How to Say "Excuse Me" in Korean: Getting Attention Politely
Learn 저기요, 실례합니다, and 잠시만요 to get attention, pass by, or interrupt politely in Korean public situations, with Hangul, romanization, and a short dialogue.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Korean, "excuse me" is not one word. The right expression depends on what you are doing: calling a server, squeezing past someone on the subway, or interrupting a stranger to ask a question. This lesson teaches the three most useful attention-getting phrases and shows how they differ from apologies like 죄송합니다. You will practice short, polite lines you can use immediately in shops, on transit, and in waiting areas.
By the end, you can…
- get someone's attention politely with 저기요.
- say 실례합니다 when passing by or interrupting.
- ask a simple public question such as "Is this seat taken?"
- choose between attention-getting phrases and apologies.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
저기요
Excuse me (to get attention)
jeo-gi-yo
Call a server, clerk, or stranger nearby. Say it once, clearly, with a slight rise at the end.
실례합니다
Excuse me (passing by or interrupting)
sil-lye-ham-ni-da
Use when you step past someone, enter a room, or interrupt a stranger politely.
잠시만요
Just a moment / Excuse me (brief interruption)
jam-si-man-yo
Use when you need a quick moment of someone's time, such as asking for directions.
이 자리 주인 있나요?
Is this seat taken?
i ja-ri ju-in in-na-yo?
Ask this in a cafe or on public transport before sitting down. 주인 있나요? is a natural, polite question.
잠깐 지나갈게요
Excuse me, I'll just pass by
jam-kkan ji-na-gal-ge-yo
Say this when moving through a crowd or past someone in a narrow space. The literal sense is "I'll just pass by for a moment."
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Many attention-getting phrases end in -요, which makes them polite without being formal. 저기요 (jeo-gi-yo) literally means "over there," but as a call it works like "excuse me." 실례합니다 (sil-lye-ham-ni-da) is more formal and works when you enter a space or interrupt. For a quick request, add a question: 저기요, 이 자리 주인 있나요? (jeo-gi-yo, i ja-ri ju-in in-na-yo?) means "Excuse me, is this seat taken?" Notice that the attention-getter comes first, then the question.
When to use it
Use 저기요 when the person is not yet looking at you, such as calling a waiter: 저기요, 여기 주문할게요 (jeo-gi-yo, yeo-gi ju-mun-hal-ge-yo, "Excuse me, I'd like to order here"). Use 실례합니다 when you are already close and need to pass or interrupt: 실례합니다, 질문이 있어요 (sil-lye-ham-ni-da, jil-mun-i iss-eo-yo, "Excuse me, I have a question"). Use 잠시만요 for a very short interruption. These are not apologies; they do not mean "I'm sorry." If you actually bump someone, add 죄송합니다 (joe-song-ham-ni-da).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
저기요, 이 자리 주인 있나요?
Excuse me, is this seat taken?jeo-gi-yo, i ja-ri ju-in in-na-yo?네, 아직 비어 있어요. 앉으세요.
Yes, it's still empty. Please sit down.ne, a-jik bi-eo iss-eo-yo. an-jeu-se-yo.감사합니다. 잠시만요, 이 근처에 지하철역이 있어요?
Thank you. Just a moment—is there a subway station near here?gam-sa-ham-ni-da. jam-si-man-yo, i geun-cheo-e ji-ha-cheol-yeok-i iss-eo-yo?네, 저쪽으로 쭉 가면 있어요.
Yes, if you go straight that way, there is one.ne, jeo-jjok-eu-ro jjuk ga-myeon iss-eo-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean politeness often depends on the relationship and setting. 저기요 is common in shops and restaurants, but it can sound abrupt if you shout it repeatedly. Say it once, then wait. 실례합니다 is safer in formal or quiet places. With older strangers, using a polite ending like -요 or -습니다 is important; dropping it can sound rude.
One thing to watch for
Using 죄송합니다 (joe-song-ham-ni-da) every time you want to say "excuse me."
Try this instead: 죄송합니다 means "I'm sorry" and is for apologies. To get attention, use 저기요. To pass by or interrupt, use 실례합니다. For example, say 저기요, 이 자리 주인 있나요? not 죄송합니다, 이 자리 주인 있나요? If you bump someone, then 죄송합니다 is correct.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You want to call a server in a cafe. Which phrase do you use?
Show a sample answer
저기요
저기요 is the standard attention-getter for calling someone nearby, such as a server or clerk. 실례합니다 is also possible in a quiet setting, but 저기요 is more common for service situations.
2You are squeezing past someone on a crowded subway. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
잠깐 지나갈게요 or 실례합니다
Both work. 잠깐 지나갈게요 explicitly says you will pass by, while 실례합니다 is a polite general interruption. Choose based on how much space and time you need.
3Translate into Korean: "Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
Show a sample answer
저기요, 이 자리 주인 있나요?
This uses 저기요 to get attention and a polite question with -요. You may also hear 이 자리 비었어요? (i ja-ri bi-eoss-eo-yo?), which asks "Is this seat empty?" and is equally natural.
Use 저기요 to get attention, 실례합니다 to pass by or interrupt, and 잠시만요 for a quick moment. Save 죄송합니다 for real apologies.
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