Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 실례합니다 | sillye-hamnida |
| 죄송합니다 | joesong-hamnida |
| 미안해요 | mian-haeyo |
While 실례합니다 is the standard way to say "excuse me" when you are interrupting someone or trying to pass through a crowd, it is not used for apologies. If you have actually made a mistake or caused a problem, you should use 죄송합니다 (I'm sorry) instead. Additionally, if you want to politely grab someone's attention in a formal setting, you can use 잠시만요, which means "wait a moment".
What does it mean word for word?
The noun part of the phrase, 실례, means rudeness, discourtesy or an intrusion.
Which one should you use?
Use 실례합니다 when you are interrupting someone's space or passing by. If you have actually committed an error, use 죄송합니다, which functions as a formal "I am sorry".
How does it change in a sentence?
A slightly more formal variation of 실례합니다 is 실례하겠습니다, which can be understood as "I will commit a rudeness" to announce your intention to interrupt.
How do you pronounce it?
sillye-hamnida
Did you know?
- The phrase 죄송합니다 contains a character meaning 'sin' or 'crime', reflecting a deep cultural emphasis on the gravity of causing another person distress.
- When you want to say 'excuse me' to get past someone, you can simply call out 저기요 to mean 'hey, over there'. It is a common way to catch a stranger's attention in shops or streets.
- In many social contexts, the level of politeness in your 'excuse me' is determined by the recipient's age and social status rather than the severity of your interruption.
Examples in context
- 실례합니다. 다음 대전행 열차는 몇 시에 있습니까?Excuse me. What time is the next train to Taejon?This sentence shows how to use 실례합니다 to ask for information.Tatoeba #8544010 by okja, translation #3647141 by Jesse
- 잠깐 실례합니다.Excuse me a minute.This sentence shows how to use 실례합니다 to ask for a brief moment.Tatoeba #7802525 by HappyMidnight, translation #39993 by CM
- 실례합니다. 출구가 어디인가요?Excuse me, where's the exit?This sentence shows how to use 실례합니다 when asking for directions.Tatoeba #8543939 by okja, translation #3549610 by CK
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minji is trying to pass through a crowded hallway to get to Minjun.
- 민지 Min-ji실례합니다, 지나가도 될까요?sillyehamnida, jinagado doelkkayo?Excuse me, may I pass through?
- 민준 Min-jun아, 네. 실례했습니다.a, ne. sillyehaesseumnida.Oh, yes. My apologies.
- 민지 Min-ji괜찮아요. 고맙습니다.gwaenchannayo. gomapseumnida.It's okay. Thank you.
- 민준 Min-jun아니에요, 조심히 가세요.anieyo, josimhi gaseyo.No problem, go safely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excuse me” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
