Excuse me / I'm sorry / Thank you – The all-purpose polite phrase
JLPT N5 文法 すみません 解説
⏱️ Study time: 5–7 minutes
Master すみません in 5–7 minutes. Learn the most versatile Japanese word — used for apologizing, getting attention, thanking, and more — and how it differs from ごめんなさい and ありがとう.
🚀 Quick JLPT N5 Warm-up Quiz
Q1: You want to call a waiter. Which is correct? A. すみません！ B. ごめんなさい！
Answer: A (すみません = "Excuse me!"; ごめんなさい = "I'm sorry" for personal apology)
Quick Summary
Grammar Point すみません
Meanings Excuse me / Sorry / Thank you
Usage Standalone or before a request
Example すみません、駅はどこですか。すみません、えきはどこですか。Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka. Excuse me, where is the station?
💡 Switch to Hiragana only or Rōmaji if you're just starting out.
What is すみません?
すみません is the single most versatile polite phrase in Japanese. It can mean "Excuse me", "I'm sorry", or even "Thank you" depending on the situation. It literally means "it's not finished/settled" (from 済む = to finish), implying you owe someone thanks or an apology.
⚡ The Many Uses of すみません
Use
Meaning
Situation
Getting attention
Excuse me!
Calling a waiter, asking for directions
Apologizing
I'm sorry
Light apology for bumping into someone
Thanking
Thank you (for the trouble)
When someone does you a favor
Refusing politely
No thank you
Declining an offer gracefully
⚠️ JLPT Trap: In N5 listening, すみません is the default phrase for getting someone's attention before asking a question. If you hear it at the start of a conversation, expect a request or question to follow.
Examples & Mini Dialogue
すみません、駅はどこですか。 Excuse me, where is the station? (getting attention before a question)
The most common pattern: すみません + question.
あ、すみません！ Oh, I'm sorry! (light apology — bumping into someone)
For deeper apologies, use 申し訳ありません (formal) or ごめんなさい (personal).
すみません、水をください。 Excuse me, please give me water. (polite request in a restaurant)
すみません softens the request, making it more polite.
🗣️ Mini Dialogue
A: 道を教えてくれてありがとう。
B: すみません、役に立ててよかったです。
When to Use in Real Japan
In restaurants: すみません！(to call the waiter).
Asking for directions: すみません、この近くにコンビニがありますか。
Receiving a gift: すみません (Thank you — acknowledging the trouble).
⚡ すみません vs ごめんなさい vs ありがとう: When to Use Which
Expression
Primary Use
Tone
すみません
Excuse me / Sorry / Thanks
Polite, versatile, all-purpose
ごめんなさい
I'm sorry (personal apology)
Personal, heartfelt
ありがとう
Thank you
Gratitude, less apologetic
⚠️ JLPT Trap: In N5, すみません is the correct choice when getting attention or making a polite request. ごめんなさい is for personal apologies. ありがとう is for pure thanks without apology.
This lesson is taught by Anup Sensei, an experienced Japanese language instructor at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. He has studied and worked in Japan and specializes in practical JLPT preparation and real-life communication skills.
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