Listen carefully to the Japanese pronunciation and practice saying the phrases aloud – you’ll have these mastered in no time!
Resources for further reading:
How to say Sorry in Japanese
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
If you are speaking to a close friend, you can get away with a casual ごめん "gomen" or ごめんね "gomen-ne" instead.
Another very common way to say sorry in Japanese is "sumimasen":
"Sumimasen" is commonly used to apologize but can also be used to ask for a favor or to thank someone, depending on the context.
Here are some other ways to excuse yourself or say sorry in Japanese:
You'll find that Japanese people apologize often, probably more than you are used to! It's another way to be humble, considerate and to take responsibility for your actions.
Apologies are usually accompanied with a bow, so if you've made a serious mistake, remember to bow deeply! Being apologetic or remorseful will earn you better treatment so don't be afraid to be courteous in Japan.
If you want more lessons on Japanese salutations then I recommend that you check out the following:
- How to say Good morning in Japanese.
- Being able to say Thank you in Japanese is essential for a great Japanese experience!
- Using the word Welcome in Japanese.
Sayōnara!
Sayaka Matsuura: Rocket Japanese