Learn Korean: Verb + 미안하다

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern Verb + 미안하다. We use this to make an apology in Korean. 미안하다 means to be sorry and it is conjugated into 미안합니다 (formal), 미안해요 (polite), and 미안해 (casual). Another equally used verb is 죄송하다. It is conjugated into 죄송합니다 (formal), 죄송해요 (polite), and 죄송해 (polite). Among these six forms, the highlighted ones are the most common. 죄송합니다 actually just sounds more courteous than 미안해요. The thing we are sorry for is expressed through the verb. If I lost the book you lent me, I would say I am sorry for losing your book. The main verb is *to lose a book . In Korean, it is 책을 잃어버리다. We take the verb stem (잃어버리) and conjugate it into its 아/어/여 form (잃어버려). We attach 서 and then the verb to be sorry. The actual sentence is 책을 잃어버려서 죄송합니다/미안해요/미안해.

 

늦어서 미안해.

I am sorry for being late.

못 도와줘서 미안해.

I am sorry for not being able to help you.

이름 까먹어서 미안해.

I am sorry for forgetting your name.