How to Say ‘I'm sorry!’ in Japanese
ごめんなあ！
gomen naa
[gomen nah-ah]
💬 Usage Tip: The なあ at the end stretches the feeling and makes the apology sound more heartfelt or emotional. In rough male speech, it can soften the line a bit even though the overall style is casual.
Phrase Breakdown
ごめん
gomen
[gomen]
sorry
An apology or expression of regret.
ごめんなあ、予定を忘れた。
Sorry, I forgot the schedule.
なあ
naa
[nah-ah]
-
Softens a statement or adds emphasis.
ごめんなあ、遅れた。
Sorry for being late.
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