죄송합니다
joesonghamnida
죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) is the Korean phrase for my apologies.
죄송합니다 is a polite expression used to say sorry for a mistake or a problem.
What does it mean word for word?
The root 죄송 refers to a feeling of guilt or being sorry.
Which one should you use?
While 미안합니다 is also a polite way to say I am sorry, 죄송합니다 is more formal and carries a higher level of respect toward the listener. In contrast, 미안해 is the casual form used with close friends or people younger than you, whereas 죄송합니다 should never be used in such a casual context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
죄송합니다 is a formal and polite way to apologize, making it suitable for use with superiors, elders or in professional settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
죄송합니다 is the formal polite present tense. To apologize for a specific action that occurred in the past, you can use the past tense form 죄송했습니다.
How do you pronounce it?
joesonghamnida
Did you know?
- The word 죄송 contains the character for 'sin' or 'crime' 죄, implying that the speaker feels they have committed a transgression against the listener.
- While 죄송합니다 is the standard for superiors, using it with a very close friend can ironically sound sarcastic or cold because it is too formal.
- Even if a mistake was not your fault, you might say 죄송합니다 in Korea to smooth over a social tension. In this context, it functions more as a way to acknowledge a situation rather than admitting a specific error.
Examples in context
- 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다.neujeoseo jeongmal joesonghamnida.I am truly sorry for being late.
- 실수를 해서 죄송합니다.silsu-reul haeseo joesonghamnida.I am sorry for making a mistake.
- 불편을 드려 죄송합니다.bulpyeon-eul deuryeo joesonghamnida.I am sorry for causing any inconvenience.
Example conversation
Ji-eun apologizes to Ji-hun for accidentally breaking his pen.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈 씨, 펜을 망가뜨려서 정말 죄송합니다.Ji-hun ssi, pen-eul manggaretteuryeoseo jeongmal joesonghamnida.Ji-hun, I am truly sorry for breaking your pen.
- 지훈 Ji-hun괜찮아요, 지은 씨. 그럴 수도 있죠.Gwaenchanayo, Ji-eun ssi. Geureol sudo itjyo.It's okay, Ji-eun. These things happen.
- 지은 Ji-eun새 펜을 하나 사드릴게요. 죄송합니다.Sae pen-eul hana sadeurilgeyo. Joesonghamnida.I will buy you a new pen. My apologies.
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니에요, 정말 괜찮습니다.Anieyo, jeongmal gwaenchansseumnida.No, it is really okay.
