Korean word

미안하지만

Pronunciation

Romanizationmianhajiman

Meaning

  • interjectionI'm sorry but

Example

미안하지만 지금 도와드릴 수 없어요.mi an ha ji man chi geum to wa deu ril ssu eop sseo yo

I'm sorry, but I can't help you right now.

Illustration for 미안하지만 (I'm sorry but)

More examples

미안하지만 그건 좀 곤란해요.mi an ha ji man keu geon chom kol lan hae yo

I'm sorry, but that would be difficult.

Core concept

A brief expression of regret that cushions an unwelcome answer or a favor request.

Common phrases

  • 미안하지만 사실은mi an ha ji man sa si reun

    I'm sorry, but actually

  • 미안하지만 그건 좀mi an ha ji man keu geon chom

    I'm sorry, but that may be difficult

Similar words

미안해mianhae: A casual, brief apology used with someone familiar.
미안해요mianhaeyo: A polite, brief apology used in everyday conversation.
미안한데mianhande: A casual apology used before a rebuttal to make it sound less blunt.
죄송하지만choesonghajiman: A formal apology used before a refusal to make it sound less abrupt.

Definition in Korean

상대에게 먼저 미안함을 전하고, 그 뒤에 오는 거절이나 부탁을 완곡하게 표현할 때 쓰는 말sang dae e ge meon jeo mi an ha meul cheon ha go keu twi e o neun keo jeo ri na pu ta geul wan go ka ge pyo hyeon hal ttae sseu neun mal

Word origin

The word is formed from 미안하 (mianha, "to be sorry") and 지만 (jiman, "but"), linking regret to what follows.

Usage tips

  • Its apology comes first as a courtesy signal, so listeners expect the main point after it instead of treating the apology as the whole message.

Related words

Word lists with this word