How to Say ‘Excuse me.’ in Japanese
すみません。
sumi mase n
[sumi mah-seh n]
💬 Usage Tip: [すみません] is a super-useful all-rounder: "excuse me," "sorry," or even a light "thank you" when someone helps you. Great first word at a ward office counter.
🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japan, starting with [すみません] before asking a question sounds polite and smooth, especially in public offices.
Phrase Breakdown
すみ
sumi
[sumi]
excuse me / sorry
First part of すみません, a very common polite expression used to get attention or apologize.
すみません、と言いました。
I said, “Excuse me.”
ませ
mase
[mah-seh]
polite middle part of the phrase
Middle part of すみません. By itself it is not usually used alone, but it helps form the polite expression.
すみません、と言いました。
I said, “Excuse me.”
ん
n
[n]
final n sound
Final sound in すみません. It completes the full polite phrase.
すみません、と言いました。
I said, “Excuse me.”
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