Basic expressions: Greeting someone and apologizing for being late

💬 [こんにちは] is a standard daytime greeting. The final [は] is pronounced as the topic particle (wah), not as [は] usually sounds.

🇯🇵 Common from late morning to late afternoon. In casual situations with friends, people may also just nod or say something shorter.

💬 [ごめん] is a casual way to say sorry. It is softer and more friendly than [ごめんなさい].

🇯🇵 Often used with friends, family, or people close to you. For strangers, teachers, or formal situations, [ごめんなさい] is safer.

💬 [おくれました] is the polite past form of [おくれる], meaning "to be late." It literally means "was late."

🇯🇵 In Japan, punctuality matters a lot, so saying this quickly and politely is appreciated if you arrive late.

💬 [だいじょうぶ] is super useful. It can mean "okay," "fine," "no problem," or even "I'm okay/no thanks," depending on context.

🇯🇵 You will hear this everywhere in Japan. Watch the tone and situation carefully, because one small word does many jobs.

💬 Adding [だよ] makes [だいじょうぶ] sound warmer and more reassuring. It is casual and often used with someone you know well.

🇯🇵 This phrase is nice for comforting friends. With strangers or in formal settings, plain [だいじょうぶです] is more polite.

💬 [ほんとうに] means "really" or "truly." It can add strong feeling to apologies, thanks, surprise, and praise.

🇯🇵 Japanese often uses [ほんとうに] to sound heartfelt, especially in polite conversation. It can make your words feel more sincere.

💬 [ごめんなさい] is a standard and polite apology. It is stronger and more formal than casual [ごめん].

🇯🇵 This is a very useful everyday apology. In very formal business situations, people may use even more formal expressions.

💬 [ほんとうに] adds emphasis, so [ほんとうにごめんなさい] sounds more sincere and apologetic than [ごめんなさい] alone.

🇯🇵 A deeper apology is often valued in Japan, especially if you inconvenienced someone. A small bow may naturally go with this phrase.

💬 [きにしないで] literally means "don't mind it." It is a kind, casual way to tell someone not to worry.

🇯🇵 Very common after someone apologizes. It helps reduce awkwardness and keeps the mood friendly.