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N5 · Phrase guide

Sumimasen vs Gomennasai — Which Sorry to Use

すみません vs ごめんなさい

すみません / ごめんなさい

Excuse me / light sorry vs personal apology

Nuance

すみません = social friction with strangers or light regret. ごめんなさい = personal guilt toward someone you have a relationship with.

Cultural note

On a train, すみません. To your partner after forgetting a date, ごめんなさい. Mixing them up is a common learner tell.

Examples

  • すみません、通ります。

    Excuse me, I'm passing through.

    Crowded aisle

  • ごめんなさい、遅れました。

    I'm sorry I'm late.

    Apologizing to a friend

Common mistakes

  • Saying ごめんなさい to a shop clerk
  • Using すみません for a serious personal mistake

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Related phrases

すみませんごめんなさい