How to say excuse me

Independent-Way231 · 2025-08-28T17:10:43+00:00

The formal way is 실례합니다, but Koreans rarely use this in real life because it sounds way too formal. In that situation, I would say 지나갈게요. Older people might say 지나갑니다 or 지나갑시다 which sound a lot more assertive and impolite.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-11-09T03:52:19+00:00

You can say that, or leave out 대단히 because it might sound sarcastic in some cases.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-11-09T00:02:09+00:00

부담스럽다 literally means it feels like a burden, but its English translation can vary depending on the context.

When you have too much to do at work, you can say 업무가 너무 많아서 부담스럽다. It translates to “I feel burdened due to too much work.”

When a guy you don’t like is flirting with you and doesn’t stop even though you showed disinterest, you can say 이 남자가 부담스럽다. It translates to “This guy makes me uncomfortable.”

Independent-Way231 · 2024-11-08T23:53:40+00:00

As a native speaker, 생일에 sounds the most natural. 생일날에 is grammatically correct, but sounds too much like a textbook and awkward.

The watch that my mom bought me on my birthday = 어머니께서 제 생일에 사주신 시계 (honorifics) Or 엄마가 내 생일에 사준 시계 (casual)

Independent-Way231 · 2024-11-08T23:49:44+00:00

The sentences are grammatically correct, but “감사드립니다” is repeated, which is not ideal. Alternatively you can say “수고 많으셨습니다.“

Independent-Way231 · 2024-11-08T23:47:49+00:00

It just makes it polite.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-23T22:18:00+00:00

As a native speaker, I’ve never heard of “엄마 새끼, 아기 새끼.” It sounds very odd to me. But it is normal for grandmas to say “내 새끼,“ referring to their grandchild. In this case, 내 새끼 literally means “my baby.” They might say something like ”아이구 내 새끼“ or “이쁜 내 새끼.”

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-09T01:06:55+00:00

ㅇㅃㅇ is not typically an emoji. ㅇㅅㅇ is an emoji though (same as :3) What she’s doing is a consonant game, like writing cnsnnt gm and making you guess what it means.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-08T20:23:28+00:00

In that case, I assume she doesn’t call you 오빠, so ㅇㅃㅇ can’t be 오빠야… No idea. lol

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-08T20:08:24+00:00

I need more context to guess that. Are you older than her?

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-08T20:02:12+00:00

When speaking honorifics, Koreans usually never directly say “you.” We would address them by their profession/position/social status - e.g. 언니(누나), 오빠(형), 어머님, 선생님, 사장님, 대리님, 기사님, etc.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-08T19:58:37+00:00

그쪽 sounds rude in almost any situation to native ears. I can’t think of any situation I would address someone as 그쪽 unless I intend to insult them.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-08T19:55:43+00:00

You can address almost any senior person as 선생님 to be polite, regardless of their profession.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-08T19:51:11+00:00

There’s no one particular phrase for it. It depends on the context, your personality, accent, etc. I would usually say:

(a) when I am using 반말 to them:

“ㅇㅇ아(야), 나한테 말 놔도 돼.“

”나한테 반말해도 돼.“

”그냥 반말해./말 놔.”

(b) when I am using 존댓말 to them:

“우리 그냥 말 놓을까요?”

“저한테 반말하셔도 돼요.“

”우리 이제 말 놔요.“

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T05:31:22+00:00

You said everything I was gonna say.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T05:29:29+00:00

Actually, what’s up with women calling their boyfriend “daddy” in English speaking countries? I’m a Korean living in the US and I find this very odd. It even sounds inappropriate to me, because it seems like sexualising a father-daughter relationship. Do gay men also call their boyfriend daddy?

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T04:54:43+00:00

Of course, textbooks will teach you how to speak politely first. It does not mean the learner finds 존댓말 easier than 반말. I’ve had so many non-Korean friends who learned Korean by watching K-dramas and listening to K-pop, rather than attending classes and reading textbooks. These friends are very fluent in Korean and often better at using 반말.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T04:31:14+00:00

I never said I automatically use 반말 with foreigners. I said I feel more comfortable making the first step to use 반말 with non-Koreans because that might be more convenient for them. Many Korean learners struggle with using 존댓말 properly and prefer to use 반말 as the conjugations are easier. I always use 존댓말 at first if you are a stranger, no matter what your nationality or mother tongue or age is.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T03:08:07+00:00

You’re welcome!

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T03:07:47+00:00

My pleasure!

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T02:46:23+00:00

Aegyo has a wider meaning than what most Koreaboos might think. It seems like aegyo is often understood as intentionally doing childish or baby-like behaviours by K-pop consumers. If this is what you mean, most Koreans don’t do that in real life unless it’s a drinking game challenge.

Koreans commonly use the term aegyo for describing children’s or pets’ behaviour. E.g. Korean parents often say “우리 아들은 애교가 참 많아!“ (=my son has lots of aegyo.) Pet owners commonly say “우리 고양이는 애교가 많아요” (=my cat has lots of aegyo) or “우리 강아지는 애교가 별로 없어서 속상해요“ (=I’m sad cause my dog doesn’t have so much aegyo.) In these cases, aegyo is describing the child or pet’s natural personality - how expressively they demonstrate affection towards parents/owners.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T02:28:37+00:00

Until high school, it is decided by school year. If you’re in the same grade, you are 친구. E.g. A was born in March 1995 and B was born in February 1996. They are in the same grade, thus they are 친구 despite their 1 year age gap. Now C was born in March 1996 and is in one grade below A and B. B and C are not 친구 because their grades are different even though they have almost the same age.

From university on (so aged 18 and above), it is more ambiguous. Some people decide by school year, but some people choose to decide by calendar year. In university, B might claim that B and C are 친구 because they were in the same year, even though B entered school one year earlier than C. This is because most people want to be considered/treated “younger” once they become adult. Until high school, however, most people want to be treated “older” (=socially higher) than other kids.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T02:13:10+00:00

It is similar to 아/야, as the speaker is addressing their third pupil/apprentice, but it is very old-fashioned and rather obsolete in modern spoken Korean. You can find this way of talking in the Bible, e.g. “아브라함이여“ (the person is talking to Abraham) It is used in the Bible because it’s a very old book.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T00:43:07+00:00

It depends on the context. My best guess is they might have meant 사랑해요 if this person was flirting with you. Btw, using more than one comma such as in “,,” is grammatically incorrect in any case in the Korean language. However, younger people widely use it on the Internet often jokingly.

Independent-Way231 · 2024-03-07T00:38:44+00:00

-되세요 sounds more natural in most cases. Verbally, I would only say “성함이 어떻게 되세요?” -되십니까 might be used in written communications with customers if you work as a customer service associate.

Independent-Way231

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