すみません

すみません
interjection
excuse me, sorry, thank you
1. excuse me
Used to get someone's attention or when passing by someone.
すみません。
Excuse me.
すみません、駅(えき)はどこですか。
Excuse me, where is the station?
すみません、通(とお)してください。
Excuse me, please let me through.
すみません、注文(ちゅうもん)をお願(ねが)いします。
Excuse me, I'd like to order.
すみません、この近(ちか)くに銀行(ぎんこう)はありますか。初(はじ)めて来(き)たのでわかりません。
Excuse me, is there a bank nearby? I don't know because it's my first time here.
2. I'm sorry
Used to apologize for minor inconveniences or mistakes.
遅(おく)れてすみません。
Sorry for being late.
すみません、間違(まちが)えました。
Sorry, I made a mistake.
待(ま)たせてすみません。
Sorry for making you wait.
お忙(いそが)しいところすみません。
Sorry to bother you when you're busy.
昨日(きのう)は行(い)けなくてすみませんでした。仕事(しごと)が終(お)わらなかったのです。
I'm sorry I couldn't go yesterday. My work wasn't finished.
3. thank you
Used to express gratitude, especially when someone has gone out of their way for you.
わざわざすみません。
Thank you for going out of your way.
すみません、ありがとうございます。
Thank you very much. (I'm sorry to trouble you.)
手伝(てつだ)ってくれてすみません。
Thank you for helping me.
いつもすみません。本当(ほんとう)に助(たす)かります。
Thank you always. You're really a big help.
荷物(にもつ)を持(も)ってくれてすみません。重(おも)かったでしょう。本当(ほんとう)にありがとうございます。
Thank you for carrying my bags. They must have been heavy. Thank you very much.

すみません is one of the most versatile expressions in Japanese, serving three distinct functions depending on context.

THREE USES:

  • Getting attention: すみません (Excuse me) — to call a waiter, ask a stranger for help, etc.
  • Apologizing: 遅(おく)れてすみません (Sorry for being late) — for minor apologies
  • Thanking: わざわざすみません (Thank you for going out of your way) — acknowledges the trouble someone took

VARIATIONS:

  • すいません: casual pronunciation (common in speech)
  • 申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありません: more formal apology
  • 申(もう)し訳(わけ)ございません: very formal apology

USAGE:
Often used instead of ありがとう when someone has done something for you. The nuance is 'I'm sorry to have troubled you' combined with gratitude. This reflects the Japanese cultural tendency to express thanks through acknowledging the other person's effort.

Related Words

Synonym: ごめんなさい (sorry (casual))
Related: ありがとう (thank you)
Related: 申(もう)し訳(わけ) (very polite apology)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:49 · Revised 2026.4.3 9:02
00500/00998_sumimasen