Korean Active Listening: How to Say 'So you're saying...'
Learn to confirm understanding in Korean with phrases like '그러니까...' and '다시 말하면...'. Prevent misunderstandings before they happen.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In conversations, confirming what you've heard prevents misunderstandings before they occur. This lesson teaches intermediate Korean phrases to paraphrase and check comprehension, such as '그러니까...' (geureonikka...) and '다시 말하면...' (dasi malhamyeon...). You'll practice using these in real-time to ensure you and your conversation partner are on the same page.
By the end, you can…
- paraphrase what someone said in Korean to confirm understanding.
- use '그러니까' and similar phrases to prevent misunderstandings.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
그러니까...
So you're saying...
geu-reo-ni-kka
Used to introduce a paraphrase of what the other person just said, often followed by a summary. It can also mean 'therefore' in other contexts, but here it's for confirmation.
다시 말하면...
In other words...
da-si mal-ha-myeon
Used when you want to rephrase the other person's statement in your own words to check if you understood correctly.
제가 이해한 게 맞나요?
Is what I understood correct?
je-ga i-hae-han ge mat-na-yo
A polite way to ask for confirmation after you've paraphrased. Use with superiors or in formal situations.
그러니까 요약하자면...
So to summarize...
geu-reo-ni-kka yo-yak-ha-ja-myeon
Used when you want to give a concise summary of the other person's point to confirm understanding.
제가 제대로 이해했는지 모르겠어요.
I'm not sure if I understood correctly.
je-ga je-dae-ro i-hae-haet-neun-ji mo-reu-gess-eo-yo
A humble way to admit uncertainty and prompt the speaker to clarify or confirm.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern '그러니까 + [paraphrase] + (이)죠?' is a common way to confirm understanding. For example: '그러니까 내일 회의가 취소되었다는 거죠?' means 'So you're saying the meeting tomorrow is canceled, right?' The ending '죠?' seeks agreement. You can also use '다시 말하면' to rephrase: '다시 말하면, 예산이 부족하다는 거네요.' (In other words, you're saying the budget is insufficient.) These patterns allow you to repeat back what you heard without directly asking 'Did you say...?' which can sound repetitive.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you want to prevent misunderstandings, especially in important conversations like negotiations, instructions, or planning. For instance, if your boss gives you a complex task, you can say: '그러니까 제가 이 보고서를 금요일까지 제출해야 한다는 거죠?' (So you're saying I need to submit this report by Friday, right?) This confirms deadlines and expectations. In casual conversation, you might use '그러니까' with friends: '그러니까 네가 그 영화를 재미없게 봤다는 거지?' (So you're saying you found the movie boring, right?) It shows you're engaged and care about accuracy.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
내일 회의는 취소됐어. 대신 다음 주 월요일로 연기됐어.
Tomorrow's meeting is canceled. Instead, it's postponed to next Monday.nae-il hoe-ui-neun chwi-so-dwaess-eo. dae-sin da-eum ju wol-yo-il-lo yeon-gi-dwaess-eo.그러니까 내일 회의는 없고, 다음 주 월요일에 한다는 거죠?
So you're saying there's no meeting tomorrow, and it's next Monday?geu-reo-ni-kka nae-il hoe-ui-neun eop-go, da-eum ju wol-yo-il-e han-da-neun geo-jyo?네, 맞아요. 정확히 이해하셨어요.
Yes, that's right. You understood exactly.ne, mat-a-yo. jeong-hwak-hi i-hae-ha-syeoss-eo-yo.다시 말하면, 다음 주 월요일까지 준비하면 되는 거네요.
In other words, I just need to prepare by next Monday.da-si mal-ha-myeon, da-eum ju wol-yo-il-kka-ji jun-bi-ha-myeon doe-neun geo-ne-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korean, confirming understanding is often done indirectly to avoid sounding confrontational. Using '그러니까' softens the paraphrase, making it a collaborative check rather than a challenge. Additionally, using honorifics like '-시-' when repeating back to superiors shows respect. For example, '선생님께서 그러니까...' (So you're saying, teacher...) maintains politeness.
One thing to watch for
Using '그러니까' as a direct translation of 'so' in all contexts, like '그러니까 나는 피곤해' to mean 'So I'm tired.'
Try this instead: '그러니까' can mean 'so' as a conjunction, but when repeating back, it's better to use it with a full paraphrase and a confirmation tag like '죠?'. For example, '그러니까 피곤하다는 거죠?' means 'So you're saying you're tired?' Instead of '그러니까 나는 피곤해', say '그러니까 내가 피곤하다는 거지?' to confirm.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you confirm that you understood someone said the deadline is next Friday?
Show a sample answer
그러니까 마감일이 다음 주 금요일이라는 거죠?
This uses '그러니까' to paraphrase and '죠?' to seek confirmation. Alternatively, you could say '다시 말하면, 마감일이 다음 주 금요일이네요.'
2What phrase would you use to politely ask if your understanding is correct after paraphrasing?
Show a sample answer
제가 이해한 게 맞나요?
This is a polite and direct way to ask for confirmation. In casual situations, you might say '내가 이해한 거 맞아?'
3Rephrase 'The project is delayed due to budget issues' in Korean to confirm understanding.
Show a sample answer
그러니까 예산 문제 때문에 프로젝트가 지연되었다는 거네요.
This uses '그러니까' and '거네요' to show you're summarizing and confirming. You could also use '다시 말하면' instead.
Use '그러니까' and '다시 말하면' to repeat back and confirm understanding, preventing misunderstandings before they happen.
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