How to Say Excuse Me in Korean: 7 Phrases, and Which Job Each One Does
Working out how to say excuse me in Korean is harder than it should be, and the reason is not politeness levels. It is that English uses one phrase for four completely different jobs. When you say "excuse me" you might be calling a waiter, squeezing past someone on the subway, interrupting a stranger to ask a question, or apologising for bumping into them. English lets tone of voice sort that out. Korean uses a different phrase for each one , and picking the wrong one is what makes people look at you strangely. Below are seven phrases, sorted by the job they do. Each one says who you can use it on, and - more useful - who you cannot. Situation Getting someone's attention, passing through, interrupting, or apologising for a small collision How much politeness matters Medium - the phrase is chosen by function first and politeness second, which is the opposite of most Korean situations Safe default 저기요 (jeogiyo) for staff, 잠시만요 (jamsimanyo) for getting past - betw...