Korean for Elementary Learners: Asking 'What Do You Mean by That?' When a Statement Is Unclear
Learn to ask what someone means in Korean when a statement is unclear, using 무슨 뜻이에요? and related polite patterns.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When a Korean speaker says something you do not fully understand, you need a reliable way to ask what they mean. This lesson teaches the elementary skill of asking about meaning, not about opinions. In Korean, the key question is 무슨 뜻이에요? (museun tteusieyo?), which means 'What does it mean?' or 'What do you mean?' You will also learn how to point back to what was just said with 그게 (geuge) and how to ask someone to explain more simply. These patterns are polite and useful in everyday conversation.
By the end, you can…
- ask what a Korean word or statement means.
- ask someone to explain what they just said more clearly.
- recognize the difference between asking about meaning and asking for an opinion.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
무슨 뜻이에요?
What does it mean? / What do you mean?
mu-seun tteu-si-e-yo?
General polite question about the meaning of a word, phrase, or statement.
그게 무슨 뜻이에요?
What do you mean by that?
geu-ge mu-seun tteu-si-e-yo?
Use when you refer to something the other person just said.
다시 말해 주세요.
Please say it again.
da-si mal-hae ju-se-yo.
Ask for repetition when you did not hear or understand clearly.
쉽게 설명해 주세요.
Please explain it easily.
swip-ge seol-myeong-hae ju-se-yo.
Ask for a simpler explanation when the meaning is still unclear.
무슨 의미예요?
What is the meaning?
mu-seun ui-mi-ye-yo?
A slightly more formal alternative to 무슨 뜻이에요?; useful in writing or formal speech.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 무슨 뜻이에요? (museun tteusieyo?). 무슨 means 'what kind of' or 'what', 뜻 means 'meaning', and 이에요 is the polite copula. To point back to a previous statement, add 그게 (geuge), meaning 'that thing' or 'that': 그게 무슨 뜻이에요? (geuge museun tteusieyo?). You can also name the word directly: '사랑'이 무슨 뜻이에요? ('sarang'i museun tteusieyo?) means 'What does 사랑 mean?' This pattern asks about meaning, not about whether someone likes something.
When to use it
Use these questions when a Korean speaker uses an unfamiliar word, an idiom, or a sentence that does not make sense to you. For example, if a friend says 내일은 좀 어려울 것 같아 (naeireun jom eoryeoul geot gata, 'Tomorrow seems a bit difficult'), you can ask 그게 무슨 뜻이에요? (geuge museun tteusieyo?) to find out whether they mean they cannot come, the plan is hard, or something else. If you only need repetition, say 다시 말해 주세요 (dasi malhae juseyo). If the meaning is still unclear, say 쉽게 설명해 주세요 (swipge seolmyeonghae juseyo).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
내일 약속이 좀 어려울 것 같아요.
Tomorrow's plan seems a bit difficult.nae-il yak-ssok-i jom eo-ryeo-ul geot ga-ta-yo.그게 무슨 뜻이에요?
What do you mean by that?geu-ge mu-seun tteu-si-e-yo?내일은 시간이 없어서 못 만나요.
I don't have time tomorrow, so I can't meet.nae-il-eun si-gan-i eop-seo-seo mot man-na-yo.아, 알겠어요. 고마워요.
Ah, I understand. Thank you.a, al-get-eo-yo. go-ma-wo-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean, direct questions about meaning are usually fine with friends and acquaintances when you use polite endings like -요. With strangers or in formal settings, use the more formal 무슨 의미예요? (museun uimiyeyo?) or 죄송하지만 무슨 뜻인지 잘 모르겠어요 (joesonghajiman museun tteusinji jal moreugesseoyo, 'Sorry, but I'm not sure what it means'). Koreans often appreciate clear questions rather than silent confusion.
One thing to watch for
Using 어떻게 생각해요? (eotteoke saenggakhaeyo?) when you actually want to ask what a statement means.
Try this instead: 어떻게 생각해요? asks 'What do you think?' and requests an opinion. To ask about meaning, use 무슨 뜻이에요? (museun tteusieyo?) or 그게 무슨 뜻이에요? (geuge museun tteusieyo?). For example, if someone says 그건 좀 아닌 것 같아 (geugeon jom anin geot gata), ask 그게 무슨 뜻이에요? to learn what they mean, not 어떻게 생각해요? to ask their opinion.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What do you mean by that?' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
그게 무슨 뜻이에요?
그게 points to what was just said, and 무슨 뜻이에요? asks about meaning. 무슨 뜻이에요? alone is also acceptable when the context is clear.
2Which phrase asks for a simpler explanation?
Show a sample answer
쉽게 설명해 주세요.
쉽게 means 'easily' or 'simply', and 설명해 주세요 means 'please explain'. 다시 말해 주세요 is also valid, but it asks for repetition rather than a simpler explanation.
3Does 어떻게 생각해요? ask about meaning or opinion?
Show a sample answer
It asks about opinion, not meaning.
어떻게 생각해요? means 'What do you think?' To ask about meaning, use 무슨 뜻이에요? or 그게 무슨 뜻이에요? Both are correct depending on whether you point back to a statement.
When a Korean statement is unclear, ask 그게 무슨 뜻이에요? to focus on meaning, and use 쉽게 설명해 주세요 when you need a simpler explanation.
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