실례지만 vs 죄송하지만: Excuse vs Sorry
Learn when 실례지만 vs 죄송하지만 fits—permission vs apology—with a face-threat meter, table, and rewrites to sound polite. Master
A face-threat meter plus interruption-first rewrites shows when 실례지만 is “asking permission” and 죄송하지만 is “owning fault,” so you don’t over-apologize.
The first week I lived in Seoul, I kept opening with 죄송하지만joesonghajiman just to ask a simple question at a counter. It was polite, but it also sounded like I’d already caused trouble. Once you feel that difference, these two phrases get much easier.
Quick answer
실례지만silryejiman is “excuse me, but (may I?)”; 죄송하지만joesonghajiman is “I’m sorry, but (it’s my fault / I’m bothering you).”
Quick cheat sheet
Expressions in this post
When it’s the right choice
Use 실례지만silryejiman when you need to “enter someone’s space” politely: interrupting, getting attention, or asking permission before a request. It’s the safer default when you haven’t actually done anything wrong.
A common trap: using 죄송하지만joesonghajiman for every small question. It’s polite, but it can sound like you’re admitting fault when you’re not.
Minimal pairs (vs 죄송하지만)
실례지만, 여기 앉아도 돼요?silryejiman, yeogi anjado dwaeyo? — Excuse me, may I sit here?죄송하지만, 여기 앉아도 돼요?joesonghajiman, yeogi anjado dwaeyo? — I’m sorry, may I sit here? (sounds like you already inconvenienced them)실례지만, 지금 잠깐 괜찮으세요?silryejiman, jigeum jamkkan gwaenchanheuseyo? — Excuse me, is now a moment okay?죄송하지만, 지금 잠깐 괜찮으세요?joesonghajiman, jigeum jamkkan gwaenchanheuseyo? — I’m sorry, is now a moment okay? (heavier, like you’re imposing)실례지만, 길 좀 물어봐도 될까요?silryejiman, gil jom mureobwado doelkkayo? — Excuse me, may I ask directions?죄송하지만, 길 좀 물어봐도 될까요?joesonghajiman, gil jom mureobwado doelkkayo? — I’m sorry, may I ask directions? (over-apology for a normal question)
Examples
Everyday starters
실례지만, 이거 얼마예요?silryejiman, igeo eolmayeyo? — Excuse me, how much is this?실례지만, 화장실이 어디예요?silryejiman, hwajangsiri eodiyeyo? — Excuse me, where’s the restroom?실례지만, 잠깐만요.silryejiman, jamkkanmanyo. — Excuse me, one moment.
Wrong → right rewrite drill (6) Phone
- Wrong:
죄송하지만, 김민지 씨 계세요?joesonghajiman, gimminji ssi gyeseyo? — Sorry, is Minji Kim there? Right:실례지만, 김민지 씨 계세요?silryejiman, gimminji ssi gyeseyo? — Excuse me, is Minji Kim there? - Wrong:
죄송하지만, 지금 통화 괜찮아요?joesonghajiman, jigeum tonghwa gwaenchanhayo? — Sorry, is a call okay now? Right:실례지만, 지금 통화 괜찮아요?silryejiman, jigeum tonghwa gwaenchanhayo? — Excuse me, is a call okay now?
Email
3) Wrong: 죄송하지만 자료 보내주세요.joesonghajiman jaryo bonaejuseyo. — Sorry, send the file.
Right: 실례지만 자료 부탁드려요.silryejiman jaryo butakdeuryeoyo. — Excuse me, could you send the file?
4) Wrong: 죄송하지만 확인해 주세요.joesonghajiman hwaginhae juseyo. — Sorry, please check.
Right: 실례지만 확인 부탁드립니다.silryejiman hwagin butakdeuripnida. — Excuse me, please take a look.
In-person (service)
5) Wrong: 죄송하지만, 계산이요.joesonghajiman, gyesaniyo. — Sorry, checkout please.
Right: 실례지만, 계산할게요.silryejiman, gyesanhalgeyo. — Excuse me, I’d like to pay.
6) Wrong: 죄송하지만, 저기요!joesonghajiman, jeogiyo! — Sorry, hey!
Right: 실례지만, 저기요.silryejiman, jeogiyo. — Excuse me.
When it’s the right choice
Use 죄송하지만joesonghajiman when you’re clearly creating extra work, taking up time, or you actually made a mistake. It signals “I know this is on me (or at least inconvenient for you).”
Another trap: using 실례지만silryejiman to fix your own mistake. If you’re late, forgot something, or need a change, 죄송하지만joesonghajiman sounds more honest.
Minimal pairs (vs 실례지만)
죄송하지만, 제가 예약을 잘못했어요.joesonghajiman, jega yeyageul jalmothaesseoyo. — I’m sorry, I booked it wrong.실례지만, 제가 예약을 잘못했어요.silryejiman, jega yeyageul jalmothaesseoyo. — Excuse me, I booked it wrong. (doesn’t “own” the fault)죄송하지만, 다시 한 번 설명해 주실 수 있어요?joesonghajiman, dasi han beon seolmyeonghae jusil su isseoyo? — I’m sorry, could you explain again?실례지만, 다시 한 번 설명해 주실 수 있어요?silryejiman, dasi han beon seolmyeonghae jusil su isseoyo? — Excuse me, could you explain again? (can feel like a simple request, not an apology)죄송하지만, 오늘은 취소해야 할 것 같아요.joesonghajiman, oneureun chwisohaeya hal geot gatayo. — I’m sorry, I think I need to cancel today.실례지만, 오늘은 취소해야 할 것 같아요.silryejiman, oneureun chwisohaeya hal geot gatayo. — Excuse me, I think I need to cancel today. (missing the apology)
Examples
Owning the inconvenience
죄송하지만, 제가 늦었어요.joesonghajiman, jega neujeosseoyo. — I’m sorry, I’m late.죄송하지만, 한 번만 더 말해 주세요.joesonghajiman, han beonman deo malhae juseyo. — I’m sorry, please say it one more time.죄송하지만, 이거 환불 가능할까요?joesonghajiman, igeo hwanbul ganeunghalkkayo? — I’m sorry, would a refund be possible?
Wrong → right rewrite drill (6)
Phone
7) Wrong: 실례지만, 제가 길을 잘못 들었어요.silryejiman, jega gireul jalmot deureosseoyo. — Excuse me, I took the wrong way.
Right: 죄송하지만, 제가 길을 잘못 들었어요.joesonghajiman, jega gireul jalmot deureosseoyo. — I’m sorry, I took the wrong way.
8) Wrong: 실례지만, 지금 못 가요.silryejiman, jigeum mot gayo. — Excuse me, I can’t go now.
Right: 죄송하지만, 지금 못 가요.joesonghajiman, jigeum mot gayo. — I’m sorry, I can’t make it now.
Email
9) Wrong: 실례지만 첨부파일을 빼먹었습니다.silryejiman cheombupaireul ppaemeogeotseupnida. — Excuse me, I forgot the attachment.
Right: 죄송하지만 첨부파일을 빼먹었습니다.joesonghajiman cheombupaireul ppaemeogeotseupnida. — I’m sorry, I forgot the attachment.
10) Wrong: 실례지만 마감이 늦어질 것 같습니다.silryejiman magami neujeojil geot gatseupnida. — Excuse me, the deadline may be late.
Right: 죄송하지만 마감이 늦어질 것 같습니다.joesonghajiman magami neujeojil geot gatseupnida. — I’m sorry, the deadline may be delayed.
In-person (service)
11) Wrong: 실례지만, 이거 바꿀 수 있어요?silryejiman, igeo bakkul su isseoyo? — Excuse me, can I exchange this?
Right: 죄송하지만, 이거 바꿀 수 있어요?joesonghajiman, igeo bakkul su isseoyo? — I’m sorry, can I exchange this?
12) Wrong: 실례지만, 제가 잘못 주문했어요.silryejiman, jega jalmot jumunhaesseoyo. — Excuse me, I ordered wrong.
Right: 죄송하지만, 제가 잘못 주문했어요.joesonghajiman, jega jalmot jumunhaesseoyo. — I’m sorry, I ordered wrong.
Comparison table
| 실례지만 | 죄송하지만 | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | “Excuse me, but… (may I?)” | “I’m sorry, but… (I’m at fault / I’m imposing)” |
| Tone | Permission-first, neutral polite | Apology-first, heavier polite |
| Safer in workplace? | Yes, for interruptions and requests | Yes, when you caused inconvenience or need a change |
| Common mistake | Using it when you actually made a mistake | Using it for tiny requests and sounding over-apologetic |
Decision tree
- If you mean “interrupt to get attention” → use
실례지만silryejiman. - If you mean “request permission / ask a favor” → use
실례지만silryejiman. - If you mean “apologize for trouble you caused (or a big inconvenience)” → use
죄송하지만joesonghajiman.
Next steps
- Write a 1-line work email request starting with
실례지만silryejiman (ask for a file or confirmation). - Write a 1-line apology + request starting with
죄송하지만joesonghajiman (late, mistake, cancellation), then read it out loud once.