Key Facts
- Hangul: 사과하다 (sagwahada)
- Meaning: to apologize
- Level: A2
- Part of speech: verb
- Stem: 사과하
- Conjugation class: 하다 type
- Grammar: The person takes 에게/한테 (께 for respect): 친구에게 사과해요.
- Usage: 사과 also means apple; context decides. Set phrase: 사과드립니다 (formal apology).
What Does 사과하다 Mean?
The person you apologize to takes 에게/한테, and 께 is used for someone to be respected. 사과 also means apple, so context decides which word you hear.
Senses:
- to apologize: Say sorry for something: 친구에게 사과하다.
How Do You Pronounce 사과하다?
사과하다 is read as written. The ㅂ of 합 turns into [ㅁ] before ㄴ, so 사과합니다 is [사과함니다]. The past 사과했어요 is [사과해써요]. Because 사과 sounds the same for apology and apple, the verb ending 하다 is your clue that you hear the apology.
How Do You Use 사과하다 in a Sentence?
친구에게 사과해요.
I apologize to my friend.
친구에게 사과해요 is the basic frame: the friend takes 에게 and there is no object.
늦어서 사과했어요.
I apologized for being late.
늦어서 사과했어요 gives the reason first. 늦어서 means because I was late, and 사과했어요 reports the apology in the past.
사과하면 용서할 거예요.
If you apologize, I will forgive you.
사과하면 용서할 거예요 is a conditional promise. 사과하면 is if you apologize, and 용서할 거예요 is the result.
How Does Sagwahada Conjugation Work?
사과하다 follows the 하다 pattern: 하 and 여 contract to 해 before 아 or 어. You get 사과해요, 사과했어요 and 사과해서. With endings that start with a consonant the 하 stays, as in 사과하면 and 사과하세요.
사과하다
| Form | Korean | Romanization | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite present | 사과해요 | ||
| Polite past | 사과했어요 | ||
| Polite future (plan) | 사과할 거예요 | ||
| Polite future (intention or guess) | 사과하겠어요 | ||
| Formal present | 사과합니다 | ||
| Formal past | 사과했습니다 | ||
| Formal future | 사과할 것입니다 | ||
| Casual present | 사과해 | ||
| Casual past | 사과했어 | ||
| Casual future | 사과할 거야 | ||
| Want to (polite) | 사과하고 싶어요 | ||
| Honorific polite | 사과하세요 | ||
| Because / and then | 사과해서 | ||
| If (conditional) | 사과하면 | ||
| Present modifier (before a noun) | 사과하는 | ||
| Past modifier (before a noun) | 사과한 | ||
| Future modifier (before a noun) | 사과할 | ||
| Negative with 안 (short) | 사과 안 해요 | ||
| Negative (long form) | 사과하지 않아요 |
Sound Changes
| Form | Korean | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Polite past | 사과했어요 | [사과해써요] |
| Polite future (plan) | 사과할 거예요 | [사과할꺼예요] |
| Polite future (intention or guess) | 사과하겠어요 | [사과하게써요] |
| Formal present | 사과합니다 | [사과함니다] |
| Formal past | 사과했습니다 | [사과핻씀니다] |
| Formal future | 사과할 것입니다 | [사과할꺼심니다] |
| Casual past | 사과했어 | [사과해써] |
| Casual future | 사과할 거야 | [사과할꺼야] |
| Want to (polite) | 사과하고 싶어요 | [사과하고 시퍼요] |
| Negative (long form) | 사과하지 않아요 | [사과하지 아나요] |
Common Mistake
Wrong: ✗ 친구를 사과해요.
Correct: ✓ 친구에게 사과해요.
Why: Learners expect an object because I apologize to my friend looks like a transitive sentence. Korean treats the friend as a recipient, so the particle is 에게 or 한테, not 을/를.
What Is Easy to Confuse with 사과하다?
| Word | How to tell it from 사과하다 |
|---|---|
| 미안하다 | 미안하다 is feeling sorry (adjective); 사과하다 is the act of apologizing. |
| 용서하다 | 용서하다 is forgiving; 사과하다 is asking for forgiveness. |
미안하다 is an adjective for feeling sorry, and 사과하다 is the act of apologizing. 용서하다 is forgiving: one person 사과하다 and the other 용서하다. 죄송하다 is the more respectful way to say sorry.
Where Does 사과하다 Turn Up?
The formal set phrase is 사과드립니다, which a company or a speaker uses in a public apology. In ordinary talk, 미안하다 or 죄송하다 may be said first, followed by 화해하다 when friends make up.
Apologizing for a Missed Message
Alex realizes that a message sounded rude and wants to apologize to Mina. Jisu asks about it the next day. The scene distinguishes wanting to apologize from actually doing so.
Alex
미나한테 사과하고 싶어요.
Minahante sagwahago sipeoyo.
I want to apologize to Mina.
Jisu
그럼 오늘 사과하세요.
Geureom oneul sagwahaseyo.
Then apologize today.
Alex
네, 오늘 사과할 거예요.
Ne, oneul sagwahal geoyeyo.
Yes, I will apologize today.
The next day:
Jisu
미나한테 사과했어요?
Minahante sagwahaesseoyo?
Did you apologize to Mina?
The first exchange concerns an intention; the last question checks whether the apology happened. 한테 marks Mina as the recipient. 사과하세요 is polite advice here, but it is still a direct instruction and may sound firm when the relationship is sensitive.
The Act of Apologizing and the Words You Say
사과하다 names the action of making an apology. 미안해요 and 죄송해요 are words people commonly say while doing it. When telling a friend what happened afterward, 사과했어요 reports the action without quoting the exact apology. This makes the verb useful for discussing a disagreement as well as taking part in one.
사과합니다 can itself serve as an apology, especially in a formal statement. 사과드립니다 is a humble expression used when respectfully offering an apology. In an ordinary small mishap, 죄송해요 may sound more immediate and conversational than a long formal declaration.
Saying 사과하세요 asks the other person to apologize. It does not mean that you are apologizing to them. The ending is polite, but the act of demanding an apology can still be forceful. In a drama argument, listen for who is expected to accept responsibility, rather than assuming that every line containing 사과 is conciliatory.
Common Combinations with 사과
진심으로 사과하다 means “apologize sincerely” or “apologize from the heart.” 진심으로 describes the sincerity of the action. 정중히 사과하다 means “apologize courteously” and focuses on respectful manner. These phrases add a quality to the apology; 사과하다 alone does not tell you how heartfelt or careful it was.
공개 사과 means “public apology.” It appears in news about statements made to an audience rather than privately to one person. 사과문 is a written apology or apology statement. The 문 element points to a written text, so a 사과문 is something you can read or publish, rather than merely an expression on someone’s face.
사과를 받다 means “receive an apology.” 사과를 받아들이다 means “accept an apology.” Receiving one and accepting it are separate steps: someone can hear an apology and still be unhappy with it. The action 사과하다 therefore does not guarantee forgiveness or reconciliation.
Naming the Recipient and the Reason
친구에게 사과하다 uses 에게 for the person receiving the apology. 친구한테 사과하다 has the same basic relationship with the more conversational 한테. 선생님께 사과하다 uses 께 when showing respect to the teacher as recipient. The recipient is different from the matter being apologized for.
실수에 대해 사과하다 means “apologize for a mistake.” 에 대해 introduces the matter or topic. In the existing sentence 늦어서 사과했어요, the reason comes as a clause instead: being late led to the apology. These are two ways to supply what went wrong, while leaving the verb’s meaning unchanged.
The apology noun and the apple noun share the spelling 사과. In 사과문 or 공개 사과, the surrounding words point clearly to an apology. In a market or a fruit bowl, 사과 is an apple. The verb 사과하다 belongs to apologizing, so you do not need to interpret it as an action involving fruit.
Words for Making up after an Argument
| Related word | Meaning | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| 실수 | mistake | One possible reason for an apology. |
| 오해 | misunderstanding | Something the speakers may need to clear up. |
| 용서 | forgiveness | A possible response from the person who was hurt. |
| 화해 | reconciliation | The relationship improving after a disagreement. |
The emotions vocabulary lesson helps describe feelings around an apology. In a story, the sequence may involve explaining a misunderstanding, apologizing and then reconciling. Those are separate events, so a character can complete the apology while the conflict remains unresolved.
Which Respectful Form Matches the Speaker’s Role?
사과드립니다 makes the speaker humble when offering an apology. 사과하세요 points toward the person who should apologize. They belong to different sides of the exchange. Choosing by the English word “polite” alone can reverse who is doing what.
Write 사과하고 싶어요 with a space before 싶어요. The verb’s 고 connects the action to the wish, while 싶어요 stays separate. 사과했어요 reports a completed apology; wanting or planning to apologize leaves that action for later.
Mini Drill: Who Is Apologizing?
- Give the polite past of 사과하다.
- Complete “apologize to a friend”: 친구____ 사과해요.
- Say “I want to apologize.”
- Give the future form “I will apologize.”
Show drill answers
- 사과했어요.
- 친구에게 or 친구한테 사과해요.
- 사과하고 싶어요.
- 사과할 거예요.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 사과하세요 mean “I apologize”?
- What does 사과문 identify?
- Does 사과하다 guarantee that the other person forgives you?
Show answers
- No. It tells the other person to apologize.
- A written apology or apology statement.
- No. 용서하다 and 화해하다 describe separate responses or developments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Particle Marks the Person I Apologize To?
에게 or 한테, and 께 for someone you respect. Never 을/를.
How Do I Make a Formal Apology?
Use 사과드립니다, the humble formal set phrase.
Is 사과하다 Related to the Fruit?
The spelling 사과 is the same as the word for apple, so context decides. The ending 하다 shows the apology.
What Is the Difference between 사과하다 and 미안하다?
미안하다 describes feeling sorry, while 사과하다 is the act of saying so.
Which Words Are Related to 사과하다?
What Should You Learn Next?
Compare 미안하다 and 용서하다, then look at 죄송하다 and 화해하다. The rule behind 사과해요 (to apologize) is in 하다 to 해요, and the Korean verb conjugator tests other stems. For the negative of 사과하다 (to apologize), see negating 하다 verbs. 사과하다 (to apologize) sits beside 미안하다 and 죄송하다 in the Korean verb dictionary.