How to Say ‘Excuse me.’ in Japanese
失礼します。
shitsurei shi masu
[sheet-soo-RAY shee mahss]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Say this as you step into the doctor's room, and again as you leave, often with a small bow. It's the standard polite way to enter someone's space.
Phrase Breakdown
失礼
shitsurei
[sheet-soo-RAY]
rudeness; excuse me
Means impoliteness; with します it's a polite way to excuse yourself or say goodbye.
お先に失礼します。
Excuse me for leaving before you.
し
shi
[shee]
do
し is the stem of する, meaning to do.
まいにちべんきょうし ます。
I study every day.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite verb ending
A polite ending often used in Japanese verbs, such as します and あります.
ますを使うと丁寧です。
Using ます makes it polite.
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