General Functions and Examples of the Four Apology Expressions

 

Proto-types

 

 

Formality

 

Functions/

Examples

gomennasai

 

sumimasen

 

 

moushiwake arimasen

shitsurei shimasu*

 

Informal-

Semi-Formal

 

Informal - Formal

 

Formal

 

Formal

 

Apology

 

Gomennasai, machigae mashita.

 

Sumimasen, machigae mashita.

 

Moushiwake arimasen, machigae mashita.

 

 

Not used

 

Thanks

 

Gomennasai, arigatou.

 

 

Sumimasen, demo arigatou (gozaimasu).

 

Moushiwake arimasen,  arigatou gozaimasu.

 

Not used

 

Getting Attention (‘excuse me’)

 

Ano, cyotto gomennasai,

 

Ano, sumimasenga,

 

Ano moushiwake arimasenga,

 

Shitsurei shimasu, yoroshii

Desuka?

 

Signaling an Upcoming Inquiry/ Request/ Refusal

Gomennasai, ano onegaiga arun desukedo…

 

 

Sumimasen, ano, onegaiga arun

desuga…

 

Moushiwake nainodesuga

onegaiga aruno desuga…

Not used

 

Signaling an Upcoming Negative Response

 

Gomennasai, cyotto ikare naikamo….

 

 

Sumimasen, cyotto ikenaindesu.

Moushiwake arimasen, cyotto tsugouga waruinndesu.

Not used

 

Opening/ Closing/ Interrupting a Conversation

 

Gomennasai,

cyotto iikana?

 

Sumimasen, ima iidesuka?

 

Moushiwake arimasen, ima yoroshii

desuka?

 

 

Shitsurei shimasu, ima yoroshii desuka?

 

* Shitsurei shimasu here does not include its past tense form, shitsurei shimashita, whose range of functions is different from the present form. (See Okamoto, S., & Tamon, Y. (2000) for more details.)