What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 용서하다 (to forgive) and 주세요 (please do for me).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 용서해 주세요 is polite and suitable for most social situations. For a more formal way to say "please forgive me", you can use 저를 용서해 주세요. If you are speaking with close friends or people younger than you, you may use the informal form 용서해 줘. In extremely formal or archaic settings, such as those heard in historical dramas or religious contexts, the form 용서하여 주시옵소서 is used. Additionally, while not a direct translation of "forgive me", 죄송합니다 means "I am sorry" and 매우 죄송합니다 means "I am very sorry". The informal 미안해 can also be used to mean "I'm sorry".
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 용서하다 (to forgive) is conjugated into the auxiliary construction –어 주세요 to express a request for the listener to perform the action for the speaker.
How do you pronounce it?
yongseohae juseyo
Did you know?
- In extreme apologies, Koreans may use the phrase 죽을죄를 지었습니다, which means 'I have committed a sin deserving of death'.
- While 용서해 주세요 is a request for forgiveness, the common apology 죄송합니다 literally means 'I am causing a crime' or 'I am causing a sin'.
- The word 용서 (forgiveness) is a Sino-Korean word derived from Chinese characters meaning 'to permit' and 'to let go'.
Examples in context
- 용서해 주세요.Please forgive me.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 용서해 주세요.Tatoeba #8394918 by Eunhee, translation #38820 by CK
- 제 잘못을 용서해 주세요.je jal-mos-eul yong-seo-hae ju-se-yo.Please forgive my mistake.
- 다시 한번 용서해 주세요.da-si han-beon yong-seo-hae ju-se-yo.Please forgive me one more time.
Example conversation
Hyun-woo accidentally broke Ji-eun's favorite mug.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지은 씨, 컵을 깨뜨렸어요. 용서해 주세요.Ji-eun ssi, keop-eul kkae-tteu-ryeo-sseo-yo. yong-seo-hae ju-se-yo.Ji-eun, I broke the cup. Please forgive me.
- 지은 Ji-eun정말 아끼던 컵인데 속상해요.jeong-mal ak-ki-deon keop-in-de sok-sang-hae-yo.It was a cup I really cherished, so I'm upset.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo새 컵을 꼭 사 줄게요.sae keop-eul kkok sa jul-ge-yo.I will definitely buy you a new cup.
- 지은 Ji-eun알았어요. 이번 한 번만 봐 줄게요.a-ra-sseo-yo. i-beon han beon-man bwa jul-ge-yo.Alright. I'll let it slide just this once.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
