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About This Lesson
In this lesson, you'll learn how to apologize naturally in Japanese — from casual 'すみません' to the more formal '申し訳ありません'. You'll also practice responding graciously when someone apologizes to you.
Dialogue
A
遅れてすみません。電車が遅延していました。
oh-koo-REH-teh soo-mee-MAH-sehn. dehn-SHAH gah chee-EN shee-teh ee-MAH-shta. Sorry I'm late. The train was delayed.
B
大丈夫ですよ。私もついさっき着いたところです。
dah-ee-JOH-boo deh-soo YOH. wah-TAH-shee moh tsoo-ee SAH-kee tsoo-ee-TAH toh-KOH-roh deh-soo. No worries. I just got here too.
A
申し訳ありません。もっと早く出発すべきでした。
moh-shee-WAH-keh ah-ree-MAH-sehn. MOH-ttoh HAH-yah-koo shoo-PAH-tsoo soo-BEH-kee deh-SHTA. I apologize. I should have left earlier.
B
いいんですよ。こういうことはありますから。
ee-EEN deh-soo YOH. koh-oo-EE-oo koh-TOH wah ah-ree-MAH-soo KAH-rah. It's okay. These things happen.
A
ご理解いただきありがとうございます。
goh-REE-kah ee-TAH-dah-kee ah-ree-gah-TOH goh-ZAH-ee-mah-soo. Thank you for understanding.
B
コーヒーでも注文しましょうか？
koh-HEE-deh-moh choo-MOHN shee-MAH-shoh KAH? Shall we order some coffee?Word by Word
遅れて
The te-form of 遅れる (okuréru), meaning 'to be late' or 'to be delayed'. The te-form connects this clause to what follows, expressing the reason or manner of the action.
すみません
A versatile polite expression meaning 'sorry', 'excuse me', or 'thank you for your trouble'. Used here as an apology for being late.
電車
Noun meaning 'train' (electric train). Composed of 電 (electricity) + 車 (vehicle/car).
が
Subject-marking particle. Marks 電車 as the subject of the following verb 遅延していました.
遅延し
The stem of 遅延する (chiensu-ru), a suru-verb meaning 'to be delayed'. Combined with ていました to express a past continuous state.
ていました
Auxiliary form combining て + いる + ました. Expresses that something was in a state (continuous) in the past. Here: 'was delayed'.
大丈夫
Na-adjective meaning 'okay', 'fine', or 'no problem'. Used alone or with です to reassure someone. Common spoken response to an apology.
ですよ
です (polite copula) + よ (assertion particle). The よ adds a reassuring, gentle emphasis — 'it really is okay'.
私も
私 (I/me) + も (also/too). Indicates the speaker is included in the situation: 'I also [just arrived]'.
つい
Adverb meaning 'just now' or 'only a moment ago'. Emphasizes the recency of the action.
さっき
Adverb meaning 'a little while ago' or 'just now'. Together with つい, creates an emphatic 'I literally just got here'.
着いた
Past tense of 着く (tsuku), meaning 'to arrive'. 着いた = arrived.
ところです
ところ literally means 'place' but used with a past verb means 'just (did something)'. 着いたところです = 'I just arrived (right now)'.
申し訳ありません
A formal, heartfelt apology meaning 'I sincerely apologize' or 'I have no excuse'. Stronger and more formal than すみません.
もっと早く
もっと (more) + 早く (early/quickly, adverbial form of 早い). Together: 'even earlier' or 'sooner'.
出発
Noun/verb stem meaning 'departure'. Used with するverbs: 出発する = to depart, to set off.
すべきでした
すべき (should, obligation) + でした (past). Expresses regret about something that should have been done: 'should have [done]'.
いいんですよ
いい (good/okay) + んです (explanatory nominalizer) + よ (gentle assertion). A warm way to say 'it's really okay / don't worry about it'.
こういう
Demonstrative meaning 'this kind of' or 'these kinds of'. こういうこと = 'things like this'.
こと
Noun meaning 'thing(s)' or 'matter'. Abstract rather than physical — こういうことはあります = 'these sorts of things happen'.
は
Topic-marking particle. Marks こういうこと as the topic of the sentence.
ありますから
あります (there is / it exists, polite) + から (because / you know). The から softens the statement and connects it as a reason or explanation.
ご理解
ご (honorific prefix) + 理解 (understanding/comprehension). The honorific ご elevates the listener's action, making the phrase more respectful.
いただき
Te-form of いただく, the humble form of もらう (to receive). ご理解いただき = 'receiving your understanding' — a humble, formal phrasing.
ありがとうございます
Formal expression of gratitude: 'thank you very much'. Composed of ありがとう (thank you) + ございます (honorific form of ある). The most polite standard form.
コーヒー
Loanword from English 'coffee', written in katakana. Katakana is used for foreign-origin words in Japanese.
でも
Particle meaning 'or something' / 'how about'. コーヒーでも = 'some coffee (or something)', making the suggestion casual and non-pushy.
注文し
Stem of 注文する (to order). Combined with ましょうか to form a polite suggestion.
ましょうか
Polite volitional suffix + question marker. 〜ましょうか = 'Shall we...?' — a soft, inclusive suggestion inviting the other person to act together.
Grammar Points
〜すみません / 申し訳ありません
遅れてすみません。
oh-koo-REH-teh soo-mee-MAH-sehn.Sorry I'm late.
Two levels of apology: すみません (casual) vs 申し訳ありません (formal/stronger)
〜すべきでした
もっと早く出発すべきでした。
MOH-ttoh HAH-yah-koo shoo-PAH-tsoo soo-BEH-kee deh-SHTA.I should have left earlier.
Expresses regret about past action: should have + past tense
Japanese Vocabulary
コーヒー
noun
KOH-hee
coffee
すみません
intj
soo-mee-MAH-sehn
sorry / excuse me
General-purpose apology or attention-getter
出発する
verb
shoo-PAH-tsoo soo-roo
to depart / to leave
出発すべきでした
申し訳ありません
phrase
moh-shee-WAH-keh ah-ree-MAH-sehn
I apologize / I'm very sorry
Formal apology, stronger than すみません
大丈夫
adj
dah-ee-JOH-boo
okay / no worries / fine
大丈夫ですよ — reassuring someone, equivalent to 'no worries'
遅延する
verb
chee-EN soo-roo
to be delayed
遅延していました
遅刻する
verb
chee-KOH-koo soo-roo
to be late
遅れて
遅れてすみません — used in apology for lateness
着く
verb
tsoo-KOO
to arrive
着いたところ
注文する
verb
choo-MOHN soo-roo
to order
注文しましょうか
電車
noun
dehn-SHAH
train
理解
noun
ree-KAH-ee
understanding
ご理解いただきありがとうございます — thank you for understanding
Alternative Expressions
遅れてすみません (Sorry I’m late)
- 遅刻してごめんなさい chee-KOH-koo shee-teh goh-MEH-nah-sah-ee (Sorry for being late) - more casual
- お待たせしました oh-MAH-tah-seh shee-MAH-shta (Sorry to keep you waiting) - polite, focuses on waiting
- 遅れてしまい申し訳ありません oh-koo-REH-teh shee-MAH-ee moh-shee-WAH-keh ah-ree-MAH-sehn (I sincerely apologize for being late) - very formal
大丈夫ですよ (No worries)
- 気にしないで kee nee shee-NAH-ee-deh (Don’t worry about it) - casual
- 問題ありません mohn-DAH-ee ah-ree-MAH-sehn (No problem) - formal/neutral
- 全然大丈夫です zehn-zehn dah-ee-JOH-boo deh-soo (Totally fine) - friendly emphasis
申し訳ありません (I apologize)
- ごめんなさい goh-MEH-nah-sah-ee (I’m sorry) - casual
- すみません soo-mee-MAH-sehn (Excuse me / Sorry) - neutral
- 失礼しました shee-TSWEH-ree shee-MAH-shta (I beg your pardon) - formal/polite
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Sorry I'm late. (apologize for being late)
Show Answer
遅れてすみません。I should have left earlier.
Show Answer
もっと早く出発すべきでした。Shall we order some coffee?
Show Answer
コーヒーでも注文しましょうか？Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
train
Show Answer
電車coffee
Show Answer
コーヒーno worries / okay