답장이 늦어 죄송합니다
dapjang-i neujeo joesonghamnida
The English phrase "sorry for the late reply" is translated into Korean as 답장이 늦어 죄송합니다 (dapjang-i neujeo joesonghamnida).
This phrase is used as a polite apology when someone has taken a long time to respond to a message or an email.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 답장, which literally means a reply or a response (typically to a letter or message) and the connective form 늦어, which means "because it is late" or "as it is late".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 답장이 늦어 죄송합니다 is in a formal, polite register suitable for business contexts or when speaking to people you are not close to. In an informal setting with friends, you can use 답장이 늦어서 미안해.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, 늦어 functions as a connective form meaning "because it is late" or "as it is late".
How do you pronounce it?
dapjang-i neujeo joesonghamnida
Did you know?
- If a reply is extremely late, a speaker might use the word 뒷북, which literally means 'beating the drum late', to jokingly acknowledge they are responding long after the topic was relevant.
- In Korean digital culture, a person might send a 'read' receipt without replying immediately, but failing to reply for a long time can be seen as 'reading and ignoring', known as 읽씹.
- When using the phrase in a digital context, Koreans often add 'ㅠㅠ' (representing crying eyes) to the end of the text to visually signal their sincere regret.
Examples in context
- 미안해. 답장이 늦어서 미안해.Sorry. I'm sorry for the delayed response.
- 죄송합니다. 이번에 일이 많아서 메시지 확인이 늦어진 점, 깊이 사과드립니다. 큰 양해 부탁드립니다.I apologize deeply for the delayed message confirmation due to a heavy workload this time. I kindly ask for your understanding.
- 늦게 보내서 미안해. 좀 양해해줄래?I'm sorry for sending it late. Can you please understand?
- 답장이 늦어 죄송합니다.dapjang-i neujeo joesonghamnida.Sorry for the late reply.
- 메일을 확인하느라 답장이 늦어 죄송합니다.meil-eul hwaginhaneura dapjang-i neujeo joesonghamnida.I was checking my emails, so sorry for the late reply.
Example conversation
Seoyeon is apologizing to Hyunwoo via text for responding to his business inquiry late.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 답장이 늦어 죄송합니다.Hyunwoo ssi, dapjang-i neujeo joesonghamnida.Hyunwoo, sorry for the late reply.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니에요, 서연 씨. 괜찮습니다.anieyo, Seoyeon ssi. gwaenchansseumnida.No, Seoyeon, it is okay.
- 서연 Seo-yeon문의하신 내용은 확인했습니다.mun-uihasin naeyoneun hwaginhaesseumnida.I have checked the details you inquired about.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 감사합니다.ne, gamsahamnida.Yes, thank you.
