was my fault. I'm sorry.
この件は私が悪かったです。すみません。
Written 私が悪かった · わたしがわるかった · 私が悪かったですWho you say itHeard 81× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
suman
sorry; my bad
Quick apology from men to friends or juniors; also a gruff thanks.
Never to a superior. Sumanai is an older, stiffer version.
suman, okureta. densha ga tomatteta.
Sorry I'm late. The train had stopped.
すまん、遅れた。電車が止まってた。
Written すまんWho you say it and hear itHeard 833× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles