약속을 어기다.
yaksogeul eogida.
To break a promise.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use '약속을 어기다' when someone fails to show up or do what they promised to do.
- Means: To fail to keep a promise or miss a scheduled appointment.
- Used in: Social let-downs, business failures, or forgotten dates.
- Don't confuse: With '약속을 취소하다' which means to cancel in advance.
Explanation at your level:
意味
The act of failing to fulfill an agreement or commitment.
文化的背景
The 'Korean Time' concept used to mean being 10-30 minutes late was okay, but in modern urban Korea, this is now considered '약속을 어기다' and is quite rude. In Korean business, a verbal promise is often as binding as a written one. Breaking it can end a partnership permanently. If you must break a promise, you should apologize profusely and offer a 'service' or a treat next time to 'restore the balance'. Koreans often use '못 지키다' (couldn't keep) instead of '어기다' (broke) to sound less aggressive when they are the ones who failed.
The 'Sorry' Rule
When you break a promise, always follow '어겼어요' with '미안해요' or '죄송합니다'.
Don't be too harsh
Using '어기다' to someone's face can sound very accusatory. Use '못 지키다' to be softer.
意味
The act of failing to fulfill an agreement or commitment.
The 'Sorry' Rule
When you break a promise, always follow '어겼어요' with '미안해요' or '죄송합니다'.
Don't be too harsh
Using '어기다' to someone's face can sound very accusatory. Use '못 지키다' to be softer.
Hanja Power
Remembering {約|약} (tie) helps you learn other words like '계약' (contract) and '예약' (reservation).
自分をテスト
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '어기다'.
친구가 어제 오기로 했는데 ______.
The context implies the friend was supposed to come but didn't, which is breaking a promise.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'Don't break your promise'?
Choose the correct sentence:
'어기다' is the standard verb for breaking promises.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You promised to quit smoking but you smoked today.
You failed to follow through on your personal vow.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 왜 이렇게 늦었어? B: 미안해, 내가 또 ______.
Being late or missing a meeting is '어기다'.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
어기다 vs 취소하다
よくある質問
10 問It's not rude to say, but the action it describes is considered rude in Korea. It's a factual description of a social failure.
Yes, you can say '과제 제출 약속을 어겼어요' (I broke the promise to submit my assignment).
'어기다' is standard and neutral. '깨다' is informal and sounds more like 'I blew it' or 'He flaked'.
You should say '약속을 어겨서 정말 죄송합니다'.
Yes! '규칙을 어기다' (break the rules) is very common.
Yes, '약속 위반' (promise violation) is used in more formal or written contexts.
You can say '자신과의 약속을 어겼어요'.
For marriage, '서약을 어기다' (breaking a vow) is more common, but '약속' still works in a general sense.
No, a flight is not a '약속' (promise/appointment). Use '비행기를 놓치다' (miss the plane).
Usually '차가 막혀서' (because the traffic was heavy) or '급한 일이 생겨서' (because something urgent came up).
関連フレーズ
약속을 지키다
contrastTo keep a promise
약속을 깨다
synonymTo break/smash a promise
바람 맞히다
specialized formTo stand someone up
식언하다
specialized formTo eat one's words
약속을 취소하다
similarTo cancel an appointment
どこで使う？
Dating
A: 왜 어제 데이트 안 나왔어?
B: 미안해, 일이 너무 많아서 약속을 어겼어.
Workplace
Manager: 김 대리님, 보고서 제출 약속을 어기셨네요.
Staff: 죄송합니다. 오늘 퇴근 전까지 꼭 끝내겠습니다.
Parenting
Child: 아빠, 이번 주말에 공원 가기로 했잖아요!
Parent: 미안해, 아빠가 약속을 어겨서 정말 미안해.
Friendship
Friend 1: 너 또 약속 어길 거지?
Friend 2: 아니야, 이번에는 진짜 꼭 나갈게!
Personal Habits
Self: 오늘부터 다이어트하기로 했는데 또 약속을 어겼네.
Friend: 내일부터 다시 시작하면 돼!
Legal/Formal
Lawyer: 피고는 계약상의 약속을 어겼습니다.
Judge: 그에 따른 증거를 제시하십시오.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Eogi-da' as 'Ugly-da'. It's 'ugly' to break a promise!
Visual Association
Imagine a glowing golden chain connecting two people. When one person steps away, the chain snaps with a loud 'Eogi!' sound.
Rhyme
약속을 어기면, 마음이 무거워 (Yaksogeul eogimyeon, maeumi mugeowo - If you break a promise, your heart is heavy).
Story
Min-su promised to bring a cake to the party. But he played games all day and '어겼다' (broke) his promise. When he arrived empty-handed, everyone looked at him and said, 'That's ugly (Eogi)!'
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try to tell a friend (in Korean) about a time someone stood you up using '약속을 어겼어요'.
In Other Languages
約束を破る (Yakusoku o yaburu)
The verb 'yaburu' is more aggressive (tearing) than 'eogida' (deviating).
违背诺言 (Wéibèi nuòyán)
Chinese often uses four-character idioms, whereas Korean uses a simple noun-verb pair.
To break a promise
English 'break' is used for almost everything; Korean '어기다' is specific to rules/promises.
Romper una promesa
Spanish also uses 'incumplir' in formal contexts, which is closer to the Korean '어기다'.
Manquer à sa parole
French emphasizes the 'word' given, Korean emphasizes the 'appointment/agreement' (약속).
Ein Versprechen brechen
German is very strict about the difference between 'Versprechen' (vow) and 'Termin' (appointment).
أخلف وعده (Akhlafa wa'dahu)
Arabic has a strong religious/moral connotation with 'wa'd' (promise).
Quebrar uma promessa
In Brazil, 'furar um compromisso' (to drill a commitment) is a common slang equivalent to '약속을 펑크 내다'.
Easily Confused
Learners use '어기다' when they just want to cancel a meeting politely.
If you call before the time, use '취소하다'. If the time has passed or you just didn't do it, use '어기다'.
Using '약속' for laws or '법' for personal promises.
Keep '약속' for people and '법' for the government.
よくある質問 (10)
It's not rude to say, but the action it describes is considered rude in Korea. It's a factual description of a social failure.
Yes, you can say '과제 제출 약속을 어겼어요' (I broke the promise to submit my assignment).
'어기다' is standard and neutral. '깨다' is informal and sounds more like 'I blew it' or 'He flaked'.
You should say '약속을 어겨서 정말 죄송합니다'.
Yes! '규칙을 어기다' (break the rules) is very common.
Yes, '약속 위반' (promise violation) is used in more formal or written contexts.
You can say '자신과의 약속을 어겼어요'.
For marriage, '서약을 어기다' (breaking a vow) is more common, but '약속' still works in a general sense.
No, a flight is not a '약속' (promise/appointment). Use '비행기를 놓치다' (miss the plane).
Usually '차가 막혀서' (because the traffic was heavy) or '급한 일이 생겨서' (because something urgent came up).
