Dictionary / Japanese / Excuse me
How to Say "Excuse me" in Japanese
すみません
sumimasen
Literally: It is not settled (I still owe you)
Polite or casual
すみません works almost everywhere. When you enter a room or an office, people say 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu). For a serious apology at work, 申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen).
The mistake to avoid. English speakers learn すみません as "sorry", but it does much more. It gets a waiter's attention, it lets you through a crowd, and it thanks someone who went to some trouble for you. In Japanese, saying thank you and saying sorry often overlap.
In context
すみません、注文お願いします。
Sumimasen, chūmon onegai shimasu.
Excuse me, we'd like to order.
すみません、通ります。
Sumimasen, tōrimasu.
Excuse me, coming through.
わざわざすみません。
Wazawaza sumimasen.
Thank you for going to the trouble.