Both verbs mean to apologize, but 詫びる often sounds more formal and weighty.
The idea
謝る is the broad everyday verb: 人に謝る means apologize to someone, and 遅れたことを謝る names the fault. 詫びる also takes 人に and ことを, but is common in formal statements and writing. お詫びします is a polite expression used to offer an apology.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| 謝る | 友達に謝ります |
| 詫びる | 遅れをお詫びします |
Examples
- 遅れたことを友達に謝りました。I apologized to my friend for being late.
- 自分の間違いを先生に謝りました。I apologized to my teacher for my mistake.
- 会社は遅れを客に詫びました。The company apologized to its customers for the delay.
- 迷惑をかけたことを書面で詫びました。I apologized in writing for the inconvenience.
- 誤りを心よりお詫びします。I sincerely apologize for the error.
- 彼は失礼な発言を皆に謝りました。He apologized to everyone for his rude remarks.
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Watch out
Formality is a tendency, not a rule that 詫びる is always more sincere. 謝る can also be polite; neither verb itself is the everyday apology ごめんなさい.
Try it yourself
友達に＿＿。（謝りました／お詫びします）
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謝りました
謝りました is the natural everyday choice for apologizing to a friend.
会社の正式な通知：遅れを＿＿。（謝りました／お詫びします）
Show answer or example answer
お詫びします
お詫びします fits the formal notice; お marks the polite expression.
先生＿＿謝りました。（に／を）
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に
に marks the person receiving the apology, not the fault.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
友達に＿＿。（謝りました／お詫びします）
会社の正式な通知：遅れを＿＿。（謝りました／お詫びします）
先生＿＿謝りました。（に／を）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe an apology to a friend, then formulate one for customers in a formal notice.