미안 vs 죄송: Depth and Situational Usage of Apologies

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  친구에게 늦어서 미안해.

  chin-gu-e-ge neuj-eo-seo mi-an-hae., chin gu e ge neuj eo seo mi an hae.

  Appropriate casual apology among friends.

• ❌

  친구에게 늦어서 죄송해.

  chin-gu-e-ge neuj-eo-seo joe-song-hae., chin gu e ge neuj eo seo joe song hae.

  Too formal for friends; 미안 should be used.

• ⭕

  상사에게 보고서를 늦게 내서 죄송합니다.

  sang-sa-e-ge bo-go-seo-reul neuj-ge nae-seo joe-song-hap-ni-da., sang sa e ge bo go seo reul neuj ge nae seo joe song hap ni da.

  Correct formal apology to a superior.

• ❌

  상사에게 보고서를 늦게 내서 미안해.

  sang-sa-e-ge bo-go-seo-reul neuj-ge nae-seo mi-an-hae., sang sa e ge bo go seo reul neuj ge nae seo mi an hae.

  Too casual for a superior; 죄송합니다 should be used.

• ⭕

  처음 만난 사람에게 미안해요는 실례다.

  cheo-eum man-nan sa-ram-e-ge mi-an-hae-yo-neun sil-rye-da., cheo eum man nan sa ram e ge mi an hae yo neun sil rye da.

  For strangers, 죄송 is more polite than 미안.

• ⭕

  처음 만난 사람에게 죄송해요.

  cheo-eum man-nan sa-ram-e-ge joe-song-hae-yo., cheo eum man nan sa ram e ge joe song hae yo.

  Appropriate formal apology to a stranger.

• ⭕

  가벼운 실수에 미안하다고 말한다.

  ga-byeo-un sil-su-e mi-an-ha-da-go mal-han-da., ga byeo un sil su e mi an ha da go mal han da.

  Natural to use 미안 for minor mistakes.

• ❌

  가벼운 실수에 죄송하다고 말한다.

  ga-byeo-un sil-su-e joe-song-ha-da-go mal-han-da., ga byeo un sil su e joe song ha da go mal han da.

  Too formal for minor mistakes.

1. Which is appropriate to apologize to a friend for being late?

   친구에게 늦어서 사과할 때 적절한 표현은?(chin-gu-e-geneuj-eo-seosa-gwa-halttaejeok-jeol-hanpyo-hyeon-eun?, chinguegeneujeoseosagwahalttaejeokjeolhanpyohyeoneun?)
   • 미안해(mi-an-hae, mianhae)
   • 죄송해요(joe-song-hae-yo, joesonghaeyo)
   • 죄송합니다(joe-song-hap-ni-da, joesonghapnida)

2. How to apologize to a boss for a late report?

   상사에게 늦은 보고서에 대해 사과할 때?(sang-sa-e-geneuj-eunbo-go-seo-edae-haesa-gwa-halttae?, sangsaegeneujeunbogoseoedaehaesagwahalttae?)
   • 미안해요(mi-an-hae-yo, mianhaeyo)
   • 죄송합니다(joe-song-hap-ni-da, joesonghapnida)
   • 미안합니다(mi-an-hap-ni-da, mianhapnida)

3. Appropriate apology to a stranger?

   처음 만난 사람에게 사과할 때 적절한 표현은?(cheo-eumman-nansa-ram-e-gesa-gwa-halttaejeok-jeol-hanpyo-hyeon-eun?, cheoeummannansaramegesagwahalttaejeokjeolhanpyohyeoneun?)
   • 미안해요(mi-an-hae-yo, mianhaeyo)
   • 미안합니다(mi-an-hap-ni-da, mianhapnida)
   • 죄송합니다(joe-song-hap-ni-da, joesonghapnida)

4. Most natural apology for a minor mistake?

   가벼운 실수에 가장 자연스러운 사과 표현은?(ga-byeo-unsil-su-ega-jangja-yeon-seu-reo-unsa-gwapyo-hyeon-eun?, gabyeounsilsuegajangjayeonseureounsagwapyohyeoneun?)
   • 미안(mi-an, mian)
   • 죄송(joe-song, joesong)
   • 죄송합니다(joe-song-hap-ni-da, joesonghapnida)