🇯🇵 Japanese phrases
How to say “Excuse me” in Japanese
すみません
sumimasen
Literally: it does not endneutral
The standard way to call a waiter, stop a stranger to ask a question, or squeeze past someone. In restaurants it is completely normal to call out すみません! to get staff attention.
Other ways to say it
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 失礼します | shitsurei shimasu | pardon me (for intruding) | Entering a room or office, interrupting formally |
| ちょっとすみません | chotto sumimasen | excuse me a moment | Getting past someone in a crowd or getting attention gently |
In a sentence
すみません、駅はどこですか？
Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka?
Excuse me, where is the station?
More Japanese phrases
HelloこんにちはGoodbyeさようならThank youありがとうございますPleaseお願いしますSorryすみませんYesはいNoいいえGood morningおはようございますGood eveningこんばんはGood nightおやすみなさいHow are you?お元気ですか？My name is…私は…ですNice to meet youはじめましてI love you好きだよI miss you会いたいHappy birthdayお誕生日おめでとうございますCheers!乾杯！Enjoy your mealいただきますWelcomeようこそCongratulationsおめでとうございますHappy New YearあけましておめでとうございますI don't understandわかりませんDo you speak English?英語を話せますか？How much is it?いくらですか？Where is the toilet?トイレはどこですか？Help!助けて！BeautifulきれいFriend友達See you laterまたね
“Excuse me” in other languages
🇬🇪 Georgianუკაცრავადuk'atsravad🇪🇸 SpanishDisculpedees-KOOL-peh🇫🇷 FrenchExcusez-moiex-kew-zay MWAH🇩🇪 GermanEntschuldigen Sieent-SHOOL-dee-gen zee🇮🇹 ItalianScusiSKOO-zee🇧🇷 Brazilian PortugueseCom licençakohn lee-SEN-sah🇷🇺 RussianИзвинитеizvinite🇨🇳 Mandarin Chinese不好意思bù hǎoyìsi🇰🇷 Korean저기요jeogiyo🇸🇦 Arabicلو سمحتlaw samaht🇦🇲 ArmenianԿներեքknerek🇦🇿 AzerbaijaniBağışlayınbah-ghuhsh-lah-yuhn🇮🇷 Persianببخشیدbebakhshid🇹🇭 Thaiขอโทษครับ / ขอโทษค่ะkho thot khrap / kho thot kha🇻🇳 VietnameseXin lỗisin loy🇺🇦 UkrainianПерепрошуюpereproshuiu🇷🇸 SerbianИзвинитеizvinite🇬🇷 GreekΜε συγχωρείτεme sinhoríte🇮🇱 Hebrewסליחהslicha