Daily · Japanese
Practice this phrase
Japanese · 日本語
Translation
すみません
Romanization
Sumimasen
Pronunciation
soo-mee-mah-sen
When to use it
Use this in everyday conversation. These phrases are generally safe for work, travel, and casual interactions. In Japanese, tone and relationship matter; when unsure, choose a polite version or soften your delivery.
Example
すみません — a natural sentence for ordinary conversation for "excuse me".
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FAQ
You say "すみません" in Japanese. The romanized form is "Sumimasen", and a simple pronunciation cue is "soo-mee-mah-sen".
This entry is marked as polite. The usage note explains when the phrase is appropriate and when you should soften it.
Use "soo-mee-mah-sen" as a learner-friendly pronunciation cue. The romanization is "Sumimasen".
Use this in everyday conversation. These phrases are generally safe for work, travel, and casual interactions. In Japanese, tone and relationship matter; when unsure, choose a polite version or soften your delivery.