Page 18 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

Sumimasen deshita すみませんでした thank you; I’m sorry for
what I’ve done

Sumimasen expresses apology or gratitude when you are about to trouble or
have troubled someone. It is also commonly used to get attention from or
address someone whose name you do not know such as store clerks or strangers.
Sumimasen deshita expresses apology or gratitude when you have troubled
someone.

Gomen ごめん sorry; excuse me (casual)
Gomen nasai ごめんなさい sorry; excuse me (casual,
gentle)

Shitsurei-shimasu 失礼します excuse me
Shitsurei-shimashita 失礼しました excuse me for what I’ve

done

Shitsurei-shimasu literally means “I’m going to do something rude” and is used
when entering a room, interrupting someone, or leaving. Shitsurei-shimashita is
used for what you’ve already done. Gomen and gomen nasai are both casual,
and therefore should not be used with a superior. Gomen nasai is gentle and

typically used by female speakers.

Expressions for Eating and Drinking
Itadakimasu いただきます ritual expression before
eating

Gochisō-sama ごちそうさま ritual expression after
eating

Gochisō-sama deshita ごちそうさまでした formal version of
gochisō-sama

Itadakimasu literally means “I’ll humbly accept it” and is used before eating or
receiving a gift. Gochisō-sama (deshita) shows gratitude for the food or drink
one has been offered. Even when alone, Japanese people tend to whisper
itadakimasu and gochisō-sama before and after eating.

Leaving and Coming Back to Home or the Office