How to Politely Get Someone's Attention in Korean: Excuse Me and Pardon Me
Learn beginner Korean phrases to politely get attention or interrupt a conversation in public, using 저기요, 실례합니다, 잠시만요 and more, with Revised Romanization and usage notes.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Korean, getting someone's attention politely is not a single phrase but a small set of expressions chosen by situation: whether you are calling a server in a restaurant, stopping a stranger on the street, or interrupting a friend mid-sentence. This lesson teaches those expressions and, just as importantly, when each one fits. You will learn the difference between 저기요 (jeogiyo), which calls someone over, and 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida), which politely intrudes on a space or conversation. You will also learn softer forms like 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) and 죄송하지만 (joesonghajiman) for interrupting. This lesson does not cover apologizing for mistakes; it focuses only on politely getting attention and interrupting.
By the end, you can…
- call a server or stranger politely using 저기요.
- use 실례합니다 to politely interrupt or pass by someone.
- ask for a moment with 잠시만요 before speaking.
- soften an interruption with 죄송하지만 or 혹시.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
저기요
Excuse me (to call someone over)
jeo-gi-yo
Use to call a server, clerk, or stranger from a short distance. It literally means 'over there' plus the polite -요 ending. Do not use it to bump past someone; it is for summoning attention. It is casual-polite, so avoid it with people clearly older than you or in very formal settings.
실례합니다
Excuse me / Pardon me (polite intrusion)
sil-lye-ham-ni-da
Use when you are about to interrupt, enter a room, squeeze past someone, or ask a stranger a question. It is more formal than 저기요 and works well in offices, stores, and quiet public places. Note that 실례합니다 is a set phrase; the -합니다 ending here is not the same as the polite -해요 style used in everyday speech.
잠시만요
Just a moment, please / Excuse me for a second
jam-si-man-yo
Use to ask for a brief pause before you speak or when you need someone's attention quickly. It can also mean 'wait a moment' when someone is busy. Tone matters: a gentle tone is polite.
죄송하지만
I'm sorry, but... (soft interruption)
joe-song-ha-ji-man
Use before a request or question when you are interrupting something. It softens the interruption. It is not an apology for a mistake; it signals 'I'm sorry to bother you, but...'. It is a clause connector, so it must be followed by a request or question.
혹시
Excuse me, by any chance...
hok-si
Use at the start of a question to a stranger to sound gentle and non-demanding, for example 혹시 지하철역이 어디예요? It is not used alone to call someone; pair it with a question. It is an adverb, not a standalone greeting.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Many polite attention-getters in Korean end in -요 (yo), which adds politeness in everyday speech. 저기요 (jeogiyo) and 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) both use it. For a more formal setting, use the -합니다 (-hamnida) form: 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida). You can also combine phrases: 실례합니다, 잠시만요. (Sillyehamnida, jamsimanyo.) This means 'Excuse me, just a moment.' Another useful pattern is 죄송하지만 + question: 죄송하지만, 질문이 있어요. (Joesonghajiman, jilmun-i isseoyo.) 'I'm sorry, but I have a question.' Note that -요 is not a universal politeness marker; it attaches to verb and adjective stems in the 해요 style, and some set phrases like 실례합니다 use a different, more formal ending.
When to use it
Choose by distance and setting. Use 저기요 (jeogiyo) when the person is a few steps away and you need them to come or turn around, especially in restaurants and shops. Use 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) when you are close, entering a space, or interrupting a conversation; it is the safest choice with strangers in formal places. Use 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) when you need a short pause, such as interrupting a friend who is speaking quickly. Use 죄송하지만 (joesonghajiman) before a request. Avoid shouting 저기요 repeatedly; once or twice with a polite tone is enough. With people clearly older than you or in very formal settings, prefer 실례합니다 over 저기요.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
저기요, 잠시만요.
Excuse me, just a moment.jeogiyo, jamsimanyo네, 무슨 일이세요?
Yes, what can I do for you?ne, museun ir-iseyo?실례합니다, 혹시 지하철역이 어디예요?
Excuse me, by any chance, where is the subway station?sillyehamnida, hoksi jihacheollyeok-i eodiyeyo?저기 은행 옆에 있어요.
It's over there next to the bank.jeogi eunhaeng yeop-e isseoyo.A little context goes a long way
Korean politeness often depends on age and setting. With strangers, older people, or staff in formal places, 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) and 죄송하지만 (joesonghajiman) sound respectful. With friends or people your age, a simple 잠시만 (jamsiman) or 저기 (jeogi) may be enough. In stores and restaurants, 저기요 (jeogiyo) is common and not rude when said once in a calm tone. Avoid touching a stranger to get attention; use a phrase instead. Note that age and social distance matter more than the specific words alone, so the same phrase can sound polite or abrupt depending on tone and context.
One thing to watch for
Using 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) to call a server across a restaurant, or shouting 저기요 (jeogiyo) very loudly.
Try this instead: For calling a server from a distance, 저기요 (jeogiyo) is the natural choice, said once or twice politely. Use 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) when you are close and about to interrupt or pass by, for example 실례합니다, 지나갈게요. (Sillyehamnida, jinagalgeyo.) 'Excuse me, I'll pass by.' Note that 지나갈게요 is casual-polite; in a formal setting, use 지나가겠습니다 (jinagagetseumnida).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are in a cafe and want to call the server who is a few steps away. Which phrase fits best?
Show a sample answer
저기요
저기요 (jeogiyo) is used to call someone over from a short distance, especially staff in shops or restaurants. 실례합니다 could also be used if you are close and about to interrupt, but 저기요 is the most natural for summoning attention.
2You need to interrupt a friend who is speaking to ask a quick question. What polite phrase can you start with?
Show a sample answer
잠시만요 or 죄송하지만
잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) asks for a brief pause, and 죄송하지만 (joesonghajiman) softens the interruption before a question. Both work; with a close friend, 잠시만 (jamsiman) is also acceptable.
3Translate into polite Korean: 'Excuse me, by any chance, where is the restroom?'
Show a sample answer
실례합니다, 혹시 화장실이 어디예요?
실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) politely opens the interaction, 혹시 (hoksi) softens the question, and 화장실이 어디예요? asks where the restroom is. You could also use 저기요 instead of 실례합니다 in a casual setting.
Use 저기요 to call someone over, 실례합니다 to politely interrupt or pass by, 잠시만요 for a brief pause, and 죄송하지만 or 혹시 to soften a question. Say it once, calmly, and match the form to the setting.
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