Direct answer
日本語 · Japanese phrasing with romanization and natural tone notes.
ごめんなさい
Romanization
Gomen nasai
Pronunciation
goh-men nah-sigh
Daily · Japanese
How to say “sorry” in Japanese
Learn how to say "sorry" in Japanese: ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai), with pronunciation, usage notes, examples, and related phrases.
polite
When to use it
Use it in everyday conversation. These phrases are broadly useful for travel, messaging, study, and normal social moments. ごめんなさい is a common apology. すみません can mean sorry or excuse me and is often safer with strangers.
Examples
ごめんなさい。
Sorry.
本当にすみません。
I am really sorry.
Common mistakes
Do not translate "sorry" word by word; use the full Japanese phrase as a unit.
Use romanization as a pronunciation hint, not as the normal written form.
Check the tone before using it: this version is marked polite.
FAQ
How do you say "sorry" in Japanese?
Say ごめんなさい. The romanization is Gomen nasai, and the pronunciation is goh-men nah-sigh.
Is ごめんなさい formal or casual?
This version is marked polite. ごめんなさい is a common apology. すみません can mean sorry or excuse me and is often safer with strangers.
When should I use "sorry" in Japanese?
Use it in everyday conversation. These phrases are broadly useful for travel, messaging, study, and normal social moments. ごめんなさい is a common apology. すみません can mean sorry or excuse me and is often safer with strangers.
Same phrase in other languages
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