Excuse Me in Japanese: Say Sumimasen, Shitsurei & More Like a Native Speaker

If you're planning a trip to Japan or just starting to learn Japanese, you've probably wondered how to politely get someone's attention or navigate through a crowded train. Saying "excuse me" is one of those essential phrases you'll use constantly, whether you're squeezing past someone, apologizing for bumping into them, or trying to get a waiter's attention. Here's the thing: Japanese has multiple ways to say "excuse me," and choosing the right one depends on the situation, formality level, and what you're actually trying to communicate. The good news? Once you understand the context for each phrase, it becomes pretty intuitive.

The most common way to say excuse me: Sumimasen (すみません)

すみません is hands down the most versatile phrase you'll learn. It works in so many situations that you could honestly get by using just this word for most of your "excuse me" needs.

You can use sumimasen when you're apologizing for a minor inconvenience, getting someone's attention, asking for help, or expressing gratitude. Pretty cool how one word covers all that, right?

Here are some practical situations where sumimasen works perfectly:

Getting someone's attention: When you need to call a waiter at a restaurant or ask a stranger for directions, sumimasen is your go-to phrase. Just say it with a slightly rising intonation to show you're trying to get their attention.

Apologizing for minor things: Bumped into someone on the train? Step on someone's foot? Sumimasen handles these everyday apologies smoothly.

Passing through crowds: Need to squeeze through a packed train car or busy street? A quick sumimasen lets people know you need to get through.

Asking for help: Before you ask someone where the bathroom is or how to get to Tokyo Station, starting with sumimasen shows politeness and awareness that you're interrupting their day.

One thing I love about sumimasen is that it acknowledges the other person's existence and shows respect for their space or time. Understanding Japanese manners helps you appreciate why this phrase is so deeply embedded in daily interactions.

Formal situations: Shitsurei shimasu (失礼します)

When you need to step up the formality, is what you want. This phrase literally means "I will be rude" or "I will commit a rudeness," but it's used to politely acknowledge that you're about to intrude on someone's space or time.

Shitsurei shimasu shows up in specific contexts:

You'll notice that shitsurei shimasu feels more deliberate and formal than sumimasen. In business contexts, using the right level of formality matters a lot, which ties into understanding Japanese honorifics and how respect is built into the language itself.

Casual apologies: Gomen (ごめん) and gomennasai (ごめんなさい)

For casual situations with friends or people you're close to, ごめん or ごめんなさい work great. These are straightforward apologies rather than the multipurpose "excuse me" that sumimasen provides.

ごめん is the super casual version you'd use with close friends, family, or people younger than you. Think of it like saying "my bad" or "sorry" to a friend.

ごめんなさい adds a bit more politeness while still being casual. You might use this with acquaintances, classmates, or in situations where you want to sound sincere but not overly formal.

What's the difference between these and sumimasen? Gomen and gomennasai are purely apologies. They don't work for getting someone's attention or thanking someone.

Writing “excuse me” in Japanese

Understanding how these phrases are written helps with reading and reinforces your learning.

Sumimasen can be written in hiragana as すみません or in kanji as . Most of the time, you'll see the hiragana version in everyday writing. The kanji 済 means "to finish" or "to settle," which connects to the idea of settling a debt of politeness.

Shitsurei shimasu in hiragana is しつれいします, and in kanji it's . The kanji 失 means "to lose" and 礼 means "courtesy" or "etiquette," so together it literally means "I will lose courtesy" or "I will be discourteous."

Gomen/Gomennasai in hiragana: ごめん and ごめんなさい. These are typically written in hiragana rather than kanji in modern Japanese.

Knowing the hiragana versions helps you recognize these phrases when you see signs, read manga, or use Japanese apps and websites.

Body language and gestures matter

Words are only part of the equation. When you say excuse me in Japanese, the physical gestures you use can reinforce your politeness or completely undermine it.

Slight bow: When saying sumimasen or shitsurei shimasu, a small bow (just a nod of the head or slight bend at the waist) shows respect. You don't need a deep bow for everyday situations. Learning about bowing etiquette helps you understand the different depths and what they communicate.

Hand gestures: When passing through a crowd, Japanese people often hold one hand up vertically (like a karate chop position) while saying sumimasen. This gesture helps you navigate through tight spaces while signaling "excuse me, coming through."

Eye contact: Brief eye contact when saying sumimasen to get someone's attention is good, but prolonged staring can feel intense. Make eye contact, say your phrase, then look away naturally.

Tone of voice: Your intonation changes the meaning. A rising tone on sumimasen signals you're trying to get attention. A falling, apologetic tone shows you're sorry for something. A quick, light sumimasen when passing someone is almost like a verbal gesture.

These non-verbal elements make a huge difference in how your words are received. A native speaker can tell when someone understands the cultural context versus just memorizing phrases.

Regional and situational variations

While sumimasen and shitsurei shimasu work across Japan, you might hear some regional variations or situational alternatives.

In Osaka and the Kansai region, you might hear すまん or すんまへん instead of sumimasen. These are dialect versions that carry the same meaning but with that distinct Kansai flavor.

In very formal business settings, you might encounter , which expresses deep politeness and literally means "I am filled with fear/awe." This goes beyond regular politeness into serious formality territory.

For quick, casual situations, some people just say すいません instead of sumimasen. It's a shortened, more casual pronunciation that you'll hear all the time in Tokyo and other urban areas.

Common mistakes to avoid when saying excuse me in Japanese

Learning these phrases is one thing, but using them correctly takes practice. Here are some mistakes I've seen learners make:

Using gomen in formal situations: Don't apologize to your boss or a stranger with gomen. It sounds way too casual and can come across as disrespectful. Stick with sumimasen or something more formal.

Forgetting the "n" in sumimasen: Some learners accidentally say "sumimasen" as "sumimaseh" or drop sounds. The "n" at the end matters for proper pronunciation.

Overusing shitsurei shimasu: You don't need to say shitsurei shimasu when bumping into someone on the street. That's what sumimasen is for. Save shitsurei shimasu for entering/leaving spaces or formal interactions.

Not matching your bow to your words: If you say a polite phrase but don't bow at all, it can feel incongruent. Your body language should match your verbal politeness level.

Using the wrong phrase for apologies: If you actually did something wrong that requires a real apology, sumimasen might not be enough. For serious apologies, you need stronger phrases.

Tips for learning Japanese excuse-me phrases

Getting comfortable with these expressions takes real-world practice. Here's what actually helps:

If you want to practice these phrases with real Japanese content, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words and phrases instantly while watching shows or reading articles. You can see how native speakers actually use sumimasen and shitsurei shimasu in context, which beats memorizing from a textbook any day. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

FAQs

Level up your politeness with the phrases for saying excuse me

The beauty of these phrases is that they reflect Japanese values of consideration, respect, and social awareness. Every time you say sumimasen, you're acknowledging another person's existence and showing that you care about not inconveniencing them. That mindset shift matters more than perfect pronunciation. And the good news is, these phrases are so often used in Japanese media that you will surely get hold of them in no time!

Now you know how to squeeze through the crowd!