미안하다 vs 죄송하다
Korean word comparison
Listen to 미안하다
Listen to 죄송하다
| 미안하다 | 죄송하다 |
|---|---|
mi-AN-ha-da adjective | jwe-song-hada adjective |
| To feel sorry or apologize. | to apologize; to be sorry in a polite way |
How they differ
죄송하다 is more polite and formal than 미안하다. It sounds more appropriate when speaking to someone older, in a service setting, or when apologizing for a more serious inconvenience.
When to use each
When to use 미안하다: Use 미안하다 when you want a plain, direct apology to someone close to you.
When to use 죄송하다: Use 죄송하다 when you need a more respectful apology.
Side-by-side examples
- 어제 늦어서 미안하다.
(I’m sorry I was late yesterday.) - 어제 늦어서 죄송합니다.
(I’m sorry I was late yesterday.)
Register & nuance: 죄송하다 is more formal and polite than 미안하다, especially in spoken and written Korean.