--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: S'mimasen,\" Alyss said repeatedly as they…" description: "\"S'mimasen,\" Alyss said repeatedly as they brushed against passerby. \"What does that mean?\" Will asked as they reached a stretch of street bare of any o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/john-flanagan-904_doe_s-mimasen-alyss-said-repeatedly-as-they_2073712.jpg" --- # S'mimasen," Alyss said repeatedly as they brushed against… ![“S'mimasen," Alyss said repeatedly as they brushed against passerby. "What does that mean?" Will asked as they reached a stretch of street bare of any other pedestrians. He was impressed by Alyss's grasp of the local language. "It means 'pardon me,'" Alyss replied, but then a shadow of doubt…” quote by John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/john-flanagan-904_doe_s-mimasen-alyss-said-repeatedly-as-they_2073712.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/john-flanagan-904_doe_s-mimasen-alyss-said-repeatedly-as-they_2073712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/john-flanagan-904_doe_s-mimasen-alyss-said-repeatedly-as-they_2073712.jpg) > “S'mimasen," Alyss said repeatedly as they brushed against passerby. "What does that mean?" Will asked as they reached a stretch of street bare of any other pedestrians. He was impressed by Alyss's grasp of the local language. "It means 'pardon me,'" Alyss replied, but then a shadow of doubt crossed her face. "At least, I hope it does. Maybe I'm saying 'you have the manners of a fat, rancid sow.” [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character doubts the politeness of a phrase, fearing it may be insulting despite good intentions. **In simple terms:** Worried a simple apology could be rude. Key Takeaway Check meaning before using unfamiliar phrases. Themes communication culture self\_doubt Mood anervous curious Type cautionary reflective When to use this quote - travel - first\_encounters - cross\_cultural\_interaction Key Concepts politeness language\_barriers Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify language usage abroad? - What steps ensure respectful communication? A Different Perspective Misinterpretation can cause embarrassment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Pardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardon/) [Passerby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passerby/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm sure we're all nervous," Alyss said. She directed one of her rare smiles at Will. "We'd be stupid not to be." 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This was after Alisa' show, the reverse-blackface rendition of Gone With the Wind , including songs from the Empire Records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/avant-garde-adj-this-was-after-alisa-show-the-reverse-blackface/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Dance class, huh?" he said. "You don't look the type." "And what does that mean?" I asked. "You're not built like a dancer," he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristan-higgins/dance-class-huh-he-said-you-don-t-look-the-type-and-what-does-that/) [Kristan Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristan-higgins/) > [“Ladies and gentlemen, Jamal Feldstein-Roth.” I blinked. “Wait, Jamal ?” “Suck it,” he said with a grin. “My parents are liberal Jews from Long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/ladies-and-gentlemen-jamal-feldstein-roth-i-blinked-wait-jamal-suck/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [“Can I cut off your head?" I asked. "Are you asking for my permission?" Loki tilted his head and cocked an eyebrow. "Because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/can-i-cut-off-your-head-i-asked-are-you-asking-for-my-permission-loki/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [“Why are people so goddam mean?” he asked me one day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/why-are-people-so-goddam-mean-he-asked-me-one-day/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“What’s ‘at supposed tae mean?” He asked insulted. “Everyone always has an ulterior motive.” I replied. “Well I dinnae, an’ I’m nae claimin’ tae…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-l-ross/what-s-at-supposed-tae-mean-he-asked-insulted-everyone-always-has-an/) [S.L. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-l-ross/) > [You're beautiful, but you're empty...One couldn't die for you. Of course, an ordinary passerby would think my rose looked just like you. 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Don't rely on some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/if-you-are-a-blackman-in-america-and-get-stopped-by-the-police-make/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [I would willingly stand at street corners, hat in hand, begging passerby to drop their unused minutes into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/i-would-willingly-stand-at-street-corners-hat-in-hand-begging/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) ## More by John Flanagan > [What about you three, where are you going?" Even before Halt answered, Will knew what he was going to say. But that didn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/what-about-you-three-where-are-you-going-even-before-halt-answered/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“There's a tavern by the docks. He's there most evenings." "Then I'll talk to him tonight," Halt said. "You can try. 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I hate farewells!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/damn-i-hate-farewells/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“They sailed into Raguza and Hal said, as bold as brass, “We’ve come to challenge Zavac and we plan to kick his—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/they-sailed-into-raguza-and-hal-said-as-bold-as-brass-we-ve-come-to/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Are there bears in these mountains?" he asked. His companion nodded. "Of course. But it's a bit early in the year for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/are-there-bears-in-these-mountains-he-asked-his-companion-nodded-of/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Well I'm not dancing," Will said through gritted teeth. "I don't know how." Oh yes you are," Alyss told him. 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I just wondered why you'd gone to the kitchen and why you took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/does-it-matter-halt-asked-horace-shrugged-not-really-i-suppose-i-just/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Maybe we should have gone with him," he said, a few minutes after his friend was lost to sight. 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He was impressed by Alyss's grasp of the local language. \"It means 'pardon me,'\" Alyss replied, but then a shadow of doubt crossed her face. \"At least, I hope it does. 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