Japanese expression carrying the following
English meanings: "
excuse me", "
pardon me", "
I'm sorry", "
thank you".
Sumimasen is most often used as "
pardon me", but it carries an
apologetic/
humble note. In combination with the
hesitation noise "
anoo...", it is the best way for
foreigners to get the attention of Japanese
strangers,
teachers,
doctors,
hosts, etc etc. Don't use it for
shopping/
clerk scenarios, as the
clerks themselves are supposed to take the
humble attitude and the
customer is given the utmost in
courtesy -- he has no need of apologizing.
Omatase shite, hontoo ni sumimasen deshita.
I'm really very sorry for making you wait.
Anoo...sumimasen. Byooin wa doko desu ka.
Err, excuse me. Where is the hospital?
Compare with gomen nasai, a more formal apology for having done something wrong, and shitsuree shimasu, a more formal way of excusing oneself in the presence of superiors.
Written (sumimasen), no kanji.