Must-Know Korean: How to Say “Wait!”

Introduction

Hello! This is [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills! 👋

Today, we are going to learn how to ask someone to “wait a moment” in Korean.

Have you noticed the recent “Open Run” (오픈런) trend in Korea? Whether it’s for the famous London Bagel Museum or a limited-edition pop-up store, waiting in line has become a huge part of Korean culture lately! 🥯🏃‍♂️ Also, with the rise of self-service Kiosks in cafes, you might need to tell the person behind you, “Just a second!” while you look for your card.

Knowing how to ask for time politely is essential in these busy situations. Let’s learn the most natural ways to say “Wait” in Korean!

Key Expressions

Here are 3 essential expressions to help you buy some time!

1. 잠시만요 (Just a moment)

• Korean: 잠시만요
• Pronunciation: [Jamsimanyo]
• English Meaning: Just a moment, please.
• Detailed Explanation: This is the most standard and polite way to ask someone to wait. It is very versatile! You can use it when you are looking for something in your bag, or even when you are trying to pass through a crowd (like saying “Excuse me”).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Did you know ‘시(si)’ sounds like [shi]? In Korean, when ‘ㅅ(s)’ meets the vowel ‘ㅣ(i)’, the sound changes to a soft ‘sh’ sound.
  • So, it is not “Jam-si-man-yo” but closer to [Jam-shi-man-yo]. Pronouncing it softly makes you sound much more natural!

2. 잠깐만요 (Wait a second)

• Korean: 잠깐만요
• Pronunciation: [Jamkkanmanyo]
• English Meaning: Wait a second / Hold on.
• Detailed Explanation: This is very similar to “잠시만요,” but it has a slightly more casual or urgent nuance. It focuses on a very short duration of time. You will hear this often between friends or in fast-paced situations.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Pay attention to the ‘ㄲ’ (kk) sound! This is a “Tense Sound” (Double Consonant).
  • You need to build up air pressure behind your tongue and release it sharply, without letting a breath of air out. It sounds stronger and higher in pitch than a regular ‘k’. Think of the ‘k’ in the English word “Sky”.
  • [Jam-kkan-man-yo] — say the ‘kkan’ part with energy!

3. 조금만 기다려 주세요 (Please wait a little bit)

• Korean: 조금만 기다려 주세요
• Pronunciation: [Jogeumman gidaryeo juseyo]
• English Meaning: Please wait a little bit.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a full sentence and a very polite request. ‘조금만(Jogeumman)’ means ‘only a little’, and ‘기다려 주세요(gidaryeo juseyo)’ means ‘please wait’. Use this at a restaurant or hotel when you need to ask staff to wait for you.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Let’s look at ‘기다려 (gidaryeo)’. The ‘려 (ryeo)’ sound can be tricky. It is a combination of ‘r/l’ + ‘y’ + ‘eo’.
  • Try to glide the sounds together smoothly. Don’t chop it up like “Gi-da-ri-eo”. Instead, flow through it: [Gi-da-ryeo].

Real-Life Conversation

Let’s see how these expressions are used in a trendy Kiosk situation!

(Situation: A and B are ordering at a busy cafe kiosk)

• A (Minji): 와, 뒤에 사람 많다! 빨리 주문하자.
  • (Wow, there are so many people behind us! Let’s order quickly.)
• B (Jason): 어? 지갑이 어디 있지? 잠시만요!
  • (Huh? Where is my wallet? Just a moment!)
• A (Minji): 천천히 찾아봐.
  • (Take your time looking for it.)
• B (Jason): 찾았다! 조금만 기다려 주세요. 바로 결제할게요.
  • (Found it! Please wait a little bit. I’ll pay right away.)

Culture Tip & Trend Analysis 🧐

“Jamsimanyo” is the Magic Word in Korea!

In Korea, the “Palli Palli” (Hurry Hurry) culture is famous. Everything moves fast—delivery, internet, and even walking speeds! Because of this, saying “잠시만요 (Jamsimanyo)” is incredibly important.

• Trend Alert: Lately, young Koreans (Gen Z) use “잠시만요” not just to say “wait,” but also as a polite way to say “Excuse me, coming through!” in crowded places like the subway or at a concert.
• If you are blocking someone’s way or need to move past people in a crowded “Open Run” line, just say “잠시만요!” confidently. It’s the magic key to parting the crowd! 🗝️

Wrap-up & Practice

Today we learned how to ask for time politely. Let’s review!

1. Standard: 잠시만요 (Jamsimanyo)
2. Short/Urgent: 잠깐만요 (Jamkkanmanyo)
3. Polite Sentence: 조금만 기다려 주세요 (Jogeumman gidaryeo juseyo)

📝 Mini Quiz

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence!

• Situation: You are checking your phone for a translation app while talking to a Korean friend.
• You: “______________! I need to check the word.”

(A) 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo)
(B) 잠시만요 (Jamsimanyo)

Answer: __________ (Check the bottom for the answer!)

Practice saying these out loud today! If you have any questions, leave a comment below. See you next time! 👋

(Answer: B)