So today's topic is Sorry, I get told a lot by my Korean friends that they do not understand why I am Sorry in certain situations so I thought I would explain what Sorry can mean in the English language.
Sorry can mean excuse me to catch someone's attention politely for example:
Sorry, can I ask you a question? = Excuse me, can I ask you a question?
실례합니다만, 잠깐 여쭙겠습니다
Sorry, what time is it? = Excuse me what time is it?
실례지만, 지금 몇 시예요?
This one is funny, some people say sorry for things like burping or sneezing:
*Burp* 꺼억!
Sorry
실례합니다!
*sneeze* 에취!
Sorry
실례합니다
Sorry can mean we are being polite about causing an inconvenience asking if it is okay if someone is available to help for example:
Sorry, can you help me with something? Literally, translates to:
미안해요, 뭐 좀 도와 주실래요?
But what we mean is is it ok if you help me?:
날 도와 주면 괜찮겠니?
Sorry can also be used in a moment of disbelief as a shocked expression:
How much is that dress?
저 드레스 얼마예요?
It is £1000
그것은 1000 파운드이다.
SORRY?!
뭐라고요!
Then the sincere apologies are 미안합니다 and 죄송합니다:
거짓말을 해서 죄송해요
Sorry for losing the papers
서류를 잃어버려서 죄송해요
The English are just generally (not always) over-polite. Where we don't have honorific speech (높임말) such as in Korea, we do have a culture which consists of the constant use of Sorry, Please and Thank you where we can.
No comments:
Post a Comment