Sorry in Korean: 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) formally, 미안해 (mianhae) with close friends. Here's when to use each phrase.
죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) — I'm sorry (formal, standard) · Formal · Standard
죄송합니다, the formal apology that works everywhere
죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) is the universal apology in formal Korean. Use it at the office, in the street with strangers, in a shop if you knock something over, or to apologize for being late to a business meeting.
Etymologically it comes from 죄 (crime, fault) + 송하다 (to bear). Literally "I bear the fault", which sounds very solemn to a Korean ear. That's exactly what makes it the gold-standard polite apology: you take responsibility with gravity.
You'll also hear 죄송해요 (joesonghaeyo), polite but slightly less formal. Save 죄송합니다 for work and strangers, use 죄송해요 for everyday polite situations.
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida | I'm sorry (formal) (office, stranger, serious situation) |
| 죄송해요 | joesonghaeyo | Sorry (polite) (neighbor, shopkeeper, polite daily) |
| 정말 죄송합니다 | jeongmal joesonghamnida | I'm truly sorry (stronger, serious mistake) |
미안해요 / 미안해, the warm apology between close people
미안 (mian) is the other root for apologizing. The nuance vs 죄송 is subtle but real: 미안 expresses an emotional regret, feeling bad for the other person, while 죄송 acknowledges an objective fault.
미안해 (casual) works with friends, siblings, partners. 미안해요 (polite) works with someone you know well but still owe a bit of respect (a same-age coworker, a friendly neighbor). With a senior or stranger, stick with 죄송합니다.
Good intuition: 미안 sounds "I feel bad for you", 죄송 sounds "I made a mistake".
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 미안해요 | mianhaeyo | Sorry (polite, warm) (older friend, close coworker) |
| 미안해 | mianhae | Sorry (casual) (friends, close family, partner) |
| 정말 미안해 | jeongmal mianhae | I'm really sorry (stronger, between close people) |
Bumping into someone: 죄송합니다 or 실례합니다?
When you bump into someone on the street or in the subway, two options based on intensity:
• 죄송합니다 if you really inconvenienced them (stepped on a foot, knocked them). • 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) if you just want to pass through or politely catch attention, without really committing a fault. It's the equivalent of "excuse me" you'd say to make your way through a crowd.
To call a waiter, ask for directions, or interrupt a conversation, you'd open with 실례지만 (sillyejiman, "excuse me but…").
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 실례합니다 | sillyehamnida | Excuse me (passing through, asking to speak) |
| 실례지만… | sillyejiman… | Excuse me, but… (polite question opener) |
| 잠깐만요 | jamkkanmanyo | Just a moment, hold on (polite interruption, asking to wait) |
Accepting an apology: 괜찮아요
When someone apologizes, the default Korean reply is 괜찮아요 ("it's fine, no worries"), polite version of 괜찮아 (casual).
To be warmer, add 아니에요 ("no, no", literally "it's not") or 신경 쓰지 마세요 ("don't worry about it").
A blunt reply like just "응" to a 죄송합니다 would sound cold. Better a smiling 괜찮아요.
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 괜찮아요 | gwaenchanayo | It's fine, no worries (polite) (standard reply to an apology) |
| 괜찮아 | gwaenchana | It's fine (casual) (between close people) |
| 아니에요 | anieyo | No, it's nothing (minimizing the other's discomfort) |
| 신경 쓰지 마세요 | singyeong sseuji maseyo | Don't worry about it (reassuring, polite) |
More serious apologies
For serious situations where 죄송합니다 isn't enough, Korean has stronger phrases that mark genuine remorse.
용서해 주세요 (yongseohae juseyo, "please forgive me") is the gold standard for repentance: you literally ask for forgiveness, not just an apology. You'll hear it in K-dramas when a character has done something major.
제 잘못이에요 ("it's my fault") explicitly takes responsibility, useful in a work email.
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 용서해 주세요 | yongseohae juseyo | Please forgive me (serious fault, asking forgiveness) |
| 제 잘못이에요 | je jalmosieyo | It's my fault (explicit acceptance of responsibility) |
| 다시는 안 그럴게요 | dasineun an geureolgeyo | I won't do it again (promise after a mistake) |
Common mistakes to avoid
Three classic traps when learning to apologize in Korean:
1. Saying 미안해 to a senior. Casual is for peers and younger only. To a boss, teacher or older stranger, always 죄송합니다.
2. Mixing up 죄송합니다 and 실례합니다. 죄송 acknowledges a fault, 실례 asks permission to inconvenience. To make your way through a crowd, it's 실례합니다.
3. Staying silent when accepting an apology. In Korean, explicitly accepting (괜찮아요, 아니에요) is a sign of politeness. Silence can come across as a reproach.
Related words
| Hangul | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 죄송하다 | to be sorry (polite) (root of 죄송합니다) | |
| 미안하다 | to be sorry (warm) (root of 미안해) | |
| 실례하다 | to be rude, to take the liberty (opens 실례합니다) | |
| 괜찮다 | to be okay, fine (standard reply) | |
| 용서하다 | to forgive | |
| 잘못 | mistake, fault |
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 죄송합니다 and 미안해요?
죄송 acknowledges an objective fault, sounds formal and grave. Use it with a senior, a stranger or for a professional misstep. 미안 expresses an emotional regret, warmer. Save it for close people: friends, family, same-age coworkers. Rule of thumb: when in doubt, pick 죄송.
How do you say "excuse me" to pass through a crowd?
Not with 죄송합니다 (which implies a fault), but with 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida). It's the strict equivalent of "excuse me" to make your way through. Very common in subways, queues, or to politely interrupt.
How should I reply when someone says 죄송합니다 to me?
Standard reply is 괜찮아요 (it's fine, no worries). To be warmer add 아니에요 (no, no) or 신경 쓰지 마세요 (don't worry about it). Silence is poorly received, you should explicitly accept the apology.
What do you say for a really serious apology?
For a major fault you escalate to 정말 죄송합니다 ("I'm truly sorry") or 용서해 주세요 ("please forgive me"). The latter literally asks for forgiveness, what you'll hear in dramas for heavy mistakes.