Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Korean phrase for admitting you've made an error or a social slip-up.
- Means: To make a mistake or commit an error in action or judgment.
- Used in: Daily conversations, workplace apologies, and reflecting on personal growth.
- Don't confuse: With '잘못하다', which often implies a more serious moral wrong.
适合你水平的解释：
意思
To do something incorrectly or commit an error.
文化背景
Apologizing for a mistake often involves a slight bow and using 'honorifics' to show respect to the person affected. It's not just about the words, but the posture. In many Korean companies, a 'Kyun-je-seo' (letter of apology/explanation) might be required for significant '실수' to document what happened and how to prevent it. The concept of 'Sool-sil-su' (alcohol mistakes) is a common trope in K-Dramas, where characters confess feelings or act out while drunk, then apologize the next day. There is a high pressure for perfection, so 'Sil-su' on the Suneung (CSAT) exam is a nightmare for students. Teachers often emphasize 'Sil-su-do sil-lyeok' (Mistakes are also skill).
Drop the '를'
In 90% of conversations, Koreans say '실수했어요' instead of '실수를 했어요.' It sounds much more natural.
Don't over-apologize
If it's a tiny mistake, a simple '실수예요' is enough. Over-apologizing can make the situation more awkward.
Drop the '를'
In 90% of conversations, Koreans say '실수했어요' instead of '실수를 했어요.' It sounds much more natural.
Don't over-apologize
If it's a tiny mistake, a simple '실수예요' is enough. Over-apologizing can make the situation more awkward.
Use with '말'
Combine it with '말' (speech) to get '말실수' (slip of the tongue). It's one of the most useful compound words in Korean.
The 'Drunk' Excuse
While '술 실수' is common, don't rely on it too much in professional settings. It's becoming less acceptable in modern Korea.
自我测试
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '실수를 하다'.
너무 긴장해서 면접에서 ____. (I was so nervous that I made a mistake in the interview.)
The context implies a past event (the interview happened), so the past tense '실수했어요' is correct.
Which sentence is the most natural way to apologize for a small error?
Choose the best option:
In Korean, you 'do' (하다) a mistake, not 'make' (만들다) or 'have' (가지다) one.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 보고서에 오타가 너무 많아요. B: 죄송합니다. 제가 ____.
The formal '했습니다' is appropriate for a workplace setting when admitting an error.
Match the type of mistake to the sentence.
Match: 1. 말실수 2. 계산 실수 3. 술 실수
말실수 is a slip of the tongue, 계산 실수 is a math error, and 술 실수 is a mistake made while drunk.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
실수 vs 잘못
练习题库
5 练习너무 긴장해서 면접에서 ____. (I was so nervous that I made a mistake in the interview.)
The context implies a past event (the interview happened), so the past tense '실수했어요' is correct.
Choose the best option:
In Korean, you 'do' (하다) a mistake, not 'make' (만들다) or 'have' (가지다) one.
A: 보고서에 오타가 너무 많아요. B: 죄송합니다. 제가 ____.
The formal '했습니다' is appropriate for a workplace setting when admitting an error.
Match: 1. 말실수 2. 계산 실수 3. 술 실수
말실수 is a slip of the tongue, 계산 실수 is a math error, and 술 실수 is a mistake made while drunk.
🎉 得分： /5
常见问题
14 个问题It is a noun (실수) combined with the verb (하다). You can use it as a single verb '실수하다'.
No, for missing a bus, use '버스를 놓쳤어요.' '실수' is for errors in action or judgment.
'실수' is a mistake (like a typo), while '실패' is a failure (like failing a business).
You can say '큰 실수를 했어요' or '치명적인 실수를 했어요' (I made a fatal mistake).
It can be, as it sounds like a command. Use it only with subordinates or in a very helpful context.
Yes, if the accident was caused by your error, like '운전 실수' (driving error).
It's a slip of the tongue—saying something you didn't mean to say.
Use '실수를 해서 대단히 죄송합니다' (I am very sorry for making a mistake).
Usually, we use '오류' (error) for computers, but if *you* caused it, you can say '제 실수예요'.
They both use the character '실' but different ones. '실수' is 失 (lose), '실력' is 實 (real/fruit).
It means 'full of mistakes' or 'a person who is a total klutz.'
Yes, you can call it a '패션 실수'.
You can say '실수해도 괜찮아요' or '실수할 수도 있죠'.
Yes, '뻘짓' (doing something stupid) or '삽질' (shoveling/wasting time on a mistake).
相关表达
잘못하다
similarTo do wrong / be at fault
틀리다
similarTo be incorrect
착오가 있다
specialized formThere is an error
실패하다
contrastTo fail
말실수하다
specialized formTo make a slip of the tongue
在哪里用
At a Restaurant
Waiter: 죄송합니다, 주문 실수를 해서 음식이 늦어졌습니다.
Customer: 괜찮아요. 실수할 수도 있죠.
Job Interview
Interviewer: 자신의 가장 큰 실수는 무엇이었나요?
Applicant: 예전 직장에서 마감 기한을 놓치는 실수를 한 적이 있습니다.
Texting a Friend
Friend A: 야, 아까 단톡방에 메시지 잘못 보냈어?
Friend B: 응, 완전 실수했어 ㅠㅠ 어떡해?
Language Class
Student: 선생님, 제가 조사를 틀리는 실수를 했어요.
Teacher: 괜찮아요. 실수를 하면서 배우는 거예요.
After a Party
Person A: 어제 술 마시고 너한테 전화했더라. 미안해.
Person B: 술 마시면 실수할 수도 있지. 신경 쓰지 마.
At the Office
Manager: 김 대리, 보고서에 숫자가 틀렸는데?
Employee: 죄송합니다. 제가 큰 실수를 했습니다. 바로 수정하겠습니다.
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of 'Sil-su' as 'Seal-Slip'. Imagine a Seal slipping on ice—it's a 'Sil-su' (mistake)!
视觉联想
Imagine a hand ({수|手}) trying to catch a ball but losing ({실|失}) it. The ball drops—that's a 'Sil-su'.
Rhyme
실수는 누구나 해 (Sil-su-neun nu-gu-na hae), 걱정은 이제 그만해 (Geok-jeong-eun i-je geu-man-hae).
Story
Min-su was writing a love letter. He used the wrong name by 'Sil-su'. He felt so embarrassed that he 'did' (하다) a 'Sil-su' and ran away!
In Other Languages
In Japanese, 'Shippai' (失敗) uses the same first character (失) but means 'failure'. In English, we 'make' a mistake, but in Korean, you 'do' (하다) or 'commit' (저지르다) one.
Word Web
挑战
Write down three mistakes you made this week in Korean using '저는 [mistake] 실수를 했어요.'
Review this phrase 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after learning to cement the 'Hanja' connection.
发音
The 'l' sound in '실' is a light tap, and '수' is a standard 'su' sound.
Standard 'ha-da' sound.
正式程度
제가 실수를 하였습니다. (General admission)
제가 실수를 했어요. (General admission)
내가 실수했어. (General admission)
나 완전 똥 쌌어. (I totally pooped/messed up.) (General admission)
Derived from the Hanja {실수|失手}. {실|失} (to lose) + {수|手} (hand). It originally referred to a physical slip of the hand while performing a task.
趣味小知识
The character {실|失} (to lose) looks like a person dropping something from their hand!
文化笔记
Apologizing for a mistake often involves a slight bow and using 'honorifics' to show respect to the person affected. It's not just about the words, but the posture.
“고개를 숙이며 '실수했습니다'라고 말합니다. (Saying 'I made a mistake' while bowing your head.)”
In many Korean companies, a 'Kyun-je-seo' (letter of apology/explanation) might be required for significant '실수' to document what happened and how to prevent it.
“실수 때문에 시말서를 썼어요. (I wrote a letter of apology because of a mistake.)”
The concept of 'Sool-sil-su' (alcohol mistakes) is a common trope in K-Dramas, where characters confess feelings or act out while drunk, then apologize the next day.
“어제 술 실수는 잊어줘. (Please forget my drunken mistake from yesterday.)”
There is a high pressure for perfection, so 'Sil-su' on the Suneung (CSAT) exam is a nightmare for students. Teachers often emphasize 'Sil-su-do sil-lyeok' (Mistakes are also skill).
“수능에서 실수하면 안 돼. (You shouldn't make a mistake on the CSAT.)”
对话开场白
최근에 한 가장 웃긴 실수는 뭐예요?
한국어를 배울 때 자주 하는 실수가 있나요?
실수를 통해서 배운 가장 큰 교훈은 무엇인가요?
직장에서 실수를 했을 때 어떻게 대처하는 편인가요?
常见错误
실수를 만들다
실수를 하다
L1 Interference
실수를 가지다
실수를 하다
L1 Interference
범죄를 실수라고 말하기
잘못을 인정하기
L1 Interference
실수하다 (when you mean 'to be wrong')
틀리다
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Cometer un error
Korean '실수' is a noun-verb combo, while Spanish often uses the reflexive verb 'equivocarse'.
Faire une erreur
French 'faute' is closer to Korean '잘못' (moral fault).
Einen Fehler machen
German 'Fehler' is more general and used for both 'wrong answers' and 'slips'.
失敗する (shippai suru)
Japanese 'shippai' often feels heavier (like 'failure') than Korean '실수'.
ارتكب خطأ (irtakaba khaṭa')
Arabic has a very strong distinction between 'khata' (unintentional) and 'ithm' (sin/intentional).
犯错 (fàncuò)
In modern Chinese, 'shiwu' is often used for sports or technical errors.
Cometer um erro
Portuguese 'errar' can be used more broadly for 'to miss' (like missing a target).
To make a mistake
English 'mistake' can be a noun or a verb (to mistake someone), but '실수' is strictly a noun.
Spotted in the Real World
“어제의 나 오늘의 나 내일의 나 (I’m learning how to love myself) 빠짐없이 남김없이 모두 다 내 모습”
The song talks about embracing all versions of oneself, including the 'mistakes' (실수) of the past.
“실수해도 돼. 누구나 실수해.”
The main character comforts a younger colleague who is struggling with life's burdens.
“가장 완벽한 계획이 뭔지 알아? 무계획이야. 계획을 하면 실수를 하거든.”
The father explains his philosophy that having no plan prevents the possibility of 'making a mistake'.
“#실수투성이 #오늘도화이팅”
Common hashtags used when someone posts about a clumsy day or a small failure.
“정부, 행정 실수로 인한 혼선 사과”
Reporting on a government error that caused public confusion.
容易混淆
Learners use '실수하다' for any wrong answer.
If 2+2=5, that's '틀리다'. If you knew 2+2=4 but wrote 5 by accident, that's '실수하다'.
They are often used interchangeably for apologies.
Use '잘못하다' when you want to say 'It's my fault.' Use '실수하다' when you want to say 'I didn't mean to.'
常见问题 (14)
It is a noun (실수) combined with the verb (하다). You can use it as a single verb '실수하다'.
grammar mechanicsNo, for missing a bus, use '버스를 놓쳤어요.' '실수' is for errors in action or judgment.
usage contexts'실수' is a mistake (like a typo), while '실패' is a failure (like failing a business).
basic understandingYou can say '큰 실수를 했어요' or '치명적인 실수를 했어요' (I made a fatal mistake).
practical tipsIt can be, as it sounds like a command. Use it only with subordinates or in a very helpful context.
cultural usageYes, if the accident was caused by your error, like '운전 실수' (driving error).
usage contextsIt's a slip of the tongue—saying something you didn't mean to say.
basic understandingUse '실수를 해서 대단히 죄송합니다' (I am very sorry for making a mistake).
practical tipsUsually, we use '오류' (error) for computers, but if *you* caused it, you can say '제 실수예요'.
usage contextsThey both use the character '실' but different ones. '실수' is 失 (lose), '실력' is 實 (real/fruit).
grammar mechanicsIt means 'full of mistakes' or 'a person who is a total klutz.'
basic understandingYes, you can call it a '패션 실수'.
usage contextsYou can say '실수해도 괜찮아요' or '실수할 수도 있죠'.
practical tipsYes, '뻘짓' (doing something stupid) or '삽질' (shoveling/wasting time on a mistake).
usage contexts
