Nuance Dictionary / Culture & Language
죄송하다 joe-song-ha-da
To feel deeply guilty or professionally respectful in hierarchical or formal contexts
What does 죄송하다 mean?
죄송하다 (joe-song-ha-da) means: To feel deeply guilty or professionally respectful in hierarchical or formal contexts.
Involves acknowledging a social debt or institutional hierarchy. It carries more structural weight and is the default shield when addressing elders, superiors, or official clients.
🔊 From the story above
죄송합니다 — Mi-an-haeyo vs Joesonghamnida
미안해요 — mi-an-haeyo, "I'm sorry"
미안하다 — mi-an-ha-da, "to feel sorry in a warm, relational, close-proximity sense"
늦어서 정말 죄송합니다 — neu-jeo-seo jeong-mal joesonghamnida, "I'm truly sorry for being late"
괜찮아요 — gwaen-chan-a-yo, "it's fine"
죄송하다 — listen & repeat
미안 미안 — listen & repeat
팀장님 — listen & repeat
How it's actually used
- 업무상 실수가 발생하여 거래처 담당자분께 깊이 죄송하다는 말씀을 전했습니다.
Eommusang silsuga balsaenghayeo georaecheo damdangjabun-gke gipi joesonghadaneun malseureul jeonhaetseumnida.
Due to a work-related mistake, I expressed my deep apologies to the client representative.
💡 Professional and formal apology showing institutional accountability. - 제가 규정을 정확히 숙지하지 못하여 혼란을 드려 죄송합니다.
Jega gyujeongeul jeonghwakhi sukji-haji mothayeo honnaneul deuryeo joesonghamnida.
I apologize for causing confusion by not fully understanding the regulations.
💡 Standard formal apology used in corporate or public settings. - 어르신, 제가 경황이 없어 무례를 범했습니다. 정말 죄송합니다.
Eoreusin, jega gyeonghwang-i eopseo muryereul beomhaetseumnida. Jeongmal joesonghamnida.
Elder, I was flustered and committed a rudeness. I am truly sorry.
💡 Respectful apology acknowledging generational or social hierarchy.
Related words in Culture & Language
괜찮다 gwaen-chan-ta송구하다 song-gu-ha-da속상하다 sok-sang-ha-da토닥토닥 to-dak-to-dak눈물겹다 nun-mul-gyeop-da