How to say "sorry" in Japanese

• おっとCommon
  interjectionAn exclamation rather than a full apology: it fits the 'oops' sense of 'sorry', said when you bump into someone, nearly drop something, or make a small slip.
  おっと、僕ぼくのペンのインクがきれちゃったよ。↗

  Oops, my pen has run out of ink.
• サーセンCommon
  expressionSlang for 'sorry', tossed off in a casual, jokey way; for a sincere or formal apology it is seldom the word you want.
• すまないJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveA plain, heartfelt 'sorry' that carries a real sense of remorse or guilt about what you have done; it fits sincere everyday apologies rather than quick, throwaway expressions of 'oops'.
  待またせてすまなかったな。↗

  I am sorry to have kept you waiting.

「おっと」 works as a light interjection for small slips, 「サーセン」 is a slangy, often jokey apology, and 「すまない」 is a plain, heartfelt 'sorry' tinged with remorse or guilt.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• おっとuh-oh
• サーセンsorry
• おあいにくさまsorry
• すいませんsorry
• すまんsorry
• すまなそうsorry
• めんごsorry
• すみま千円すみませんえんsorry
• ソーリーsorry
• 恐れ入谷の鬼子母神おそれいりやのきしぼじんsorry
• すんまへんsorry
• すまなかったsorry
• わりーわりーsorry
• センセンシャルsorry
• ごめんちゃいsorry
• スマソsorry
• 貧乏くさいびんぼうくさいshabby
• 憫然びんぜんpitiable
• すまないsorry
• 悪いわるいsorry