잠시 지나가겠습니다.
jamsi jinagagetseumnida.
Excuse me, passing through.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A polite, essential phrase used to navigate through crowds or past people in tight spaces without causing offense.
- Means: 'I will pass through for a moment' (polite request for passage).
- Used in: Crowded subways, elevators, busy markets, or narrow hallways.
- Don't confuse: Avoid saying '비켜요' (Move!), which sounds aggressive and rude to strangers.
Explanation at your level:
Bedeutung
A polite way to ask for passage in a crowded place.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Seoul, physical contact is generally avoided. This phrase acts as a 'verbal shield' to prevent accidental touching from being perceived as rude. Restaurant culture involves servers moving quickly with hot dishes. They use this phrase loudly to ensure customers don't make sudden movements. Older generations might use a shorter, more direct '지나갈게요,' while younger people are often taught to be extra formal with '-겠습니다' to avoid conflict. In narrow office cubicle rows, this phrase is used to maintain professional boundaries while moving.
The Shoulder Tilt
When saying this, slightly tilt your head or shoulder in the direction you want to go. It's a non-verbal cue that reinforces your politeness.
Don't Shout
You need to be heard, but shouting can sound angry. Use a firm, clear, but calm 'announcement' tone.
Bedeutung
A polite way to ask for passage in a crowded place.
The Shoulder Tilt
When saying this, slightly tilt your head or shoulder in the direction you want to go. It's a non-verbal cue that reinforces your politeness.
Don't Shout
You need to be heard, but shouting can sound angry. Use a firm, clear, but calm 'announcement' tone.
The Hand Gesture
Sometimes people put one hand up vertically (like a 'knife hand' but relaxed) to 'cut' through the air as they pass. This is very common and polite.
Add '죄송합니다'
If the crowd is extremely tight, always start with '죄송합니다' (I'm sorry) before the phrase.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct adverb to make the phrase polite.
[ ] {지나|過}가겠습니다.
'{잠시|暫時}' (for a moment) is the standard softener used in this expression.
Which ending makes the phrase most appropriate for a stranger on the subway?
{잠시|暫時} 지나가[ ].
'-겠습니다' is the formal, polite ending suitable for strangers.
Match the phrase to the most likely situation.
When would you say '{잠시|暫時} {지나|過}가겠습니다'?
This phrase is specifically for navigating through people in crowded spaces.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 죄송합니다, {잠시|暫時} {지나|過}가겠습니다. B: [ ]
The standard response is to acknowledge and allow the person to pass.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality Levels of Passing
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenIn tourist areas, yes, but in most places, using the Korean phrase will get a much faster and more positive reaction.
No, this phrase is gender-neutral and depends only on the relationship between speakers.
No, for that use '저기요' (Jeo-gi-yo). This phrase is only for physical passage.
Not at all, it's just a shorter, more casual version. It's very common on subways.
'죄송합니다만, {잠시|暫時} {지나|過}가겠습니다' is the gold standard for politeness.
In very crowded rush hour, some people lose their patience, but it is still considered rude. Being the one who speaks makes you stand out as polite.
Simply move slightly and say '네' (Yes) or '지나가세요' (Please pass).
Not really 'slang,' but '좀 지나갈게요' is the most common 'fast' version.
No, this is for pedestrians. For cars, you would use your horn or different expressions.
It expresses the speaker's will or intention in a way that sounds less like a demand and more like an announcement.
Yes, the core components are the same, though the intonation and endings might differ slightly.
If you are running, you should probably say '죄송합니다! 비켜주세요!' because it's more urgent.
Verwandte Redewendungen
{잠시|暫時}만요
similarJust a moment
{실례|失禮}합니다
similarExcuse me
길 좀 비켜주세요
specialized formPlease clear the way
먼저 {지나|過}가세요
contrastPlease go first
비켜!
contrastMove!
Wo du es verwendest
Subway Exit
Learner: 죄송합니다, {잠시|暫時} {지나|過}가겠습니다.
Stranger: 아, 네. 지나가세요.
Busy Restaurant
Server: 뜨거운 거 나갑니다! {잠시|暫時} {지나|過}가겠습니다.
Customer: 네, 조심하세요.
Traditional Market
Learner: 저기요, {잠시|暫時} {지나|過}가겠습니다.
Vendor: 네, 이쪽으로 오세요.
Elevator
Learner: 내릴게요. {잠시|暫時} {지나|過}가겠습니다.
Stranger: (Moves aside) 실례했습니다.
Concert/Event
Learner: 화장실 좀 가야 해서요, {잠시|暫時} {지나|過}가겠습니다.
Fan: 네, 천천히 가세요.
Office Hallway
Colleague: 아, 김 대리님. {잠시|暫時} {지나|過}가겠습니다.
Manager: 네, 수고해요.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Jam' (잠) in a 'Subway' (지나). When you're in a jam, you need to pass through the subway!
Visual Association
Imagine a small, polite mouse wearing a tuxedo, carrying a tiny briefcase, gently weaving through a crowd of giant legs while saying this phrase.
Rhyme
Jam-si, ji-na-ga-si! (Not a perfect rhyme, but catchy rhythm)
Story
You are at a BTS concert. You are in the middle of the 'ARMY' crowd. You need water. You don't want to be rude to fellow fans. You say 'Jam-si' (Wait a sec) and 'Ji-na-ga-get-seum-ni-da' (I'm passing through). Everyone smiles and lets you through because you were so polite.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Next time you are in a crowded place (even at home), practice saying the phrase under your breath 5 times to master the '-get-seum-ni-da' ending speed.
In Other Languages
Con permiso
Korean uses a specific verb for 'passing,' whereas Spanish uses a noun for 'permission.'
Pardon, je passe
French often uses 'Pardon' alone, while Korean usually requires the full phrase for clarity.
Darf ich mal kurz vorbei?
Korean is a statement of intent, German is a request for permission.
{失礼|실례}합니다, {通|통}ります
Japanese often omits the 'for a moment' part, focusing more on the 'excuse me' (shitsurei).
Law samaht
Arabic is much more general, while the Korean phrase is specific to the act of walking past.
{借|차}过 (Jièguò)
Chinese is more concise; Korean is more descriptive and formal.
좀 {지나|過}가겠심더 (Gyeongsang dialect)
The dialect version sounds tougher but is still intended to be polite.
Com licença
Portuguese focuses on the 'license' to move, Korean on the 'moment' of movement.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'Just a moment.'
They are interchangeable, but '{잠시|暫時}' is slightly more formal/literary, while '{잠깐|暫間}' is more common in spoken conversation.
Both involve movement.
지나가다 is 'to pass by/through,' while 건너다 is 'to cross over' (like a street or bridge).
FAQ (12)
In tourist areas, yes, but in most places, using the Korean phrase will get a much faster and more positive reaction.
No, this phrase is gender-neutral and depends only on the relationship between speakers.
No, for that use '저기요' (Jeo-gi-yo). This phrase is only for physical passage.
Not at all, it's just a shorter, more casual version. It's very common on subways.
'죄송합니다만, {잠시|暫時} {지나|過}가겠습니다' is the gold standard for politeness.
In very crowded rush hour, some people lose their patience, but it is still considered rude. Being the one who speaks makes you stand out as polite.
Simply move slightly and say '네' (Yes) or '지나가세요' (Please pass).
Not really 'slang,' but '좀 지나갈게요' is the most common 'fast' version.
No, this is for pedestrians. For cars, you would use your horn or different expressions.
It expresses the speaker's will or intention in a way that sounds less like a demand and more like an announcement.
Yes, the core components are the same, though the intonation and endings might differ slightly.
If you are running, you should probably say '죄송합니다! 비켜주세요!' because it's more urgent.
