Not sure when to say 죄송합니다 or 미안해요? Learn Korean apology phrases with real-life conversation examples and AI pronunciation tips. Speak politely today.
1. The two main Korean apologies
The two most common Korean apologies you will hear are:
- 죄송합니다 (joe-song-ham-ni-da)
- 미안해요 (mi-an-hae-yo)
They both mean "I'm sorry", but they feel very different.
죄송합니다 – very polite and serious
죄송합니다 is:
- Very formal and respectful
- Used with strangers, older people, or in professional situations
- Often used when the mistake feels more serious
You hear 죄송합니다 in places like:
- At a store, when a staff member bumps into you
- In an announcement, for example on the subway
- At work, when talking to your boss or a client
You can think of 죄송합니다 as "I am very sorry" in English.
미안해요 – polite but softer
미안해요 is:
- Polite, but less formal than 죄송합니다
- Used with people you know, but still want to be respectful
- Great for everyday situations
You can think of 미안해요 as a warm "I'm sorry" in daily life.
So in short:
- 죄송합니다 – more formal
- 미안해요 – still polite, but friendlier
2. Apology levels: 합니다, 해요, 해
Korean has different speech levels, and apologies change with them.
Do not worry, we will keep it simple.
Formal level – 합니다 style
Used in:
- Work
- Customer service
- Announcements
- Very polite situations
Common forms:
- 죄송합니다
- 미안합니다 (exists, but is less common than 죄송합니다)
When in doubt in a formal situation, 죄송합니다 is your safest choice.
Polite level – 해요 style
Used with:
- Neighbors
- Classmates
- Coworkers you are friendly with
Here we use:
- 미안해요
This feels polite but warm. This is perfect for many real-life Korean conversation situations.
Casual level – 해 style
Used with:
- Close friends
- Younger siblings
- People you are very close to
Here we say:
- 미안해
This sounds friendly and relaxed. You would not use 미안해 with your boss or a stranger.
Quick summary:
- Very formal: 죄송합니다
- Polite everyday: 미안해요
- Super casual: 미안해
If this feels confusing, that is completely normal. With a few real examples, it will get much easier.
3. When to use 죄송합니다 vs 미안해요
When you are not sure which apology to use, try this simple rule:
If the situation or person feels more formal, choose 죄송합니다.
If the situation feels friendly but still polite, choose 미안해요.
Use 죄송합니다 when:
- You talk to a teacher, boss, or older stranger
- You are at work or in a formal setting
- You feel the mistake is bigger
Examples:
- You step on someone's foot on the subway.
You: 죄송합니다!
(I'm so sorry!)
- You are late to an important meeting at the office.
You: 늦어서 죄송합니다.
(Neu-jeo-seo joe-song-ham-ni-da. / I'm sorry for being late.)
- You send the wrong file to a client.
You: 파일을 잘못 보내서 죄송합니다.
(I'm sorry for sending the wrong file.)
Use 미안해요 when:
- You know the person, but still want to be polite
- The situation is not very serious
- You want to sound friendly and warm
Examples:
- You are late meeting a classmate at a cafe.
You: 늦어서 미안해요.
(Sorry I'm late.)
- You forget to reply to a message from a coworker.
You: 답이 늦었죠? 미안해요.
(My reply is late, right? Sorry.)
- You bump into someone slightly at a coffee shop.
You: 아, 미안해요.
(Ah, sorry.)
If you are not sure, it is safer to go more polite first. You can always become more casual later as you get closer.
4. How apologies feel in Korean culture
In Korean, apologizing is not just about words. It also shows respect and care for the relationship.
Some small but important details:
- People often give a small bow when saying 죄송합니다
- In very serious situations, the bow can be deeper
- Sometimes Koreans apologize even for small things, to keep harmony
So if you are unsure, a gentle apology with 죄송합니다 or 미안해요 plus a soft tone and small bow will usually feel kind and respectful.
5. Useful apology phrases you can use right now
Let's add a few real-life Korean phrases that you can start using today.
1) 늦어서 죄송합니다 / 늦어서 미안해요
"I'm sorry I'm late."
- Formal: 늦어서 죄송합니다.
- Polite: 늦어서 미안해요.
- Casual: 늦어서 미안해.
2) 실례했습니다 / 실례했어요
This is like "Excuse me" or "Sorry to bother you."
- Formal: 실례했습니다.
- Polite: 실례했어요.
Use it when you:
- Pass in front of someone
- Interrupt someone
- Ask a stranger a question
You can also add 죄송합니다 to sound even more polite:
실례했습니다, 죄송합니다.
3) 죄송하지만…
"I'm sorry, but…"
Use this to ask for something politely.
- 죄송하지만 다시 한 번 말해 주시겠어요?
- I'm sorry, but could you say that one more time?
4) 정말 미안해요 / 진짜 미안해
"I'm really sorry."
- Polite: 정말 미안해요.
- Casual: 진짜 미안해.
This adds more emotion and shows that you mean it.
6. Short dialogues you can copy and practice
Let's look at some simple Korean conversation examples.
You can read them aloud, use AI pronunciation tools, and practice them until they feel natural.
Dialogue 1: At a cafe (polite)
You are 10 minutes late to meet a friend who is a bit older.
You: 늦어서 미안해요.
Friend: 괜찮아요. 많이 안 늦었어요.
You: Sorry I'm late.
Friend: It's okay. You're not very late.
Here, 미안해요 is polite but still friendly.
Dialogue 2: At work (formal)
You are late to a team meeting with your manager.
You: 죄송합니다. 길이 많이 막혔어요.
Manager: 다음부터는 조금 더 일찍 출발하세요.
You: I'm sorry. The traffic was very bad.
Manager: Next time, please leave a bit earlier.
Work situation plus higher position means 죄송합니다 is the best choice.
Dialogue 3: With a close friend (casual)
You forgot to send a funny picture to your best friend.
Friend: 사진 아직도 안 보냈어!
You: 아, 미안해! 지금 보낼게.
Friend: You still haven't sent the photo!
You: Ah, sorry! I'll send it now.
Here, 미안해 feels natural and close. If you used 죄송합니다, it would sound too serious and distant.
7. Common mistakes learners make
It is very normal to make mistakes with Korean apologies at first.
Here are a few to watch out for.
1) Using 미안해 with strangers
Saying 미안해 to a stranger, to your boss, or to someone much older can sound too casual or even rude.
Use 미안해요 or 죄송합니다 instead.
2) Being too formal with close friends
If you always use 죄송합니다 with close friends, it can feel stiff.
They might tease you and say you sound like a news announcer.
With close friends, 미안해 is softer and more natural.
3) Forgetting tone and body language
Even if your words are correct, a flat tone or no eye contact can feel cold.
Try to:
- Use a gentle voice
- Look at the person
- Add a small bow with 죄송합니다
This combination makes your apology feel sincere.
8. Practice ideas with AI pronunciation
If this still feels a bit scary, that is okay. You are doing great. Here are some simple ways to practice and learn Korean more actively.
- Choose 3 sentences with 죄송합니다, 3 with 미안해요, and 3 with 미안해.
- Say them out loud and record yourself.
- Use AI pronunciation tools to compare your voice to native speakers.
- Repeat until your mouth and tongue feel more comfortable with the sounds.
You can also shadow short clips of native speakers saying 죄송합니다 or 미안해요 in dramas, variety shows, or apps. Just play and repeat right after them.
The more you hear and say these words in real situations, the more automatic they will become.
9. Quick cheat sheet to remember
When your brain is tired and you do not want to think too much, remember this simple rule:
- To older people, strangers, boss, teacher
- Use 죄송합니다
- To people you know, but still want to be polite
- Use 미안해요
- To close friends, family, younger people
- Use 미안해
Keep this in your head or write it in your notes.
You have everything you need to say sorry in Korean in a kind and respectful way.
Practice a little every day, use these phrases in real life, and slowly your fear around apologizing in Korean will disappear. You've got this.