How to Say ‘My apologies.’ in Japanese
失礼しました。
shitsurei shi mashi ta
[sheet-soo-RAY shee ma-shi tah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: 失礼しました is the polite apology staff use for a small mistake at work. It's more formal than すみません, and it's what a professional driver would naturally say.
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.
予約しします。
I do the reservation.
まし
mashi
[ma-shi]
polite past marker
Part of the polite past verb form.
はい、わかりました。
Yes, understood.
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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