Japanese - Lesson 141 of 168: Politeness Expressions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

失礼します

Shitsurei shimasu.

Excuse me.

Meaning: Excuse me.

When to use: Use 失礼します (Shitsurei shimasu) when you enter a room, interrupt politely, or excuse yourself in a formal or semi-formal setting.

Tip: Don’t always use this as a direct apology — 失礼します is for polite entry/interruptions; ごめんなさい is a clearer personal apology.

先生の部屋に入るとき、失礼します。

Sensei no heya ni hairu toki, shitsurei shimasu.

When entering the teacher's room, 'Excuse me.'

会議室に入る前に、ドアで『失礼します』と言います。

Kaigishitsu ni hairu mae ni, doa de 'shitsurei shimasu' to iimasu.

Before entering the meeting room, say 'Excuse me' at the door.

失礼しました

Shitsurei shimashita.

Excuse me / Sorry about that.

Meaning: Excuse me / Sorry about that.

When to use: Use 失礼しました (Shitsurei shimashita) after you’ve interrupted someone, made a small mistake, or when leaving a formal space after causing trouble.

会議で話を遮ってしまい、後で『失礼しました』と言いました。

Kaigi de hanashi o saegitte shimai, ato de 'shitsurei shimashita' to iimashita.

I interrupted the meeting, and later I said 'Sorry about that.'

お先に失礼しました、と退出するときに一言言いました。

Osaki ni shitsurei shimashita, to taisetsu suru toki ni hitokoto iimashita.

I said 'Excuse me for leaving first' when I stepped out.

ごめんなさい

Gomen nasai.

I’m sorry.

Meaning: I’m sorry.

When to use: Use ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai) for a direct apology in personal situations — dropping something, bumping someone, or making a small mistake.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use ごめんなさい in formal business settings where 失礼しました or すみません is safer.

カップを倒して水をこぼしてしまって、『ごめんなさい』と言いました。

Kappu o taoshite mizu o koboshite shimatte, 'gomen nasai' to iimashita.

I knocked over a cup and spilled water, and said 'I'm sorry.'

遅れて来た友だちに『ごめんなさい、電車が遅れました』と言いました。

Okurete kita tomodachi ni 'gomen nasai, densha ga okuremashita' to iimashita.

To my friend I arrived late and said 'I'm sorry, the train was delayed.'

先にどうぞ

Saki ni dōzo.

Please go ahead.

Meaning: Please go ahead.

When to use: Say 先にどうぞ (Saki ni dōzo) when you want to let someone go first in a line, through a door, or when giving someone conversational priority.

改札で待っているとき、年配の方に『先にどうぞ』と言いました。

Kaisatsu de matte iru toki, nenpai no kata ni 'saki ni dōzo' to iimashita.

While waiting at the gate, I told an older person 'Please go ahead.'

話の順番で遠慮して、同僚に『先にどうぞ』と言いました。

Hanashi no junban de enryo shite, dōryō ni 'saki ni dōzo' to iimashita.

I hesitated and said to a colleague, 'Please go ahead.'

どうぞお先に

Dōzo osaki ni.

Please, after you.

Meaning: Please, after you.

When to use: Use どうぞお先に (Dōzo osaki ni) as a polite set phrase when yielding to another person — slightly more formal or courteous than 先にどうぞ.

狭い通路で人に道を譲るとき、『どうぞお先に』と言います。

Semai tsūro de hito ni michi o yuzuru toki, 'dōzo osaki ni' to iimasu.

In a narrow hallway, I say 'Please, after you' to let someone pass.

エレベーターに入るとき、先に出る人に『どうぞお先に』と言いました。

Erebētā ni hairu toki, saki ni deru hito ni 'dōzo osaki ni' to iimashita.

When entering the elevator, I said 'Please, after you' to someone leaving first.

Japanese - Politeness Expressions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase do you use when politely entering someone's office?

You accidentally bump into someone on the street. Which is most natural?

You're letting a guest go ahead in a narrow hallway. Which fits best if you want to be especially polite?

After interrupting a presentation by mistake, what do you say later?

When entering a professor's lab, you say 'Shitsurei shimasu.' (Excuse me.)

After interrupting the meeting, the speaker apologized: 'Shitsurei shimashita.'

In a narrow hallway, to be especially polite you say 'Dōzo osaki ni.'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice