Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 실수 | silsu | [ɕʰiɭs͈u] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 잘못 | jalmot | [t͡ɕa̠ɭmo̞t̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 착각 | chakgak | [t͡ɕʰa̠k̚k͈a̠k̚] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 착오 | chago | [t͡ɕʰa̠ɡo̞] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 미스 | miseu | [mis͈ɯ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 에러 | ereo | [e̞ɾʌ̹] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The term for mistake in Korean depends on the specific nature of the error. It can range from a simple clumsy slip to a technical system error or a mental misconception.
Which one should you use?
실수 refers to an unintentional slip or a clumsy error, often used for social or personal blunders. 잘못 emphasizes that something is wrong or a fault, often used when assigning responsibility for an error. 착각 is used specifically when a mistake is caused by a mental misconception or misidentifying something. 착오 is a more formal term used for administrative or procedural errors and oversights. 미스 is a loanword from English often used in specific contexts like sports or performance to denote a 'miss'. 에러 is a loanword used primarily in technical contexts, such as computer or system errors.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the noun 실수 into a verb, you add the suffix –하다 to create 실수하다.
How do you pronounce it?
silsu
Did you know?
- The word 실수 can be written with two different sets of Hanja. One version literally translates to 'losing one's hand', while the other means 'real number' in a mathematical context.
- While 실수 and 잘못 both mean 'mistake', using 잘못 can sound like a confession of guilt or a moral failure rather than a simple accident.
- The word 에러 is almost exclusively reserved for machines and software. Calling a human's social blunder an 에러 would sound like a joke, comparing the person to a computer.
Examples in context
- 너 큰 실수 하는 거야.You're making a big mistake.This sentence is useful for describing making a big mistake with 실수.Tatoeba #11105245 by intertime, translation #1808157 by Spamster
- 톰이 실수를 할 것 같아.Tom is likely to make a mistake.This sentence is useful for expressing the likelihood of making a mistake with 실수.Tatoeba #8516981 by Eunhee, translation #4014360 by CK
- 나는 거의 실수를 하지 않아.I rarely make a mistake.This sentence is useful for stating how often one makes a mistake with 실수.Tatoeba #8356256 by Eunhee, translation #5916499 by CK
- 실수를 저질렀습니다.I made a mistake.
- 실수를 반드시 피해야 합니다.You must avoid making mistakes.
- 내가 왜 이런 식으로 오류를 저질렀지?Why did I make such a mistake like this?
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In an office, Minjun apologizes to Subin for a clerical error.
- 민준 Min-jun수빈 씨, 제 실수예요.Subin ssi, je silsu-yeoyo.Subin, it was my mistake.
- 수빈 Su-bin괜찮아요. 다시 수정하면 돼요.Gwaenchanayo. Dasi sujeong-hamyeon dwaeyo.It's okay. You can just fix it again.
- 민준 Min-jun정말 죄송해요.Jeongmal joesong-haeyo.I am truly sorry.
- 수빈 Su-bin다음에는 더 조심해 주세요.Daeum-eneun deo josim-hae juseyo.Please be more careful next time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mistake” translations and entries 실수, 잘못, 착각, 착오, 미스, 에러, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 실수, 잘못, 착각, 착오, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
