"Musashi" > wrote in message
m...
>
> > wrote in message
> ...
> > "Musashi" > wrote:
> > > [ . . . ]
> > > Correct/Written how it comes out/how it sounds
> > > meaning
> > >
> > > shitsurei shimasu shitsurei shimas
> > > pardon me
> > > itadakimasu itadakimas
> > > (what is said before eating)
> > > hamachi desu ka? hamachi des ka?
> > > is it hamachi (yellowtail)?
> > > sou desu sou des
> > > yes that's right
> > > sono sakana wa nani desu ka? sono sakana wa nan des ka?
> > > what is that fish?
> > >
> > > I don't think it is a rule, as in the example of French. But something
> > > that does happen in actual use
> > > and nobody pays much attention to it.
> > >
> > Takezo-san,
> >
> > I have always used 'sumimasen' for pardon me. Please enlighten me.
> >
> > Q. "Haka sakana des' ka?"
> > A. "Ieh. Shiromi des'!"
> >
>
> Shitsurei shimasu ...means "pardon me".

I was taught "pardon my rudeness."

> Sumimasen...actually means "I'm sorry", but can be used
> to mean "excuse me".
>
> Shitsurei Shimasu is more polite than Sumimasen when used
> to mean "pardon me".

Let's not forget "gomen nesai" . . . useful when trying to get through a
crowd of people.