A1 Expression औपचारिक

죄송해요

joesonghaeyo

I'm sorry (casual)

Phrase in 30 Seconds

죄송해요 is the essential, polite way to say 'I'm sorry' to people you don't know well or those older than you.

Means: 'I am sorry' or 'I apologize' in a polite, standard way.
Used in: Public places, with strangers, or when speaking to a boss/teacher.
Don't confuse: Use it instead of '미안해' (mianhae) which is only for close friends.

🙇‍♂️ + 💬 = Restored social harmony

Explanation at your level:

죄송해요 is a basic word to say 'I'm sorry.' Use it when you make a mistake or are late. It is polite. You can use it with teachers and people you don't know. Always use it with a small bow. It is very common in Korea.

At this level, you should use 죄송해요 with the '-아서/어서' grammar to explain your reasons. For example, '늦어서 죄송해요' (Sorry for being late). It is more formal than 미안해요. Use it in shops, restaurants, and with people older than you to show respect.

죄송해요 is the standard polite (haeyo-che) apology. While 미안해요 focuses on your inner state of 'not being at peace,' 죄송해요 acknowledges the social hierarchy and your 'fault' (죄). It is appropriate for consultative registers, such as speaking with a doctor or a supervisor about minor issues.

The distinction between 죄송해요 and 죄송합니다 becomes critical here. While both use the same Hanja root ({죄송|罪悚}), the choice of sentence ending reflects the speaker's awareness of 'Gong-gyeok' (reverence). 죄송해요 is suitable for daily polite interactions, whereas 죄송합니다 is reserved for formal 'public' settings or when the gravity of the mistake is higher.

Linguistic analysis reveals that 죄송해요 functions as a performative utterance that recalibrates social distance. The use of the Sino-Korean root {죄송|罪悚} over the native or more common {미안|未安} signals a higher degree of formal acknowledgement of a breach in social protocol. Learners must master the prosody—a slightly lowered pitch and trailing 'yo'—to convey genuine sincerity.

Mastery involves navigating the subtle sociolinguistic nuances where 죄송해요 might be perceived as 'insufficiently formal' in high-stakes honorific environments. One must analyze the interplay between the 'Chemyeon' (face) of the interlocutor and the speaker's self-abasement. At this level, the speaker uses 죄송해요 not just as a phrase, but as part of a complex ritual of social repair involving appropriate honorific particles like '께서' and '께'.

मतलब

A casual and common way to apologize to someone.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

Bowing is essential. A 15-30 degree bow while saying '죄송해요' shows you are sincere. Forgetting to bow can make the apology seem fake. In offices, '죄송합니다' is preferred over '죄송해요'. Using '해요' style with a CEO might be seen as too casual. Younger people often use '미안해요' among themselves even if they aren't close, as it feels slightly friendlier than '죄송해요'. In KakaoTalk, using emojis like 🙇‍♂️ (bowing man) alongside '죄송해요' is a common way to show sincerity in a digital format.

💡

The Bowing Rule

Always tilt your head or upper body. A verbal apology without a physical gesture can feel cold in Korea.

⚠️

Avoid 'Mian' with Elders

Never say '미안' or '미안해' to someone older than you unless you are very close family.

मतलब

A casual and common way to apologize to someone.

💡

The Bowing Rule

Always tilt your head or upper body. A verbal apology without a physical gesture can feel cold in Korea.

⚠️

Avoid 'Mian' with Elders

Never say '미안' or '미안해' to someone older than you unless you are very close family.

🎯

Add '정말' for Sincerity

Saying '정말 죄송해요' (Jeongmal joesonghaeyo) adds a layer of 'really' that makes you sound much more sincere.

💬

The 'No Problem' Response

When someone says '죄송해요' to you, the most natural response is '아니에요, 괜찮아요' (No, it's okay).

खुद को परखो

Match the situation to the correct apology.

You accidentally bump into an elderly person at the market.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 죄송해요.

You must use the polite '죄송해요' with elders and strangers.

Complete the sentence to say 'I'm sorry for being late.'

____ 죄송해요.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 늦어서

늦다 (to be late) + 아서/어서 = 늦어서.

Which of these is the MOST formal?

Choose the most formal apology.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 죄송합니다

The '-합니다' ending is the highest level of formal politeness.

Fill in the blank in the dialogue.

A: 제 발을 밟으셨어요. (You stepped on my foot.) B: 앗, ____!

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 죄송해요

When you step on someone's foot, you must apologize.

🎉 स्कोर: /4

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

Apology Levels

Casual

미안해 Sorry (friends)

Polite

죄송해요 Sorry (standard)

Formal

죄송합니다 Sorry (business)

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

10 सवाल

You can, but it sounds very formal. It might make your friend think you are mad or being sarcastic. Stick to '미안해'.

죄송합니다 is more formal (hapsho-che). Use it in business or with people much higher in rank. 죄송해요 is for daily polite life.

Many young Koreans say '쏘리' (ssori) casually, but it's not appropriate for formal situations or with elders.

You can say '제 친구가 죄송해요' (My friend is sorry) or '대신 사과드려요' (I apologize on their behalf).

For minor things like bumping into someone, a small head nod is enough. For bigger mistakes, a deeper waist bow is better.

Yes, if you are interrupting someone or trying to get through a crowd, '죄송해요' works well.

Always default to '죄송해요'. It is the safest choice for any stranger.

Yes, 'ㅈㅅ' is common among friends, but never use it with a boss!

Add '정말' (jeongmal) or '진심으로' (jinsimeuro) before '죄송해요'.

It's part of maintaining social harmony and showing respect for others' feelings (Kibun).

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

🚶‍♂️

Bumping into a stranger

Me: 앗, 죄송해요!

Stranger: 아니에요, 괜찮아요.

neutral

🏃‍♀️

Arriving late to class

Student: 선생님, 늦어서 죄송해요.

Teacher: 다음부터는 일찍 오세요.

formal

☕

Spilling a drink at a cafe

Me: 죄송해요, 제가 커피를 쏟았어요.

Staff: 괜찮습니다. 제가 치워 드릴게요.

neutral

👥

Asking to pass in a crowd

Me: 죄송해요, 좀 지나갈게요.

Person: 아, 네. 지나가세요.

neutral

🙅‍♂️

Declining a polite offer

Colleague: 오늘 같이 점심 먹을까요?

Me: 죄송해요, 제가 선약이 있어서요.

formal

📄

Correcting a mistake in a report

Boss: 여기에 오타가 있네요.

Me: 앗, 죄송해요. 바로 수정하겠습니다.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a guy named 'Joe' who sang a bad 'song'. He said, 'Joe-song-haeyo!' (Joe's song? I'm sorry!)

Visual Association

Imagine yourself bowing slightly to a giant floating Hanja character for 'Sin' (죄). The character looks like a net catching a person.

Rhyme

Don't be slow, say 죄송해요 (Joesonghaeyo)!

Story

You are at a fancy Korean dinner. You accidentally spill water on a businessman's suit. You feel 'fear' (송) because of your 'fault' (죄). You quickly bow and say '죄송해요' to fix the situation.

Word Web

죄송합니다미안해요사과잘못실수용서실례

चैलेंज

Try saying '죄송해요' while doing a 15-degree bow in front of a mirror. Focus on keeping your eyes down.

In Other Languages

Japanese high

すみません (Sumimasen)

죄송해요 is strictly an apology, whereas Sumimasen can be a thank-you.

Spanish moderate

Lo siento

Spanish doesn't change the word based on the listener's age as strictly as Korean.

French moderate

Je suis désolé

French formality (vous/tu) is in the pronoun, Korean is in the verb ending.

German partial

Entschuldigung

German is more direct; Korean is more about saving face.

Arabic moderate

آسف (Asif)

Arabic apologies are often more expressive and emotional.

Chinese high

对不起 (Duìbuqǐ)

Korean has more levels of politeness for the same 'sorry' concept.

Portuguese moderate

Desculpe

Portuguese doesn't have a specific 'fear-based' root for apologies.

English moderate

I'm sorry

You don't say '죄송해요' when someone's dog dies (use '유감입니다' instead).

Easily Confused

죄송해요 बनाम 미안해요 vs 죄송해요

Learners don't know which one is more polite.

If you are in doubt, use '죄송해요'. It is always safer and more respectful.

죄송해요 बनाम 죄송해요 vs 실례합니다

Both can mean 'Excuse me'.

Use '죄송해요' if you did something wrong. Use '실례합니다' if you are about to interrupt someone.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (10)