How to Say ‘I'm very sorry.’ in Japanese
申し訳ありません。
moushiwake ari mase n
[moh-shee-WAH-keh ah-ree mah-seh n]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is a much more formal apology than すみません. It's what a driver or staff member says to a customer when the mistake is clearly theirs.
Phrase Breakdown
申し訳
moushiwake
[moh-shee-WAH-keh]
excuse; apology
Formal word for an excuse; used in very polite apologies.
申し訳ありません。
I'm very sorry.
ありません。
ari mase n
there is none
Together with the first half, it means 'there is no excuse', which is a very formal 'I'm sorry'. The final 'n' is soft.
時間がありません。
There is no time.
Words in this phrase
あり
ari
[ah-ree]
exist; have
From ある, meaning something exists or there is/are.
質問があり ます。
I have a question.
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.
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