K-Pop Idols Speak Too Fast? Say This in Korean!
Hello! This is Maeil Hangeul (매일한글), here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever been in a conversation in Korean where the other person starts speaking really, really fast? Your head starts spinning, and you can’t catch a single word. Don’t worry, it happens to everyone! Especially lately, with K-pop idols like Minjun from the group ‘Starlight’ talking so fast on their live streams, even Korean fans are joking that they need subtitles!
Today, we’re going to learn the magic phrases to politely ask someone to slow down. These expressions are absolute lifesavers whether you’re ordering coffee, asking for directions, or trying to understand your favorite idol. Let’s get started!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are the essential phrases to slow down any conversation.
- 한국어 표현: 천천히 말해 주세요.
- 발음 [Romanization]: Cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae ju-se-yo.
- 영어 뜻: Please speak slowly.
- 상세 설명: This is the most important and polite phrase for today! 천천히 (cheon-cheon-hi) means “slowly,” and 말해 주세요 (mal-hae ju-se-yo) is a polite way to say “please speak” or “please tell me.” You can use this phrase with anyone, from a shopkeeper to a new friend. It’s not rude at all!
- 한국어 표현: 잘 못 들었어요.
- 발음 [Romanization]: Jal mot deur-eo-sseo-yo.
- 영어 뜻: I couldn’t hear/understand it well.
- 상세 설명: Before asking someone to repeat themselves, it’s polite to explain why. This phrase is perfect for that. 잘 (jal) means “well,” and 못 들었어요 (mot deur-eo-sseo-yo) means “I couldn’t hear.” It’s a soft and natural way to say you missed what they said.
- 한국어 표현: 다시 한번 말해 주세요.
- 발음 [Romanization]: Da-si han-beon mal-hae ju-se-yo.
- 영어 뜻: Please say it one more time.
- 상세 설명: This is the perfect follow-up to “잘 못 들었어요.” 다시 (da-si) means “again” and 한번 (han-beon) means “one time.” So you are literally asking them to say it “again, one time.” It’s a very common and useful request.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation. Imagine you (A) are talking to your Korean friend (B) about a K-pop live stream.
A: Did you watch Minjun from ‘Starlight’ on his live stream yesterday?
어제 ‘스타라이트’ 민준 라이브 봤어요?
B: (Speaking very quickly) 네! 진짜 재밌었어요! 특히 마지막에 새로운 앨범에 대해서 엄청난 스포일러를 했는데…
(Ne! Jinjja jaemisseosseoyo! Teukhi majimage saeroun aelbeome daehaeseo eomcheongnan seu-poil-leo-reul haetneunde…)
Yes! It was so fun! Especially at the end when he gave a huge spoiler about the new album…
A: 어… 저… 잘 못 들었어요. 천천히 말해 주세요.
Uh… um… Jal mot deur-eo-sseo-yo. Cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae ju-se-yo.
B: 아, 미안해요! 민준이 새 앨범에 대해 이야기했어요. 정말 기대돼요!
Ah, mianhaeyo! Minjun talked about the new album. I’m so excited!
Oh, sorry! Minjun talked about the new album. I’m so excited!
A: 아하! 이제 알겠어요. 고마워요!
Aha! I get it now. Thank you!
See? Simple and effective!
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In Korea, speaking fast when you’re excited is very common. You’ll notice it a lot in K-dramas and on variety shows. The phrase for this is “말이 빠르다” (mar-i ppa-reu-da), which literally means “speech is fast.”
When you use the phrases we learned today, Koreans will be very understanding and happy to slow down for you. They appreciate that you are trying to learn their language!
Pro Tip: When you say “천천히 말해 주세요,” try to have a friendly smile. It shows that you are eager to understand, not that you are frustrated. This small gesture makes the interaction much smoother and more positive. You’ll look just like a friendly local!
Let’s Review & Practice!
Great job today! You’ve learned some incredibly useful phrases for handling fast talkers in Korean. We learned 천천히 말해 주세요 (Please speak slowly), 잘 못 들었어요 (I couldn’t understand well), and 다시 한번 말해 주세요 (Please say it one more time).
Now, it’s your turn to practice!
- Fill in the blank: You are ordering food, but the staff member is explaining the menu too quickly. What do you say?
죄송하지만, ______ 말해 주세요. (I’m sorry, but please speak ______.)
- Make a sentence: How would you ask a friend to repeat their name? (Hint: Use “다시 한번” and “이름” (ireum), which means name).
Don’t be shy! Try using one of today’s expressions in a comment below. We can’t wait to see you use your new Korean skills! Keep up the great work
