Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 실례합니다 | sillye-hamnida |
| 죄송합니다 | joesong-hamnida |
| 미안해요 | mian-haeyo |
실례합니다 is used to get someone's attention or to pass through a crowd. If you are actually apologizing for a mistake you have made, you should use an apology instead. To say "Excuse me for a moment" when interrupting someone, you can say 잠깐 실례하겠습니다 by adding 잠깐, which means "a moment".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the noun 실례, which literally means "rudeness" or "discourtesy".
Which one should you use?
Use 실례합니다 to get someone's attention or to move through a crowd. If you have actually made a mistake and need to offer a formal apology, use 죄송합니다.
How do you pronounce it?
sillye-hamnida
When do people say it?
If you accidentally bump into someone while passing, it is common to apologize using 미안합니다 (I'm sorry). If you want to politely inform someone that you will be passing by them, you can use the expression 지나가겠습니다.
Did you know?
- The word 죄송 in 죄송합니다 contains a character that refers to 'sin' or 'crime', making it a much heavier expression than a simple 'excuse me'.
- In many social situations, instead of saying 'excuse me' to get a waiter's attention, Koreans often use the word 저기요 (hey, over there).
- While 'excuse me' is a way to start a conversation with a stranger in English, in Korean, you must often pair your greeting with a physical bow to match the politeness of the phrase.
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 demonstrates a shorter way to use 실례합니다.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
- 실례합니다. 지나가도 될까요?Excuse me. May I pass by?
- 지나가겠습니다. 부득이하게 지나가게 돼서 죄송합니다.Excuse me. I apologize for having to pass by unavoidably.
- 저기요. 좀 비켜주세요.Excuse me. Could you please move a little?
- 잠깐 실례할게요. 지나갈게요.Excuse me for a moment. I will pass by.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jihoon wants to pass by Seoyeon in a crowded hallway.
- 지훈 Ji-hun실례합니다, 좀 지나갈게요.sillyehamnida, jom jinagalkeyo.Excuse me, I need to pass through.
- 서연 Seo-yeon아, 죄송합니다. 비켜 드릴게요.a, joesonghamnida. bikyeo deurilkeyo.Oh, I am sorry. I will move out of your way.
- 지훈 Ji-hun감사합니다.gamsahamnida.Thank you.
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니에요, 괜찮아요.anieyo, gwaenchanayo.No problem, it's okay.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excuse me” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
