Korean for Kiosks: Asking Staff to Walk You Through the Screen Slowly
Learn polite Korean phrases to ask staff to explain a kiosk slowly, point at options, and check that you understood.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
You can order in Korean, but the kiosk screen moves faster than your reading. This lesson gives you three polite patterns that turn a rushed interaction into a guided one: ask for a slow explanation, ask how a specific step works, and check comprehension without pretending you understood. The goal is not to memorize every button, but to hand the pace of the interaction to the staff member while keeping your Korean natural and respectful.
By the end, you can…
- ask a staff member to explain a kiosk step slowly.
- ask how to do a specific action on the screen.
- check that I understood by asking for a repeat.
- combine these phrases politely in a real kiosk situation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
천천히 설명해 주세요.
Please explain slowly.
cheon-cheon-hi seol-myeong-hae ju-se-yo
Use this when you need the overall process slowed down. It is polite and direct, and it does not blame the staff for speaking quickly.
이거 어떻게 하는 거예요?
How do I do this?
i-geo eo-tteo-ke ha-neun geo-ye-yo?
Point at the screen or a specific button while saying this. It asks for the method of one action, not the whole kiosk.
다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Could you say that one more time?
da-si han-beon mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
A polite comprehension check. Use it when you heard the words but did not catch the meaning.
여기 눌러야 돼요?
Do I need to press here?
yeo-gi nul-leo-ya dwae-yo?
Pair this with a finger point. It confirms a single step and invites a yes/no answer.
화면을 가리키면서 설명해 주실 수 있어요?
Could you explain while pointing at the screen?
hwa-myeon-eul ga-ri-ki-myeon-seo seol-myeong-hae ju-sil su i-sseo-yo?
This shifts the explanation to visual pointing, which is often faster than spoken instructions.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is a polite request ending in -아/어 주세요 or -아/어 주시겠어요?. 천천히 설명해 주세요 is a direct but polite request. 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요? is softer because -시겠어요? asks whether the staff member is able to do it. To name the object, add a noun before the verb: 화면을 (the screen), 이거 (this), 여기 (here). For example, 이거 어떻게 하는 거예요? literally asks how this is done, and it works for a single button. If you want to point while asking, say 화면을 가리키면서 설명해 주실 수 있어요? The verb 가리키다 means to point, and -면서 links two actions.
When to use it
Start with 천천히 설명해 주세요 when the staff member begins a fast explanation. Then point at the exact step and ask 이거 어떻게 하는 거예요? If the answer still comes too quickly, use 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요? to slow the exchange without losing face. When you think you know the next tap, confirm with 여기 눌러야 돼요? This is especially useful at payment or coupon screens. If spoken Korean is the bottleneck, ask 화면을 가리키면서 설명해 주실 수 있어요? so the staff member can point instead of repeating. Keep your voice calm and your finger on the screen; the combination of polite language and gesture keeps the interaction cooperative.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
저기요, 키오스크 주문을 하는데 화면이 너무 빨라요. 천천히 설명해 주세요.
Excuse me, I'm ordering at the kiosk but the screen is too fast. Please explain slowly.jeo-gi-yo, ki-o-seu-keu ju-mun-eul ha-neun-de hwa-myeon-i neo-mu ppal-la-yo. cheon-cheon-hi seol-myeong-hae ju-se-yo.네, 알겠습니다. 먼저 여기에서 메뉴를 고르세요. 그다음에 이 버튼을 누르시면 돼요.
Okay, I understand. First choose a menu here. Then you can press this button.ne, al-get-seum-ni-da. meon-jeo yeo-gi-e-seo me-nyu-reul go-reu-se-yo. geu-da-eum-e i beo-teun-eul nu-reu-si-myeon dwae-yo.잠시만요, 이거 어떻게 하는 거예요? 여기 눌러야 돼요?
Just a moment, how do I do this? Do I need to press here?jam-si-man-yo, i-geo eo-tteo-ke ha-neun geo-ye-yo? yeo-gi nul-leo-ya dwae-yo?네, 맞아요. 여기를 누르고, 카드를 넣으면 됩니다. 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Yes, that's right. Press here, and then insert your card. Could you say that one more time?ne, ma-ja-yo. yeo-gi-reul nu-reu-go, ka-deu-reul neo-eu-myeon doem-ni-da. da-si han-beon mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?A little context goes a long way
Korean staff often explain quickly because they assume you know the kiosk flow. Asking 천천히 설명해 주세요 is not rude; it is a clear request for accommodation. Using -시겠어요? adds politeness and gives the staff member a choice, which is valued in service interactions. Pointing at the screen is normal and helps both sides. Avoid saying you understand if you do not; a quick 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요? is more respectful than a mistake at payment.
One thing to watch for
Using plain or casual speech such as 천천히 설명해 줘 or 이거 어떻게 해? to a staff member you do not know.
Try this instead: Keep the polite -요 form or the softer -시겠어요? form. Say 천천히 설명해 주세요 or 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요? instead. The polite ending signals respect and makes the request easier to accept.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You want the staff member to slow down the whole explanation. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
천천히 설명해 주세요.
This directly asks for a slow explanation and is polite. You could also add 화면을 가리키면서 if you want pointing, but the core request is this phrase.
2You are pointing at a specific button and want to know the action. What question fits best?
Show a sample answer
이거 어떻게 하는 거예요?
This asks how to do this specific thing. 여기 눌러야 돼요? is also possible if you only need to confirm pressing, but it does not ask for the full method.
3The staff member explained, but you missed the last part. What polite comprehension check do you use?
Show a sample answer
다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
This politely asks for one more repetition. 다시 한번 말해 주세요 is also correct but slightly less soft; the -시겠어요? form is especially respectful.
At a kiosk, slow the interaction with 천천히 설명해 주세요, point and ask 이거 어떻게 하는 거예요?, and confirm with 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요? These three phrases keep you in control without losing politeness.
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