Easy Korean Level 10 - Unit 9: Advanced Situational Expressions (Making Excuses)

In the previous lesson, we learned how to clear up misunderstandings. Today, we will learn how to make excuses (변명) when you are actually at fault but want to soften the blow or explain why it happened.

1. "I was out of my mind." / "I was distracted."

When you made a silly mistake or forgot something. - 제가 정신이 없어서 그랬나 봐요. (I guess I did that because I was out of my mind/distracted.) - 깜빡했어요. (I completely forgot. / It slipped my mind.) - 요즘 제정신이 아니에요. (I'm not in my right mind lately. -> I'm super stressed/distracted.)

2. Blaming traffic or weather (Classic Excuses)

• 차가 너무 막혀서요. (Because the traffic was too jammed.)
• 비가 와서 길이 미끄러웠거든요. (Because it rained, the roads were slippery, you see.)

3. "It took longer than expected."

• 생각보다 시간이 오래 걸렸네요. (It took a longer time than I thought.)
• 일이 좀 꼬였어요. (Things got a bit tangled up/complicated.)

4. The Ultimate Apology + Excuse

Koreans often combine the apology with the excuse, using -느라고 (because of doing [action], which caused a negative result). - 회의를 하느라고 전화를 못 받았어요. (I couldn't answer the phone because I was having a meeting.) - 숙제를 하느라고 늦게 잤어요. (I slept late because I was doing homework.) - 준비하느라고 늦었습니다. 죄송합니다. (I was late because I was preparing. I'm sorry.)

Example Dialogue

A: 왜 이렇게 늦었어요? (Why are you so late?) B: 죄송해요. 차가 너무 막혀서요. 그리고 나오기 전에 지갑을 찾느라고 더 늦었어요. 제가 요즘 정신이 없네요. (I'm sorry. The traffic was too bad. And I was late because I was looking for my wallet before I came out. I'm so distracted lately.)