Korean · Real conversations
Change a plan naturally in Korean
When a plan changes, state the change early. Ask for a new day, explain that you cannot attend, or give a realistic arrival time and check whether it works.
Three ways to say it
약속을 금요일로 바꿀 수 있을까요?yaksogeul geumyoillo bakkul su isseulkkayo?
Could we move our meeting to Friday?
Request a new day for an existing meeting.
일이 생겨서 오늘은 못 갈 것 같아요.iri saenggyeoseo oneureun mot gal geot gatayo.
Something has come up. I can't make it today.
Explain an unexpected commitment and decline today's arrangement.
죄송해요, 십 분 정도 늦을 것 같아요. 괜찮으세요?joesonghaeyo, sip bun jeongdo neujeul geot gatayo. gwaenchaneuseyo?
I'm sorry, I'll be ten minutes late. Is that okay?
Give the expected delay and ask whether that is acceptable.
Avoid translating word by word
English 'something has come up' usually means an unexpected matter needs attention. It does not describe an object moving upward. The examples use a natural expression for an unexpected event or task.
See the difference in context
Moving a Thursday meeting
목요일 약속은 그대로 괜찮으세요?mogyoil yaksogeun geudaero gwaenchaneuseyo?
Is Thursday still okay?
약속을 금요일로 바꿀 수 있을까요?yaksogeul geumyoillo bakkul su isseulkkayo?
Could we move our meeting to Friday?
Changing an afternoon arrangement
오늘 오후에 봐요.oneul ohue bwayo.
See you this afternoon.
일이 생겨서 오늘은 못 갈 것 같아요.iri saenggyeoseo oneureun mot gal geot gatayo.
Something has come up. I can't make it today.
Your turn
Tell someone you will be ten minutes late. Apologize and ask whether the revised time is okay.
Reveal a sample reply
죄송해요, 십 분 정도 늦을 것 같아요. 괜찮으세요?joesonghaeyo, sip bun jeongdo neujeul geot gatayo. gwaenchaneuseyo?
I'm sorry, I'll be ten minutes late. Is that okay?
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking Korean
Most examples use polite 해요-style endings. A more formal ending may appear when addressing staff or making a careful request. Do not switch to casual speech with a stranger simply because the English translation sounds friendly.
Hangul is the main text; romanization helps you read along. Korean often leaves a clear subject unstated. Particles and endings carry information that English may express with separate words.
