How to Say ‘Excuse me.’ in Japanese
すみません。
sumi mase n
[soo-mee mah-seh n]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is one of the most useful all-purpose phrases in Japan: it can mean "excuse me," "sorry," or "thanks for the trouble." People often use it to get a clerk's attention before asking a question, so it's worth thinking of it as more than just an apology.
Phrase Breakdown
すみ
sumi
[soo-mee]
excuse me; sorry
First part of a very common polite expression used to get attention or apologize.
すみ、少し聞いてもいいですか。
Excuse me, may I ask something?
ませ
mase
[mah-seh]
not finish; not do
Part of the set phrase すみません; by itself it is not usually used this way in conversation.
すみません、道を教えてください。
Excuse me, please tell me the way.
ん
n
[n]
negative ending sound
Final sound in すみません, completing the polite fixed expression.
すみません、もう一度お願いします。
Excuse me, one more time please.
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