How to say please, thank you and sorry in Japanese
すみません。
sumimasen.
“Excuse me.”
When: Getting attention, squeezing past, small apologies
The moment
You are in a busy Tokyo convenience store. You need to squeeze past someone in the aisle, get a clerk's attention for help, and thank them on your way out.
A1 · Unit 1 · First words
The lines
The word that does everything
「すみません」 works as excuse me, sorry, and hey-over-here all at once. Say it to a stranger or a clerk and they will turn to you and wait for your question.
すみません。
sumimasen.
“Excuse me.”
When to use it: Getting attention, squeezing past, small apologies
What you’ll hear back: はい、どうしましたか。 hai, dō shimashita ka. (Yes, what can I do for you?)
Thanking properly
「ありがとうございます」 is the full polite thank you for strangers and staff. Cutting it down to 「ありがとう」 is for friends only.
ありがとうございます。
arigatō gozaimasu.
“Thank you very much.”
When to use it: Thanking anyone who helps you
What you’ll hear back: いいえ、とんでもないです。 iie, tondemonai desu. (Oh, not at all.)
Words for this scene
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| お願いします | onegai shimasu | Please (I'd like this) |
これ、お願いします。 This one, please. Tip: Point at the item and say it — no verb needed. | ||
| どういたしまして | dō itashimashite | You're welcome |
いいえ、どういたしまして。 Not at all, you're welcome. Tip: Slightly formal; friends usually wave it off with ie ie. | ||
| ごめんなさい | gomen nasai | I'm sorry |
ごめんなさい、遅くなりました。 I'm sorry, I'm late. Tip: For personal apologies; in shops sumimasen fits better. | ||
Your objective
Get someone’s attention politely, ask them for help with one thing, and thank them.
- excuse me
- what you need
- thank you
Lines that get it done
- すみません。
- お願いします · onegai shimasu · Please (I'd like this)
- ありがとうございます。
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You want to stop a passer-by and ask for help. How do you open?
- すみません。
- どういたしまして。
- こんばんは。
- 元気です。
Show the answer
すみません。
「すみません」 is the standard way to flag someone down politely before you ask anything.
2. You put your drink on the counter and want to say 'this one, please.'
- これ、お願いします。
- これ、ありがとうございます。
- これ、ごめんなさい。
- これ、どういたしまして。
Show the answer
これ、お願いします。
「お願いします」 turns anything you point at or hand over into a polite request.
3. A stranger thanks you for picking up the glove they dropped. What do you reply?
- いいえ、どういたしまして。
- はい、お願いします。
- ごめんなさい。
- おはようございます。
Show the answer
いいえ、どういたしまして。
「どういたしまして」 is the set reply to thanks, and 「いいえ」 in front softens it.