How to Say ‘I apologize.’ in Japanese
すみませんでした。
sumi mase n deshi ta
[soo-mee mah-seh n deshi tah]
💬 Usage Tip: Putting すみません into the past, すみませんでした, apologizes for something already done. It sounds more sincere than the plain present form.
Phrase Breakdown
すみ
sumi
[soo-mee]
excuse me; sorry
A polite attention-getter and light apology. Used to call a pharmacist/staff or to be polite before asking for help.
すみません、薬剤師さん。
Excuse me, pharmacist.
ませ
mase
[mah-seh]
polite negative (part of ません)
「ませ」 is part of 「ません」, the polite negative form.
はいていません。
I haven’t vomited.
ん
n
[n]
negative ending
The final sound completing the negative polite form.
一人は魚が食べられません。
One person cannot eat fish.
でし
deshi
[deshi]
was
Past tense form of 'desu'.
昨日は雨でした。
It was rainy yesterday.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
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