Key Facts
- Hangul: 미안하다 (mianhada)
- Meaning: sorry
- Part of speech: adjective (형용사)
- Level: A1
- Stem: 미안하
- Class: 하다 type
What Does 미안하다 Mean?
미안하다 is the everyday "sorry" between equals. 늦어서 미안해요 apologizes for being late, and the same word can describe a nagging sense that you owe someone something. The person you feel sorry toward takes 에게 or 한테, as in 친구에게 미안해요, while the reason joins on with -아서/어서, as in 늦어서. Because it describes a feeling, it never takes a direct object.
How Do You Pronounce 미안하다?
The stem is read as written, and the changes happen in the endings. The past 미안했어요 is [미안해써요], because the ㅆ of 했 slides straight into 어요. The formal 미안합니다 is [미안함니다], where ㅂ before ㄴ is heard as ㅁ. The planned future 미안할 거예요 is [미안할꺼예요], with 거 tensed after the -ㄹ.
How Do You Use 미안하다 in a Sentence?
늦어서 정말 미안해요.
I'm really sorry for being late.
늦어서 comes first and gives the reason; 정말 then strengthens the apology. This reason-then-feeling order is the pattern you will use most.
어제 일은 미안했어요.
I felt sorry about yesterday.
The past tense looks back at a matter that is already over. 어제 일은 means "as for yesterday's business", so no object is needed.
미안해서 선물을 샀어요.
I felt sorry, so I bought a gift.
The because-form 미안해서 links the feeling to an action, here buying a gift to make up for something.
Usage Notes for 미안하다
Among close people the short 미안해 is enough, and the formal-style 미안합니다 suits a public apology among equals, such as a colleague of your own rank. Toward a boss, a customer or an elder, switch to 죄송하다, since 미안하다 sounds too casual for them. The related verb 미안해하다 has its own entry in this dictionary; it describes someone else showing that they feel sorry. Keep 고맙다 for thanks, because the two words cover opposite directions of feeling.
How Does Mianhada Conjugation Work?
미안하다
| Form | Korean | Romanization | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 미안해요 | ||
| Polite past | 미안했어요 | ||
| Polite future (plan) | 미안할 거예요 | ||
| Polite future (intention or guess) | 미안하겠어요 | ||
| Formal present | 미안합니다 | ||
| Formal past | 미안했습니다 | ||
| Formal future | 미안할 것입니다 | ||
| Casual present | 미안해 | ||
| Casual past | 미안했어 | ||
| Casual future | 미안할 거야 | ||
| Because / and then | 미안해서 | ||
| Conditional (if) | 미안하면 | ||
| Present modifier (before a noun) | 미안한 | ||
| Past modifier (before a noun) | 미안했던 | ||
| Future modifier (before a noun) | 미안할 | ||
| Negative with 안 (short) | 안 미안해요 | ||
| Negative (long form) | 미안하지 않아요 |
| Form | Korean | Sound if different |
|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 미안해요 | — |
| Polite past | 미안했어요 | [미안해써요] |
| Polite future (plan) | 미안할 거예요 | [미안할꺼예요] |
| Polite future (guess) | 미안하겠어요 | [미안하게써요] |
| Formal present | 미안합니다 | [미안함니다] |
| Formal past | 미안했습니다 | [미안핻씀니다] |
| Formal future | 미안할 것입니다 | [미안할꺼심니다] |
| Casual present | 미안해 | — |
| Casual past | 미안했어 | [미안해써] |
| Casual future | 미안할 거야 | [미안할꺼야] |
| Because / and then | 미안해서 | — |
| Conditional (if) | 미안하면 | — |
| Modifier, present | 미안한 | — |
| Modifier, past | 미안했던 | [미안핻떤] |
| Modifier, future | 미안할 | — |
| Short negative | 안 미안해요 | — |
| Long negative | 미안하지 않아요 | [미안하지 아나요] |
Is 미안하다 Regular or Irregular?
미안하다 belongs to the 하다 group, where 하 plus 여 contracts to 해. Any ending that starts with 아 or 어 therefore turns the last syllable into 해: 미안해요, 미안해서, 미안했어요. Endings that begin with a consonant sound leave 하 alone, which is why you see 미안합니다 and 미안하지 않아요. The same split works for every adjective ending in 하다. The lesson on 하다 verbs and 해요 shows the contraction step by step.
Common Mistake with 미안하다
Wrong: ✗ 늦었어서 미안해요
Correct: ✓ 늦어서 미안해요
Why: The because-ending -아서/어서 never takes the past marker -었-, even when the lateness has already happened. The tense comes from context. To a boss or an elder, say 늦어서 죄송합니다 instead; that is a register choice, not a grammar fix.
미안하다 Versus 죄송하다 and 고맙다
| Word | How it differs |
|---|---|
| 죄송하다 | 죄송하다 is the more formal, humbler "sorry" for elders and customers. 미안하다 stays with friends and equals. |
| 고맙다 | 고맙다 thanks someone, while 미안하다 apologizes. Use 고맙다 when someone did you a favour and 미안하다 when you caused them trouble. |
Returning a Borrowed Book Late
Two friends meet to return a book. Alex apologizes for the delay and explains why the book also comes with a small gift.
Alex
책을 늦게 돌려줘서 미안해요.
Chaegeul neutge dollyeojwoseo mianhaeyo.
I’m sorry for returning the book late.
Jisu
괜찮아요. 다 읽었어요?
Gwaenchanayo. Da ilgeosseoyo?
It’s okay. Did you finish reading it?
Alex
네. 미안해서 커피도 샀어요.
Ne. Mianhaeseo keopido sasseoyo.
Yes. I felt bad, so I bought you coffee too.
Jisu
고마워요.
Gomawoyo.
Thank you.
The first line puts the reason before 미안해요. In the third line, 미안해서 makes the feeling itself the reason for buying coffee. These two uses of 서 answer different questions: what caused the apology, and what caused the later action.
What Do Common Apology Phrases Actually Do?
정말 미안해요 means “I’m really sorry”. 정말 strengthens the apology without changing its level of formality. When the problem is clear, you can use this short phrase on its own. Repeating the same words does not explain how you will fix the problem, so a practical next sentence often helps more.
미안한 마음 means “an apologetic feeling” or “a sense of feeling bad”. Here 미안한 modifies 마음, “heart” or “feeling”. The phrase names the feeling rather than directly apologizing to someone. You may meet it in a message explaining why a person offered help or brought a gift.
미안하지만 means “I’m sorry, but …”. It introduces something that may inconvenience or disappoint the listener, such as a refusal. The apology comes before the difficult message. It does not necessarily refer to something that has already gone wrong.
English “I’m sorry” can also express sympathy about another person’s loss or bad luck. 미안해요 usually suggests that you feel responsible or indebted in some way. When hearing sad news unrelated to your actions, choose a response suited to the news rather than automatically translating the English phrase word for word.
Where Will You Hear 미안해 and 미안합니다?
In family conversations and dramas, 미안해 may be a small apology or a serious admission. The casual ending tells you about the relationship; it does not tell you how serious the harm was. A close friend can use 미안해 sincerely about an important matter.
In a text message, a brief 미안 can appear between close friends. It is shorter than 미안해 and can sound abrupt outside that relationship. For a customer, unfamiliar older person or boss, 죄송합니다 is a safer starting point. The choice concerns social distance as well as age.
Why Is 미안하세요 the Wrong Choice for Your Own Apology?
The honorific 시 honors the person whose state or action is described. An apology usually describes your own feeling. Use 미안해요 or 미안합니다 for yourself; adding 세요 would not make your own apology humbler. To express greater deference, choose 죄송합니다.
The past 미안했어요 can report a feeling you had at an earlier time. A present apology for something that happened yesterday can still use 미안해요. Choose the tense for the feeling you want to express, rather than matching it automatically to the date of the mistake.
| Related word | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 죄송하다 | to be sorry | A more deferential apology. |
| 사과하다 | to apologize | Names the act of apologizing. |
| 미안해하다 | to show or feel sorry | Useful for describing another person’s apologetic behavior. |
| 고맙다 | to be thankful | Acknowledges what someone has done for you. |
The emotions vocabulary lesson teaches the wider set of feeling words used around apologies and reassurance.
Mini Drill: an Apology or a Reason?
- Give the casual apology for a close friend.
- Complete “I felt sorry, so …”: ____.
- Complete “an apologetic feeling”: ____ 마음.
- Choose the more deferential apology for a customer: 미안해 or 죄송합니다.
Show drill answers
- 미안해.
- 미안해서.
- 미안한 마음.
- 죄송합니다.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 미안하지만 always look back at a completed mistake?
- What does 괜찮아요 do in the book dialogue?
- Must an apology today for yesterday’s action use 미안했어요?
Show answers
- No. It can introduce a refusal or inconvenient request.
- It reassures the friend: “it’s okay”.
- No. 미안해요 can express how sorry you feel now.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Say Sorry I'm Late?
Say 늦어서 미안해요 to a friend. The reason 늦어서 comes first, then the feeling.
What Is the Casual Form of 미안하다?
It is 미안해, which is the 미안하다 stem plus the casual ending. With a friend it is the usual way to say sorry.
Can I Use 미안하다 with My Boss?
It is better to use 죄송하다, which is humbler. 미안하다 is meant for friends and equals.
What Is the Long Negative?
It is 미안하지 않아요, said as [미안하지 아나요]. It means that you do not feel sorry.
Which Words Are Related to 미안하다?
What Should You Learn Next?
Compare 죄송하다 next, since choosing between the two is the key skill, then 고맙다 for thanks and 사과하다 for apologizing with an object. Both apologies follow the 하다 contraction pattern. Test other stems in the Korean verb conjugator, or browse the Korean verb dictionary.