Understanding and repeating

❃ Understanding and repeating

한국어를 조금 할 수 있어요 [ hangugeoreul jogeum hal su isseoyo ]: I can speak a little Korean.
한국어/프랑스어/영어을 할 수 있어요? [ hangugeo/peurangseueo/yeongeoeul hal su isseoyo? ]: Can you speak Korean/French/English?
천천히 말해 주세요. [ cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo. ]: Please speak slowly.
적어 주세요 [ jeogeo juseyo ]: Please write it down.
다시 말씀 해주시겠어요? [ dasi malsseum haejusigesseoyo? ]: Could you please repeat that?
한국어로 뭐라고 해요? [ hangugeoro mworago haeyo? ]: How do you say it in Korean?
잘 모르겠어요. [ jal moreugesseoyo. ]: I’m not sure.
이해가 안 돼요 [ ihaega an dwaeyo ]: I don't understand.
한국어를 공부하고 있어요. [ hangugeoreul gongbuhago isseoyo. ]: I’m studying Korean.
한국어를 배우고 있어요. [ hangugeoreul baeugo isseoyo. ]: I’m learning Korean.
한국어를 잘 못해요. [ hangugeoreul jal mot-haeyo. ]: I don’t speak Korean well.
번역해 주실 수 있어요? [ beonyeokhae jusil su isseoyo? ]: Could you translate it?
이거 무슨 말이에요? [ i geo museun mariyeyo? ]: What does this mean?
어떻게 발음해요? [ eotteoke bareumhaeyo? ]: How do you pronounce it?
따라 해 볼게요. [ ttara hae bolgeyo. ]: I’ll try to repeat after you.
맞게 발음했어요? [ matge bareumhaesseoyo? ]: Did I pronounce it correctly?
철자를 알려 주세요. [ cheoljjareul allyeo juseyo. ]: Please tell me the spelling.
한글로 써 주세요. [ hangeullo sseo juseyo. ]: Please write it in Hangul.
로마자로 써 주세요. [ romajaro sseo juseyo. ]: Please write it in Roman letters.
이해했어요. [ Ihaehaesseoyo. ]: I understand.
이해를 못 했어요. [ Ihaereul mot haesseoyo. ]: I don't understand.
알겠어요. [ Algesseoyo. ]: I got it / I know.
모르겠어요. [ Moreugesseoyo. ]: I don't know.
다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요? [ Dasi han beon malsseumhae jusigesseoyo? ]: Could you repeat that, please?
조금 더 천천히 말씀해 주세요. [ Jogeum deo cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo. ]: Please speak a little slower.
여기에 적어 주세요. [ Yeogie jeogeo juseyo. ]: Please write it down here.
이게 무슨 뜻이에요? [ Ige museun tteusieyo? ]: What does this mean?
한국어로 어떻게 말해요? [ Hangugeoro eotteoke malhaeyo? ]: How do you say this in Korean?
영어를 할 줄 아세요? [ Yeongeoreul hal jul aseyo? ]: Do you speak English?
저는 한국어를 잘 못해요. [ Jeoneun hangugeoreul jal mothaeyo. ]: I can't speak Korean well.
한국어 조금 할 줄 알아요. [ Hangugeo jogeum hal jul arayo. ]: I can speak a little Korean.
영어로 말씀해 주시겠어요? [ Yeongeoro malsseumhae jusigesseoyo? ]: Could you speak in English?
아, 그렇군요. [ A, geureokunyo. ]: Ah, I see.
질문 있어요. [ Jilmun isseoyo. ]: I have a question.

Cultural notes

Navigating conversations in South Korea as a foreigner requires understanding that Korean is a high-context language, where non-verbal cues, silence, and active listening play a pivotal role. During a discussion, you will constantly hear the word 네 (Ne). While it literally translates to "Yes," its cultural application is incredibly broad. Saying "Ne" repeatedly while someone else is speaking is an essential conversational tool to show you are paying attention, functioning similarly to "I see," "Right," or "Mmhmm" in English. Even if you do not completely understand what is being said, offering a gentle nod along with a soft "Ne" helps maintain the harmonious flow of the interaction. However, if you are genuinely lost, honesty delivered politely is the best approach. Simply stating 잘 모르겠습니다 (Jal moreugetseumnida), which means "I don't know well" or "I don't understand," is perfectly acceptable. You can also ask them to slow down by saying 조금 더 천천히 말씀해 주세요 (Jogeum deo cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo). Koreans are generally very patient and encouraging when foreigners try to speak their language. One critical cultural misstep to avoid is using the direct equivalent of "What?". Saying 뭐? (Mwo?) or 왜? (Wae? - "Why?") can sound extremely aggressive and confrontational to a Korean ear. Instead, you should always rely on the softer, more polite formulation: 다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요? (Dasi han beon malsseumhae jusigesseoyo? - "Could you please repeat that once more?"). This softens your request and demonstrates a high level of respect for your conversational partner.

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