How to Politely Get Someone's Attention in Japanese: Sumimasen, Chotto Sumimasen and More
Learn beginner-friendly Japanese phrases to politely get attention in public or interrupt a conversation, including sumimasen, chotto sumimasen, and shitsurei shimasu, with clear usage notes.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Japanese, getting someone's attention politely is a practical skill you can learn with a few set phrases. The most useful is すみません (sumimasen), which works like 'excuse me' in many public situations. To interrupt a conversation, you can say ちょっとすみません (chotto sumimasen) or 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu). This lesson teaches when to use each phrase, how to pronounce them, and how to respond naturally. It does not cover apologizing for mistakes; that is a different skill.
By the end, you can…
- politely get a stranger's attention in a shop, station, or street.
- interrupt a conversation politely using sumimasen or shitsurei shimasu.
- choose between sumimasen, chotto sumimasen, and shitsurei shimasu in common situations.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
すみません。
Excuse me. / Pardon me.
su-mi-ma-sen（すみません）
The most common all-purpose phrase to get attention in public. Use it to call a staff member, ask a stranger a question, or signal that you need help.
ちょっとすみません。
Excuse me for a moment. / Sorry to bother you.
cho-tto su-mi-ma-sen（ちょっとすみません）
Softer and more polite when you need to interrupt someone who is already talking or busy. The ちょっと (chotto) makes the request feel lighter.
失礼します。
Excuse me. / Pardon me.
shi-tsu-rei shi-ma-su（しつれいします）
Polite and slightly formal. Use when entering a room, passing in front of someone, or interrupting a conversation in a workplace or formal setting.
あのう、すみません。
Um, excuse me.
a-noo, su-mi-ma-sen（あのう、すみません）
Use あのう (anoo) to gently signal that you are about to speak. It softens the start and is common when approaching a stranger.
お忙しいところすみません。
I'm sorry to bother you while you're busy.
o-i-so-ga-shii to-ko-ro su-mi-ma-sen（おいそがしいところすみません）
A polite phrase for interrupting someone who is clearly working or in the middle of something. Useful in offices and customer service situations.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
A simple pattern is すみません + request. For example, すみません、駅はどこですか。 (Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka.) means 'Excuse me, where is the station?' You can also use ちょっとすみません before a request: ちょっとすみません、写真を撮ってもらえますか。 (Chotto sumimasen, shashin o totte moraemasu ka.) means 'Excuse me, could you take a photo for me?' The phrase gets attention; the request comes after it.
When to use it
Use すみません in shops, stations, streets, and restaurants when you need a staff member or a stranger. Use ちょっとすみません when someone is already speaking or busy, because it sounds softer. Use 失礼します in formal places such as an office, a meeting room, or when passing between people. If you are interrupting a conversation between two people, say すみません、ちょっといいですか。 (Sumimasen, chotto ii desu ka.) meaning 'Excuse me, do you have a moment?'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、ちょっといいですか。
Excuse me, do you have a moment?su-mi-ma-sen, cho-tto ii desu ka（すみません、ちょっといいですか）はい、何ですか。
Yes, what is it?hai, nan desu ka（はい、なんですか）この住所へ行きたいのですが、道を教えてもらえますか。
I want to go to this address; could you tell me the way?ko-no juu-sho e i-ki-tai no desu ga, mi-chi o o-shi-e-te mo-ra-e-ma-su ka（このじゅうしょへいきたいのですが、みちをおしえてもらえますか）いいですよ。駅を出て、右へ曲がってください。
Sure. Leave the station and turn right.ii desu yo. e-ki o de-te, mi-gi e ma-gat-te ku-da-sai（いいですよ。えきをでて、みぎへまがってください）A little context goes a long way
In Japanese public life, すみません often does more than apologize; it also means 'excuse me' and 'thank you for your trouble.' A short bow or a slight nod usually accompanies it. With friends, a simple ねえ (nee) or ちょっと (chotto) can get attention, but with strangers and staff, すみません is safer and more polite.
One thing to watch for
Using ごめんなさい (gomen nasai) to get a stranger's attention in public.
Try this instead: ごめんなさい is mainly for apologizing to people you know or for a clear mistake. To get attention, use すみません instead. For example, say すみません、メニューをお願いします。 (Sumimasen, menyuu o onegai shimasu.) meaning 'Excuse me, the menu, please.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are in a busy station and need to ask a staff member a question. What do you say first?
Show a sample answer
すみません。
すみません is the standard polite way to get a staff member's attention in public. ちょっとすみません is also acceptable if you need to interrupt, but すみません is the simplest and most common choice.
2Two coworkers are talking, and you need to interrupt briefly. Which phrase is appropriate?
Show a sample answer
ちょっとすみません。
ちょっとすみません softens the interruption and is suitable when people are already speaking. 失礼します can also work in a formal office, but ちょっとすみません is more natural for a brief interruption.
3You are entering a meeting room in a Japanese office. What polite phrase can you use?
Show a sample answer
失礼します。
失礼します is used when entering a room, passing in front of someone, or interrupting in a formal setting. すみません is possible in casual public situations, but 失礼します fits the workplace context better.
Use すみません as your default 'excuse me' in public, add ちょっと for a softer interruption, and choose 失礼します in formal settings. Keep it short, polite, and follow with your request.
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