Korean for Language Barriers: Asking for a Translator and Getting Help
Learn to ask 'Do you have a translator?' in Korean, request slower speech or repetition, and understand the help you are offered when you cannot speak Korean well.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When your Korean runs out, the most useful skill is not a bigger vocabulary list but a clear way to ask for language help. In this lesson you will learn the core question 통역사 있어요? (tongyeoksa isseoyo?), which means 'Do you have a translator?' or 'Is there a translator?', plus the follow-up phrases you need to explain your situation and understand the answer. Korean has several politeness levels, and the phrases here are chosen so you can use them with strangers, staff at a counter, or a doctor's office without sounding rude. You will also learn how to ask someone to speak slowly or repeat, because even when no translator is available, these requests often solve the problem immediately.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether a translator is available using 통역사 있어요?
- explain that I do not speak Korean well and request slower speech or repetition
- understand and respond to common answers such as 'There is no translator' or 'I will call one'
- use polite request forms with -아/어 주세요 and -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요? in a language-help situation
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
통역사 있어요?
Do you have a translator? / Is there a translator?
tong-yeok-sa i-sseo-yo?
The most direct and widely useful question. Use it at hotels, hospitals, police stations, or information desks. It is polite enough for strangers without being formal.
한국어를 잘 못해요.
I can't speak Korean well.
han-guk-eo-reul jal mo-tae-yo.
Say this right after your translator question to explain why you need help. 잘 못해요 means 'am not good at,' which sounds modest and natural rather than blunt.
천천히 말해 주세요.
Please speak slowly.
cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae ju-se-yo.
Use when the other person speaks too fast. 천천히 means 'slowly,' and 말해 주세요 is a polite request form.
다시 말해 주세요.
Please say that again.
da-si mal-hae ju-se-yo.
Use when you did not catch what was said. It asks for a full repetition, not just a slower version.
영어 할 수 있어요?
Can you speak English?
yeong-eo hal su i-sseo-yo?
A practical alternative when no translator is present. It asks about ability politely; the answer may be 네 (ne, yes) or 아니요 (aniyo, no).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요? means 'Can you...?' or 'Is it possible to...?' Attach it to a verb stem: 하다 (hada, to do) becomes 할 수 있어요? (hal su i-sseo-yo?, can you do it?). With nouns, use the question 통역사 있어요? (tongyeoksa isseoyo?) for 'Is there a translator?' because 있어요 literally means 'exists/have.' To ask for an action politely, use the request ending -아/어 주세요: 말하다 (malhada, to speak) becomes 말해 주세요 (malhae juseyo, please speak). Combining these two patterns covers most language-help situations.
When to use it
Start with 통역사 있어요? at any service counter. If the answer is 없어요 (eopseoyo, there isn't one), do not stop there; add 영어 할 수 있어요? (yeong-eo hal su i-sseo-yo?) or 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheon-cheon-hi malhae juseyo). In a medical or official setting, you can say 통역사가 필요해요 (tongyeoksaga piryohaeyo, I need a translator). If someone offers help, respond with 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida, thank you) or 네, 부탁드립니다 (ne, butakdeurimnida, yes, please).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
저기요, 통역사 있어요?
Excuse me, do you have a translator?jeo-gi-yo, tong-yeok-sa i-sseo-yo?통역사는 없어요. 영어 할 수 있어요?
There is no translator. Can you speak English?tong-yeok-sa-neun eop-seo-yo. yeong-eo hal su i-sseo-yo?조금요. 한국어를 잘 못해요. 천천히 말해 주세요.
A little. I can't speak Korean well. Please speak slowly.jo-geum-yo. han-guk-eo-reul jal mo-tae-yo. cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae ju-se-yo.네, 알겠습니다. 다시 말해 드릴게요.
Okay, I understand. I will say it again for you.ne, al-get-seum-ni-da. da-si mal-hae deu-ril-ge-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean politeness depends heavily on the relationship and setting. The phrases here use the polite -요 style, which is safe with strangers and service staff. In very formal settings such as a government office or a hospital, staff may switch to formal -습니다 endings; you do not need to match them perfectly, but answering with 네, 감사합니다 (ne, gamsahamnida) is always appropriate. Also, many younger Koreans understand some English, but do not assume it; asking 영어 할 수 있어요? is more respectful than speaking English immediately.
One thing to watch for
Saying 통역사 있어? without the polite -요 ending to a stranger or staff member.
Try this instead: Use 통역사 있어요? (tongyeoksa isseoyo?) with the polite ending. The bare form 있어 is intimate speech used with close friends or children, and it can sound rude at a counter or in a hospital. If you want to be extra polite, say 통역사 계세요? (tongyeoksa gyeseyo?), using the honorific 계시다 for 'to be present.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask a hotel receptionist whether a translator is available?
Show a sample answer
통역사 있어요?
This is the standard polite question with the -요 ending. 통역사 계세요? is also correct and slightly more honorific, especially if the translator is a person you are asking about respectfully.
2The person speaks too quickly. What polite request can you use?
Show a sample answer
천천히 말해 주세요.
This means 'Please speak slowly.' 다시 말해 주세요 (please say that again) also works if you missed the words entirely, and both are polite.
3Someone says 통역사는 없어요. What is a useful follow-up question?
Show a sample answer
영어 할 수 있어요?
This asks 'Can you speak English?' and keeps the conversation going. You could also say 천천히 말해 주세요 or 통역사가 필요해요 (I need a translator), depending on the situation.
Lead with 통역사 있어요? and always add 천천히 말해 주세요 or 다시 말해 주세요 when you are struggling; these three phrases solve most language-barrier moments in Korean.
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