Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida | ||
| 미안합니다 | mianhamnida | formal, polite | |
| 실례합니다 | sillyehamnida | formal, polite | |
| 미안 | mian | [mia̠n] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | informal |
| 미안해요 | mianhaeyo | informal, polite | |
| 죄송해요 | joesonghaeyo |
These expressions are used to convey regret or sorrow for a mistake or a situation. To express a deeper sense of regret, you can say 정말 미안합니다 or, when speaking to someone you know well, 정말 미안해. The noun used to refer to the act of an apology itself is 사과. If you want to describe a feeling of being grieved or saddened, the adjective 안타깝다 is used.
Which one should you use?
The different forms are distinguished by their level of respect and their specific purpose. 죄송합니다 is more formal and respectful than 미안합니다 and should be used toward superiors or in professional settings. 미안합니다 is a polite way to apologize but carries less weight of formal deference than 죄송합니다. While both involve apologizing, 실례합니다 is used specifically to say "Excuse me" to get someone's attention or to excuse oneself from a situation, rather than to apologize for a wrongdoing. The informal 미안해 is used with close friends or people younger than you.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Korean apologies vary significantly by register. 미안합니다 and 실례합니다 are both formal and polite. 미안해요 and 죄송해요 are polite but less formal than the -합니다 endings. The form 미안 is informal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The -해요 ending in 미안해요 makes the expression polite but less formal than the -합니다 ending used in 미안합니다.
How do you pronounce it?
joesonghamnida
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 죄송합니다 to mean "Excuse me" when you are trying to get someone's attention. Instead, use 실례합니다.
Did you know?
- The word for apology, 사과, is a homonym that also means 'apple' in Korean.
- The word 미안 literally means 'not feeling at peace'. It stems from the Sino-Korean characters for 'not' and 'comfort', suggesting that your apology is an admission that your heart is not at ease due to your mistake.
- In Korea, a sincere apology often involves a physical bow. The depth and duration of your bow should ideally match the level of formality in your words, such as using 죄송합니다 for a deep, formal apology.
Examples in context
- 나는 톰한테 너무 미안해.I really feel sorry for Tom.This sentence shows how to express feeling sorry for someone using 미안해.Tatoeba #8361929 by Eunhee, translation #5840376 by CK
- 자꾸 귀찮게 해서 미안해.I'm sorry to bother you so often.This sentence uses 미안해 to express regret for a repetitive action.Tatoeba #8361932 by Eunhee, translation #1439702 by CK
- 너 빼고 가버려서 미안해.I'm sorry I left without you.This sentence uses 미안해 to apologize for a specific action involving another person.Tatoeba #8361957 by Eunhee, translation #6352163 by CK
- 64 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ji-eun approaches Hyeon-u to apologize for being late to their meeting.
- 지은 Ji-eun늦어서 정말 죄송합니다.neujeoseo jeongmal joesonghamnida.I am truly sorry for being late.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니에요, 괜찮습니다.anieyo, gwaenchanseumnida.No, it is okay.
- 지은 Ji-eun많이 기다리셨죠? 죄송합니다.mani gidarisyeotjyo? joesonghamnida.You waited a long time, right? I am sorry.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo이제 왔으니 바로 시작하죠.ije wasseuni baro sijakhajyo.Since you are here now, let's start right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations and entries 미안, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 미안, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
