Japanese · Greetings & Phrases

ごめんなさい

gomen nasai

I am sorry

Beginnerphrase

Definition

A sincere apology used when you have done something wrong or inconvenienced someone.

Example

ごめんなさい、遅れてしまいました。

I am sorry, I ended up being late.

Etymology

'ごめんなさい' (gomen nasai) is derived from the verb 'ごめん' (gomen), a more casual form of apology, which emphasizes the speaker's remorse.

How & Where It’s Used

'ごめんなさい' is typically informal and is used in everyday spoken interactions, suitable for friends and family. For more formal apologies, '申し訳ありません' (moushiwake arimasen) is used.

Watch “I am sorry” pronunciation on YouTube
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