Korean · Real conversations
How to say “I'm afraid I can't make it.” in Korean
Tell someone politely that you will not be able to attend.
죄송하지만 못 갈 것 같아요.joesonghajiman mot gal geot gatayo.
I'm afraid I can't make it.
Acknowledge the invitation or arrangement and make the cancellation clear.
Use it in three situations
Canceling a visit
죄송하지만 못 갈 것 같아요.joesonghajiman mot gal geot gatayo.
I'm afraid I can't make it.
Declining an event
죄송하지만 오늘 저녁에는 못 갈 것 같아요.joesonghajiman oneul jeonyeogeneun mot gal geot gatayo.
I'm afraid I can't make it tonight.
Explaining a missed meetup
죄송하지만 금요일에는 못 갈 것 같아요.joesonghajiman geumyoireneun mot gal geot gatayo.
I'm afraid I can't make it on Friday.
What to watch for
'I'm afraid' expresses regret here; a literal statement about fear can change the meaning.
Read the whole expression before replacing a detail. The natural wording may use a different order or construction from the English sentence.
Your turn
Imagine changing plans. Say this in Korean: I'm afraid I can't make it tonight.
Reveal a sample reply
죄송하지만 오늘 저녁에는 못 갈 것 같아요.joesonghajiman oneul jeonyeogeneun mot gal geot gatayo.
I'm afraid I can't make it tonight.
Build a useful exchange
Explain a change and offer a clear next step.
This expression 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.
