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How to Say ‘Sorry, I just really thought it looked great.’ in Japanese

すみません、本当にすてきだと思って。

sumi mase n hontou ni suteki da to omotsu te

[soo-mee mah-seh n hohn-TOH nee soo-teh-kee da toh oh-MOHT teh]

💬 Usage Tip: Ending on と思って "I thought..." without finishing the sentence is a soft, apologetic way to explain yourself. The rest is left implied.

Phrase Breakdown

すみません、

sumi mase n

sorry

Here it's a light apology, as in 'sorry for staring'.

Example

すみません、急いでいて。

Sorry, I was in a hurry.

Words in this phrase

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.

Example

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.

Example

はいていません。

I haven’t vomited.

ん

[n]

negative ending

The final sound completing the negative polite form.

Example

一人は魚が食べられません。

One person cannot eat fish.

本当にすてきだと

hontou ni suteki da to

that it's really lovely

だと quotes a thought: '(that) it is lovely'.

Example

本当にすてきだと言いました。

I said it was really lovely.

Words in this phrase

本当

hontou

[hohn-TOH]

really

Used to confirm or emphasize truth.

Example

それは本当ですか？

Is that true?

に

[nee]

(adverb-forming particle)

Turns 本当 into the adverb 'really'.

Example

本当においしいです。

It's really delicious.

すてき

suteki

[soo-teh-kee]

lovely; wonderful; nice

A polite compliment word used for something charming, attractive, or admirable.

Example

その笑顔、本当にすてきですね。

That smile is really lovely.

だ

[da]

be (informal)

Informal form of 'to be' used in casual speech.

Example

今日はいい天気だ。

Today is good weather.

と

[toh]

(quotation marker)

Marks the content of a thought or speech.

Example

いいと思います。

I think it's good.

思って。

omotsu te

I thought, so...

The て-form of 思う ('to think') gives a reason, as in 'because I thought...'. Pause at the small っ: 'omot-te'.

Example

おいしいと思って。

Because I thought it was tasty.

Words in this phrase

思っ

omotsu

[oh-MOHT]

to think

Stem of 思う, to think or suppose.

Example

いい人だと思っています。

I think he's a good person.

て

[teh]

and; -te form

A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.

Example

仕事を探している人と話しました。

I spoke with a person who is looking for work.

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