# 죄송합니다 vs 실례합니다 vs 잠시만요: Korean “Excuse Me” by Situation

Use **죄송합니다** after you cause a problem, **실례합니다** before a polite interruption or question, and **잠시만요** when you need a moment or space. To call restaurant staff, use **저기요** rather than translating English "excuse me" word for word.

The best Korean phrase depends on what you need the other person to do next.

## The quick situation map

| Situation | Say this | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- |
| You bump into someone | 죄송합니다. | apologizes |
| You want to ask a stranger a question | 실례합니다. | opens a polite interruption |
| You need to pass through a crowd | 잠시만요. 지나갈게요. | asks for space |
| You need to get off a bus or subway | 잠시만요. 내릴게요. | tells people you are getting off |
| You call restaurant staff | 저기요. | gets attention |
| You did not hear a cashier | 죄송한데, 다시 말씀해 주세요. | softens a repeat request |
| You apologize to someone you know | 미안해요. | gives a personal apology |

Do not memorize one English translation for each phrase. Learn the action it performs in the scene.

## 죄송합니다: apologize for an inconvenience

| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 죄송합니다. | joe-song-ham-ni-da. | I'm sorry. |
| 죄송해요. | joe-song-hae-yo. | I'm sorry. |
| 늦어서 죄송합니다. | neu-jeo-seo joe-song-ham-ni-da. | I'm sorry I'm late. |
| 길을 막아서 죄송해요. | gi-reul ma-ga-seo joe-song-hae-yo. | Sorry for blocking the way. |
| 제가 실수했어요. 죄송합니다. | je-ga sil-ssu-hae-sseo-yo. joe-song-ham-ni-da. | I made a mistake. I'm sorry. |

Use **죄송합니다** when you step on someone's foot, spill something, block the way, arrive late, or give the wrong information.

The other person may say:

> 괜찮아요.
> _It's okay._

> 아니에요.
> _No worries / It's nothing._

You do not need to apologize again after the person accepts it. Fix the problem if possible and continue.

## 실례합니다: begin an interruption

| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 실례합니다. | sil-lye-ham-ni-da. | Excuse me. |
| 실례지만, 질문 하나 해도 될까요? | sil-lye-ji-man jil-mun ha-na hae-do doel-kka-yo? | Excuse me, may I ask one question? |
| 실례합니다. 화장실이 어디예요? | sil-lye-ham-ni-da. hwa-jang-si-ri eo-di-ye-yo? | Excuse me. Where is the restroom? |
| 실례합니다. 여기 자리 있어요? | sil-lye-ham-ni-da. yeo-gi ja-ri i-sseo-yo? | Excuse me. Is this seat taken? |

**실례합니다** acknowledges that you are entering someone's attention or space. Put it before the actual question.

The person may answer:

> 네, 말씀하세요.
> _Yes, go ahead._

> 네, 무슨 일이세요?
> _Yes, what is it?_

If you only need restaurant staff, **저기요** is usually more direct. Save **실례합니다** for approaching a stranger, entering a room, or starting a more formal interruption.

## 잠시만요: ask for a moment or space

| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 잠시만요. | jam-si-man-yo. | One moment / Excuse me. |
| 잠시만요, 지나갈게요. | jam-si-man-yo, ji-na-gal-ge-yo. | Excuse me, I'll pass through. |
| 잠시만요, 내릴게요. | jam-si-man-yo, nae-ril-ge-yo. | Excuse me, I'm getting off. |
| 잠시만 기다려 주세요. | jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo. | Please wait a moment. |

**잠시** means a short while. In a crowded aisle or subway car, **잠시만요** asks others to give you a brief moment or space.

If you bump someone while moving, add an apology:

> 잠시만요. 아, 죄송합니다.
> _Excuse me. Oh, I'm sorry._

The first phrase asks for space; the second repairs the accidental contact.

## 저기요: call staff or get attention

| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 저기요. | jeo-gi-yo. | Excuse me / Over here. |
| 저기요, 주문할게요. | jeo-gi-yo, ju-mun-hal-ge-yo. | Excuse me, we'd like to order. |
| 저기요, 물 좀 주세요. | jeo-gi-yo, mul jom ju-se-yo. | Excuse me, some water please. |
| 저기요, 계산할게요. | jeo-gi-yo, gye-san-hal-ge-yo. | Excuse me, we'd like to pay. |

At a restaurant, **저기요** calls staff without apologizing. A call button may replace it; look for **호출** or **직원 호출**.

Do not use **죄송합니다** as the only word when your goal is simply to place an order. It may get attention, but it also sounds like an apology. State the request after it if you use it:

> 죄송한데, 주문할게요.
> _Excuse me, we'd like to order._

## 죄송한데: soften a request

The form **죄송한데** literally begins with "I'm sorry, but..." In public service situations it often softens the request that follows.

| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 죄송한데, 다시 말씀해 주세요. | joe-song-han-de, da-si mal-sseu-mae ju-se-yo. | Sorry, please say that again. |
| 죄송한데, 천천히 말씀해 주세요. | joe-song-han-de, cheon-cheo-ni mal-sseu-mae ju-se-yo. | Sorry, please speak slowly. |
| 죄송한데, 영어 가능하세요? | joe-song-han-de, yeong-eo ga-neung-ha-se-yo? | Sorry, is English possible? |
| 죄송한데, 이거 도와주실 수 있어요? | joe-song-han-de, i-geo do-wa-ju-sil su i-sseo-yo? | Sorry, could you help me with this? |

The main message comes after **-는데**. Listen to or produce the complete request rather than stopping at **죄송한데**.

## 미안해요: apologize to someone in your relationship

| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 미안해요. | mi-an-hae-yo. | I'm sorry. |
| 미안해. | mi-an-hae. | Sorry. (casual) |
| 늦어서 미안해요. | neu-jeo-seo mi-an-hae-yo. | Sorry I'm late. |
| 답장이 늦어서 미안해. | dap-jjang-i neu-jeo-seo mi-an-hae. | Sorry for the late reply. |

**미안해요** fits personal apologies with someone you know. **미안해** drops the polite ending and belongs with a person you already speak to casually.

With an unfamiliar person in a public setting, **죄송합니다** is the clearer beginner choice for an actual mistake.

## Use the right phrase on public transport

To get off:

> 잠시만요. 내릴게요.
> _Excuse me. I'm getting off._

To move to the door:

> 잠시만요. 지나갈게요.
> _Excuse me. I'll pass through._

After stepping on a foot:

> 아, 죄송합니다.
> _Oh, I'm sorry._

To ask station staff:

> 실례합니다. 2호선은 어디로 가요?
> _Excuse me. Which way is Line 2?_

The English phrase is "excuse me" in all four scenes, but the Korean changes because the action changes.

## Use the right phrase in a shop or restaurant

To ask a stranger about a dropped item:

> 실례합니다. 이거 떨어뜨리셨어요?
> _Excuse me. Did you drop this?_

To call restaurant staff:

> 저기요. 주문할게요.
> _Excuse me. We'd like to order._

After knocking over a cup:

> 죄송합니다. 물을 쏟았어요.
> _I'm sorry. I spilled water._

When you miss a cashier's question:

> 죄송한데, 다시 말씀해 주세요.
> _Sorry, please say that again._

## A complete crowded-subway exchange

> You: 잠시만요. 내릴게요.
> Passenger: 아, 네.
> You: 감사합니다.

You move toward the door and lightly bump someone:

> You: 아, 죄송합니다.
> Passenger: 괜찮아요.

No long explanation is needed. One phrase asks for space and one repairs the mistake.

## A complete question to a stranger

> You: 실례합니다. 버스 정류장이 어디예요?
> Person: 저쪽 횡단보도 건너면 있어요.
> You: 감사합니다.

If you do not hear the answer:

> You: 죄송한데, 다시 한번 말씀해 주세요.
> Person: 횡단보도 건너편이요.

## The words to remember

If you remember only five anchors, use these:

1. **죄송합니다**: apologize for a problem.

2. **실례합니다**: begin a polite interruption.

3. **잠시만요**: ask for a moment or space.

4. **저기요**: call staff or get attention.

5. **미안해요**: apologize personally to someone you know.

You first learn these phrases to move through a crowded station or ask for help. Later, the endings in **지나갈게요**, **말씀해 주세요**, and **도와주실 수 있어요?** give you reusable ways to state your next action, request repetition, and ask for help.

For the site tree, see the [root Markdown](https://easykoreanchat.com/.md).