How to Say "Take Your Time" in Korean: 천천히 하세요 and 급하지 않아요
Learn to say "take your time" in Korean with 천천히 하세요 and 급하지 않아요. This lesson explains when to use each phrase, with a polite dialogue and practice.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In Korean, "take your time" is not one fixed expression. You choose between 천천히 하세요 (cheoncheonhi haseyo) and 급하지 않아요 (geuphaji anayo) depending on whether you mean "do it slowly," "there is no rush," or "relax, you don't need to hurry." This lesson teaches both phrases at elementary level, with Revised Romanization, a short polite dialogue, and practice so you can use them naturally with staff, friends, or someone who seems stressed.
By the end, you can…
- say "take your time" in Korean using 천천히 하세요 and 급하지 않아요.
- choose the right phrase for slow action, time allowance, or calming someone.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
천천히 하세요.
Take your time. / Do it slowly.
cheon-cheon-hi ha-se-yo
Polite and common. Use when someone is doing a task and you want them to go at an easy pace, such as when a clerk is packing your bag.
급하지 않아요.
There's no rush. / I'm not in a hurry.
geu-pa-ji a-na-yo
Use to give someone time. It literally means "it is not urgent." It can also mean "I am not in a hurry" depending on context.
천천히 하셔도 돼요.
You can take your time. / You may do it slowly.
cheon-cheon-hi ha-syeo-do dwae-yo
A polite pattern with -아/어도 돼요, meaning "it is okay even if..." Useful when giving permission to someone older or in service situations.
서두르지 마세요.
Don't rush.
seo-du-reu-ji ma-se-yo
Use when someone is hurrying and you want them to slow down. It is a negative command, so keep your tone gentle.
괜찮아요. 기다릴게요.
It's okay. I'll wait.
gwaen-chan-a-yo. gi-da-ril-ge-yo
A reassuring reply. Use when someone apologizes for being slow, for example at a counter or on the phone.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
천천히 is an adverb meaning "slowly." Add 하세요 to make a polite command: 천천히 하세요. The verb 하다 means "to do," and -세요 makes it polite. For permission, use 천천히 하셔도 돼요, which means "You may do it slowly." 급하다 means "to be urgent." Its negative form is 급하지 않아요, literally "it is not urgent." You can also say 급하지 않으니까 천천히 하세요, meaning "Since there's no rush, take your time."
When to use it
Use 천천히 하세요 when you want someone to slow down an action, such as speaking, writing, or packing. Use 급하지 않아요 when you want to give someone time and remove pressure. If someone looks worried, 괜찮아요. 천천히 하세요 is warm and reassuring. In customer service, staff may say 천천히 하세요 to you. You can reply 네, 감사합니다 (ne, gamsahamnida) or just smile and say 네.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
죄송해요, 아직 준비가 안 됐어요.
Sorry, I'm not ready yet.joe-song-hae-yo, a-jik jun-bi-ga an dwae-sseo-yo괜찮아요. 급하지 않아요. 천천히 하세요.
It's okay. There's no rush. Take your time.gwaen-chan-a-yo. geu-pa-ji a-na-yo. cheon-cheon-hi ha-se-yo네, 감사합니다. 조금만 기다려 주세요.
Okay, thank you. Please wait just a little.ne, gam-sa-ham-ni-da. jo-geum-man gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo네, 천천히 하셔도 돼요.
Okay, you can take your time.ne, cheon-cheon-hi ha-syeo-do dwae-yoA little context goes a long way
Korean politeness depends on the relationship and setting. 천천히 하세요 is polite and safe with strangers, staff, and acquaintances. Among close friends, 천천히 해 is fine. 급하지 않아요 is neutral and gentle; it does not sound rude. If you are older or in a higher position, you may hear 천천히 하세요 from others as a courtesy. Respond with a simple 네 or 감사합니다.
One thing to watch for
Using 천천히 하세요 to mean "I am not in a hurry" when talking about yourself.
Try this instead: 천천히 하세요 is a polite command to another person, meaning "Take your time." To say "I'm not in a hurry," use 급하지 않아요. For example, if a clerk asks if you are in a hurry, say 급하지 않아요, not 천천히 하세요.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1A staff member is packing your items quickly. What polite Korean phrase can you say to mean "Take your time"?
Show a sample answer
천천히 하세요.
천천히 하세요 is the standard polite phrase for telling someone to take their time. You could also say 천천히 하셔도 돼요, which is slightly more permissive.
2You want to tell a friend that there is no rush. Which phrase fits: 천천히 하세요 or 급하지 않아요?
Show a sample answer
급하지 않아요.
급하지 않아요 means "There's no rush" or "I'm not in a hurry." 천천히 하세요 is also possible, but it is a command to do something slowly, so 급하지 않아요 better matches the meaning of no rush.
3How would you reassure someone who apologizes for being slow? Give one Korean sentence.
Show a sample answer
괜찮아요. 천천히 하세요.
This combines "It's okay" with "Take your time." You could also say 괜찮아요. 급하지 않아요, which is equally natural in many situations.
Use 천천히 하세요 to tell someone to take their time, and 급하지 않아요 to say there is no rush. Both are polite and useful in everyday Korean.
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