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すみません

すみません: sorry, excuse me, and thank you

One word for apologising, getting attention and thanking.
要点The idea
すみません apologises, gets attention, and even thanks someone who went to trouble for you.
あ、 すみません！a, sumimasen!Oh, sorry!Bumping into someone.
すみません、 駅(えき)えき は どこ です か？sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka?Excuse me, where's the station?
すみません、 注文(ちゅうもん)ちゅうもん いい です か？sumimasen, chuumon ii desu ka?Excuse me, could I order?Calling staff in a restaurant.
わざわざ すみません。wazawaza sumimasen.Thank you for going to all that trouble.Thanks mixed with “sorry for the bother”.
Aありがとう ございます。arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
Bすみません。sumimasen.Thank you (sorry for the trouble).
ありがとう focuses on the kindness; すみません on the bother you caused. When someone picks up something you dropped, すみません is very natural.
  1. A
    すみません、 これ、 落(お)おとしました よ。sumimasen, kore, otoshimashita yo.Excuse me, you dropped this.
  2. B
    あ、 すみません！ ありがとう ございます。a, sumimasen! arigatou gozaimasu.Oh, sorry! Thank you so much.
A's すみません gets attention; B's すみません thanks A for the trouble.

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