A2 noun #3,000 most common 2 min read

사정

사정 means the reasons or situation behind why something is happening.

sajeong
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

사정 means a reason. If you cannot go to a party, you can say 'I have a 사정'. It is a useful word to explain your situation.

You use 사정 to talk about your current situation. For example, if you are busy, you can say 'My 사정 is difficult right now.' It helps people understand why you are acting a certain way.

At this level, you will use 사정 to navigate social interactions. It is the go-to word when you need to be vague but polite about why you cannot attend an event or complete a task. It implies that there are underlying 'circumstances' that the other person might not need to know in detail.

사정 functions as a nuanced tool for social grace. By saying '개인적인 사정으로' (due to personal circumstances), you maintain professional boundaries. It is a high-frequency word in business, especially when negotiating deadlines or explaining delays.

In advanced contexts, 사정 can refer to the broader state of affairs in a society or organization. You might hear '경제적 사정' (economic situation) or '국제적 사정' (international circumstances). It shifts from personal reasons to objective conditions, showing your command of the word's versatility.

Mastery of 사정 involves understanding its subtle emotional weight. It is not just a 'reason'; it is a 'burden' or a 'state of being' that dictates action. In literature, it describes the tragic or complex conditions of a character's life, carrying a weight that simple synonyms like '이유' (reason) lack.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Means situation or circumstances.
  • Commonly used for personal reasons.
  • Polite way to decline requests.
  • Essential for daily Korean.

When you hear 사정, think of it as the 'backstory' of a situation. It is a very common word in Korean used to explain the context or the reasons behind an event.

You will often hear it when someone says '개인적인 사정' (personal circumstances), which is the standard way to politely decline an invitation without giving too many details. It acts as a shield for privacy!

The word 사정 is derived from Sino-Korean characters: 事 (matter/affair) and 情 (feeling/situation). Historically, it combines the concept of an 'event' with the 'human element' involved in that event.

Over centuries, it evolved from simply meaning 'a situation' to specifically referring to the human conditions or personal difficulties that influence a person's choices. It is a classic example of how Chinese characters shape deep, nuanced meanings in Korean.

In daily life, 사정 is used to explain why things are the way they are. Common collocations include 사정을 봐주다 (to show leniency) or 사정이 생기다 (a situation has arisen).

The register is neutral to polite. In professional settings, it is the perfect word to use when you need to excuse yourself from a meeting or deadline due to unexpected life events.

1. 사정을 봐주다: To show leniency or make an exception. 2. 사정이 있다: To have a reason/circumstance. 3. 사정을 알다: To understand the situation. 4. 사정을 설명하다: To explain the circumstances. 5. 집안 사정: Family circumstances/matters.

사정 is a pure noun and does not have plural forms in Korean. It is often paired with particles like -이 or -은/는.

Pronunciation is straightforward: 'sa' like 'saw' without the 'w', and 'jeong' like 'jong' with a soft 'e' sound. It is a two-syllable word with no complex stress patterns.

Fun Fact

It is one of the most polite ways to decline a request.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /sa.dʒʌŋ/

Korean phonetics

US /sa.dʒʌŋ/

Korean phonetics

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing the 'eo' vowel
  • Softening the 'j' sound
  • Adding extra syllables

Rhymes With

가정 과정 열정 희정 보정

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy

Writing 2/5

Easy

Speaking 2/5

Easy

Listening 2/5

Easy

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

나 하다 있다

Learn Next

상황 이유 형편

Advanced

참작 고려

Grammar to Know

Noun particles

사정이

Polite endings

사정이에요

Sino-Korean roots

사-정

Examples by Level

1

사정이 있어요.

Situation exists.

Simple sentence

1

개인적인 사정이 있습니다.

2

사정을 말해 주세요.

3

사정이 생겼어요.

4

사정을 잘 압니다.

5

집안 사정이 어렵습니다.

6

사정을 봐주세요.

7

무슨 사정인가요?

8

사정이 있어서 못 가요.

1

갑작스러운 사정이 생겼습니다.

2

사정을 이해해 주셔서 감사합니다.

3

회사 사정이 좋지 않아요.

4

그의 사정을 듣고 싶어요.

5

사정을 설명하기가 어렵네요.

6

어쩔 수 없는 사정입니다.

7

사정을 다 알고 있어요.

8

사정이 복잡합니다.

1

개인적인 사정으로 결근하겠습니다.

2

경제적 사정이 많이 나아졌어요.

3

그는 사정을 털어놓았다.

4

사정을 감안해 주시기 바랍니다.

5

사정을 고려하면 이해가 됩니다.

6

그녀는 사정을 숨기고 있었다.

7

사정이 여의치 않습니다.

8

복잡한 사정이 얽혀 있다.

1

국제적 사정이 급변하고 있습니다.

2

그의 사정을 헤아려야 한다.

3

사정이 허락하는 대로 하겠습니다.

4

정치적 사정을 고려해야 한다.

5

사정이 이러하니 어쩔 수 없네.

6

그는 사정을 낱낱이 밝혔다.

7

사정이 바뀌었습니다.

8

사정을 참작해 주십시오.

1

사정이 여의치 않아 계획을 수정했다.

2

그의 내면의 사정을 짐작할 수 있었다.

3

시대적 사정이 그를 그렇게 만들었다.

4

사정이 긴박하게 돌아가고 있다.

5

그는 사정을 묵인하기로 했다.

6

사정이 호전될 기미가 보인다.

7

사정을 명확히 파악하는 것이 중요하다.

8

사정이 극에 달했다.

Common Collocations

개인적인 사정
사정을 봐주다
사정이 생기다
사정을 설명하다
집안 사정
경제적 사정
사정을 고려하다
사정을 알다
사정이 어렵다
사정이 여의치 않다
사정을 헤아리다

Idioms & Expressions

"사정을 봐주다"

To show leniency

한 번만 사정을 봐주세요.

neutral

""

""

""

""

""

Easily Confused

사정 vs 사장

Similar sound

사장 is boss, 사정 is situation

사장님 vs 개인 사정

사정 vs 이유

Both mean reason

이유 is logical, 사정 is situational

이유가 뭐예요? vs 사정이 있어요.

사정 vs 상황

Similar meaning

상황 is external, 사정 is internal/personal

상황이 나쁘다 vs 사정이 어렵다

사정 vs 형편

Similar meaning

형편 is usually financial

형편이 어렵다

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + 은/는 + 사정이 있다

저에게는 사정이 있어요.

B1

개인적인 사정으로 + Verb

개인적인 사정으로 퇴사합니다.

A2

사정을 + 봐주다

제 사정을 봐주세요.

B1

사정을 + 설명하다

사정을 설명해 주었습니다.

B2

사정이 + 여의치 않다

사정이 여의치 않습니다.

Word Family

Nouns

사정 circumstance

Related

이유 synonym

How to Use It

frequency

High

Formality Scale

Formal Neutral Casual

Common Mistakes

Using '사정' for 'excuse' → Use '핑계' for a fake excuse
사정 is a real reason, 핑계 is an excuse.
Confusing with '사장' (boss)
Using in wrong context
Overusing as an excuse
Ignoring politeness levels

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a door labeled '사정' that hides your reasons.

💡

Native Speakers

Use it to politely decline invitations.

🌍

Cultural Insight

It preserves privacy.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

Always keep it as a noun.

💡

Say It Right

Clear 's' and 'j' sounds.

💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't confuse with 사장.

💡

Did You Know?

It is a Sino-Korean word.

💡

Study Smart

Practice with '개인적인 사정'.

💡

Professionalism

Use it in emails.

💡

Particle usage

Use -이/가 with it.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Sa (Situation) + Jeong (Justification)

Visual Association

A person holding a 'Reason' sign

Word Web

Reason Situation Context Excuse

Challenge

Use '개인적인 사정' in a sentence today.

Word Origin

Sino-Korean

Original meaning: Matter + Feeling/Situation

Cultural Context

Can be used to avoid awkward questions.

Similar to 'circumstances' or 'personal reasons'.

Used in almost every K-drama when characters need to hide a secret.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Work

  • 개인적인 사정
  • 회사 사정
  • 사정을 고려하다

Social

  • 사정이 생겼어요
  • 사정 좀 봐주세요
  • 사정을 알다

Formal

  • 사정을 참작하다
  • 사정을 설명하다
  • 사정이 허락하는 대로

Daily

  • 무슨 사정인가요?
  • 사정이 복잡해요
  • 사정이 있어요

Conversation Starters

"개인적인 사정이 생기면 어떻게 말하나요?"

"회사 사정이 안 좋을 때 어떻게 하나요?"

"사정을 설명하는 것이 어렵나요?"

"누구의 사정을 가장 잘 아나요?"

"사정을 봐주는 것이 좋은가요?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you had a personal '사정'.

Describe a situation where you had to explain your '사정'.

How do you handle difficult '사정'?

Why is it important to understand others' '사정'?

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, it is very polite.

Yes, it is very common.

No, that is 사장.

개인적인 사정.

No, it is a noun.

Yes, in '사격', but different context.

Yes, frequently.

Yes, it is versatile.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

저는 개인적인 ___이 있어요.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 사정

It means personal circumstances.

multiple choice A2

Which word means 'to show leniency'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 사정을 봐주다

봐주다 means to look over/let slide.

true false B1

Is '사정' only used for bad things?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It can be used for any situation.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Basic vocabulary matching.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Natural word order.

Score: /5

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