[Japanese culture] Referred to as "Sumimasen", 3 of the meaning indicated by the Japanese.

In everyday life, one of the words that many of the Japanese people use most often, there is a "Sumimasen".
People of foreigners, but Japanese to remember a relatively first.
When translated into English this just normally, "I am sorry.", And will be the meaning of apology.

However, we use, to "Sumimasen" in Japanese, it has multiple meanings.
We are by the situation, we its multiple meanings are used properly with nature.

Foreigners will think it's strange.
Why so, whether apologize during a conversation.

So, the word we called "Sumimasen", how they used properly, try to organize.

Earlier to say the conclusion, we are depending on the situation distinguish the "apology", "thanks", "request" (call), "Sumimasen" of 3 kinds of sense that.

The first meaning is, "apology".
This is the same expression as "I am sorry." In English.

The second meaning of is, "thanks".
And when we receive something from the other party, when had you to do something, to be sorry for that gratitude is, nothing can return, deep that "my feeling is not fit," "thank" It makes sense of.
When this is English, it will be "Thank you.".

The third meaning of the "request" (call).
When we ask something to the opponent, it's become possible to apply some sort of burden to the other party.
We are it also recognized in the unconscious, the "apology" that I'm sorry from there occurred in the thoughts the mind of "thanks", we use the word "Sumimasen".

In addition, even when the hail the people who are walking in front, to interrupt the action of the person, you are imposing a burden that turn around in here.

Therefore, we call out to say that "(the way to) Sumimasen".
This will be expressed in English as "Excuse me.".

These are the feeling that "sorry".

However, this is just like that become a nuisance to others, rather than a reflection, is that of their own will by the nuisance. In other words, it is "Remorse".

This is not prompted for the others the cause of the things and the results, there is a thing that leads to the "teachings of Buddhism."

Japanese looks difficult.(^_^;