Short answer
“excuse me” in Japanese is すみません
How to say excuse me in Japanese?
How to say excuse me in Japanese: the most useful word is すみません (sumimasen). This one phrase covers apologizing, getting attention, and asking someone to let you pass. In casual speech you will often hear すいません (suimasen), and for polite exits 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu) is used. ごめんなさい is only for apologizing, not for calling someone. Adding ちょっと makes it softer and friendlier: ちょっとすみません.
Common pairings
すみません、お願いしますすみません、今何時ですかお先に失礼します
How to use it
- Use すみません as an all-purpose polite excuse me: to call a waiter, ask directions, say sorry for a small mistake, or squeeze past someone. It works in almost any public situation.
- Use 失礼します when entering or leaving someone's home or office, or before interrupting. It is more formal than すみません and is not used to call someone from across the street.
- Use ごめんなさい for sincere apologies to friends, family, or people close to you. Don't use it to flag down a shop clerk or ask a stranger a question; すみません is the natural word there.
- Adding ちょっと to すみません, as in ちょっとすみません, signals that your request or interruption will be quick and makes the tone friendlier.
Examples
すみません、駅はどこですか。
Excuse me, where is the station?
Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka. Use すみません to politely open a question to a stranger.
すいません、ちょっと通してください。
Excuse me, could you let me through?
Suimasen, chotto tōshite kudasai. すいません is a common relaxed pronunciation of すみません in everyday speech.
では、失礼します。
Well then, excuse me / I'm leaving now.
Dewa, shitsurei shimasu. 失礼します is formal and used when leaving a room, an office, or a meeting.
ごめんなさい、足を踏んじゃった。
I'm sorry, I stepped on your foot.
Gomen nasai, ashi o funjatta. ごめんなさい is for apologizing, not for getting a stranger's attention.
ちょっとすみません、写真を撮ってもらえますか。
Excuse me a moment, could you take a picture for us?
Chotto sumimasen, shashin o totte moraemasu ka. Adding ちょっと before すみません makes a small request sound lighter.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| すみません、駅はどこですか。 | ごめんなさい is for apologizing after a mistake. When calling to a stranger for directions, すみません is the natural attention-getter. | |
| すみません |
すみませんと言ってください。 | The word すみません is quoted, not treated as a direct object, so use the quoting particle と, not を. |
| Unnatural | Natural | Why |
|---|---|---|
| すみません、メニューをください。 | 失礼します is for leaving or entering a room, not for getting a waiter's attention. At a restaurant, use すみません. |
FAQ
- How to say excuse me in JapaneseThe standard phrase is すみません (sumimasen). You can use it to apologize, ask a question, or get someone's attention. For example: すみません、トイレはどこですか？ (Excuse me, where is the restroom?)
- What does すみません mean?It literally means 'it doesn't settle / I'm sorry', but in daily life it works as 'excuse me' to call someone, 'sorry' for small mistakes, and even a light 'thank you' when someone goes out of their way for you.
- Is すいません acceptable?Yes, すいません is a relaxed pronunciation of すみません and is very common in casual speech. In writing, formal situations, or at work, すみません is safer.