How to Say ‘My apologies.’ in Japanese
失礼しました。
shitsurei shi mashi ta
[sheet-soo-RAY shee mah-shee tah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: 失礼しました is a polite, light apology for a small slip like a wrong guess. It sounds more graceful than a heavy ごめんなさい.
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; make
The verb stem of する, attached to 交換 to form the action 'to exchange.'
名刺を交換したいです。
I want to exchange business cards.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite past stem
Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.
昨日は多くのことを学びました。
I learned many things 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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