"Excuse me" in Korean depends on context. To apologize: 죄송합니다. To get someone's attention: 저기요. To pass by: 실례합니다.
The Day I Confused "Sorry" and "Excuse Me"
My first months in Seoul, I used 죄송합니다 for everything. A colleague told me: "For calling the waiter, it's 저기요, not 죄송합니다. Otherwise it sounds like you've done something terrible."
In English, "excuse me" covers many situations. In Korean, there are 4 different words.
The 4 Ways
1. 저기요 (jeogiyo) — To Call Someone
Use in restaurants, shops, on the street.
2. 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) — To Pass By / Disturb
The word for physical politeness. In the subway: 실례합니다, 지나갈게요 — "Excuse me, I need to pass."
3. 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) — To Apologize Formally
For serious apologies: being late, making a mistake, causing a problem.
4. 미안해 (mianhae) — "Sorry" Between Friends
Casual apology for small things among same-age friends.
| Situation | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| Call waiter | 저기요 | jeogiyo |
| Pass by someone | 실례합니다 | sillyehamnida |
| Formal apology | 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida |
| Casual apology | 미안해 | mianhae |