How to Say Thank You and Sorry in Japanese: Arigatō, Sumimasen and More
To say thank you in Japanese, use ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu) in most situations and ありがとう with friends. To say sorry, use すみません (sumimasen) for small things and 申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen) for real apologies, especially at work. The tricky part is that すみません also means “excuse me” and even “thank you” when someone has gone to trouble for you. This guide explains which phrase fits which moment.
Thank you, from casual to formal
| Japanese | Reading | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| ありがとう | arigatō | Friends, family, people younger than you |
| どうも | dōmo | A quick, light thanks, such as when someone holds a door |
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | The standard polite thank you: shops, colleagues, strangers |
| ありがとうございました | arigatō gozaimashita | Thanks for something that’s finished, such as a meal, a lesson or a stay |
| 恐れ入ります | osore irimasu | Very polite, used in business and to customers |
To thank someone for something specific, add it before: いつもありがとうございます (thanks as always) or お忙しいところ、ありがとうございます (thank you for your time when you’re busy). At work, people often thank each other with お疲れさまです. See Japanese greetings.
Sorry and excuse me
| Japanese | Reading | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| ごめん／ごめんね | gomen / gomen ne | Casual sorry to friends and family |
| ごめんなさい | gomen nasai | A sincere personal apology; less common at work |
| すみません | sumimasen | Sorry for small things; excuse me; getting attention |
| 失礼しました | shitsurei shimashita | “Pardon me” after a small slip, such as the wrong room or a wrong name |
| 申し訳ありません／ございません | mōshiwake arimasen / gozaimasen | Formal apology at work and to customers |
The many jobs of すみません
- Getting attention: すみません！ to call a waiter or ask a stranger for help.
- Excuse me: squeezing past someone on a train.
- A small apology: bumping into someone, being slightly late.
- Thank you, with a hint of apology: when someone picks up something you dropped, すみません means “thank you, and sorry for the trouble”.
That last use surprises learners, but it reflects a common feeling in Japanese: being grateful that someone went to trouble for you. Both すみません and ありがとうございます are correct; many people say both.
Replying to thanks and apologies
- いいえ or いえいえ: “not at all”, the most natural reply to thanks. どういたしまして exists but can sound a little stiff.
- 大丈夫です (daijōbu desu): “it’s fine”, a kind reply to an apology.
- こちらこそ (kochira koso): “no, thank you”, when you also owe thanks.
Apologising at work
In a Japanese workplace, a clear apology followed by what you’ll do next is valued. A typical pattern: ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ありません。すぐに確認して、本日中にご連絡します。 (“I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I’ll check right away and contact you today.”) In email, the same phrases appear in writing; see business email in Japanese. For dealing with customers, see customer support for Japanese customers.
Get the feel in conversation
Choosing between these phrases is less about rules than about feel, and that comes from using them in real situations. In lessons, a native tutor can role-play shops, restaurants, homestays and workplaces so you hear and use the right phrase each time. For politeness in general, see casual vs polite Japanese.