申し訳・申しわけ・申訳・申し分け・申分け・申し訳け・申分|もうしわけmoushiwake[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
申し訳申し訳 is the most common written form. It uses mixed kanji and kana and is the form beginners should normally choose.
申しわけ申しわけ is less common than 申し訳. It is another mixed kanji-and-kana spelling that you may encounter in written Japanese.
申訳申訳 is less common than 申し訳. Written entirely in kanji, it may appear as an alternative written form.
申し分け申し分け is less common than 申し訳. It is written with mixed kanji and kana and may be encountered as an alternative spelling.
申分け申分け is less common than 申し訳. This mixed kanji-and-kana form may appear in writing, but it is not the default choice for beginners.
申し訳け申し訳け is less common than 申し訳. It uses mixed kanji and kana, with an unusual kana ending, so recognize it as an alternative spelling.
申分申分 is less common than 申し訳. It is a kanji-only form associated with an unusual kana-ending pattern and is not the default choice for beginners.
Definitions
- noun, suru verbapology; excuse
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 申し訳する（もうしわけする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 申し訳します（もうしわけします） |
| Negative (nai) | 申し訳しない（もうしわけしない） |
| polite (masen) | 申し訳しません（もうしわけしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 申し訳せず・申し訳せぬ（もうしわけせず・もうしわけせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 申し訳した（もうしわけした） |
| polite (mashita) | 申し訳しました（もうしわけしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 申し訳しなかった（もうしわけしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 申し訳しませんでした（もうしわけしませんでした） |
| Te form | 申し訳して（もうしわけして） |
| Potential | 申し訳できる（もうしわけできる） |
| Passive | 申し訳される（もうしわけされる） |
| Causative | 申し訳させる（もうしわけさせる） |
| Causative passive | 申し訳させられる（もうしわけさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 申し訳すれば（もうしわけすれば） |
| tara | 申し訳したら（もうしわけしたら） |
| Volitional | 申し訳しよう（もうしわけしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 申し訳しましょう（もうしわけしましょう） |
| Imperative | 申し訳しろ（もうしわけしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym謝罪しゃざいFormalFormal: admitting fault and apologizing, as in 「謝罪会見」. 「申し訳」 mostly appears in set phrases like 「申し訳ない」 and can also mean an excuse.
- Synonym陳謝ちんしゃWrittenWritten/formal prose: apologizing after explaining the circumstances; seen in news and official statements. 「申し訳」 alone can mean a justification; say 「申し訳ありません」.
- Synonym詫びわびNeutralNeutral: an apology, mostly in 「詫びを入れる」. 「申し訳」 centers on giving reasons and forms set apology phrases like 「申し訳ない」.
- Synonymお詫びおわびFormalFormal, polite version of 「詫び」; common in business notices, e.g. 「お詫び申し上げます」. 「申し訳」 usually appears as 「申し訳ない」.
- Related謝りあやまりNeutralNeutral: apologizing or making amends, usually as 「謝りに行く」; rare as a standalone noun—in speech use the verb 「謝る」.
- Related詫び言わびごとNeutralNeutral: the words of apology themselves, somewhat old-fashioned, as in 「詫び言を言う」. 「申し訳」 also means an excuse or justification.
For everyday apologies say 「申し訳ありません」 or 「すみません」. Use 「謝罪」 to formally admit fault, 「お詫び」 in business notices, and 「陳謝」 in news reports and official statements.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
