御免(ごめん)

ごめん
noun, expression
sorry, pardon, excuse me
informalexpression
1. sorry, I'm sorry
A casual apology.
ごめん！
Sorry!
ごめんね、待(ま)った?
Sorry, did you wait long?
ごめん、遅(おく)れちゃった。
Sorry, I'm late.
あ、ごめん、足(あし)踏(ふ)んだ?
Oh, sorry, did I step on your foot?
ごめんなさい、私(わたし)が悪(わる)かったです。これからは気(き)をつけます。
I'm sorry, it was my fault. I'll be more careful from now on.
2. pardon me, excuse me
Used when entering someone's home or getting someone's attention.
ごめんください。
Hello? Is anyone there?
玄関(げんかん)で「ごめんください」と言(い)った。
I called out 'Excuse me' at the entrance.
「ごめんください」「はい、今(いま)行(い)きます」
"Hello?" "Yes, I'm coming."
友達(ともだち)の家(いえ)で「ごめんください」と声(こえ)をかけた。
I called out "Excuse me" at my friend's house.
お店(みせ)に入(はい)って「ごめんください」と言(い)うと、店員(てんいん)さんが出(で)てきた。
When I entered the shop and called out "Excuse me," a clerk came out.
3. declining, refusing
Politely declining or expressing that one wants to avoid something.
そういうのはごめんだ。
I want no part of that.
嘘(うそ)をつくのはごめんだ。
I refuse to lie.
朝(あさ)から並(なら)ぶのはごめんだよ。
I don't want to wait in line from the morning.
もう二度(にど)とあんな経験(けいけん)はごめんだ。
I never want to go through that experience again.
毎日(まいにち)残業(ざんぎょう)するのはごめんだから、早(はや)く仕事(しごと)を終(お)わらせるようにしている。
Since I don't want to work overtime every day, I try to finish my work early.

御免(ごめん) is a casual way to apologize or get attention, regardless of whether it is written in kanji or hiragana.

Common expressions

  • ごめん (casual: sorry)
  • ごめんね (soft/friendly: sorry)
  • ごめんなさい (polite: I'm sorry)
  • ごめんください (calling out when entering a home/shop)
  • 〜はごめんだ (I want no part of ~, I refuse ~)

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Note: ごめんください is used when entering someone's home or shop, similar to "hello, is anyone here?"

Related Words

Synonym: すみません (sorry (polite))
Synonym: 申(もう)し訳(わけ)ない (sorry (formal))
Related: ごめんなさい (polite form)
Compare: 申(もう)し訳(わけ) (excuse, apology)
basic
Added 2026.1.13 20:15 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:59
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