Korean for Clarification: Asking Someone to Repeat and Saying You're Still Learning
Learn polite Korean phrases to ask for repetition, say you're still learning, and apologize that your Korean isn't good yet, with natural examples and a dialogue.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you don't catch what someone said in Korean, the most useful skill is asking them to repeat it without derailing the conversation. This lesson gives you three core patterns: asking for repetition, saying you're still learning, and apologizing that your Korean isn't good yet. You'll practice polite forms that work in shops, cafés, and everyday encounters. The focus is clarification, not asking for a full explanation of grammar or vocabulary. By the end, you'll be able to keep a conversation going even when your listening isn't perfect.
By the end, you can…
- politely ask someone to repeat what they said in Korean.
- say I'm still learning Korean and apologize that my Korean isn't good yet.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Could you say that one more time?
da-si han beon mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo
Polite and safe with strangers, staff, or anyone older. Use when you simply didn't hear.
죄송하지만 다시 말씀해 주실 수 있나요?
Sorry, but could you say that again?
joe-song-ha-ji-man da-si mal-sseum-hae ju-sil su in-na-yo
Adds an apology and a slightly softer request. Good when you need to interrupt.
아직 한국어를 배우고 있어요.
I'm still learning Korean.
a-jik han-guk-eo-reul bae-u-go i-sseo-yo
Use to set expectations. It signals that you may need repetition or slower speech.
한국어를 잘 못해서 죄송해요.
Sorry, my Korean isn't good.
han-guk-eo-reul jal mo-tae-seo joe-song-hae-yo
A straightforward apology. Use with people you've just met or when you've caused a small inconvenience.
천천히 말씀해 주시면 감사하겠습니다.
I'd appreciate it if you could speak slowly.
cheon-cheon-hi mal-sseum-hae ju-si-myeon gam-sa-ha-get-seum-ni-da
Very polite and formal. Useful in service encounters or when speaking to someone in a professional role.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern for asking for repetition is 다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요? This combines 다시 한 번 (one more time) with 말씀해 주시겠어요? (could you say/ speak?). You can also use the shorter 다시 말씀해 주시겠어요? Both are polite. If you want to be extra soft, add 죄송하지만 at the start: 죄송하지만 다시 말씀해 주시겠어요? To say you're still learning, use 아직 한국어를 배우고 있어요. The adverb 아직 means 'still' and 배우고 있어요 is the present progressive of 배우다 (to learn). To apologize, say 한국어를 잘 못해서 죄송해요. Here 잘 못해서 means 'because I'm not good at it' and 죄송해요 is a polite apology. These three patterns work together: you can apologize, say you're still learning, and ask for repetition in one turn.
When to use it
Use 다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요? when you didn't hear clearly and need the same words repeated. It does not ask for an explanation of meaning. If you need slower speech, add 천천히 말씀해 주시면 감사하겠습니다. Use 아직 한국어를 배우고 있어요 when you want to signal that your Korean is a work in progress, especially before asking for help. Use 한국어를 잘 못해서 죄송해요 when you've misunderstood something or need to apologize for a language gap. In shops or cafés, you can combine them: 죄송하지만 아직 한국어를 배우고 있어서요. 다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요? This is polite and clear. Avoid using these phrases with close friends in casual settings; with friends, you can drop the polite endings, but for strangers and staff, keep the polite forms.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
어서 오세요. 뭘 찾으시는지 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Welcome. Could you tell me what you're looking for?eo-seo o-se-yo. mwol cha-jeu-si-neun-ji mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo죄송하지만 아직 한국어를 배우고 있어요. 다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Sorry, but I'm still learning Korean. Could you say that one more time?joe-song-ha-ji-man a-jik han-guk-eo-reul bae-u-go i-sseo-yo. da-si han beon mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo네, 뭘 찾으시는지 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Sure, could you tell me what you're looking for?ne, mwol cha-jeu-si-neun-ji mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo한국어를 잘 못해서 죄송해요. 천천히 말씀해 주시면 감사하겠습니다.
Sorry, my Korean isn't good. I'd appreciate it if you could speak slowly.han-guk-eo-reul jal mo-tae-seo joe-song-hae-yo. cheon-cheon-hi mal-sseum-hae ju-si-myeon gam-sa-ha-get-seum-ni-daA little context goes a long way
In Korean, politeness is often shown through verb endings and honorific words like 말씀하다 (to speak) instead of 말하다. Using the polite request form 주시겠어요? with strangers or staff is standard and respectful. Saying 아직 한국어를 배우고 있어요 is a common and modest way to manage expectations; it is not a sign of weakness. Apologizing for not being good at Korean is also normal when you need help, but you don't need to over-apologize. A single 죄송해요 is usually enough.
One thing to watch for
Using the casual 반말 form again? or 다시 말해? with someone you've just met.
Try this instead: With strangers, staff, or anyone older, use the polite form 다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요? or 다시 말씀해 주시겠어요? The casual 다시 말해 is fine with close friends of the same age or younger, but it can sound rude in service encounters.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You didn't hear a shop employee's question. What polite phrase can you use to ask them to repeat it?
Show a sample answer
다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
This is a polite request for repetition. 죄송하지만 다시 말씀해 주시겠어요? is also correct and adds an apology.
2How would you say 'I'm still learning Korean' in a polite way?
Show a sample answer
아직 한국어를 배우고 있어요.
This uses the polite present progressive. You could also say 아직 한국어를 배우는 중이에요, which has a similar meaning.
3You want to apologize that your Korean isn't good. What phrase fits?
Show a sample answer
한국어를 잘 못해서 죄송해요.
This directly apologizes for not being good at Korean. Another natural option is 한국어가 아직 서툴러서 죄송해요, which is slightly softer.
Keep these three patterns ready: 다시 한 번 말씀해 주시겠어요? for repetition, 아직 한국어를 배우고 있어요 to say you're still learning, and 한국어를 잘 못해서 죄송해요 to apologize. Using them together keeps conversations polite and moving.
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