Apologizing for canceling plans late | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: Before an evening plan, one friend apologizes for canceling late because of a family issue and offers to reschedule..

EN → KO / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Apologizing for canceling plans late to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

정말 미안한데, 오늘 밤 약속을 취소해야 해.

juhng-MAHL mee-AHN-hahn-deh, oh-NUHL bahm yak-SSOH-guhl chwee-soh-HEH-yah HEH. I'm really sorry, but I need to cancel tonight's plan.
B

아쉽다. 급한 일이 생겼어?

ah-SWEEP-ttah. guh-PAHN ee-LEE saeng-GYUH-ssuh? That's disappointing. Did something urgent happen?
A

집안에 일이 생겨서 집을 나갈 수가 없어.

JEE-bah-neh ee-LEE saeng-GYUH-suh JEE-beul nah-GAHL soo-GAH uhp-SSUH. A family issue came up, and I can't leave home.
B

이해해. 하지만 좀 더 일찍 알았으면 좋았을 텐데.

ee-HEH-heh. hah-JEE-mahn johm duh eel-TCHIK ah-RAH-ssuh-myun joh-AH-ssuhl TEN-deh. I understand, but I wish I had known earlier.
A

네 말이 맞아. 알게 되자마자 너한테 말했어야 했어.

neh mah-REE mah-JAH. AHL-geh dweh-JAH-mah-jah nuh-hahn-TEH mal-HEH-ssuh-yah HEH-ssuh. You're right. I should have told you as soon as I knew.
B

그렇게 말해 줘서 고마워. 나는 이미 준비를 시작했어.

guh-ruh-KEH mal-HEH JWOH-suh goh-MAH-wuh. nah-neun ee-MEE joon-BEE-ruhl see-jah-KAE-ssuh. I appreciate that. I had already started getting ready.
A

네가 괜찮은 다른 날짜를 골라서 만회할게.

neh-GAH gwen-CHAH-neun tah-reun NAL-jjah-reul gohl-LAH-suh mahn-HWEH-hahl-KKEH. Let me make it up to you by choosing another date that works for you.
B

다시 일정을 잡을 수는 있어. 하지만 상황이 좀 진정되면 꼭 확인해 줘.

tah-SHEE eel-JJUNG-eul jah-BEUL soo-neun ee-SSUH. hah-JEE-mahn sahng-HWANG-ee johm jin-JUHNG-dweh-myun KKOHK hwa-GEEN-heh JWOH. We can reschedule, but please confirm once things are calmer.
A

더 알게 되면 너한테 메시지 보낼게.

duh AHL-geh dweh-MYUN nuh-hahn-TEH MEH-shee-jee boh-NAEL-KKEH. I'll message you when I know more.
A

갑작스러운 변경 때문에 네 저녁 시간이 흐트러졌다는 걸 알아.

gahp-JJAHK-sseu-ruh-oon byun-GYUHNG ttae-MOON-eh neh juh-NYUHNG shee-GAHN-ee heuh-teu-ruh-JUH-ttah-neun guh-RAH-rah. I know the late change disrupted your evening.
B

네 가족 모두 괜찮기를 바라.

neh gah-JOHK moh-DOO gwen-CHAHN-kee-ruhl bah-RAH. I hope everything is all right with your family.

Word by Word

정말 In “정말 미안한데,” 정말 means “really” and strengthens the apology. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb when the speaker wants to emphasize it. A friend can use it when giving a sincere apology.
미안한데 In “정말 미안한데,” 미안한데 means “I’m sorry, but” and introduces the cancellation that follows. The ending -는데 connects the apology to an explanation or contrasting statement. Use it when apologizing before giving a reason or making a request.
오늘 오늘 means “today” in “오늘 밤 약속,” specifying the day of the plan. It combines directly with a time word such as 밤. Use it when referring to the current day’s plans or events.
밤 밤 means “night” in “오늘 밤,” referring to the evening or night of today. Together, 오늘 밤 identifies when the plan was scheduled. Use it with 오늘 when specifying tonight.
약속을 약속을 means “the plan” or “appointment” as the thing being canceled. The particle 을 marks 약속 as the object of the cancellation. In this dialogue, it appears in the reusable pattern 약속을 취소하다.
취소해야 취소해야 contributes “have to cancel” in “약속을 취소해야 해.” It combines with 해 to express that canceling is necessary. Use an object before 취소해야 해 when explaining that a plan must be canceled.
해 In “취소해야 해,” 해 completes the informal expression for “have to cancel.” The meaning comes from the whole pattern 취소해야 해, not from 해 alone. Use verb + 해야 해 in casual conversation to state a necessity.
아쉽다 아쉽다 is a reaction meaning “That’s disappointing” or “That’s too bad.” Here it responds to the canceled plan without directly blaming the other person. A friend can use it when an expected plan or opportunity cannot happen.
급한 급한 means “urgent” in “급한 일이,” describing a matter that needs immediate attention. It is placed before the noun 일이. Use 급한 + noun when asking or explaining whether something requires quick action.
일이 일이 means “an issue” or “a matter” as the subject in “일이 생겼어.” The particle 이 marks the issue as what came up. The pattern 일이 생기다 is useful for saying that a problem or matter has arisen.
생겼어 생겼어 means “came up” or “happened” in “급한 일이 생겼어.” Its informal ending suits the conversation between friends. Use it after a subject such as an issue when explaining that something has arisen.
집안에 집안에 means “in the family” or “in the household” in “집안에 일이 생겨서.” The particle 에 marks the family or household as the area where the matter arose. Use 집안에 일이 생기다 when explaining a family-related problem.
생겨서 생겨서 means “arose, so” or “because it arose” in “집안에 일이 생겨서.” The ending -어서 connects the cause to the result, which here is being unable to leave home. Use a cause clause ending in -어서 before the resulting situation.
집을 집을 means “home” or “the house” as the object of leaving in “집을 나갈 수가 없어.” The particle 을 marks the place being left. The expression 집을 나가다 means to leave home or go out of the house.
나갈 나갈 means “leave” or “go out” in “나갈 수가 없어.” It is the form used before 수 in the construction for ability or possibility. Use a verb in this form with ㄹ/을 수 있다 or 없다 to say whether an action is possible.
수가 In “나갈 수가 없어,” 수가 is part of the construction expressing that there is no possibility of leaving. The particle 가 highlights the possibility as the subject of 없어. Use verb + ㄹ/을 수가 없다 to express inability in this form.
없어 없어 completes “나갈 수가 없어,” meaning that leaving is not possible. Its informal ending fits the conversation between friends. Use ㄹ/을 수가 없어 when explaining that someone cannot do an action.
이해해 이해해 means “I understand” in this dialogue. It acknowledges the other person’s family problem before introducing a complaint. A friend can use it to show understanding of a reason or situation.
하지만 하지만 means “but” or “however” and contrasts understanding with the wish to have heard earlier. It can begin a new sentence or connect two contrasting ideas. Use it when acknowledging one point while adding a different or opposing point.
좀 좀 means “a little” in “좀 더 일찍,” and it also softens the speaker’s regret. It appears before the degree expression 더 일찍. Use 좀 before a request, criticism, or degree expression to make the statement less direct.
더 더 means “more” in “좀 더 일찍,” making the time earlier than it was. It comes before the adverb 일찍. Use 더 before an adjective or adverb when comparing degree or amount.
일찍 일찍 means “early” or, here, “earlier” in “더 일찍 알았으면.” It describes the time at which the speaker would have known. Use it with 알다 when referring to receiving information early.
알았으면 알았으면 means “if I had known” in “알았으면 좋았을 텐데.” It presents knowing earlier as a missed condition connected to regret. Use it before a desired result when discussing information that would have been useful earlier.
좋았을 좋았을 contributes “would have been good” in “좋았을 텐데.” It presents an unrealized preferable situation. Use 좋았을 텐데 when expressing regret that a better situation did not happen.
텐데 텐데 completes “좋았을 텐데” and expresses regret about an unrealized expectation or desirable situation. Here, the speaker wishes they had known earlier. Use this ending when commenting on what would have been better but did not happen.
네 네 means “your” in “네 말이 맞아,” referring to the other person’s words. It comes before a noun to identify something belonging to or associated with the listener. Use 네 + noun when addressing a friend informally.
말이 말이 means “what you said” or “your words” as the subject in “네 말이 맞아.” The particle 이 marks those words as the subject of 맞아. The pattern 말이 맞아 is useful when agreeing that someone is right.
맞아 맞아 means “is right” or “is correct” in “네 말이 맞아.” Its informal form suits a conversation between friends. Use it when admitting that another person’s statement or judgment is correct.
알게 알게 means “come to know” in “알게 되자마자.” It is the form used before 되다 to describe reaching the state of knowing. Use 알게 되다 when you learn or come to know something.
되자마자 되자마자 means “as soon as it becomes or happens” in “알게 되자마자.” With 알게, the full expression means “as soon as I knew.” Use this ending after an event to show that the next action happens immediately afterward.
너한테 너한테 means “to you” and identifies the recipient in “너한테 말했어야 했어.” 한테 is used for a person receiving speech or an action. Use a person + 한테 with verbs such as 말하다 when saying whom you told.
말했어야 말했어야 means “should have told” in “말했어야 했어.” It expresses an action that was required or advisable in the past but was not done. Use it with the person who should have received the information.
했어 In “말했어야 했어,” 했어 completes the past-obligation expression and shows that the speaker is looking back with regret. The whole pattern means that the speaker should have told the listener. Use -어야 했어 for something that should have happened in the past.
그렇게 그렇게 means “that way” or “like that” in “그렇게 말해 줘서 고마워.” It refers to the manner or content of what the other person said. Use 그렇게 before a verb when referring back to an action just mentioned or performed.
말해 말해 means “say” or “tell” in “그렇게 말해 줘서.” It combines with 줘서 to show that the saying was done for the speaker and is the reason for thanks. Use 말해 주다 when describing someone saying something for another person’s benefit.
줘서 In “말해 줘서 고마워,” 줘서 shows that the other person said it as a favor or for the speaker, and it links that action as the reason for thanks. The expression is used to thank someone for doing or saying something. Use verb + 아/어 줘서 before 고마워 when thanking a person for an action.
고마워 고마워 means “thanks” or “I’m grateful” in this informal conversation. Here it thanks the other person for acknowledging the situation. Use it after an action or reason, such as 말해 줘서 고마워.
나는 나는 means “I” as the topic in “나는 이미 준비를 시작했어.” The particle 는 presents the speaker as the topic of the following statement. Use 나는 when stating what you did, felt, or experienced.
이미 이미 means “already” in “이미 준비를 시작했어,” showing that preparation had begun before the cancellation was announced. It usually comes before the action it modifies. Use 이미 with a verb phrase when an action happened earlier than the current point.
준비를 준비를 means “preparations” or “getting ready” as the object of 시작했어. The particle 를 marks the preparation as the action that was started. The pattern 준비를 시작하다 is useful for saying that someone began getting ready.
시작했어 시작했어 means “started” in “준비를 시작했어.” It states that the preparation had begun, using an informal past form. Use a noun or activity before 시작했어 when reporting that it has begun.
네가 네가 means “you” as the person for whom the alternative date must be suitable in “네가 괜찮은 다른 날짜.” The particle 가 marks you as the subject of 괜찮은. Use 네가 괜찮은 + noun for something that works for the listener.
괜찮은 괜찮은 means “acceptable” or “suitable” in “네가 괜찮은 다른 날짜.” It describes a date that works for the other person. Use 괜찮은 before a noun when asking about or selecting a suitable option.
다른 다른 means “another” or “different” in “다른 날짜.” It indicates a date different from the canceled one. Use 다른 before a noun when proposing an alternative.
날짜를 날짜를 means “date” as the object of choosing in “날짜를 골라서.” The particle 를 marks the date being selected. Use 날짜를 고르다 when choosing a date.
골라서 골라서 means “choose and” or “by choosing” in “날짜를 골라서 만회할게.” The ending -아서 connects choosing the date with the speaker’s promised effort to make up for the cancellation. Use an object + 골라서 before the following action when one action leads to another.
만회할게 만회할게 means “I’ll make it up to you” in this dialogue. The ending -ㄹ게 expresses the speaker’s intention or promise to the listener. Use it when offering a future action to repair inconvenience or disappointment.
다시 다시 means “again” in “다시 일정을 잡을 수는 있어.” It refers to arranging a new schedule after the original plan was canceled. Use 다시 before a verb when repeating or restarting an action.
일정을 일정을 means “the schedule” or “arrangements” as the object of 잡을. The particle 을 marks the schedule being arranged. The pattern 일정을 잡다 is used for setting a date or schedule.
잡을 잡을 means “set” or “arrange” in “일정을 잡을 수는 있어.” It is the form used before 수 in the expression for possibility. With 일정, 잡다 refers to arranging a schedule rather than physically grabbing something.
수는 In “잡을 수는 있어,” 수는 is part of the expression meaning “can,” while 는 adds contrastive emphasis. The phrase says that rescheduling is possible, even though another condition remains. Use verb + ㄹ/을 수는 있다 or 없다 when contrasting what is possible with another point.
있어 있어 completes “잡을 수는 있어” and states that rescheduling is possible. Its informal ending fits the conversation between friends. Use ㄹ/을 수 있어 to say that an action can be done.
상황이 상황이 means “the situation” as the subject in “상황이 좀 진정되면.” The particle 이 marks the situation as what becomes calmer. Use 상황이 with a following description of how the circumstances change.
진정되면 진정되면 means “once things calm down” in “상황이 좀 진정되면.” The ending -면 marks the condition or time after which the confirmation should happen. Use a situation or event with -되면 when waiting until it settles or reaches a new state.
꼭 꼭 means “definitely” or “be sure to” in “꼭 확인해 줘.” It strengthens the request for confirmation. Use 꼭 before an action when emphasizing that the listener should remember to do it.
확인해 확인해 means “confirm” or “check” in “확인해 줘.” It is an informal action form followed by 줘 to make a request. Use it with information, arrangements, or details that need to be checked.
줘 In “확인해 줘,” 줘 makes the request mean “please do it for me.” It adds the idea that the action benefits or helps the speaker. Use a verb ending in 아/어 + 줘 for an informal request to do something.
되면 The exact substring 되면 in “진정되면” supplies the meaning “when” or “once it becomes.” Together with 진정-, it describes the point when the situation has calmed down. Use -되면 after a word describing a change of state when the next action depends on that change.
메시지 메시지 means “message” in “메시지 보낼게.” It is the thing the speaker promises to send. Use it with 보내다 when saying that you will send a message.
보낼게 보낼게 means “I’ll send” in “메시지 보낼게.” The ending -ㄹ게 expresses a promise or intention directed toward the listener. Use it after the thing being sent when reassuring someone that you will contact them.
갑작스러운 갑작스러운 means “sudden” or “unexpected” in “갑작스러운 변경.” It describes the change that happened with little notice. Use 갑작스러운 before a noun when emphasizing that an event or change was not expected.
변경 변경 means “change” in “갑작스러운 변경.” It refers to the late alteration of the evening plan. Use it with 때문에 when explaining that a change caused a consequence.
때문에 때문에 means “because of” in “변경 때문에,” marking the sudden change as the cause of the disrupted evening. It follows the noun that gives the reason. Use noun + 때문에 to explain the cause of a situation.
저녁 저녁 means “evening” in “저녁 시간,” identifying the part of the day affected by the change. It combines with 시간 to mean the evening time. Use 저녁 before a related time or meal noun when specifying the evening.
시간이 시간이 means “time” as the subject in “저녁 시간이 흐트러졌다는 걸 알아.” The particle 이 marks the evening time as what was disrupted. Use 시간 with a subject marker when describing how someone’s available time was affected.
흐트러졌다는 흐트러졌다는 presents “was disrupted” as the fact being referred to in “흐트러졌다는 걸 알아.” It turns the statement about the evening time into content that the speaker knows. Use this form before 걸 알아 when referring to the fact that something was disrupted.
걸 걸 refers to the fact that the evening time was disrupted and marks that fact as the object of 알아. It is the conversational contracted form used in “흐트러졌다는 걸 알아.” Use a clause + 걸 알다 when saying that you know a fact or situation.
알아 알아 means “know” in “흐트러졌다는 걸 알아.” It takes the fact marked by 걸 as its object. Use clause + 걸 알아 when acknowledging that you understand or recognize a situation.
가족 가족 means “family” in “네 가족 모두.” It identifies the people whose well-being the speaker is concerned about. Use it with a possessive expression when referring to someone’s family.
모두 모두 means “all” or “everyone” in “네 가족 모두,” referring collectively to every member of the family. It follows the group being described. Use noun + 모두 when including all members of that group.
괜찮기를 괜찮기를 means “being all right” as the desired situation in “괜찮기를 바라.” The ending -기를 turns the desired state into the object of hope. Use a clause or adjective + 기를 바라 when expressing hope for a particular outcome.
바라 바라 means “hope” or “wish” in “괜찮기를 바라.” It expresses a good wish about the family’s condition. Use it after 기를 when hoping that a situation will be a certain way.

Grammar Points

동사 어간 + 자마자

알게 되자마자

AHL-geh dweh-JAH-mah-jah

as soon as I found out

Attach -자마자 to a verb stem to mean that the next action happens immediately afterward.

동사 았/었어야 했어

말했어야 했어

mal-HEH-ssuh-yah HEH-ssuh

I should have told you

This expresses regret about an action that should have happened in the past but did not.

Korean Vocabulary

급한 adj
guh-PAHN urgent

급한 일이 생겼어?

나갈 수가 없어 phrase
nah-GAHL soo-GAH uhp-SSUH can't leave; am unable to go out

집을 나갈 수가 없어.

미안한데 adj
mee-AHN-hahn-deh I'm sorry, but

정말 미안한데, 오늘 밤 약속을 취소해야 해.

생겼어 verb
saeng-GYUH-ssuh happened; came up

급한 일이 생겼어?

아쉽다 adj
ah-SWEEP-ttah that's disappointing; that's regrettable

아쉽다.

알게 되자마자 phrase
AHL-geh dweh-JAH-mah-jah as soon as I found out

알게 되자마자 너한테 말했어야 했어.

알았으면 좋았을 텐데 phrase
ah-RAH-ssuh-myun joh-AH-ssuhl TEN-deh I wish I had known

좀 더 일찍 알았으면 좋았을 텐데.

약속 noun
yak-SSOHK appointment; plan

오늘 밤 약속을 취소해야 해.

오늘 밤 phrase
oh-NUHL bahm tonight

정말 미안한데, 오늘 밤 약속을 취소해야 해.

일찍 adv
eel-TCHIK early

좀 더 일찍 알았으면 좋았을 텐데.

집안 noun
JEE-bahn family; household

집안에 일이 생겨서 집을 나갈 수가 없어.

취소해야 해 phrase
chwee-soh-HEH-yah HEH need to cancel

오늘 밤 약속을 취소해야 해.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

That's disappointing. Did something urgent happen?

Show Answer아쉽다. 급한 일이 생겼어?

Let me make it up to you by choosing another date that works for you.

Show Answer네가 괜찮은 다른 날짜를 골라서 만회할게.

I'll message you when I know more.

Show Answer더 알게 되면 너한테 메시지 보낼게.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

I'm sorry, but

Show Answer미안한데

family; household

Show Answer집안

happened; came up

Show Answer생겼어

appointment; plan

Show Answer약속