Korean for Elementary Learners: Disagreeing Respectfully by Acknowledging the Other View
Learn Korean phrases to show you understand someone's point before offering a different opinion, using 맞아요, 그렇긴 한데, -긴 하지만 and related patterns.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Korean conversation, disagreeing well often means first showing that you heard and understood the other person. This lesson teaches a practical respect strategy: acknowledge the other view, then add your own. You will learn set phrases such as 맞아요, 그렇긴 한데… and -긴 하지만…, and you will practice keeping your tone soft with 요. The focus is not simply on being polite in general, but on the specific move of recognizing the other person's point before you disagree.
By the end, you can…
- acknowledge another person's opinion in Korean before disagreeing.
- use 그렇긴 한데 and -긴 하지만 to introduce a different view.
- keep a disagreement soft and respectful in everyday conversation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
맞아요.
That's right. / I agree.
ma-ja-yo
Use as a short acknowledgment before you add a different opinion. It does not always mean full agreement.
그렇긴 한데…
That's true, but…
geu-reo-kin han-de…
A very common way to accept a point and then gently introduce a concern or different view.
무슨 말인지 알겠어요.
I see what you mean.
mu-seun ma-rin-ji al-ge-sseo-yo
Shows you understood the other person's meaning before you respond with your own view.
제 생각에는…
In my opinion… / I think…
je saeng-ga-ge-neun…
A soft way to introduce your own view after acknowledging the other person.
-긴 하지만…
It is true that…, but…
-gin ha-ji-man…
Attach to a verb or adjective stem to admit a point while signaling a contrast will follow.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
A common respect strategy in Korean is acknowledgment plus contrast. Start with 맞아요 or 무슨 말인지 알겠어요, then use 그렇긴 한데… or -긴 하지만…. For example: 맞아요. 그렇긴 한데 시간이 없어요. ('That's right. That said, I don't have time.') You can also say 이게 좋긴 하지만 조금 비싸요. ('This is good, but it's a little expensive.') The -긴 하지만 pattern admits the first point is true, then adds your different view.
When to use it
Use this strategy when you want to disagree without sounding blunt. It is especially useful with coworkers, teachers, older people, or anyone you have just met. For example, if a friend says 주말에 가자 ('Let's go this weekend'), you can reply 좋긴 한데 토요일은 좀 바빠요 ('That sounds good, but Saturday is a bit busy for me'). If the other person is older or of higher status, keep 요 and avoid strong words such as 아니에요 as your first response.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
우리 이번 주말에 등산 갈까요?
Shall we go hiking this weekend?u-ri i-beon ju-ma-re deung-san gal-kka-yo?좋긴 한데요, 토요일은 좀 바빠요.
That sounds good, but Saturday is a bit busy for me.jo-kin han-de-yo, to-yo-il-eun jom ba-ppa-yo.아, 그래요? 그럼 일요일은 어때요?
Oh, really? How about Sunday then?a, geu-rae-yo? geu-reom il-yo-il-eun eo-ttae-yo?일요일은 괜찮아요. 그렇게 하죠.
Sunday is fine. Let's do that.il-yo-il-eun gwaen-chan-a-yo. geu-reo-ke ha-jyo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean, a direct 아니에요 ('no') at the start of a reply can sound abrupt in many everyday situations, especially with someone older or less familiar. Acknowledging the other person first, then adding 그렇긴 한데… or -긴 하지만…, keeps the conversation smooth. With close friends, shorter and more direct disagreement is often fine.
One thing to watch for
Starting a disagreement with 아니에요, 그런데… ('No, but…') when speaking to a coworker or an older person.
Try this instead: Soften the opening by acknowledging the other view first: 맞아요. 그렇긴 한데… or 무슨 말인지 알겠어요. 그렇지만…. Then add your own point, for example 맞아요. 그렇긴 한데 시간이 없어요.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'That's true, but…' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
그렇긴 한데…
This phrase acknowledges the other person's point and signals that a different view or concern will follow. In very casual speech among close friends, 그렇긴 한데 without 요 is also possible.
2You want to say 'I see what you mean' before disagreeing. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
무슨 말인지 알겠어요.
This shows you understood the other person's meaning. In casual speech to a close friend, 무슨 말인지 알겠어 is also fine.
3Change 좋아요 ('It's good') into a form that admits the point but leads to a contrast.
Show a sample answer
좋긴 하지만…
Adding -긴 하지만 to the stem 좋- gives 좋긴 하지만, meaning 'It is good, but…'. This pattern is useful for respectful disagreement.
Acknowledge first, then disagree: 맞아요 or 무슨 말인지 알겠어요 plus 그렇긴 한데… or -긴 하지만… keeps your Korean respectful and clear.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Korean into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr