申し訳ございません (もうしわけございません): This means "I am very sorry." You use it when you cause problems for someone. It is a very polite way to apologize.

Dictionary

申し訳ございません

This means "I am very sorry." You use it when you cause problems for someone. It is a very polite way to apologize.

N3 KMT4HumbleStandardHonorific ConstructionMixedFormal ApologyGrammar

申し訳ございませんPrimary

This means "I am very sorry." You use it when you cause problems for someone. It is a very polite way to apologize.

ご連絡が遅くなり、大変申し訳ございません。

I am very sorry for the late reply.

HumbleNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & Career Business & Finance

昨日の会議での発言に誤りがありましたこと、誠に申し訳ございませんでした。

I sincerely apologize for the error in my statement during yesterday's meeting.

HumblePastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & Career Business & Finance

大変申し訳ございませんが、こちらのファイルを再送いただけますでしょうか。

I am terribly sorry to ask, but could you please resend this file?

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceRequestWork & Career Technology

お客様には多大なご不便をおかけし、心より申し訳ございません。

We sincerely apologize to you, our valued customer, for the great inconvenience we have caused.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance

あいにくその商品は現在在庫切れでございます。大変申し訳ございません。

Unfortunately, that product is currently out of stock. We are very sorry.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Daily Life

This phrase means 'no excuse exists'. It shows you take full blame. It makes your apology very strong and honest.

This phrase is more polite than "moushiwake arimasen." It uses a more humble word. This makes it better for saying sorry to important people. It is also better for very big mistakes.

Watch out: Do not use this phrase too much. It is a very strong apology. Using it for small things sounds strange. For little mistakes, use "sumimasen" instead.

Contrasts with(1)

恐縮です (きょうしゅくです)

This phrase shows you are thankful. It also means you are sorry for causing trouble. You use it in polite situations.

More formal alternatives(2)

申し訳ありません

This is a very polite way to say sorry. You use it when you cause a problem or make a mistake.

失礼いたしました

This is a polite way to say "I am sorry." You use it when you make a small mistake. You also use it if you are a little rude or interrupt someone. It is for formal times, like at work.

Less formal alternatives(1)

お詫び申し上げます

This is a very polite way to say sorry. You use it in serious situations, like at work. It shows you are truly sorry.

申し訳ありません

This is a very polite way to say sorry. You use it when you cause a problem or make a mistake.

ありがとうございます

This phrase means 'Thank you'. It is a polite way to show you are grateful. You use it when someone does something kind for you.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

Dictionary

申し訳ございません

This means "I am very sorry." You use it when you cause problems for someone. It is a very polite way to apologize.

N3 KMT4HumbleStandardHonorific ConstructionMixedFormal ApologyGrammar

申し訳ございませんPrimary

This means "I am very sorry." You use it when you cause problems for someone. It is a very polite way to apologize.

ご連絡が遅くなり、大変申し訳ございません。

I am very sorry for the late reply.

HumbleNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & Career Business & Finance

昨日の会議での発言に誤りがありましたこと、誠に申し訳ございませんでした。

I sincerely apologize for the error in my statement during yesterday's meeting.

HumblePastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeWork & Career Business & Finance

大変申し訳ございませんが、こちらのファイルを再送いただけますでしょうか。

I am terribly sorry to ask, but could you please resend this file?

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceRequestWork & Career Technology

お客様には多大なご不便をおかけし、心より申し訳ございません。

We sincerely apologize to you, our valued customer, for the great inconvenience we have caused.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance

あいにくその商品は現在在庫切れでございます。大変申し訳ございません。

Unfortunately, that product is currently out of stock. We are very sorry.

HumbleNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeBusiness & Finance Daily Life

This phrase means 'no excuse exists'. It shows you take full blame. It makes your apology very strong and honest.

This phrase is more polite than "moushiwake arimasen." It uses a more humble word. This makes it better for saying sorry to important people. It is also better for very big mistakes.

Watch out: Do not use this phrase too much. It is a very strong apology. Using it for small things sounds strange. For little mistakes, use "sumimasen" instead.

Contrasts with(1)

恐縮です (きょうしゅくです)

This phrase shows you are thankful. It also means you are sorry for causing trouble. You use it in polite situations.

More formal alternatives(2)

申し訳ありません

This is a very polite way to say sorry. You use it when you cause a problem or make a mistake.

失礼いたしました

This is a polite way to say "I am sorry." You use it when you make a small mistake. You also use it if you are a little rude or interrupt someone. It is for formal times, like at work.

Less formal alternatives(1)

お詫び申し上げます

This is a very polite way to say sorry. You use it in serious situations, like at work. It shows you are truly sorry.

申し訳ありません

This is a very polite way to say sorry. You use it when you cause a problem or make a mistake.

ありがとうございます

This phrase means 'Thank you'. It is a polite way to show you are grateful. You use it when someone does something kind for you.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

申し訳ございません

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Compare with4

Contrasts with(1)

More formal alternatives(2)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites2

Track your mastery

申し訳ございません

Patterns1

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Compare with4

Contrasts with(1)

More formal alternatives(2)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites2

Track your mastery