Hello, I’m Kodak.
If you work, shop, travel, or watch dramas in Japanese, you will often hear 申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen).
It is a formal apology meaning “I am very sorry,” “I sincerely apologize,” or literally, “There is no excuse.”
Quick answer:
申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen)
⇒ I am very sorry.
⇒ I sincerely apologize.
⇒ There is no excuse.
It is stronger and more formal than すみません, and it is commonly used in workplaces, customer service, business emails, and serious apologies.
Today’s Japanese expression is 申し訳ありません!
It is built from:
申し訳 = an explanation, excuse, or defense
＋
ありません = there is not / does not exist
Its core image is “I have no excuse for what happened.”
That is why it expresses a stronger acceptance of responsibility than a simple すみません.
What Does 申し訳ありません Mean?
申し訳ありません is a polite and formal Japanese apology. Depending on the situation, natural English translations include:
申し訳ありません
・I am very sorry.
・I sincerely apologize.
・Please accept my apologies.
・There is no excuse.
・I am sorry for the inconvenience.
ご連絡が遅くなり、申し訳ありません。
Go-renraku ga osoku nari, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am very sorry for the late reply.
ご迷惑をおかけして、申し訳ありません。
Go-meiwaku o okake shite, mōshiwake arimasen.
I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
私の確認不足でした。申し訳ありません。
Watashi no kakunin busoku deshita. Mōshiwake arimasen.
I failed to check properly. I am very sorry.
The Core Image: “There Is No Excuse”
The expression becomes easier to understand when divided into two parts.
an explanation, excuse, defense, or justificationありません (arimasen)
the polite negative form of ある
“there is not” / “does not exist”
Put together, the expression says:
an excuse + does not exist
↓
“There is no excuse I can give.”
↓
“I fully acknowledge my fault, and I am very sorry.”
What Does 申し訳 (Mōshiwake) Mean?
The noun 申し訳 historically refers to an explanation, defense, justification, or excuse offered to account for one’s actions.
to say; the humble form of 言う訳 (wake)
reason, circumstances, meaning, or explanation申し訳 (mōshiwake)
an explanation, defense, excuse, or justification
However, learners should not assume that every modern speaker consciously separates the expression into 申す + 訳 each time. In modern Japanese, 申し訳ない and its polite forms function as established apology expressions.
それでは申し訳が立たない。
Sore de wa mōshiwake ga tatanai.
That would not be enough to justify what happened.
何と申し訳をすればよいか分からない。
Nanto mōshiwake o sureba yoi ka wakaranai.
I do not know how I can explain or make amends for this.
Origin and Historical Development
申し訳 is recorded in older Japanese with the meaning of an explanation, defense, or excuse. Dictionary examples trace this usage to works from the late medieval or early modern period.
The apology expression developed from the idea that the speaker had no adequate explanation or defense for their mistake.
Core development
申し訳
an explanation or defense
↓
申し訳がない / 申し訳ない
there is no possible excuse or justification
↓
申し訳ありません
a polite formal apology: “I am very sorry”
The expression 申し訳がない is historically attested with the meaning “there is no excuse” or “an explanation would not be enough,” and it came to be used when apologizing to another person.
Pronunciation and Writing
All hiragana: もうしわけありません
Romaji: mōshiwake arimasen
Search spelling: moushiwake arimasen
Mora: も・う・し・わ・け・あ・り・ま・せ・ん
The long vowel in もう matters. The pronunciation begins with mō, not a short English-style “mo.”
For learner-friendly romaji, write mōshiwake arimasen or moushiwake arimasen with a space. The joined spelling moushiwakearimasen often appears in search queries, but it hides the expression’s grammatical structure.
How to Use 申し訳ありません
1. [Reason] + 申し訳ありません
State the mistake or inconvenience before the apology.
お待たせして、申し訳ありません。
Omatase shite, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am very sorry for keeping you waiting.
説明が不足しており、申し訳ありません。
Setsumei ga fusoku shite ori, mōshiwake arimasen.
I apologize that my explanation was insufficient.
こちらの手違いで、申し訳ありません。
Kochira no techigai de, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am very sorry for our mistake.
2. ～て / ～で + 申し訳ありません
The te-form or で connects the cause to the apology.
急に予定を変更して、申し訳ありません。
Kyū ni yotei o henkō shite, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am very sorry for changing the schedule suddenly.
私の不注意で、申し訳ありません。
Watashi no fuchūi de, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am very sorry. It was due to my carelessness.
3. ～ことを申し訳なく思います
This pattern describes the speaker’s feeling of regret more explicitly.
ご期待に沿えなかったことを、申し訳なく思います。
Go-kitai ni soenakatta koto o, mōshiwake naku omoimasu.
I am sorry that I was unable to meet your expectations.
In highly formal communication, 申し訳なく存じます is also possible.
ご不便をおかけしましたことを、誠に申し訳なく存じます。
Go-fuben o okake shimashita koto o, makoto ni mōshiwake naku zonjimasu.
We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused.
4. 申し訳ありませんが + Request or Refusal
申し訳ありませんが can soften a request, refusal, or inconvenient statement.
申し訳ありませんが、もう一度ご説明いただけますか。
Mōshiwake arimasen ga, mō ichido go-setsumei itadakemasu ka?
I am sorry, but could you explain it once more?
申し訳ありませんが、本日は予約で満席です。
Mōshiwake arimasen ga, honjitsu wa yoyaku de manseki desu.
I am sorry, but we are fully booked today.
申し訳ありませんが、そのご要望には対応できません。
Mōshiwake arimasen ga, sono go-yōbō ni wa taiō dekimasen.
I am sorry, but we are unable to accommodate that request.
When Should You Use 申し訳ありません?
Natural situations include:
・a mistake at work
・a delayed reply or delivery
・keeping someone waiting
・causing inconvenience
・giving incomplete or incorrect information
・refusing a customer’s request
・speaking to a superior or unfamiliar adult
・a moderately serious apology
・a formal email or telephone call
返信が遅くなり、申し訳ありません。
Henshin ga osoku nari, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am very sorry for the delayed reply.
商品のお届けが遅れており、申し訳ありません。
Shōhin no otodoke ga okurete ori, mōshiwake arimasen.
We apologize that delivery of the product has been delayed.
私の説明不足で混乱させてしまい、申し訳ありません。
Watashi no setsumei busoku de konran sasete shimai, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am very sorry that my inadequate explanation caused confusion.
When Is 申し訳ありません Too Formal?
With close friends, family members, or a romantic partner, 申し訳ありません can sound unusually formal, emotionally distant, humorous, or dramatic.
Natural: ごめん。遅れた。
Formal or joking: 遅れて申し訳ありません。Workplace:
Natural: 返信が遅くなり、申し訳ありません。
Too casual: 返信遅れて、ごめん。
申し訳ありません vs すみません
Both expressions apologize, but they differ in weight and formality.
| Point | 申し訳ありません | すみません |
|---|---|---|
| Closest English | I am very sorry / I sincerely apologize | I’m sorry / Excuse me |
| Formality | Formal | Polite everyday expression |
| Apology weight | Moderate to serious | Light to ordinary |
| Calling a server | No | Yes |
| Asking directions | Usually unnecessarily formal | Natural |
| Business email | Natural | Possible for a light matter, but less formal |
| Customer complaint | Natural; 申し訳ございません may be even more formal | Often too light |
すみません。
I’m sorry.You send an important document late:
提出が遅くなり、申し訳ありません。
I sincerely apologize for the late submission.
For a detailed comparison of common apology expressions, see Sumimasen vs Gomen Nasai: What Is the Difference?
申し訳ありません vs ごめんなさい
| Point | 申し訳ありません | ごめんなさい |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship | Workplace, customers, superiors, unfamiliar people | Friends, family, partners, children |
| Tone | Formal, responsible, socially distant | Direct, personal, emotionally warmer |
| Business use | Natural | Often too personal or childlike |
| Personal relationship | Can sound stiff | Natural |
| Core image | There is no excuse | Please forgive me |
大切な約束を忘れて、本当にごめんなさい。
Taisetsu na yakusoku o wasurete, hontō ni gomen nasai.
I’m truly sorry I forgot our important promise.
重要な会議の予定を失念し、申し訳ありません。
Jūyō na kaigi no yotei o shitsunen shi, mōshiwake arimasen.
I sincerely apologize for overlooking the important meeting.
申し訳ありません vs 申し訳ございません
Both are widely used formal apologies. 申し訳ございません generally sounds more deferential and is especially common in customer service and highly formal business situations.
formal and polite
⇒ coworkers, superiors, ordinary business emails, moderately serious errors申し訳ございません
more formal and deferential
⇒ customers, clients, official announcements, serious service failures
返信が遅くなり、申し訳ありません。
I am very sorry for the delayed reply.
多大なご迷惑をおかけし、誠に申し訳ございません。
We sincerely apologize for the considerable inconvenience.
A More Grammatically Conservative Alternative
In very careful writing, the following forms are also available:
I feel deeply sorry.申し訳なく存じます。
I sincerely regret it.申し訳ないことでございます。
It is truly inexcusable.
These forms are correct but can sound stiffer than the widely used 申し訳ありません and 申し訳ございません.
申し訳ありません vs 失礼しました
失礼しました (shitsurei shimashita) apologizes for a breach of manners, etiquette, or social courtesy.
I was rude / Excuse my behavior / Pardon me
⇒ a mistaken interruption, impolite wording, entering or leaving, a minor etiquette error申し訳ありません
I am very sorry / There is no excuse
⇒ accepting responsibility for inconvenience, failure, delay, or a more meaningful mistake
お名前を間違えてしまい、失礼しました。
Onamae o machigaete shimai, shitsurei shimashita.
I apologize for getting your name wrong.
重要な情報を誤ってお伝えし、申し訳ありません。
Jūyō na jōhō o ayamatte otsutae shi, mōshiwake arimasen.
I sincerely apologize for giving you incorrect important information.
申し訳ありません vs お詫び申し上げます
お詫び申し上げます is a formal statement that the speaker or organization offers an apology. It is common in official notices, written statements, press releases, and serious business communication.
Directly expresses “I am very sorry.”お詫び申し上げます
Formally states “We offer our apologies.”
Often used in official or written communication.
このたびの不具合について、深くお詫び申し上げます。
Kono tabi no fuguai ni tsuite, fukaku owabi mōshiagemasu.
We deeply apologize for this problem.
For a serious apology, both may appear together:
多大なご迷惑をおかけし、誠に申し訳ございません。心よりお詫び申し上げます。
Tadai na go-meiwaku o okake shi, makoto ni mōshiwake gozaimasen. Kokoro yori owabi mōshiagemasu.
We sincerely apologize for the considerable inconvenience and offer our heartfelt apologies.
Useful Intensifiers
I am truly sorry.大変申し訳ありません。
I am extremely sorry.誠に申し訳ありません。
I sincerely apologize.誠に申し訳ございません。
We sincerely apologize. (highly formal)深くお詫び申し上げます。
We offer our deepest apologies.
誠に sounds formal and is common in business or customer-service language. 本当に is more conversational and emotionally direct.
本当に申し訳ありません。私のミスです。
Hontō ni mōshiwake arimasen. Watashi no misu desu.
I am truly sorry. It was my mistake.
このたびは誠に申し訳ございませんでした。
Kono tabi wa makoto ni mōshiwake gozaimasen deshita.
We sincerely apologize for what occurred.
Present and Past Forms
I am sorry.
⇒ an immediate or current apology申し訳ありませんでした
I am sorry for what happened.
⇒ looks back on a completed incident申し訳ございません
I sincerely apologize.
⇒ more formal present form申し訳ございませんでした
We sincerely apologize for what happened.
⇒ more formal retrospective apology
お待たせして、申し訳ありません。
I am sorry to keep you waiting.
昨日はお待たせして、申し訳ありませんでした。
I am sorry I kept you waiting yesterday.
The present form may still be used for a past event when the apology itself is being made now. The distinction is therefore a tendency rather than an absolute rule.
How to Use It in a Business Email
Example 1: Delayed Reply
Go-henshin ga osoku nari, mōshiwake arimasen.
I apologize for the delayed reply.お問い合わせいただいた件について、以下のとおり回答いたします。
Regarding your inquiry, please find my response below.
Example 2: Sending the Wrong File
Ayamatta fairu o sōfu shite shimai, mōshiwake arimasen.
I sincerely apologize for sending the wrong file.正しいファイルを添付いたしましたので、ご確認をお願いいたします。
I have attached the correct file. Please review it.
Example 3: Missing a Deadline
Teishutsu kigen o sugite shimai, makoto ni mōshiwake arimasen.
I sincerely apologize for missing the submission deadline.本日中に提出いたします。
I will submit it by the end of today.
Example 4: Refusing a Request
Mōshiwake arimasen ga, konkai wa go-yōbō ni sou koto ga dekimasen.
I am sorry, but we are unable to accommodate your request on this occasion.
A good business apology normally includes three parts:
① what happened
② a clear apology
③ what you will do next
A Better Apology: Responsibility + Action
Repeating 申し訳ありません does not automatically make an apology more effective. A clear apology should identify the problem and explain the corrective action.
資料の送付が遅れました。
The materials were sent late.Apology:
大変申し訳ありません。
I am very sorry.Action:
本日中に送付し、今後は提出日前日に確認いたします。
I will send them today and will check one day before future deadlines.
資料の送付が遅れ、大変申し訳ありません。本日中に送付し、今後は提出日前日に確認いたします。
Shiryō no sōfu ga okure, taihen mōshiwake arimasen. Honjitsu-chū ni sōfu shi, kongo wa teishutsubi zenjitsu ni kakunin itashimasu.
I am very sorry for the delay in sending the materials. I will send them today and will check one day before future deadlines.
Can 申し訳ありません Mean “Excuse Me”?
Not in the same broad way as すみません.
○ すみません！
△ 申し訳ありません！Asking a stranger for directions:
○ すみません、駅はどこですか？
△ 申し訳ありません、駅はどこですか？Softening a formal request:
○ 申し訳ありませんが、少々お待ちいただけますか？
I am sorry, but could you wait a moment?
Use すみません as a general attention-getter. Use 申し訳ありませんが when acknowledging that a formal request, refusal, or inconvenience places a burden on the listener.
Can 申し訳ありません Mean “Thank You”?
Unlike すみません, 申し訳ありません is not normally used as a simple expression of gratitude.
Natural: すみません。ありがとうございます。
Thank you—I appreciate the trouble.Unnecessarily apologetic: 申し訳ありません。
This may suggest that a real burden or problem was caused.
It can accompany gratitude when the favor caused significant trouble:
お休みの日にご対応いただき、申し訳ありません。ありがとうございます。
Oyasumi no hi ni go-taiō itadaki, mōshiwake arimasen. Arigatō gozaimasu.
I am sorry you had to handle this on your day off. Thank you very much.
Natural Example Sentences
急なお願いで、申し訳ありません。
Kyū na onegai de, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am sorry for the sudden request.
何度も変更してしまい、申し訳ありません。
Nando mo henkō shite shimai, mōshiwake arimasen.
I apologize for making changes so many times.
こちらの説明が分かりにくく、申し訳ありません。
Kochira no setsumei ga wakarinikuku, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am sorry that our explanation was difficult to understand.
ご希望の商品を用意できず、申し訳ありません。
Go-kibō no shōhin o yōi dekizu, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am sorry that we are unable to provide the product you requested.
大切なデータを削除してしまい、本当に申し訳ありません。
Taisetsu na dēta o sakujo shite shimai, hontō ni mōshiwake arimasen.
I am truly sorry that I deleted the important data.
ご期待に応えられず、申し訳ありません。
Go-kitai ni kotaerarezu, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am sorry that I could not meet your expectations.
申し訳ありませんが、その質問にはお答えできません。
Mōshiwake arimasen ga, sono shitsumon ni wa okotae dekimasen.
I am sorry, but I cannot answer that question.
体調不良で欠席することになり、申し訳ありません。
Taichō furyō de kesseki suru koto ni nari, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am sorry that I will have to be absent because I am unwell.
申し訳ありません in Anime and Drama
In anime and drama, 申し訳ありません often signals hierarchy, duty, professional discipline, or a solemn apology.
Taichō, ninmu ni shippai shimashita. Mōshiwake arimasen.
Captain, I failed the mission. I am deeply sorry.お守りできず、申し訳ありません。
Omamori dekizu, mōshiwake arimasen.
I am sorry I was unable to protect you.申し訳ありませんが、ここを通すわけにはいきません。
Mōshiwake arimasen ga, koko o tōsu wake ni wa ikimasen.
I am sorry, but I cannot allow you to pass.すべて私の責任です。本当に申し訳ありません。
Subete watashi no sekinin desu. Hontō ni mōshiwake arimasen.
It is entirely my responsibility. I am truly sorry.
Fiction may use the expression in situations involving samurai, soldiers, servants, or loyal subordinates. The wording is still modern and understandable, but the surrounding style may be more dramatic than everyday conversation.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using It for Every Small Interaction
○ すみません。
△ 申し訳ありません。Missing an important deadline:
△ すみません。
○ 申し訳ありません。
Mistake 2: Saying Only the Apology Without the Reason
申し訳ありません。Clearer:
ご連絡が遅くなり、申し訳ありません。
Mistake 3: Using It with Close Friends in an Ordinary Situation
With a friend, 申し訳ありません may sound stiff or intentionally humorous.
ごめん、少し遅れる。Formal or joking:
到着が遅れます。誠に申し訳ありません。
Mistake 4: Assuming “Formal” Automatically Means “Sincere”
A formal phrase cannot replace responsibility, explanation, or corrective action. A short, specific apology may sound more sincere than repeating honorific language.
Mistake 5: Believing 申し訳ございません Must Always Be Avoided
Although there is a well-known prescriptive debate about its internal grammar, 申し訳ございません is established and widely used in modern Japanese. Learners should understand the debate without treating normal modern usage as unusable.
FAQ About 申し訳ありません
What does moushiwake arimasen mean?
申し訳ありません means “I am very sorry” or “I sincerely apologize.” Its literal core is “There is no excuse.”
Is moushiwake arimasen formal?
Yes. It is more formal and weighty than すみません and is common in workplaces, business messages, customer service, and apologies to superiors.
What is the difference between sumimasen and moushiwake arimasen?
すみません is an everyday polite expression used for light apologies, “excuse me,” requests, and sometimes gratitude. 申し訳ありません is a more formal apology accepting that there is no adequate excuse.
What is the difference between gomen nasai and moushiwake arimasen?
ごめんなさい is a direct, personal apology often used with family and friends. 申し訳ありません is more formal and socially distant, making it suitable for work and customer-facing situations.
What is the difference between moushiwake arimasen and moushiwake gozaimasen?
Both are formal apologies. 申し訳ございません generally sounds more deferential and is especially common in customer service and highly formal communication.
Is moushiwake gozaimasen grammatically incorrect?
Some prescriptive explanations question its construction, but it is firmly established in modern Japanese and widely used. The National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics does not recommend rejecting it simply because of that grammatical argument.
How do you write moushiwake arimasen in Japanese?
Write it as 申し訳ありません. The all-hiragana spelling is もうしわけありません.
Can I say moushiwake arimasen to a friend?
Yes, but it may sound stiff, distant, solemn, or humorous. With a close friend, ごめん or 本当にごめんなさい is often more natural.
Can moushiwake arimasen mean excuse me?
It can soften a formal request or refusal in the pattern 申し訳ありませんが…, but it is not the normal expression for calling a server or getting a stranger’s attention. Use すみません for those situations.
Can moushiwake arimasen mean thank you?
Not by itself in the same way as すみません. It may accompany thanks when someone has been seriously inconvenienced, but it primarily expresses apology.
How do I make moushiwake arimasen stronger?
Add 本当に, 大変, or the more formal 誠に. For example: 誠に申し訳ありません or 誠に申し訳ございません.
What is the past form?
The past form is 申し訳ありませんでした. The more formal version is 申し訳ございませんでした.
Summary: Meaning and Usage of 申し訳ありません
“I am very sorry,” “I sincerely apologize,” or literally “There is no excuse.”● Structure
申し訳 = explanation, defense, or excuse
ありません = there is not● Core image
“I have no excuse or justification for what happened.”● Best situations
Workplace mistakes, delayed replies, inconvenience, customer service, formal requests, and apologies to superiors.● Compared with すみません
More formal and more serious.
● Compared with ごめんなさい
More professional and socially distant; less personal.
● More formal form
申し訳ございません
● Past form
申し訳ありませんでした
Remember the core image:
申し訳 = an excuse or explanation
＋
ありません = does not exist
Therefore:
申し訳ありません = “There is no excuse. I am very sorry.”
References
- Kotobank: 申し訳ない — definitions including “there is no excuse” and its use in apology.
- Kotobank: 申し訳 — historical meanings such as explanation, defense, and excuse.
- Kotobank: 申し訳がない — “there is no excuse” and historical usage.
- National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics: 申し訳ございません — discussion of the prescriptive grammar debate and real apology usage.
- NINJAL: Direct and indirect apology expressions — comparison of direct apology formulas and statements such as お詫びします.
- The Japan Foundation: Politeness in requests — example of 申し訳ありませんが as a polite request softener.
- The Japan Foundation, Irodori Expression List — learner reference containing 申し訳ありません.
- Kotobank: すみません — everyday apology, gratitude, and request functions.
- Kotobank: ごめんなさい — direct apology and request for forgiveness.