How to Say ‘Excuse me.’ in Japanese
すみません。
sumi mase n
[soo-mee mah-seh n]
💬 Usage Tip: Use [すみません] to get attention, apologize, or say “pardon me.” It’s the all-purpose starter for questions.
🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japan it’s very normal to begin with [すみません] before asking directions; it sounds polite and softens the request.
Phrase Breakdown
すみ
sumi
[soo-mee]
excuse me; sorry
Used to politely get someone’s attention (like “Excuse me”) or to apologize lightly. Common when asking for directions.
すみません、地下鉄の駅はどこですか。
Excuse me, where is the subway station?
ませ
mase
[mah-seh]
(part of) "sumimasen"
This chunk is part of すみません, a fixed polite phrase. You usually learn it as the whole word すみません.
すみません、ちょっといいですか。
Excuse me, do you have a moment?
ん
n
[n]
(part of) "sumimasen"; sentence-final sound
This ん is the final sound in すみません. It gives a soft, polite ending; don’t pronounce a strong “n” in English—let it be light.
すみません、出口はどこですか。
Excuse me, where is the exit?
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