Asking Clarifying Questions in Korean: "What Do You Mean By...?"
Learn intermediate Korean patterns for asking what someone means, requesting clarification, and checking how a word or idea is being used, with polite and casual options.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you listen to Korean, you will often understand every word but still miss the speaker's intended meaning. At this level, the useful skill is not simply saying you do not understand; it is asking precisely what someone means by a word, phrase, or claim. This lesson teaches Korean patterns such as 무슨 뜻이에요?, 무슨 말씀이세요?, and 어떤 의미로 말씀하신 거예요? so you can ask for clarification without sounding confrontational. You will also learn how to quote the part that is unclear, which keeps the conversation focused and polite.
By the end, you can…
- ask what a Korean word or expression means in context.
- ask a speaker to clarify what they mean by a specific phrase.
- distinguish between asking for a definition and asking about a speaker's intention.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
무슨 뜻이에요?
What does it mean?
mu-seun tteu-si-e-yo?
Standard polite question about the meaning of a word, phrase, or expression. It does not ask about a person's intention.
그게 무슨 말이에요?
What do you mean by that? / What does that mean?
geu-ge mu-seun ma-ri-e-yo?
Polite but direct. Use when the other person's words themselves are unclear, not when you disagree.
무슨 말씀이세요?
What do you mean, sir/ma'am?
mu-seun mal-sseu-mi-se-yo?
More formal and respectful because of 말씀 and the -시- honorific. Suitable for strangers, elders, or workplace superiors.
어떤 의미로 말씀하신 거예요?
In what sense are you saying that? / What do you mean by that?
eo-tteon ui-mi-ro mal-sseum-ha-sin geo-ye-yo?
Asks about intended meaning or interpretation. Useful when the words are clear but the intention is not.
죄송하지만, 다시 한번 설명해 주시겠어요?
I'm sorry, but could you explain that once more?
joe-song-ha-ji-man, da-si han-beon seol-myeong-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Polite request for repetition plus explanation. Useful when you missed part of a longer answer.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 무슨 + noun + 이에요? It asks what kind of thing something is. With 뜻 ('meaning'), 무슨 뜻이에요? asks for a definition. With 말 ('words, speech'), 그게 무슨 말이에요? asks what the utterance means. To ask about intention, use 어떤 의미로 ('in what sense') with a verb: 어떤 의미로 말씀하신 거예요? The ending -신 거예요? adds respectful past-reference to the other person's action. For a casual friend, you can say 무슨 뜻이야? or 그게 무슨 말이야? but avoid these with superiors.
When to use it
Use 무슨 뜻이에요? when you meet a new word or expression, for example: '이 단어가 무슨 뜻이에요?' ('What does this word mean?'). Use 그게 무슨 말이에요? when the sentence is grammatically clear but confusing in context. Use 어떤 의미로 말씀하신 거예요? when you suspect the speaker means something beyond the literal words, such as a criticism or a suggestion. If you simply did not hear, say 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요? rather than asking for meaning, because the problem is hearing, not semantics.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
선생님, 방금 하신 말씀에서 '유연하게 대처한다'는 게 무슨 뜻이에요?
Teacher, in what you just said, what does 'respond flexibly' mean?seon-saeng-nim, bang-geum ha-sin mal-sseu-me-seo 'yu-yeon-ha-ge dae-cheo-han-da'-neun ge mu-seun tteu-si-e-yo?상황에 따라 방법을 바꿀 수 있다는 뜻이에요.
It means that you can change your method depending on the situation.sang-hwang-e tta-ra bang-beo-beul ba-kkul su it-da-neun tteu-si-e-yo.아, 그럼 '상황에 따라'가 어떤 의미로 말씀하신 거예요? 시간에 따라 달라진다는 뜻인가요?
Ah, then in what sense are you saying 'depending on the situation'? Does it mean it changes depending on time?a, geu-reom 'sang-hwang-e tta-ra'-ga eo-tteon ui-mi-ro mal-sseum-ha-sin geo-ye-yo? si-gan-e tta-ra dal-la-jin-da-neun tteu-sin-ga-yo?시간도 포함되지만, 주로 사람이나 환경에 따라 달라진다는 뜻이에요.
Time is included, but it mainly means it changes depending on the people or the environment.si-gan-do po-ham-doe-ji-man, ju-ro sa-ram-i-na hwan-gyeong-e tta-ra dal-la-jin-da-neun tteu-si-e-yo.A little context goes a long way
Korean has clear politeness levels, and clarification questions can easily sound like challenges if the level is wrong. With teachers, elders, or workplace superiors, use 말씀 and -시- forms such as 무슨 말씀이세요? or 어떤 의미로 말씀하신 거예요? With close friends, plain forms like 무슨 뜻이야? are normal. Adding 죄송하지만 or 혹시 softens the question and shows you are asking to understand, not to argue.
One thing to watch for
Using 그게 무슨 말이에요? to disagree with someone or to say 'that makes no sense.'
Try this instead: 그게 무슨 말이에요? asks for clarification, not disagreement. If you want to disagree, say 그건 좀 아닌 것 같아요 ('I think that's not quite right') or 이해가 안 돼요 ('I don't understand'). To ask for meaning politely, use 무슨 뜻이에요? or 어떤 의미로 말씀하신 거예요?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You hear a new word in class and want its definition. What polite question do you ask?
Show a sample answer
이 단어가 무슨 뜻이에요?
This uses 무슨 뜻이에요? to ask for a definition. If you want to be more formal, you could say 이 단어가 무슨 뜻인가요? but the -요? form is standard polite.
2Your boss says something that sounds like criticism, but you are not sure of the intention. What question fits best?
Show a sample answer
어떤 의미로 말씀하신 거예요?
This asks about intended meaning or interpretation, which fits when the words are clear but the intention is not. 그게 무슨 말이에요? is possible but can sound more direct.
3A friend says a slang expression you do not know. How do you ask casually?
Show a sample answer
그게 무슨 뜻이야?
The plain -야? ending is appropriate with close friends. With someone older or in a formal situation, use 무슨 뜻이에요? or 무슨 뜻인가요? instead.
Ask for meaning with 무슨 뜻이에요?, ask about unclear words with 그게 무슨 말이에요?, and ask about intention with 어떤 의미로 말씀하신 거예요? Match the politeness level to your listener.
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