One thing that surprises foreigners about Japanese people is their frequent use of the phrases “sumimasen” and “gomennasai” (both meaning “I’m sorry”). Japanese people tend to say these phrases immediately after feeling that they have caused a disturbance or inconvenience, or before expressing their opinion, regardless of whether or not they have actually done anything wrong.
In fact, many foreigners may feel confused when communicating with Japanese people due to their frequent use of these apology expressions.
So why do Japanese people use these apology expressions so frequently?
Japanese national character
One reason is the Japanese culture that emphasizes politeness and respect towards others. Japanese people believe that it is important to show respect to others, which is why it is common to apologize even when they haven’t done anything wrong, or to apologize before expressing their opinion in order to avoid causing discomfort to others.
Almighty words meaning
Another reason is that the phrases “sumimasen” and “gomennasai” are versatile and can be used in various situations for various degrees of apologies. Even in situations where a light apology is necessary, such as bumping into someone on the street, calling a store clerk or addressing a stranger, Japanese people would use “sumimasen”.
In English-speaking countries, “Excuse me” is commonly used in different situations, but in Japan, “sumimasen” is the go-to phrase.
Using “sumimasen ( I’m sorry ) ” instead of “Thank you”
Also, in situations where a thank-you expression is appropriate, Japanese people may use “sumimasen” instead of “arigatou”. For example, when someone unexpectedly offers them help, Japanese people may say “sumimasen” instead of “thank you” as a way of expressing their gratitude.
This tendency to use apology expressions in various situations is rooted in the Japanese culture of considering other people’s feelings and avoiding causing any trouble or inconvenience to them. It is not that Japanese people are bad at expressing gratitude, but rather, it reflects their tendency to prioritize others over themselves.
Shallow English education in Japan.
It is worth noting that in Japanese English education, “gomennasai” and “sumimasen” are commonly taught as the equivalent of “I’m sorry”. This is because these phrases are often used as apology expressions in Japanese, so they are directly translated into English.
Unfortunately, Japanese schools do not often teach situational differences in English expressions, such as “Excuse me” or the light apology “Sorry!” in English-speaking countries.
Therefore, foreigners should not be surprised if Japanese people frequently use “I’m sorry” in English, as it is a common translation of their culturally ingrained apology expressions.
