How to Say ‘Excuse me’ in Japanese
すみません
sumi mase n
[soo-mee mah-seh n]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Customers call out すみません across the room to get a server's attention, and it isn't rude. As a waiter, expect to hear it often and respond with はい (hai) right away. Many places also have a call button on the table for the same purpose.
Phrase Breakdown
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.
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.
はいていません。
I haven’t vomited.
ん
n
[n]
(negative ending)
Contracted form of the polite negative ending, as in ありません.
今日は時間がありません。
I don't have time today.
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