N5 · Phrase guide
Gomennasai — Personal Apology
ごめんなさい
ごめんなさい
I'm sorry (personal)
Nuance
Implies you feel responsible toward someone close. Too heavy for bumping strangers; right for friends, family, partners.
Cultural note
Casual ごめん among friends; full ごめんなさい shows sincerity. Children learn this before business keigo.
Examples
ごめんなさい、忘れてた。
Sorry, I forgot.
Apologizing to a friend
本当にごめんなさい。
I'm truly sorry.
Serious personal mistake
Common mistakes
- Using ごめんなさい with strangers in public
- Saying only ごめん to a client
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