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Vocab: Being Late for an Appointment

Keywords
지각 / 미안하다 / 사정 / 솔직히 / 서두르다
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Intermediate Vocabulary
🎯
TL;DR 🦄
  • Learn how to talk about 지각 (being late) and apologize using 미안하다 (to be sorry).
  • Practice explaining your 사정 (circumstances) when you're running behind.
  • Master 솔직히 (honestly) and 서두르다 (to hurry) for natural excuses and reactions.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note
Need a refresher on pronunciation? Check out the Korean Helper Widgets for audio support.
Try listening to: 길이 막혀서 지각할 것 같아요.
 

🌈 The Big Picture

Running late happens to everyone! Knowing how to say you're going to be 지각 (late), say 미안하다 (sorry), explain your 사정 (circumstances), and let someone know you're 서두르다 (hurrying) — 솔직히 (honestly) — will help you handle these moments smoothly. This lesson covers the essential vocabulary for being late to an appointment.

🎨 The Core Being Late Family

1. 지각 — being late / tardiness ⏰
Refers specifically to being late, often for school, work, or an appointment. "지각하다" means "to be late."
Note: More formal/specific than the general adjective 늦다.
2. 미안하다 — to be sorry 😔
A casual/everyday way to apologize. "늦어서 미안해요" means "Sorry for being late."
Note: Compare with 죄송하다, which is more formal/polite.
3. 사정 — circumstances / situation 📋
Refers to one's personal circumstances or situation, often used to explain a reason. "사정이 있어서" means "because of certain circumstances."
Note: Implies more personal/complex circumstances than the neutral word 이유 (reason).
4. 솔직히 — honestly / frankly 💬
An adverb used to admit something honestly. "솔직히 말하면" means "to be honest" / "honestly speaking."
Note: Compare with 사실 (actually/in fact), which emphasizes factual truth rather than honest admission.
5. 서두르다 — to hurry 🏃
Describes hurrying or rushing. "서둘러서 왔어요" means "I hurried here."
Note: ㄹ-doubling (르) irregular verb — 서두르다 → 서둘러요, not 서두러요.

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

1. 길이 막혀서 지각할 것 같아요.
The road is jammed, so I think I'll be late.
→ 길이 막혀서 (because the road is jammed) + 지각할 것 같아요 (I think I'll be late).
2. 늦어서 정말 미안해요.
I'm really sorry for being late.
→ 늦어서 (for being late) + 정말 미안해요 (I'm really sorry).
3. 사정이 있어서 서둘러서 왔어요.
I had some circumstances, so I hurried here.
→ 사정이 있어서 (because I had some circumstances) + 서둘러서 왔어요 (I hurried and came).

🧩 General Formation Rule

  • 지각 (being late) → 지각하다 (to be late, dictionary form), 지각해요 (polite present), 지각할 것 같아요 (I think I'll be late)
  • 미안하다 (to be sorry, adjective) → 미안해요 (polite present), 미안했어요 (past), 미안한 (attributive)
  • 사정 (circumstances) → 사정이 있다 (to have circumstances), 사정으로 (due to circumstances), 사정상 (given the circumstances)
  • 솔직히 (honestly) → adverb, often paired with 말하면 (speaking) — "솔직히 말하면" (honestly speaking)
  • 서두르다 (to hurry, 르-irregular) → 서둘러요 (polite present — ㄹ doubles), 서둘렀어요 (past), 서두른 (attributive)

📚 Cross-check note

All vocabulary cross-checked against korean.go.kr ✅

🪞 Synonym Alert

  • 지각 vs 늦다 — 지각하다 is more formal/specific, often for school, work, or appointments; 늦다 is the general adjective/verb meaning "to be late."
  • 미안하다 vs 죄송하다 — 미안하다 is casual/everyday "sorry"; 죄송하다 is more formal and polite.
  • 사정 vs 이유 — 사정 implies personal or extenuating circumstances; 이유 is a neutral, general reason.
  • 솔직히 vs 사실 — 솔직히 emphasizes honest admission of feelings or facts; 사실 emphasizes factual truth ("actually/in fact").
  • 서두르다 vs 급하다 — 서두르다 is the action of hurrying; 급하다 describes a state of urgency or being hasty.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 친구랑 약속에 지각했어요 (casual context) → ✅ For casual meetups, 늦었어요 sounds more natural — 지각하다 fits school/work/formal settings better.
  • ❌ 미안하다 in a formal business apology → ✅ 죄송합니다 is more appropriate in formal/polite situations.
  • ❌ 사정 used for a trivial reason ("사정 때문에 5분 늦었어요" for something minor) → ✅ 사정 implies a more significant circumstance — for small reasons, 이유 may fit better.
  • ❌ 솔직히 = "actually" (mixing up with 사실) → ✅ 솔직히 = honestly (admitting something); 사실 = in fact (stating truth).
  • ❌ 서두러요 → ✅ 서둘러요 — remember the ㄹ doubles in this 르-irregular verb.
Next time you're running behind, you'll know exactly what to say — 서두르지 말고 안전하게 오세요! ⏰
 
Try this exercise
Fill in each blank with the correct word from the Vocabulary Box. Use each word at least once.
  1. 길이 막혀서 ＿＿＿＿할 것 같아요.
  1. 늦어서 정말 ＿＿＿＿해요.
  1. ＿＿＿＿이 있어서 늦었어요.
  1. ＿＿＿＿ 말하면, 알람을 못 들었어요.
  1. 시간이 없어서 ＿＿＿＿서 왔어요.
  1. 어제 회의에 ＿＿＿＿했어요.
  1. 갑자기 생긴 ＿＿＿＿ 때문에 늦었어요.
  1. ＿＿＿＿, 늦잠을 잤어요.
  1. 너무 ＿＿＿＿서 넘어질 뻔했어요.
  1. 늦어서 ＿＿＿＿하다고 문자를 보냈어요.
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Vocabulary Box
지각 · 미안하다 · 사정 · 솔직히 · 서두르다
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Pitfalls Reminder
  • 지각하다 = formal/school/work lateness
  • 미안하다 (casual) vs 죄송하다 (formal)
  • 사정 = personal circumstances, not trivial reasons
  • 솔직히 (honestly) ≠ 사실 (actually)
  • 서둘러요, not 서두러요
🎯
Want more reps? Visit the Practice Hub below for 50 more questions! 🚀
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Practice Hub: Being Late for an Appointment ⏰
Ready for more practice? Work through these 5 exercises (50 questions total) to fully master this lesson's vocabulary. Listen along with the Korean Helper Widgets for pronunciation support!

Exercise 1 — Being Late Word Recall ⏰

A. What does 지각 mean?
B. What does 미안하다 mean?
C. What does 사정 mean?
D. What does 솔직히 mean?
E. What does 서두르다 mean?
F. What is the verb form of 지각?
G. What is the difference between 미안하다 and 죄송하다?
H. What is the difference between 사정 and 이유?
I. What is the difference between 솔직히 and 사실?
J. What is the polite present tense of 서두르다?
📖
Reference
  • 지각 = being late/tardiness
  • 미안하다 = to be sorry
  • 사정 = circumstances/situation
  • 솔직히 = honestly/frankly
  • 서두르다 = to hurry
  • 지각하다 = to be late
  • 미안하다 = casual sorry; 죄송하다 = formal sorry
  • 사정 = personal circumstances; 이유 = neutral reason
  • 솔직히 = honestly (admission); 사실 = actually (fact)
  • 서둘러요

Exercise 2 — Being Late Situational Phrases 🏃

A. How do you say "I think I'll be late"?
B. How do you say "I'm really sorry for being late"?
C. How do you say "I had some circumstances, so I was late"?
D. How do you say "Honestly, I overslept"?
E. How do you say "I hurried here"?
F. How do you say "I was late to the meeting yesterday"?
G. How do you say "Something came up suddenly"?
H. How do you say "I sent a text saying I was sorry for being late"?
I. How do you say "I almost tripped because I was hurrying so much"?
J. How do you say "I'm sorry, I'll hurry"?
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Reference
  • 지각할 것 같아요.
  • 늦어서 정말 미안해요.
  • 사정이 있어서 늦었어요.
  • 솔직히 늦잠을 잤어요.
  • 서둘러서 왔어요.
  • 어제 회의에 지각했어요.
  • 갑자기 사정이 생겼어요.
  • 늦어서 미안하다고 문자를 보냈어요.
  • 너무 서둘러서 넘어질 뻔했어요.
  • 미안해요, 서두를게요.

Exercise 3 — 지각하다 & 서두르다 Conjugation Practice 🔁

A. Conjugate 지각하다 into polite present tense.
B. Conjugate 지각하다 into past tense.
C. Conjugate 서두르다 into polite present tense.
D. Conjugate 서두르다 into past tense.
E. Fill in: 어제 ＿＿＿＿. (지각하다, past)
F. Fill in: 너무 ＿＿＿＿서 물을 쏟았어요. (서두르다)
G. Translate: "I won't be late again."
H. Translate: "We hurried but still arrived late."
I. Fill in: ＿＿＿＿ 사람은 항상 그 사람이에요. (지각하다, attributive — "the person who is always late")
J. Translate: "Please don't hurry too much."
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Reference
  • 지각해요
  • 지각했어요
  • 서둘러요
  • 서둘렀어요
  • 어제 지각했어요.
  • 너무 서둘러서 물을 쏟았어요.
  • 다시는 지각 안 할게요.
  • 서둘렀지만 그래도 늦게 도착했어요.
  • 지각하는 사람은 항상 그 사람이에요.
  • 너무 서두르지 마세요.

Exercise 4 — 미안하다 & 솔직히 Practice 🙏

A. Conjugate 미안하다 into polite present tense.
B. Conjugate 미안하다 into past tense.
C. Convert 미안해요 into the more formal 죄송하다 form.
D. Fill in: ＿＿＿＿ 말하면, 길을 잘못 들었어요.
E. Translate: "I'm sorry, the bus was late."
F. Translate: "Honestly, I forgot about the appointment."
G. Fill in: 늦어서 ＿＿＿＿합니다. (formal)
H. Translate: "To be honest, it was my fault."
I. Fill in: ＿＿＿＿ 미안한 ＿＿＿＿이 들어요. (attributive)
J. Translate: "Honestly, I'm really sorry."
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Reference
  • 미안해요
  • 미안했어요
  • 죄송해요
  • 솔직히 길을 잘못 들었어요.
  • 미안해요, 버스가 늦었어요.
  • 솔직히 약속을 깜빡했어요.
  • 늦어서 죄송합니다.
  • 솔직히 제 잘못이었어요.
  • 좀 / 미안한 마음
  • 솔직히 정말 미안해요.

Exercise 5 — 종합 연습 (Mixed Mastery) 🎯

A. Translate: "I'm sorry for being late, I had some circumstances."
B. Fill in: ＿＿＿＿해서 정말 ＿＿＿＿해요, ＿＿＿＿이 있었어요.
C. Translate: "Honestly, I hurried but the road was jammed, so I was late."
D. Fill in: ＿＿＿＿ ＿＿＿＿서 왔는데 길이 막혀서 ＿＿＿＿했어요.
E. Translate: "I'm sorry I'm late — honestly, something came up suddenly."
F. Fill in: ＿＿＿＿해요, ＿＿＿＿ 갑자기 ＿＿＿＿이 생겼어요.
G. Translate: "Because of unavoidable circumstances, I was late, but I hurried as much as I could."
H. Fill in: 어쩔 수 없는 ＿＿＿＿ 때문에 ＿＿＿＿했지만 최대한 ＿＿＿＿서 왔어요.
I. Translate: "Honestly, I'm sorry — I'll never be late again."
J. Write one full sentence using at least three of this lesson's words.
📖
Reference
  • 지각해서 정말 미안해요, 사정이 있었어요.
  • 지각 / 미안 / 사정
  • 솔직히 서둘러서 왔는데 길이 막혀서 지각했어요.
  • 솔직히 / 서둘러 / 지각
  • 늦어서 미안해요, 솔직히 갑자기 사정이 생겼어요.
  • 미안 / 솔직히 / 사정
  • 어쩔 수 없는 사정 때문에 지각했지만 최대한 서둘러서 왔어요.
  • 사정 / 지각 / 서둘러
  • 솔직히 미안해요, 다시는 지각 안 할게요.
  • Example: 사정이 있어서 지각했는데, 솔직히 정말 미안해요.
다음엔 여유롭게 도착할 수 있을 거예요! ⏰✨