Korean Apology: Say 'I'm Really Sorry, It Was My Fault' and Make Amends
Learn to apologize sincerely in Korean for serious mistakes. Use '정말 죄송합니다. 제 잘못이에요.' and make amends with appropriate phrases.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you've made a serious error in Korean, a casual '미안해' (mianhae) won't cut it. You need a sincere, formal apology that takes full responsibility. This lesson teaches you how to say 'I'm really sorry, it was my fault' in Korean, using the respectful and humble language required for serious situations. You'll learn key phrases, the difference between casual and formal apologies, and how to make amends. By the end, you'll be able to apologize appropriately and start repairing the relationship.
By the end, you can…
- apologize sincerely in Korean for a serious mistake using formal language.
- take responsibility by saying 'it was my fault' in Korean.
- make amends by offering to fix the situation or asking for forgiveness.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
정말 죄송합니다. 제 잘못이에요.
I'm really sorry. It was my fault.
jeong-mal joe-song-ham-ni-da. je jal-mo-si-e-yo.
Use this in formal or polite situations when you've made a serious mistake. 정말 (really) intensifies the apology, and 제 잘못이에요 (it's my fault) takes clear responsibility.
제가 실수했어요.
I made a mistake.
je-ga sil-su-hae-sseo-yo.
A polite way to admit a mistake. Use it when you want to acknowledge your error without excessive self-blame. The subject marker 제가 emphasizes that you are the one who erred.
용서해 주세요.
Please forgive me.
yong-seo-hae ju-se-yo.
A direct request for forgiveness. Use it when you sincerely seek the other person's pardon. It's polite and appropriate for serious apologies.
제가 책임질게요.
I will take responsibility.
je-ga chae-gim-jil-ge-yo.
Use this to promise to take responsibility for your actions, often implying you will fix the problem or compensate for it. It shows maturity and sincerity. Note: this -ㄹ게요 ending carries a promise nuance, so it sounds natural when you are reassuring the other person.
어떻게 하면 좋을까요?
What can I do to make it right?
eo-tteo-ke ha-myeon jo-eul-kka-yo?
A humble way to ask for guidance on making amends. Use it after apologizing to show you're willing to do what it takes to repair the situation.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern '제 잘못이에요' (je jal-mo-si-e-yo) means 'It is my fault.' You can replace 제 (my) with other possessives, but for apologies, 제 is most appropriate. To emphasize, add 정말 (really) before the apology: 정말 죄송합니다. For a slightly less formal but still polite version, use 미안합니다 (mi-an-ham-ni-da) instead of 죄송합니다. However, 죄송합니다 is stronger and more sincere for serious errors. Another useful pattern is '-해 주세요' (-hae ju-se-yo), meaning 'please do ... for me,' as in 용서해 주세요 (please forgive me).
When to use it
Use these phrases when you've made a significant mistake that has caused inconvenience, harm, or hurt to someone. For example, if you forgot an important appointment, broke a promise, or caused damage, a simple 미안해 (mianhae) is too casual. Instead, say 정말 죄송합니다. 제 잘못이에요. Then, to make amends, offer a solution: 제가 책임질게요 (I will take responsibility) or 어떻게 하면 좋을까요? (What can I do to make it right?). In Korean culture, showing sincere remorse and a willingness to correct the mistake is crucial for maintaining relationships.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
정말 죄송합니다. 제 잘못이에요. 약속을 잊어버렸어요.
I'm really sorry. It was my fault. I forgot our appointment.jeong-mal joe-song-ham-ni-da. je jal-mo-si-e-yo. yak-sok-eul i-jeo-beo-ryeo-sseo-yo.네, 많이 기다렸어요. 어떻게 하실 거예요?
Yes, I waited a long time. What are you going to do?ne, ma-ni gi-da-ryeo-sseo-yo. eo-tteo-ke ha-sil geo-ye-yo?용서해 주세요. 제가 책임질게요. 다음에 꼭 지킬게요.
Please forgive me. I will take responsibility. I will definitely keep it next time.yong-seo-hae ju-se-yo. je-ga chae-gim-jil-ge-yo. da-eum-e kkok ji-kil-ge-yo.알겠어요. 다음에는 꼭 연락해 주세요.
All right. Please contact me next time for sure.al-ge-sseo-yo. da-eum-e-neun kkok yeon-rak-hae ju-se-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean culture, apologies for serious mistakes often involve more than just words. Showing sincere remorse through actions, such as offering to fix the problem or giving a small gift, can help restore trust. The level of formality depends on the relationship and the severity of the error. Using formal language (죄송합니다) is safer when unsure, while casual apologies (미안해) are only for close friends or minor issues. Also, Koreans may not expect immediate forgiveness; giving the other person time to accept your apology is respectful.
One thing to watch for
Using the casual '미안해' (mianhae) for a serious mistake.
Try this instead: For serious errors, use the formal '죄송합니다' (joesonghamnida) and take responsibility with '제 잘못이에요' (je jalmosieyo). For example, say '정말 죄송합니다. 제 잘못이에요.' instead of '미안해. 내 잘못이야.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'I'm really sorry, it was my fault' in formal Korean?
Show a sample answer
정말 죄송합니다. 제 잘못이에요.
This uses the formal apology 죄송합니다 and the polite possessive 제 잘못이에요. It is appropriate for serious situations. A slightly less formal version could be 정말 미안합니다. 제 잘못이에요.
2What phrase can you use to ask how to make amends?
Show a sample answer
어떻게 하면 좋을까요?
This literally means 'What would be good to do?' and is a humble way to ask for guidance on repairing the situation. Other options include 제가 어떻게 하면 될까요? (What should I do?)
3Translate to Korean: 'Please forgive me. I will take responsibility.'
Show a sample answer
용서해 주세요. 제가 책임질게요.
용서해 주세요 is a polite request for forgiveness. 제가 책임질게요 means 'I will take responsibility.' You could also say 제가 책임을 지겠습니다 for a more formal tone.
For serious mistakes in Korean, use formal apologies like '정말 죄송합니다. 제 잘못이에요.' and follow up with a sincere offer to make amends, such as '제가 책임질게요' or '어떻게 하면 좋을까요?'. Avoid casual apologies and show genuine remorse.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Korean into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr