38793
Also, would you say something different whether that person is someone you
know or not?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-28T15:36:13.527
38792
2016-08-29T16:21:48.893
17677
question
usage questions
What is the most commonly used way to apologize in Japanese?
The most common ways are Sumimasen and Gomennasai. The first one is more
formal while the second one can be used with people who are closer in terms of
relationship
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-28T15:48:39.850
38793
2016-08-28T15:48:39.850
17678
38792
answer
In business situation, you should use 申し訳ございません or 申し訳ありません. It's more formal
than すみません or ごめんなさい.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-29T08:29:10.710
38810
2016-08-29T08:29:10.710
17684
38792
answer
For apologies to friends, you should use **Sumimasen**  
For formal situations, you should use **Gomen nasai**

Otherwise, you can also say **Hontou ni gomen nasai**
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-29T12:22:59.633
38816
2016-08-29T15:13:10.300
2016-08-29T15:13:10.300
6820
17687
38792
answer
There is no most commonly used way, it depends on the situation.

**Informal**

>   * わりい (←sounds like you aren't really showing remorse, male)
>   * 悪い (male-ish)
>   * すまん (male-ish)
>   * ごめん
>

(If you say any of these twice in a row, like ごめんごめん, that also makes it
sounds like you aren't showing remorse.)

**Regular**

>   * 申し訳ない (feels proper but not particularly polite due to ending with a
> plain ない)
>   * ごめんなさい (feels slightly childish)
>   * すいません（でした） (probably the most common in everyday non-business speech)
>   * すみません（でした）
>

**Business**

>   * 申し訳ありません（でした）
>   * 申し訳ございません（でした）
>   * 申し訳なく存じます
>   * お詫び申し上げます
>

Often prefaced by 「大変ご迷惑をおかけして」 or similar, depending on how bad of a thing it
was.

Especially in business, there are plenty more variations, but I'd say these
are the more commons ones.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-29T16:21:48.893
38823
2016-08-29T16:21:48.893
3097
38792
answer