미안하다 vs 사과하다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 미안하다
Listen to 사과하다
| 미안하다 | 사과하다 |
|---|---|
/mi-AN-ha-da/ adjective (descriptive verb) | /sagwahada/ adjective (descriptive verb) |
| to be sorry; to feel apologetic | to apologize (to make an apology; often used for formal or official apologies) |
How they differ
사과하다 focuses on performing the act of apology (often public or formal) and can be used for institutional or explicit statements of responsibility, whereas 미안하다 expresses a personal feeling of being sorry and is more about emotion than the formal act.
When to use each
When to use 미안하다: Use 미안하다 when you want to express personal remorse or sympathy in everyday interactions.
When to use 사과하다: Use 사과하다 when describing or issuing an official apology, admitting responsibility, or when the apology is a deliberate act (e.g., company statements, press releases).
Side-by-side examples
- 미안해, 네가 다치게 할 의도는 없었어.
(I'm sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you.) - 회사는 공식 성명을 통해 고객에게 사과했다.
(The company apologized to customers via an official statement.)
Register & nuance: 사과하다 is neutral but often used in formal/official contexts; it's more action-oriented than casual 미안하다.