Common Daily Phrases¶
Quick Reference
| Korean | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 잠시만요 | Just a moment | Asking to wait |
| 괜찮아요 | It's okay / I'm fine | Reassurance |
| 모르겠어요 | I don't know | Uncertainty |
| 다시 말해 주세요 | Please say again | Repetition |
| 천천히 말해 주세요 | Please speak slowly | Comprehension |
| 알겠어요 | I understand / I got it | Confirmation |
| 도와주세요 | Please help me | Requesting help |
| 괜찮습니다 | It's alright | Declining/accepting |
Requesting and Responding¶
잠시만요 / 잠깐만요¶
"Just a moment" - Used when asking someone to wait briefly.
Usage: - Answering the phone - Needing time to think - Making someone wait
Examples: - A: 주문 받겠습니다. (I'll take your order.) - B: 잠시만요. 메뉴 좀 더 볼게요. (Just a moment. Let me look at the menu more.)
Variations: - 잠깐만요 (more casual) - 잠시만 기다려 주세요 (Please wait a moment - more formal)
괜찮아요 / 괜찮습니다¶
Multi-purpose phrase meaning "It's okay," "I'm fine," or "It's alright."
Usage scenarios:
1. Declining an offer: - A: 물 좀 드릴까요? (Shall I give you some water?) - B: 괜찮아요. (I'm okay, thanks.)
2. Reassuring someone: - A: 죄송합니다. (I'm sorry.) - B: 괜찮아요. (It's okay.)
3. Saying you're fine: - A: 어디 아파요? (Are you hurt?) - B: 괜찮아요. (I'm fine.)
4. Asking if something is okay: - 이거 괜찮아요? (Is this okay?) - 내일 괜찮으세요? (Are you free/okay tomorrow?)
알겠어요 / 알았어요¶
Understanding and acknowledgment.
알겠어요 = "I understand" / "I got it" (future-oriented) 알았어요 = "I understood" / "Okay, got it" (past-oriented)
Examples: - A: 내일 10시에 오세요. (Please come at 10 tomorrow.) - B: 알겠습니다. (Understood.)
- A: 이거 하지 마세요. (Don't do this.)
- B: 알았어요. (Got it.)
Informal: 알겠어 / 알았어
Expressing Confusion¶
모르겠어요¶
"I don't know" / "I'm not sure"
Structure: 모르다 (to not know) + -겠어요
Examples: - 잘 모르겠어요. (I'm not sure.) - 어떻게 하는지 모르겠어요. (I don't know how to do it.) - 답을 모르겠어요. (I don't know the answer.)
Variations: - 몰라요 (more direct: I don't know) - 모릅니다 (formal) - 몰라 (casual)
어떻게 하죠?¶
"What should I do?" / "How do I do this?"
Examples: - 길을 잃었어요. 어떻게 하죠? (I'm lost. What should I do?) - 비밀번호를 모르겠어요. 어떻게 하죠? (I don't know the password. What should I do?)
무슨 뜻이에요?¶
"What does it mean?"
Examples: - 이게 무슨 뜻이에요? (What does this mean?) - 그 말이 무슨 뜻이에요? (What does that word mean?)
Requesting Clarification¶
다시 말해 주세요¶
"Please say it again" - When you didn't hear or understand.
Examples: - 죄송한데, 다시 말해 주세요. (Sorry, but please say it again.) - 못 들었어요. 다시 말해 주세요. (I didn't hear. Please say it again.)
Variations: - 한 번 더 말해 주세요 (Please say it one more time)
천천히 말해 주세요¶
"Please speak slowly"
Examples: - 천천히 말해 주세요. 한국어를 잘 못해요. (Please speak slowly. I'm not good at Korean.)
이해가 안 돼요¶
"I don't understand"
Examples: - 설명을 들었는데 이해가 안 돼요. (I heard the explanation but I don't understand.) - 한국어로 하면 이해가 안 돼요. (I don't understand if you do it in Korean.)
Alternative: - 이해 못 했어요 (I didn't understand)
Requesting Help¶
도와주세요¶
"Please help me"
Structure: 돕다 (to help) + -아/어 주세요 (please do for me)
Examples: - 도와주세요! (Help me!) - 좀 도와주실 수 있어요? (Could you help me a bit?) - 짐 좀 들어 주세요. (Please help me carry the luggage.)
부탁 좀 들어 주세요¶
"Please do me a favor"
Examples: - 부탁 좀 들어 주세요. (Please do me a favor.) - 부탁이 하나 있는데요. (I have a favor to ask.)
가르쳐 주세요¶
"Please teach me" / "Please show me"
Examples: - 어떻게 하는지 가르쳐 주세요. (Please teach me how to do it.) - 한국어를 가르쳐 주세요. (Please teach me Korean.)
Expressions of Difficulty¶
어렵다 / 어려워요¶
"It's difficult" / "It's hard"
Examples: - 한국어가 어려워요. (Korean is difficult.) - 이 문제가 너무 어려워요. (This problem is too hard.)
힘들어요¶
"It's tough" / "I'm having a hard time"
Examples: - 요즘 일이 너무 힘들어요. (Work is really tough these days.) - 공부가 힘들어요. (Studying is tough.)
안 돼요¶
"It won't work" / "It's not allowed" / "Don't do that"
Usage scenarios:
1. Not allowed: - 여기는 사진 촬영이 안 돼요. (Photography is not allowed here.)
2. Won't work: - 이 방법은 안 돼요. (This method won't work.)
3. Prohibition: - 안 돼요! 그거 하지 마세요! (No! Don't do that!)
Useful Response Phrases¶
그렇습니다 / 그래요¶
"That's right" / "Yes, it is"
Examples: - A: 한국 사람이에요? (Are you Korean?) - B: 네, 그렇습니다. (Yes, that's right.)
아니에요¶
"No, it's not" / "No"
Examples: - A: 학생이에요? (Are you a student?) - B: 아니에요. 회사원이에요. (No, I'm an office worker.)
맞아요 / 틀려요¶
"That's correct" / "That's wrong"
Examples: - 맞아요. 그게 정답이에요. (That's correct. That's the right answer.) - 틀려요. 다시 해 보세요. (That's wrong. Try again.)
Expressing Certainty and Doubt¶
확실해요 / 확실하지 않아요¶
"I'm sure" / "I'm not sure"
Examples: - 확실해요. 그 사람이에요. (I'm sure. It's that person.) - 확실하지 않아요. (I'm not sure.)
아마도 / 아마¶
"Maybe" / "Perhaps"
Examples: - 아마 내일 비가 올 거예요. (It will probably rain tomorrow.) - 아마도 늦을 것 같아요. (Maybe I'll be late.)
Daily Convenience Phrases¶
실례합니다¶
"Excuse me" - When interrupting or passing by.
Examples: - 실례합니다. 길을 물어보고 싶은데요. (Excuse me. I'd like to ask for directions.)
여기요 / 저기요¶
"Excuse me" - Getting someone's attention (servers, staff).
Examples: - 저기요! 주문할게요. (Excuse me! I'd like to order.) - 여기요! 물 좀 주세요. (Excuse me! Please give me some water.)
그냥¶
"Just" / "No reason" / "Nothing special"
Examples: - A: 뭐 해요? (What are you doing?) - B: 그냥 쉬어요. (Just resting.)
- A: 왜요? (Why?)
- B: 그냥요. (No reason.)
Practice¶
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How do you ask someone to wait a moment politely?
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Your friend apologizes for being late. How do you tell them it's okay?
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You don't understand what someone said. Ask them to say it again.
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How do you tell someone you don't know the answer?
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Ask someone to speak more slowly because you're learning Korean.
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You need help carrying something. How do you ask?
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Someone asks if you understand. Confirm that you do (polite form).
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How do you say "It's difficult" in Korean?
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You want to get a server's attention. What do you say?
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Someone explains something but you still don't understand the meaning. What do you ask?