B1 Expression 正式

늦어서 정말 죄송합니다.

neujeoseo jeongmal joesonghamnida.

I'm truly sorry for being late.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential, polite way to apologize for tardiness in any professional or respectful social setting in Korea.

  • Means: 'I am truly sorry for being late' using the high-polite -합니다 ending.
  • Used in: Business meetings, job interviews, or when meeting elders/superiors.
  • Don't confuse: Avoid using '미안해' (mian-hae) with your boss; it's too casual.
⏰ + 🏃‍♂️ + 🙇‍♂️ = 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다

Explanation at your level:

This is a polite way to say 'I am sorry I am late.' '늦어서' means 'because I am late.' '정말' means 'really.' '죄송합니다' is a very polite 'I am sorry.' Use this in class or at work. It is a very important phrase for being a good student or worker in Korea.
You use this phrase when you arrive late for an appointment. It combines the verb '늦다' (to be late) with the '-어서' grammar, which explains the reason for your apology. '죄송합니다' is more formal than '미안합니다,' so it is better to use with teachers, bosses, or people you don't know well. Adding '정말' makes your apology sound more sincere.
This expression is a staple of intermediate Korean social interaction. It utilizes the cause-and-effect connective '-아서/어서' to link the state of being late to the act of apologizing. At this level, you should distinguish between '죄송' (formal/honorific) and '미안' (neutral). Using '정말' functions as an intensifier. It is crucial to use this specific form in professional environments to demonstrate your understanding of Korean honorifics and social hierarchy.
At the B2 level, learners should recognize that '늦어서 정말 죄송합니다' is not just a translation of 'I'm sorry I'm late,' but a social lubricant that restores harmony. The use of the formal-polite '하십시오체' (hasipsio-che) indicates a high level of respect. Learners should be able to substitute '정말' with '진심으로' or '대단히' to adjust the intensity of the apology based on the duration of the delay and the status of the person waiting.
This phrase exemplifies the pragmatic application of Korean politeness strategies. The choice of '죄송' (Sino-Korean for 'sinful and trembling') over the native '미안' reflects a sophisticated grasp of lexical registers. A C1 learner understands that the prosody—a slight downward inflection and a physical bow—is as important as the syntax. Furthermore, they can navigate the subtle boundary between offering a legitimate '사유' (reason) and appearing to make '변명' (excuses) by following this phrase with a concise explanation.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, '늦어서 정말 죄송합니다' serves as a performative utterance that re-establishes the 'Chemyeon' (social face) of both parties. The C2 speaker masters the nuanced timing of this phrase, often employing it as a 'pre-emptive strike' via digital communication before arrival, and then reiterating it with varying degrees of honorific intensity upon physical entry. They understand the historical weight of the Hanja roots and how this phrase fits into the broader 'Saguwa' (apology) culture of East Asia, contrasting it with the more individualistic apology styles of the West.

意思

A sincere apology for tardiness.

🌍

文化背景

Punctuality is a proxy for reliability. Being late without a sincere apology like this can lead to a loss of 'trust' (신뢰). Students are expected to apologize to the whole class if they disrupt the flow by entering late. On KakaoTalk, it is common to use '죄송합니다' even with colleagues you are close to if the delay is significant. The 'Apology First' rule: Even if you have a valid excuse, the apology must come before the explanation.

🎯

The 15-Degree Bow

When saying this to a superior, a slight bow of the head and shoulders makes the apology 10x more effective.

⚠️

Don't Over-Explain

Koreans prefer a sincere apology first. Long excuses before the apology can seem like you are avoiding responsibility.

意思

A sincere apology for tardiness.

🎯

The 15-Degree Bow

When saying this to a superior, a slight bow of the head and shoulders makes the apology 10x more effective.

⚠️

Don't Over-Explain

Koreans prefer a sincere apology first. Long excuses before the apology can seem like you are avoiding responsibility.

💬

Texting Etiquette

If you are going to be late, send a text *before* the appointment time using this phrase.

自我测试

Fill in the blank with the correct connective form of '늦다'.

회의에 (______) 정말 죄송합니다.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 늦어서

'-어서' is the correct connective for giving a reason for an apology.

Which phrase is most appropriate for a job interview?

You arrive 5 minutes late to an interview. What do you say?

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다.

The '-합니다' form is the most formal and respectful for an interview.

Complete the dialogue naturally.

A: 왜 이렇게 늦었어요? B: 차가 너무 막혔어요. (__________________)

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다.

B is providing a reason (traffic) and should follow up with an apology.

Match the phrase to the correct situation.

Match '늦어서 미안해' and '늦어서 정말 죄송합니다' to (1) Best Friend and (2) CEO.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 1-미안해, 2-죄송합니다

Informal for friends, formal for superiors.

🎉 得分： /4

视觉学习工具

常见问题

10 个问题

Yes, but adding '늦어서' (because I'm late) makes it clear what you are apologizing for, which is more polite.

It's not grammatically required, but it adds a layer of sincerity that is highly valued in Korean culture.

'죄송' is for superiors/strangers (formal); '미안' is for friends/juniors (informal).

You can say '5분 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다.'

Yes, it is perfect for the opening of an email if you are replying late.

Say '지하철이 늦어서 늦었습니다. 정말 죄송합니다.'

Yes, '늦게 도착하여 대단히 송구스럽습니다' is extremely formal.

In person, a small nod or bow is expected with this phrase.

Usually, '미안해요' or '죄송해요' is used with parents unless the family is very traditional.

It means 'really' or 'truly'. It comes from '정' (true) and '말' (words).

相关表达

🔄

지각해서 죄송합니다

synonym

I am sorry for being tardy.

🔗

기다리게 해서 죄송합니다

builds on

I am sorry for making you wait.

🔗

실례했습니다

similar

I have committed a discourtesy.

🔗

늦어서 미안해

informal alternative

Sorry I'm late (casual).

在哪里用

💼

Job Interview

Applicant: 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다. 면접 기회를 주셔서 감사합니다.

Interviewer: 괜찮습니다. 앉으세요. 바로 시작하겠습니다.

formal
🎓

Meeting a Professor

Student: 교수님, 수업에 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다.

Professor: 다음부터는 늦지 마세요. 자리에 앉으세요.

formal
☕

First Date

Person A: 많이 기다리셨죠? 늦어서 정말 죄송해요.

Person B: 아니에요, 저도 방금 왔어요. 괜찮아요.

neutral
🤝

Business Meeting

Manager: 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다. 회의를 바로 시작할까요?

Client: 네, 기다리고 있었습니다. 자료부터 보시죠.

formal
🏥

Doctor's Appointment

Patient: 예약 시간에 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다.

Receptionist: 괜찮습니다. 잠시만 대기해 주세요.

formal
💻

Online Zoom Call

Employee: 인터넷 연결 때문에 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다.

Boss: 이해합니다. 지금 막 시작했어요.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Neut' (늦) as 'New'—you are arriving at a 'New' time because you are late, and 'Joesong' sounds like 'So Song'—you are singing a sorry song.

Visual Association

Imagine yourself running (늦어서) with a giant heart (정말) and bowing deeply (죄송합니다) to a clock that has a face of a disappointed boss.

Rhyme

늦어서 죄송, 마음은 웅성 (Late and sorry, my heart is buzzing/nervous).

Story

You are a knight arriving late to a castle. You say '늦어서' as you jump off your horse, '정말' as you hand over a gift, and '죄송합니다' as you kneel before the King.

Word Web

늦다 (to be late)지각 (tardiness)사과 (apology)미안 (sorry - neutral)정말 (really)진심으로 (sincerely)실례 (discourtesy)양해 (understanding)

挑战

Set your alarm for 5 minutes later than usual. When you 'arrive' at your desk, say the phrase out loud 5 times with a 15-degree bow.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Siento llegar tarde

Korean requires a specific honorific level based on the listener's status.

French moderate

Je suis désolé d'être en retard

Korean uses a connective suffix (-어서) instead of a preposition (de).

German partial

Entschuldigung für die Verspätung

German is more direct; Korean is more focused on the speaker's humble state.

Japanese high

遅れてすみません

The specific Hanja roots differ, but the pragmatic usage is nearly the same.

Arabic low

أنا آسف على التأخير

Arabic uses a noun-based apology; Korean uses a verb-based reason.

Chinese moderate

对不起，我来晚了

Korean grammar integrates the 'because' into the verb 'late'.

Korean (Jeju Dialect) high

늦어부난 지꺼이 죄송합니다

The connective suffix changes, but the root '죄송' remains the same.

Portuguese partial

Desculpe pelo atraso

Korean emphasizes the 'why' (being late) as a grammatical bridge to the apology.

Easily Confused

늦어서 정말 죄송합니다. 对比 늦으니까 죄송합니다

Learners use '-니까' instead of '-어서'.

Apologies always use '-어서' for the reason.

늦어서 정말 죄송합니다. 对比 늦어서 고맙습니다

Mixing up 'sorry' and 'thank you'.

죄송 = Sorry, 고맙 = Thank you. Don't thank someone for being late!

常见问题 (10)

Yes, but adding '늦어서' (because I'm late) makes it clear what you are apologizing for, which is more polite.

It's not grammatically required, but it adds a layer of sincerity that is highly valued in Korean culture.

'죄송' is for superiors/strangers (formal); '미안' is for friends/juniors (informal).

You can say '5분 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다.'

Yes, it is perfect for the opening of an email if you are replying late.

Say '지하철이 늦어서 늦었습니다. 정말 죄송합니다.'

Yes, '늦게 도착하여 대단히 송구스럽습니다' is extremely formal.

In person, a small nod or bow is expected with this phrase.

Usually, '미안해요' or '죄송해요' is used with parents unless the family is very traditional.

It means 'really' or 'truly'. It comes from '정' (true) and '말' (words).

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