Korean word

죄송하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationchoesonghada

Meaning

  • adjectivesorry

Example

실수로 잘못된 정보를 드려서 죄송합니다.sil su ro chal mot ttoen cheong bo reul teu ryeo seo choe song ham ni da

I'm sorry for giving you incorrect information by mistake.

Illustration for 죄송하다 (sorry)

More examples

그 말로 상처를 줘서 죄송합니다.keu mal lo sang cheo reul chwo seo choe song ham ni da

I'm sorry for hurting you with those words.

Core concept

Recognizing that a mistake or inconvenience has affected someone and offering a respectful apology.

Common phrases

  • 정말 죄송합니다cheong mal choe song ham ni da

    truly sorry

  • 죄송하지만choe song ha ji man

    sorry, but

  • 불편을 드려 죄송합니다pul pyeo neul teu ryeo choe song ham ni da

    sorry for the inconvenience

Similar words

미안하다mianhada: Admits a mistake and expresses regret in a direct, personal way.

Definition in Korean

사과의 뜻을 정중하게 나타내는 형용사로, 상대에게 불편이나 잘못을 끼쳤음을 공손하게 표현할 때 쓰인다.sa gwa ui tteu seul cheong jung ha ge na ta nae neun hyeong yong sa ro sang dae e ge pul pyeo ni na chal mo seul kki cheo sseu meul kong son ha ge pyo hyeon hal ttae sseu in da

Word origin

The form combines the Sino-Korean word 죄송 (joesong, "remorse") with 하다 (hada, "do") to express remorse as a polite adjective.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use sorry for small accidents, but this word is a useful polite choice when an apology needs to show clear respect, such as after troubling a stranger or an older person.

Other meanings

  • excuse meadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word