Easy Korean Level 10 - Unit 3: Advanced Situational Expressions (Expressing Sympathy)

In this lesson, we will look at how to properly express sympathy, comfort, and consolation when someone gives you bad news or is going through a hard time.

Directly translating English phrases like "I am sorry to hear that" (그 소식을 들어서 미안해요 - Incorrect/Awkward) doesn't work well in Korean. Let's learn what native speakers actually say!

1. Showing Empathy: "Oh no..."

When you first hear bad news, you can use these interjections. - 어머! (Oh my!) - Mostly used by women. - 아이고... / 저런... (Oh dear... / Oh no...) - 어떡해요... (What should we do... / What are you going to do...)

2. Expressing Pity or Hardship: "You must have had a hard time."

In Korean culture, acknowledging someone's suffering or hard work is the best way to comfort them. - 고생 많으셨어요. (You must have suffered a lot. / You went through a lot.) - 얼마나 힘드셨어요? (How hard must it have been for you?) - 마음고생이 심하셨겠어요. (You must have suffered a lot emotionally. 마음고생 = emotional suffering)

3. "It's a shame" / "That's unfortunate"

When someone misses an opportunity or something doesn't go as planned. - 정말 아쉽게 됐네요. (It turned out to be really a shame/unfortunate.) - 안타깝네요. (It's a pity. / That's regrettable.) - 속상하시겠어요. (You must be upset/heartbroken.)

4. Consoling and Cheering up

• 너무 자책하지 마세요. (Don't blame yourself too much.)
• 시간이 약이에요. (Time is medicine. -> Time heals all wounds.)
• 다 잘 될 거예요. (Everything will be alright.)

Example Dialogue

A: 이번 승진 심사에서 떨어졌어요. (I failed the promotion evaluation this time.) B: 저런, 정말 아쉽게 됐네요. 그동안 고생 많으셨는데... 속상하시겠어요. (Oh no, that's really unfortunate. You worked so hard all this time... You must be upset.) A: 네, 조금 힘 빠지네요. (Yeah, I'm losing a bit of energy/motivation.) B: 너무 자책하지 마세요. 다음번에는 꼭 잘 될 거예요. (Don't blame yourself too much. Next time, it will definitely go well.)