Fixing Communication Breakdowns: Clarifying, Repeating, and Paraphrasing - Everyday Korean Conversation: Practical Phrases for Real Life

Q: You didn’t understand a sentence in Korean. Which phrase is the BEST choice to politely ask the speaker to say it in simpler words?

다른 말로 말해 주세요.. “다른 말로 말해 주세요.” means “Please say it in other words,” which directly asks for simpler wording. “시간 맞아요?” checks the time. “손으로 보여 주세요.” asks them to show you with their hand. “조금은 알겠는데, 잘 모르겠어요.” says you understand a little but not fully, but it doesn’t specifically ask for a simpler rephrasing.

New Words and Phrases (in English)

These phrases help you fix communication breakdowns: asking people to repeat, slow down, or explain more simply, and checking that you understood key details.

Word	Pronunciation	Translation	Example
다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요.	da-shi han beon mal-sseum-hae ju-se-yo	Please say that one more time.	죄송한데, 다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요.(Sorry, but please say that one more time.)
좀 천천히 말해 주세요.	jom cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae ju-se-yo	Please speak a bit more slowly.	한국어가 아직 어려워서, 좀 천천히 말해 주세요.(Korean is still difficult for me, so please speak a bit more slowly.)
무슨 뜻이에요?	mu-seun tteu-si-e-yo	What does that mean?	‘회식’이 무슨 뜻이에요?(What does '회식' mean?)
조금은 알겠는데, 잘 모르겠어요.	jo-geum-eun al-get-neun-de, jal mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo	I understand a little, but I don’t really get it.	조금은 알겠는데, 시간은 잘 모르겠어요.(I understand a little, but I’m not sure about the time.)
다른 말로 말해 주세요.	da-reun mal-lo mal-hae ju-se-yo	Please say it in other words.	어려워요. 다른 말로 말해 주세요.(That’s difficult. Please say it in other words.)
손으로 보여 주세요.	son-eu-ro bo-yeo ju-se-yo	Please show me with your hand / by gesture.	길을 잘 몰라요. 손으로 보여 주세요.(I don’t really know the way. Please show me with your hand.)
여기서 말하면…	yeo-gi-seo mal-ha-myeon…	If I say it like this… (used to paraphrase or explain differently)	여기서 말하면, 저는 아침에 보통 일찍 일어나요.(If I say it like this, I usually wake up early in the morning.)
다시 한 번, 시간/장소/가격 맞아요?	da-shi han beon, shi-gan / jang-so / ga-gyeok ma-ja-yo	One more time, is the time/place/price correct?	다시 한 번, 시간 맞아요? 일곱 시예요?(One more time, is the time correct? Is it seven o’clock?)

Language Pattern (in English)

1. Polite requests with -아/어 주세요

In this module you see many phrases ending with …해 주세요 (hae ju-se-yo). This pattern is a soft, polite way to say “please do X for me.”

Structure:

[verb stem] + 아/어 주세요 = “please do [verb]”

Examples from the vocabulary:

말하다 (to speak) → 말해 주세요
좀 천천히 말해 주세요.

jom cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae ju-se-yo

“Please speak a bit more slowly.”

말씀하다 (to speak, honorific) → 말씀해 주세요
다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요.

da-shi han beon mal-sseum-hae ju-se-yo

“Please say that one more time.”

보여 주다 (to show) → 보여 주세요
손으로 보여 주세요.

son-eu-ro bo-yeo ju-se-yo

“Please show me with your hand.”

You can reuse this pattern to make many polite repair phrases:

글로 써 주세요.

geul-lo sseo ju-se-yo

“Please write it down.”

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2. Saying you don’t fully understand (without stopping the conversation)

Instead of just saying “I don’t understand,” Korean often uses softer, partial-understanding phrases:

조금은 알겠는데, 잘 모르겠어요.

jo-geum-eun al-get-neun-de, jal mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo

Literally: “I understand a little, but I don’t really know.”

Use this when you caught part of it, but not everything. Follow it with a focused question:

시간은 잘 모르겠어요.

shi-gan-eun jal mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo

“I’m not sure about the time.”

Pattern:

조금은 알겠는데, [부분]은 잘 모르겠어요.

“I understand a little, but I’m not sure about [part].”

Example:

조금은 알겠는데, 장소는 잘 모르겠어요.

jo-geum-eun al-get-neun-de, jang-so-neun jal mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo

“I understand a little, but I’m not sure about the place.”

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3. Asking for meaning or simpler wording

Two very useful patterns:

무슨 뜻이에요?

mu-seun tteu-si-e-yo

“What does that mean?”

Use after a word you don’t know:
‘회식’이 무슨 뜻이에요?

“What does ‘회식’ mean?”

다른 말로 말해 주세요.

da-reun mal-lo mal-hae ju-se-yo

“Please say it in other words.”

Use when the whole sentence is too hard.

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4. Confirming details with 맞아요?

맞아요? (ma-ja-yo) means “Is that right / correct?”

Add a detail before 맞아요? to confirm it:

시간 맞아요?

shi-gan ma-ja-yo

“Is the time correct?”

장소 맞아요?

jang-so ma-ja-yo

“Is the place correct?”

가격 맞아요?

ga-gyeok ma-ja-yo

“Is the price correct?”

Example from vocabulary:

다시 한 번, 시간 맞아요? 일곱 시예요?

da-shi han beon, shi-gan ma-ja-yo? il-gop shi-ye-yo?

“One more time, is the time correct? Is it seven o’clock?”

This lets you keep the conversation going while making sure you understood the key information.

Practice Dialogue (in English)

Two friends (one Korean, one learner) are making dinner plans on the phone. The learner uses clarification, repetition, and paraphrasing to keep the conversation going.

On the phone, making plans for dinner together.

A (Korean friend)

오늘 저녁에 우리 회사 근처에서 회식하는데, 같이 올래요?

This evening we’re having a company dinner near my office. Do you want to come with us?

B (Learner)

죄송한데, 다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요. 좀 천천히 말해 주세요.

Sorry, please say that one more time. Please speak a bit more slowly.

응, 오늘 저녁에 회식해요. 회사 사람들하고 밥 먹어요.

Yeah, we have a *hoesik* tonight. I’m eating with my coworkers.

‘회식’이 무슨 뜻이에요?

What does ‘회식’ mean?

회식은 회사 사람들이랑 같이 밥 먹고 술도 마시는 거예요.

Hoesik is when people from the company eat together and also drink.

아, 조금은 알겠는데, 장소는 잘 모르겠어요. 다시 한 번, 장소 맞아요?

Ah, I understand a little, but I’m not sure about the place. One more time, is the place correct?

홍대역 3번 출구 앞 식당이에요. 손으로 보여 줄게요. 지금 사진 보낼게요.

It’s a restaurant in front of Hongdae Station exit 3. I’ll show you with my hand—well, I’ll send you a picture now.

여기서 말하면, 저는 홍대역은 알아요, 그런데 출구는 잘 몰라요. 손으로 보여 주세요, 문자로요.

If I say it like this, I know Hongdae Station, but I don’t really know the exits. Please show me with your hand—by text message.

알겠어요. 그리고 일곱 시에 시작해요. 시간 맞아요? 일곱 시에 올 수 있어요?

Got it. And it starts at seven. Is the time okay? Can you come at seven?

네, 일곱 시요? 다시 한 번, 시간 맞아요? 일곱 시 홍대역 3번 출구 앞, 맞아요?

Yes, seven o’clock? One more time, is the time correct? Seven o’clock, in front of Hongdae Station exit 3, right?

맞아요! 거기서 만나서 같이 갈게요.

That’s right! Let’s meet there and go together.

Check Your Understanding (in English)

Answer this question to review how to ask for simpler wording politely.

You didn’t understand a sentence in Korean. Which phrase is the BEST choice to politely ask the speaker to say it in simpler words?

다른 말로 말해 주세요.
시간 맞아요?
손으로 보여 주세요.
조금은 알겠는데, 잘 모르겠어요.

Show Answer

Answer: A) 다른 말로 말해 주세요.

“다른 말로 말해 주세요.” means “Please say it in other words,” which directly asks for simpler wording. “시간 맞아요?” checks the time. “손으로 보여 주세요.” asks them to show you with their hand. “조금은 알겠는데, 잘 모르겠어요.” says you understand a little but not fully, but it doesn’t specifically ask for a simpler rephrasing.

Key Terms

회식: Company dinner/outing with coworkers, often including food and drinks.
맞아요?: Is that right / correct? Short check for confirmation.
무슨 뜻이에요?: What does it mean? Used after a word or phrase you don’t understand.
여기서 말하면…: If I say it like this… A lead-in to paraphrasing or explaining your idea in a different way.
손으로 보여 주세요.: Please show me with your hand / by gesture. Useful when words are hard but pointing or gestures can help.
다른 말로 말해 주세요.: Please say it in other words. Requests paraphrasing or simpler wording.
좀 천천히 말해 주세요.: Please speak a bit more slowly. Soft, polite request to slow down.
다시 한 번 말씀해 주세요.: Please say that one more time. Very polite, often used when you didn’t catch what someone said.
조금은 알겠는데, 잘 모르겠어요.: I understand a little, but I don’t really get it. Signals partial understanding and invites clarification.
다시 한 번, 시간/장소/가격 맞아요?: One more time, is the time/place/price correct? Pattern for confirming key details to avoid misunderstandings.