🗣️ How to Say “Sorry” in Korean — 미안합니다 vs 죄송합니다 완전 정리

Learning how to say "sorry" in Korean is very important for beginners.

There are several ways to apologize depending on formality, age, and situation.
In this post, we’ll compare the most common apology phrases in Korean with examples.

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✅ 1. Common Korean Apology Phrases

• 미안합니다 (mi-an-ham-ni-da): I’m sorry — formal
• 죄송합니다 (joe-song-ham-ni-da): I sincerely apologize — more formal
• 미안해요 (mi-an-hae-yo): Sorry — polite but casual
• 미안 (mi-an): Sorry — informal, for friends

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✅ 2. What’s the Difference?

미안합니다 and 죄송합니다 both mean "sorry," but they are used in different social contexts:

• 미안합니다: General formal apology. Good for workplace or strangers.
• 죄송합니다: Even more formal. Used in customer service, public announcements, etc.

Think of 죄송합니다 as a “stronger” apology than 미안합니다.

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✅ 3. Real-life Examples

1. 지하철에서 실수했을 때:
"죄송합니다." (You accidentally bump into someone on the subway)

2. 친구에게 약속을 못 지켰을 때:
"미안해." or "미안해요."

3. 공식 발표에서:
"여러분께 불편을 드려 죄송합니다."

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📝 4. Practice Exercise

Translate the following into Korean:

“Sorry, I was late.”
“Sorry, I forgot.”
“I sincerely apologize for the mistake.”

Try using 미안해요 or 죄송합니다 depending on the situation!

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📌 5. Summary

• Use 죄송합니다 for very formal situations.
• Use 미안합니다 for general apologies.
• Use 미안해요 or 미안 for casual settings.

🇰🇷 Korean has rich expressions for apology. Practice regularly and use the right level of formality!

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If this was helpful, please leave a comment or share!
✨ More Korean expressions coming soon.