Polite apologies
Conversation phrases, Stage 3chunk 20 of 21Greetings, thanks and sorry
Lets you apologise formally to someone outside your circle.
- shitsurei shimashitaexcuse me; sorry (for that)
- sumimasen deshitaI'm sorry (for what I did)
- doumo sumimasenI'm so sorry; thank you so much
- osoku natte sumimasensorry I'm late; sorry for the slow reply
- moushiwake naiI'm sorry; I feel terrible
Mix-ups doumo sumimasen can also mean thank you so much.
shitsurei shimashita
excuse me; sorry (for that)
Light polite apology for a small slip: bumping someone, a wrong number, walking into the wrong room.
Shitsurei shimasu (present) is for entering, leaving or hanging up.
a, heya o machigaemashita. shitsurei shimashita.
Oh, wrong room. Excuse me.
あ、部屋を間違えました。失礼しました。
Written 失礼しました · しつれいしましたWho you say it and hear itHeard 151× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
sumimasen deshita
I'm sorry (for what I did)
Apologizing for something already done, like a mistake at work or being rude.
Plain sumimasen also means excuse me and thanks; the -deshita form is only an apology.
kinou wa sumimasen deshita. chotto iisugimashita.
Sorry about yesterday. I said too much.
昨日はすみませんでした。ちょっと言いすぎました。
Written すみませんでしたWho you say itHeard 71× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
doumo sumimasen
I'm so sorry; thank you so much
A stronger sumimasen to staff, strangers or anyone you've put out: a real apology, or thanks that admits you caused trouble.
The situation tells you whether it's thanks or sorry; often it's both.
wazawaza todokete kudasatte, doumo sumimasen.
Thank you so much for bringing it all this way.
わざわざ届けてくださって、どうもすみません。
Written どうもすみませんWho you say itHeard 6× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
osoku natte sumimasen
sorry I'm late; sorry for the slow reply
Said on arriving late, or at the start of a late reply to a message or email.
With friends: osoku natte gomen. For a message: henji ga osoku natte sumimasen.
osoku natte sumimasen, michi ga konde imashita.
Sorry I'm late, the roads were busy.
遅くなってすみません、道が混んでいました。
Written 遅くなってすみません · おそくなってすみませんWho you say itHeard 19× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
moushiwake nai
polite moushiwake arimasen
I'm sorry; I feel terrible
Plain-form apology, often from men or older people to friends, family or juniors.
Also 'I feel bad': kare ni moushiwake nai (I feel bad toward him).
isogashii no ni, moushiwake nai na.
Sorry to put you out when you're busy.
忙しいのに、申し訳ないな。
oisogashii no ni, moushiwake arimasen.
I'm sorry to trouble you when you're busy.
お忙しいのに、申し訳ありません。
Written 申し訳ない · もうしわけない · 申し訳ありませんWho you say it and hear itHeard 732× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles