I'm sorry in korean

How to say "I’m sorry" in Korean — 미안해요 (Polite & Casual)

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미안해요 / 미안해

[mi-an-hae-yo] / [mi-an-hae]

I’m sorry (polite / casual)

Word & Grammar Breakdown:

미안 (mi-an) — “sorry / regret”
하다 (ha-da) — “to do” → 미안하다 = “to be sorry”
요 (yo) — polite ending marker

✅ Combined: 미안해요 = “I’m sorry.” (polite)
미안해 = casual “Sorry.” (to close friends)

Examples

👩 A: 늦어서 미안해요. neuj-eo seo mi an hae yo
I’m sorry for being late.
👨 B: 괜찮아요, 천천히 오세요. gwaen chanh-ayo, cheon cheon hi o se yo
It’s okay, take your time.

👧 A: 아, 내 잘못이야. 미안해. ah nae jal mos-iya. mi an hae
Ah, it’s my fault. Sorry.
👦 B: 괜찮아. 다음에 조심하자. gwaen chanh-a. da-eum-e jo sim ha ja
It’s okay. Let’s be careful next time.

🇰🇷 Cultural Insight — Understanding "미안해요"

In Korean culture, saying “미안해요 mianhaeyo ” expresses not just apology but also empathy. Koreans often say it even for small inconveniences to maintain harmony. When you bump into someone or arrive a bit late, it’s common to say “미안해요 mianhaeyo ” politely. To sound softer or more formal, you can use “죄송해요 joe song hae yo” instead.