Japanese for Beginners: Apologize Casually and Accept Apologies
Learn to say 'Sorry I'm late!' and 'My bad' in casual Japanese, and how to respond when someone apologizes to you. Perfect for everyday situations with friends.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In Japanese, apologies come in many forms, from very formal to very casual. This lesson focuses on casual apologies for minor issues, like being a few minutes late or making a small mistake. You'll learn short, friendly phrases to say 'Sorry I'm late!' and 'My bad,' and also how to accept an apology when someone says sorry to you. These expressions are perfect for conversations with friends, family, or close colleagues. Let's dive in!
By the end, you can…
- apologize casually for being late in Japanese.
- say 'My bad' for a minor mistake.
- accept an apology from someone else.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
遅れてごめん。
Sorry I'm late.
Okurete gomen.
Casual way to apologize for being late, used with friends or people close to you.
ごめん、遅れた。
Sorry, I'm late.
Gomen, okureta.
Another casual apology for lateness, often said upon arriving.
ごめん。
Sorry. / My bad.
Gomen.
Very common casual apology for minor mistakes or inconveniences.
わるい。
My bad. / Sorry.
Warui.
Very casual, often used among male friends or close peers. Can sound blunt if used with strangers.
全然大丈夫だよ。
It's totally fine.
Zenzen daijōbu da yo.
A friendly way to accept an apology, meaning 'No problem at all.'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To apologize for being late, you can use the pattern: '遅れて' (okurete) + 'ごめん' (gomen). For example, '遅れてごめん。' (Okurete gomen.) means 'Sorry I'm late.' You can also say 'ごめん、遅れた。' (Gomen, okureta.) which is like 'Sorry, I'm late.' For a simple 'My bad,' just 'ごめん。' (Gomen.) works in many casual situations. Another very casual option is 'わるい。' (Warui.), which is often used among friends. Remember, these are casual and should not be used in formal settings.
When to use it
Use these casual apologies with friends, family, or close colleagues. For example, if you're meeting a friend and you're a few minutes late, say '遅れてごめん。' (Okurete gomen.). If you accidentally bump into someone you know, 'ごめん。' (Gomen.) is enough. When someone apologizes to you, you can accept with '全然大丈夫だよ。' (Zenzen daijōbu da yo.) meaning 'It's totally fine.' Avoid using 'わるい。' (Warui.) with strangers or in formal situations, as it can sound rude. In formal contexts, use 'すみません' (sumimasen) or '申し訳ありません' (mōshiwake arimasen).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
あ、ごめん、遅れた！
Oh, sorry, I'm late!A, gomen, okureta!全然大丈夫だよ。
It's totally fine.Zenzen daijōbu da yo.ありがとう。待った？
Thanks. Did you wait?Arigatō. Matta?ううん、今来たところ。
No, I just got here.Uun, ima kita tokoro.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese culture, apologies are common and can be used for many situations, even for minor things. However, the level of formality matters. Casual apologies like 'ごめん' (gomen) are fine with friends, but using them with superiors or strangers can be seen as rude. When accepting an apology, it's polite to reassure the person that it's okay. Saying '全然大丈夫だよ' (zenzen daijōbu da yo) is friendly and puts the other person at ease. If you're unsure, it's safer to use a more polite form like 'すみません' (sumimasen) until you know the person well.
One thing to watch for
Using 'わるい' (warui) in a formal situation, like apologizing to your boss.
Try this instead: Use 'すみません' (sumimasen) or '申し訳ありません' (mōshiwake arimasen) instead. For example, '遅れてすみません' (Okurete sumimasen) means 'Sorry I'm late' politely.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'Sorry I'm late' casually to a friend?
Show a sample answer
遅れてごめん。 (Okurete gomen.)
This is a common casual apology for being late. You could also say 'ごめん、遅れた。' (Gomen, okureta.) which is equally acceptable.
2What is a very casual way to say 'My bad' among close friends?
Show a sample answer
わるい。 (Warui.)
'わるい' is very casual and often used among male friends. 'ごめん' (Gomen) is also fine and slightly more neutral.
3How do you accept an apology by saying 'It's totally fine'?
Show a sample answer
全然大丈夫だよ。 (Zenzen daijōbu da yo.)
This phrase reassures the other person that no harm was done. You could also say '気にしないで' (Ki ni shinaide) meaning 'Don't worry about it.'
Use 'ごめん' (gomen) or '遅れてごめん' (okurete gomen) for casual apologies with friends, and accept with '全然大丈夫だよ' (zenzen daijōbu da yo). Save formal apologies for polite situations.
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