Sorry

Just as saying a simple 'I'm sorry' will not work in every situation in English, there are many different ways to apologize in Japanese. There are more forms than are listed on this page; this is only an introduction.

sumimasen / suimasen	I'm sorry. (Excuse me.) - Can be used to get someone's attention.
gomen nasai / gomen	Forgive me. (The nasai form is polite.) - Use for apologies or when declining something.
shitsurei shimasu	Please excuse me. (Lit. I'm going to break form.) - Use when entering a room during a meeting (for serving tea etc.) or when looking for something on someone's desk. (If you are intruding on someone's time/space it's good to say this.) - Used by school children as they enter the teachers' room.
shitsurei shimashita	Please excuse me, I was rude. (Lit. I broke form.) - Use when exiting a room. - Used by school children as they exit the teachers' room.
moushiwake gozaimasen / moushiwake arimasen	I have no excuse. (The gozaimasen form is more polite.)
ikenai koto o shimashita	I've done something I shouldn't have.
watakushi ga warukatta	I was wrong. (Lit. I was bad.)