How to Say ‘Sorry’ in Japanese
ごめんね
gomen ne
[goh-men neh]
💬 Usage Tip: [ごめんね] is casual and warm; the [ね] makes it softer. More formal: [ごめんなさい] or [申し訳ありません].
🇯🇵 In Japan: Use [ごめんね] with friends/family. With strangers or at work, it can sound too casual—[すみません] is safer.
Phrase Breakdown
ごめん
gomen
[goh-men]
sorry (casual)
Casual apology used with friends/family. Softer and more informal than すみません.
ごめん、さっき急いで話した。
Sorry, I spoke in a hurry earlier.
ね
ne
[neh]
(sentence-ending) okay? / you know? / softener
ね seeks agreement or softens the tone. ごめんね sounds gentler: “Sorry, okay?”
ごめんね、待たせた。
Sorry I kept you waiting.
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