죄송합니다
joesonghamnida
The Korean phrase for "sorry politely" is 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida).
죄송합니다 is a common phrase for saying sorry suitable for apologizing to superiors, elders, customers or strangers.
Which one should you use?
While 미안해요 is a polite way to apologize to someone of similar or slightly lower status, 죄송합니다 is used for higher status or formal situations.
How do you pronounce it?
joesonghamnida
Did you know?
- The root of 죄송합니다 comes from the word 죄송 which literally means 'feeling sorry for having committed a sin or crime'. This makes it far more weighty than a casual 'sorry' in English.
- Using 죄송합니다 to a close friend or a younger sibling can actually be perceived as sarcasm or a way of creating cold, emotional distance.
- While English speakers often follow 'I am sorry' with a 'but' to explain themselves, doing so after 죄송합니다 can make the apology seem insincere and rude in Korean culture.
Examples in context
- 죄송합니다, 제가 시간을 잘못 알고 다른 날에 만나야 했어요.I'm sorry, I misunderstood the time and should have met on a different day.
- 부서의 문제로 인하여 일정을 잘 지키지 못했습니다. 진심으로 사과드립니다.Due to issues in our department, we couldn't meet the deadline. I sincerely apologize.
- 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 the inconvenience caused.
Example conversation
Seoyeon accidentally bumps into Minjun in a hallway.
- 서연 Seo-yeon어머, 죄송합니다.eomeo, joesonghamnida.Oh, I am sorry.
- 민준 Min-jun괜찮습니다, 서연 씨.gwaenchansseumnida, Seoyeon ssi.It is okay, Seoyeon.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말 죄송합니다.jeongmal joesonghamnida.I am truly sorry.
- 민준 Min-jun아니에요, 다치지 않았어요?anieyo, dachiji anasseoyo?No problem, are you hurt?
