Korean Conversation: Showing Hesitation with 글쎄요, 음, and 잘 모르겠어요
Learn to pause, stall, and express uncertainty naturally in Korean using 글쎄요, 음, 잘 모르겠어요, and related softening patterns for intermediate conversation.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Korean speakers rarely answer a difficult question instantly. Instead, they signal hesitation before giving an opinion, buying time and softening the response. This lesson teaches three core tools: 글쎄요 (geulsseyo) for a thoughtful 'well...', 음 (eum) for a spoken pause, and 잘 모르겠어요 (jal moreugesseoyo) for 'I'm not sure.' You will learn where each fits, how politeness levels change them, and how to combine them with 아마도 and -ㄴ지/는지 to sound natural rather than blunt.
By the end, you can…
- open a hesitant answer with 글쎄요 or 음 instead of answering too directly.
- say I am not sure using 잘 모르겠어요 and adjust it for polite or casual speech.
- combine hesitation markers with 아마도 and -ㄴ지/는지 to give a softened, uncertain opinion.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
글쎄요.
Well... / Hmm, I'm not sure.
geul-sse-yo
Polite hesitation before disagreeing or giving an uncertain opinion. Very common in conversation.
음...
Um... / Hmm...
eum
A filler sound while thinking. It is not rude, but do not overuse it in formal settings.
잘 모르겠어요.
I'm not sure. / I don't really know.
jal mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo
Polite standard form. Softer than 몰라요 and useful when you genuinely lack information.
아마도 그럴 것 같아요.
I think that might be the case.
a-ma-do geu-reol geot ga-ta-yo
Adds uncertainty to a guess. 아마도 signals probability, not certainty.
그건 경우에 따라 달라요.
That depends on the situation.
geu-geon gyeong-u-e tta-ra dal-la-yo
Use when the answer is conditional, similar to 'Well, it depends.'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Hesitation in Korean often comes before the main answer, not inside it. Start with 글쎄요 or 음, then add a softened clause. For example: 글쎄요, 아마도 다음 주에 갈 것 같아요 (Well, I think I might go next week). You can also use 잘 모르겠어요 alone, or combine it: 음, 잘 모르겠어요. The ending -것 같아요 (I think it seems) lowers certainty, while -는지 marks an embedded question: 언제 도착하는지 잘 모르겠어요 (I'm not sure when it arrives).
When to use it
Use 글쎄요 when you need a moment before disagreeing or when the answer is genuinely unclear. Use 음 mainly in relaxed spoken Korean; in a job interview or formal report, a brief pause with 저... (jeo...) may sound more controlled. Use 잘 모르겠어요 when you do not know, and 모르겠는데요 (moreugenneundeyo) when you want to gently push back. Avoid saying 몰라요 to strangers or seniors, because it can sound dismissive. With close friends, 글쎄 and 몰라 are fine.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
이번 주말에 등산 갈래요?
Do you want to go hiking this weekend?i-beon ju-mal-e deung-san gal-lae-yo?글쎄요, 아마도 비가 올 것 같아요.
Well, I think it might rain.geulsseyo, amado biga ol geot gatayo.그럼 다음 주는 어때요?
Then how about next week?geu-reom da-eum ju-neun eo-ttae-yo?음, 잘 모르겠어요. 경우에 따라 달라요.
Um, I'm not sure. It depends on the situation.eum, jal moreugesseoyo. gyeongue ttara dallayo.A little context goes a long way
Korean conversation often values a short hesitation before a strong opinion, because it shows you are considering the other person. 글쎄요 is polite and common with acquaintances, coworkers, and strangers. With close friends, you can shorten it to 글쎄. In formal writing or presentations, replace filler sounds like 음 with a complete sentence such as 확인이 필요합니다 (I need to check).
One thing to watch for
Using 몰라요 as a direct translation of 'I don't know' in every situation.
Try this instead: 몰라요 can sound blunt or dismissive to someone older or unfamiliar. Use 잘 모르겠어요 for polite uncertainty, or 모르겠는데요 to soften a mild disagreement. Example: 잘 모르겠어요, 다시 확인해 볼게요 (I'm not sure; I'll check again).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you politely begin a hesitant answer to a difficult question?
Show a sample answer
글쎄요.
글쎄요 is the standard polite hesitation marker. 음 is also possible in casual speech, but 글쎄요 fits more situations.
2Translate: 'I'm not sure when the meeting starts.'
Show a sample answer
회의가 언제 시작하는지 잘 모르겠어요.
The embedded question uses -는지 before 잘 모르겠어요. 회의가 언제 시작해요? 잘 모르겠어요 is understandable but less connected.
3Make this softer: 몰라요.
Show a sample answer
잘 모르겠어요.
잘 모르겠어요 lowers the bluntness of 몰라요. In casual speech among friends, 몰라 is also acceptable.
Pause first, then answer: use 글쎄요 or 음 to show hesitation, and 잘 모르겠어요 to express polite uncertainty without sounding blunt.
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