Gomennasai Versus Sumimasen in Japanese

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Both "Gomennasai" and "Sumimasen" are used when you have made a mistake or inconvenienced someone. "Sumimasen" is also used when expressing a feeling of gratitude, but "Gomennasai" cannot be used in such situations.

For the most part, it comes down to a matter of personal preference whether to use either "Sumimasen (すみません)" or "Gomennasai (ごめんなさい)", but there are a few subtleties to be aware of.

  • "Sumimasen" is a little more formal than "Gomennasai."
  • When you apologize to the higher or the senior, "Sumimasen" is used in general.
  • Among the family members or close friends, it is common to use "Gomennasai." "Gomen ne" or "Gomen" can be used in a more casual case.
  • Older people tend to use "Sumimasen" more than younger people.

"Gomennasai" can be used when apologizing to someone with whom you have a close relationship. But when speaking with superiors or people with whom one is not very close, "Sumimasen" or "Moushiwake arimasen" are used instead, since "Gomennasi" can have a childish ring to it. 

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Abe, Namiko. "Gomennasai Versus Sumimasen in Japanese." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/when-do-you-use-sumimasen-as-i-am-sorry-3953913. Abe, Namiko. (2023, April 5). Gomennasai Versus Sumimasen in Japanese. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/when-do-you-use-sumimasen-as-i-am-sorry-3953913 Abe, Namiko. "Gomennasai Versus Sumimasen in Japanese." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/when-do-you-use-sumimasen-as-i-am-sorry-3953913 (accessed March 29, 2024).