How to Say ‘Excuse me’ in Japanese
すみません
sumi mase n
[sue-mee mah-SEH n]
Phrase Breakdown
すみ
sumi
[sue-mee]
excuse
A stem used in polite expressions like apologies or getting someone's attention.
すみません、コンサートのチケットについて聞きたいです。
Excuse me, I would like to ask about the concert tickets.
ませ
mase
[mah-SEH]
polite verb form (here part of 'sumimasen')
The polite auxiliary 'masu' in its stem form 'mase', followed by 'n' to make it negative. Together with 'sumi' it forms 'sumimasen', meaning 'excuse me'.
まだ決まっていません。
It hasn't been decided yet.
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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