Sometimes simply saying すみません isn’t enough—you want to explain exactly what you’re apologizing for. To say things like “Sorry for being late,” “Sorry for forgetting,” or “Sorry for causing trouble,” Japanese commonly uses ～てすみません. This pattern connects the action you are apologizing for directly to your apology.
～てすみません
Sorry for (doing something)
JLPT Level: N4
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How to Use It
To apologize for a specific action, put the verb describing that action into its て-form and add すみません.
You may also hear ～てごめんなさい used in the same way. Both express an apology, but ごめんなさい tends to sound more personal and casual, while すみません is appropriate in a wider range of polite everyday situations.
Usage Pattern
- [Verb in て-form] + すみません / ごめんなさい
Example 1
遅れてすみません。
おくれて すみません。
Okurete sumimasen.
Sorry for being late.
Example 2
忘れてすみません。
わすれて すみません。
Wasurete sumimasen.
Sorry for forgetting.
Example 3
迷惑をかけてすみません。
めいわく を かけて すみません。
Meiwaku o kakete sumimasen.
Sorry for causing trouble.
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