Translations help

[Bonta-kun]

Sorry to start a new thread for this, but ive been debating with a friend about the actual translations of sorry, pardon me, etc.

From what i have heard and experienced its generally gomen, gomen nasai, etc.

He disagrees and says its not technically right. Is there some japanese slang that says "gome" or "kome" (laugh ).

Thanks for the help for this japanese newbie .

 

[budd]

i think of it like this
gomen! (窶堋ｲ窶堙溪?堙ｱﾂ！) = sorry!
gomen nasai! (窶堋ｲ窶堙溪?堙ｱ窶堙遺?堋ｳ窶堋｢ﾂ！) = i'm sorry, sir! or ma'am, as the case may be

a more detailed explanation of terms can be found here
good luck!

 

[Bonta-kun]

thx

thx

 

[Elizabeth]

I think you can only use "gome" in this sense if it is followed by "ne" or "nasai." Not sure if it's slang or just a contraction, though.

 

[alvo]

"Gome" or "Kome" don't stand for "I'm sorry"

Originally posted by Elizabeth
I think you can only use "gome" in this sense if it is followed by "ne" or "nasai." Not sure if it's slang or just a contraction, though.

As Elizabeth says

You must say "Gomen" or "Gomenne" or "Gomennasai , not "Gome" or "Kome" ,when you mean "I'm sorry" or "Excuse me." You know, when they speak "Gomen" they often pronouce the "n" really quick so you just can't catch it sometimes. I reckon the one who insists against it has had the sort of experience.

And when you say "I'm sorry" to a stranger on street or your business client, it would be advisable to say "Sumimasen" instead of "Gomennasai" or "Gomenne."

("Gomenne" sounds a little or somewhat less serious than "Gomennasai") You should not say "Gomenne" or "Gomen" to your boss or teacher. You're expected to use it only to your friends or family and so forth.

Well I'll tell about that kind of case. The other day a librarian, female and over 40 years old, goofed and handed me diferrent books from the ones that I said I needed. It was what her carelessness caused and I pointed it. She just smirked and said "Gomenne." It sounded somewhat offensive to me. It sounded as if she treated me like a little girl although I am over 20 years old!

A young woman like me might have been a little girl to her but she was at work. She was not talking to her daughter. It'd have been just nothing if she had said "Sumimasen" instead of "Gomenne." The smirk she made was part of the reason, though, the word did get on my nerves.

 

[budd]

hmm thanks for the insight! welcome to the forum!