Korean Topic Changes: 'Anyway...' vs. Smoothing Over Discomfort
Learn intermediate Korean phrases to change the subject casually and to redirect a conversation when it becomes awkward or uncomfortable, with clear differences in nuance and politeness.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Changing the topic in Korean is not one skill but two. Sometimes you simply want to move on: 'So, any plans this weekend?' Other times the current topic has become awkward, personal, or tense, and you need to redirect while protecting everyone's feelings. Korean uses different expressions for each. This lesson teaches common intermediate phrases for casual topic shifts and for smoothing over discomfort, plus how politeness levels and honorifics change who can say what to whom.
By the end, you can…
- change the topic casually with a natural Korean transition phrase.
- redirect a conversation that has become uncomfortable without sounding rude.
- choose between casual and polite forms based on who I am speaking to.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
그나저나 주말에 계획 있어요?
Anyway, do you have plans this weekend?
geunajeona jumare gyehoek isseoyo?
Casual-but-polite topic shift. 그나저나 signals 'by the way / anyway' and is common among friends, coworkers, and acquaintances. Add -요 for polite speech.
아무튼, 다른 얘기인데요...
Anyway, changing the subject...
amuteun, dareun yaegiindeyo...
Neutral redirect. 아무튼 means 'in any case' and 다른 얘기인데요 softens the shift. Useful when you want to move on without addressing tension directly.
말 바꾸는 것 같아서 죄송한데요...
Sorry to change the subject, but...
mal bakkuneun geot gataseo joesonghandeyo...
Explicitly acknowledges the shift. This is useful when the previous topic was sensitive and you want to show awareness before redirecting.
그 얘기는 그만하고, 우리 다른 얘기 해요.
Let's stop talking about that and talk about something else.
geu yaegineun geumanhago, uri dareun yaegi haeyo.
Direct but softened with 우리 ('we'). Use with people close to you or when the group clearly wants to move on. Avoid with superiors in formal settings.
혹시 불편하셨다면 다른 얘기로 넘어갈게요.
If that made you uncomfortable, let's move on to another topic.
hoksi bulpyeonhasyeotdamyeon dareun yaegiro neomeogalgeyo.
Addresses discomfort directly and uses honorific -시- for the other person. Appropriate when you sense someone is uneasy and want to give them an exit.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Korean topic shifts often use a transition word plus a new question. 그나저나 and 아무튼 both mean roughly 'anyway,' but 그나저나 feels more like 'by the way' and often introduces a light new topic: 그나저나 주말에 뭐 해요? ('Anyway, what are you doing this weekend?'). 아무튼 is broader and can close a topic: 아무튼, 그건 나중에 얘기해요 ('Anyway, let's talk about that later'). When discomfort is involved, add an acknowledgment clause before the shift: 말 바꾸는 것 같아서 죄송한데요, 다른 얘기 해도 될까요? This names the awkwardness instead of ignoring it.
When to use it
Use 그나저나 and 아무튼 with friends, classmates, and close coworkers. With strangers, older people, or workplace superiors, prefer polite endings and softer framing: 아무튼, 다른 얘기인데요... or 혹시 불편하셨다면 다른 얘기로 넘어갈게요. If someone has just shared something painful, do not abruptly say 그 얘기는 그만하고. Instead acknowledge first: 많이 힘드셨겠어요. 그런데 다른 얘기 하나 해도 될까요? This respects the emotional weight before redirecting. In formal meetings, topic control often belongs to the chair, so use 저기, 잠시 다른 안건으로 넘어가도 될까요? rather than casual transitions.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
요즘 회사 일은 어때요?
How's work these days?yojeum hoesa ireun eottaeyo?좀 힘들어요. 지난주에 큰 실수가 있었거든요.
It's a bit hard. There was a big mistake last week.jom himdeureoyo. jinanju-e keun silsuga isseotgeodeunyo.아이고, 많이 속상하셨겠어요. 혹시 불편하셨다면 다른 얘기로 넘어갈게요.
Oh no, that must have been upsetting. If that made you uncomfortable, let's move on to another topic.aigo, mani soksanghasyeotgeteoyo. hoksi bulpyeonhasyeotdamyeon dareun yaegiro neomeogalgeyo.고마워요. 그나저나 주말에 계획 있어요?
Thanks. Anyway, do you have plans this weekend?gomawoyo. geunajeona jumare gyehoek isseoyo?A little context goes a long way
Korean conversation often values group harmony, so a topic shift can be a face-saving move rather than a rejection. Acknowledging the other person's feelings before redirecting is usually safer than a blunt 'let's stop talking about that.' Honorifics matter: -시- and -셨- show respect and are expected when addressing someone older or of higher status. Among close friends, shorter forms like 아무튼 and 그 얘기는 그만하고 are normal, but the same words can sound dismissive to a superior.
One thing to watch for
Using 그 얘기는 그만하고 ('stop talking about that') with a boss or older person after they share something personal.
Try this instead: Soften it and acknowledge their feelings first. Say 많이 힘드셨겠어요. 그런데 다른 얘기 하나 해도 될까요? ('That must have been hard. But may we talk about something else?'). This respects the speaker and asks permission before redirecting.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are chatting with a coworker and want to move to a lighter topic without addressing any tension. Which phrase fits best?
Show a sample answer
그나저나 주말에 계획 있어요?
그나저나 is a natural 'by the way/anyway' transition for a casual new topic. 아무튼, 다른 얘기인데요... also works, but it is slightly more explicit about changing the subject.
2Your friend looks uncomfortable after a personal question. What should you say before changing the topic?
Show a sample answer
혹시 불편하셨다면 다른 얘기로 넘어갈게요.
This directly acknowledges possible discomfort and offers to move on. With a close friend, you could also say 미안, 다른 얘기 하자, but the honorific version is safer with acquaintances or older people.
3In a formal meeting, you want to move to the next agenda item. Which expression is appropriate?
Show a sample answer
저기, 잠시 다른 안건으로 넘어가도 될까요?
This uses polite permission-seeking language and the formal word 안건 ('agenda item'). Casual 그나저나 would sound out of place in a formal meeting.
Use 그나저나 or 아무튼 for ordinary topic shifts, but when discomfort is present, acknowledge the other person's feelings first and then ask to move on. Politeness and honorifics decide whether your redirect feels considerate or dismissive.
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