Exercise 6: Apologies

Making Your Expression of Apology Stronger

What Goes with What?

Apology expressions Intensifiers	ごめんなさい gomennasai	すみませんsumimasen	申し訳 ありませんmoushiwake arimasen	失礼しました shitsurei shimashita
本当にhontouni	J	J	J	J
どうもdoumo	X	J	J	J
大変 taihen*	X	X	J	J
誠にmakotoni**	X	X	J	J

J --- A good match

X --- Normally not a good match

* 大変Taihen is a polite intensifier, so it is likely to go with more polite apology expressions such as申し訳ありませんmoushiwake arimasen and失礼しましたshitsurei shimashita.

** 誠にMakotoni is a very polite intensifier that is often used in a business setting.