How to Say ‘I'm very sorry.’ in Japanese
申し訳ございません。
moushiwake gozai mase n
[moh-shee-WAH-keh goh-zah-ee mah-seh n]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Staff use this very polite apology whenever they can't offer something, even something small like valet parking. It's routine courtesy, not a sign that anything is really wrong.
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.
ございません。
gozai mase n
there is not (very polite)
This is the polite negative of ございます. Together with 申し訳, it means 'I'm very sorry'. Say 'go-za-i-ma-sen'.
在庫がございません。
We have no stock.
Words in this phrase
ござい
gozai
[goh-zah-ee]
to be; to exist (polite part of expression)
A polite verb stem used in set phrases like greetings to sound respectful.
あいさつでは、ございをていねいに言います。
In greetings, you say gozai politely.
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]
not (negative ending)
The final sound of the polite negative ending ません, making the verb negative.
時間がありません。
I don't have time.
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