In this speaking workshop, you will practice a short, caring exchange in Korean. You will learn how to ask if someone is okay, how to say you feel a bit stressed or tired, and how to respond with empathy. All native examples come from the recordings. Listen carefully, repeat aloud, and then try the three tasks. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so check your own answers using the provided keys.
Asking if someone is okay
To ask if someone is okay in casual Korean, you can say «괜찮아?». This means 'Are you okay?' and is used with close friends or people younger than you. If you need a polite version, use «괜찮아요?». This also means 'Are you okay?' but adds the polite ending -yo, so it is safe with acquaintances, colleagues, or elders. Notice that both are questions, so your voice should rise at the end. In the recorded dialogue, speaker A uses the casual form with a name: «민수야, 괜찮아?». That line means 'Minsu, are you okay?' The name comes first, then the question. When you practice, you can keep the same name or simply use the question alone. The important part is the rising intonation and clear pronunciation.
Saying how you feel
After someone asks if you are okay, you can answer with a simple feeling. To say 'I'm a bit stressed,' use «조금 스트레스 받아.». This is casual and includes 'a bit' before 'stressed.' If you want to say 'I'm tired,' use «피곤해.». This is also casual. For polite situations, you can add -yo to the end of the feeling word, but the recordings here show the casual forms. In the dialogue, speaker B answers with «응, 조금 스트레스 받아.», which means 'Yeah, I'm a bit stressed.' The word 'Yeah' is a casual agreement. Later, speaker B gives a reason with «응, 시험 때문에 그래.», meaning 'Yeah, it's because of exams.' You do not need to invent new reasons; you can simply use the recorded feeling lines. Practice saying each feeling line aloud until it feels natural.
Showing empathy
When someone tells you they feel stressed or tired, you can show empathy. In the recording, speaker A responds with «힘들겠다. 무슨 일 있어?». The first part, 'That must be hard,' acknowledges the other person's feeling. The second part asks 'Is something going on?' This keeps the conversation going without pushing too hard. You can use the same line when you hear a friend say they are stressed or tired. Notice that the empathy comes before the follow-up question. This order feels natural: first you show you understand, then you ask for more if the other person wants to share. Practice saying «힘들겠다. 무슨 일 있어?» with a gentle tone. You are not required to add new phrases; just use the recorded line as your model.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
괜찮아?
Are you okay?
gwaen-chan-a?
괜찮아요?
Are you okay? (polite)
gwaen-chan-a-yo?
조금 스트레스 받아.
I'm a bit stressed.
jo-geum seu-teu-re-seu ba-da.
피곤해.
I'm tired.
pi-gon-hae.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
민수야, 괜찮아?
Minsu, are you okay?응, 조금 스트레스 받아.
Yeah, I'm a bit stressed.힘들겠다. 무슨 일 있어?
That must be hard. Is something going on?응, 시험 때문에 그래.
Yeah, it's because of exams.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
You will play both roles in a short conversation. First, imagine you are speaker A asking a close friend if they are okay. Then imagine you are speaker B answering with a feeling.
Your task: Step 1: Say the casual question from «괜찮아?» aloud. Step 2: Answer as speaker B with the stressed feeling from «조금 스트레스 받아.». Step 3: Now switch roles. Ask the polite question from «괜찮아요?» aloud. Step 4: Answer with the tired feeling from «피곤해.». Do each step slowly and clearly.
Reply comprehension: choose the right response
You will hear or read a line from the recordings and choose the best reply from two options. This checks if you understand the feeling and the role.
Your task: Read the following situation. Speaker B says «응, 조금 스트레스 받아.». Which reply fits better? Option A: «힘들겠다. 무슨 일 있어?». Option B: «괜찮아?». Say your choice aloud, then explain why in English. Next, Speaker B says «피곤해.». Which reply fits better? Option A: «괜찮아요?». Option B: «힘들겠다. 무슨 일 있어?». Say your choice aloud.
Recall and role play
Now you will recall the lines from memory and use them in the correct roles. Imagine a friend tells you they are stressed. You will be the listener first, then the speaker.
Your task: Step 1: As the listener, say the empathy line from «힘들겠다. 무슨 일 있어?» aloud. Step 2: As the speaker, say the stressed feeling from «조금 스트레스 받아.» aloud. Step 3: Now reverse the roles. As the speaker, say the tired feeling from «피곤해.». Step 4: As the listener, respond to the tired feeling with the empathy line from «힘들겠다. 무슨 일 있어?». Do not look at the text if you can.
Common questions
What is the difference between «괜찮아?» and «괜찮아요?»?
«괜찮아?» is the casual way to ask 'Are you okay?' and is used with close friends or people younger than you. «괜찮아요?» is the polite version with the -yo ending, so it is safer with acquaintances, colleagues, or elders. Both are questions, so your voice should rise at the end.
How do I show empathy after someone says they are stressed or tired?
You can use the line from «힘들겠다. 무슨 일 있어?», which means 'That must be hard. Is something going on?' The first part acknowledges the feeling, and the second part gently asks for more. You can say it after hearing «조금 스트레스 받아.» or «피곤해.». Practice it with a soft, caring tone.
Sources and further reading
- korean: asking about feelingsChecked September 2026
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