Interrupt Politely in Korean: Practice with Recorded Lines

Choosing a Polite Pause Phrase

One polite way to pause a stranger, teacher, or staff member is a short apology followed by a request for a moment. The recorded line «죄송하지만 잠깐만요.» means "Sorry, but just a moment." It is polite and works in most public situations. A slightly more direct option is «죄송한데, 한마디만 할게요.», which means "Sorry, but let me just say one thing." Use it when you have one urgent point and do not want a long discussion. In formal settings such as meetings or classrooms, «잠시 실례하겠습니다.» means "Excuse me for a moment" and signals a brief, necessary interruption. With people you know well, «잠깐만, 급한 일이 있어서요.» means "Wait a second, it's because I have something urgent." It is polite casual and explains the reason at the same time. Notice that all four lines begin with a signal that you are about to interrupt, so the listener knows to pause.

Listening to a Short Interruption Exchange

In the recorded exchange, speaker A uses the polite pause phrase «죄송하지만 잠깐만요.» to stop speaker B. Speaker B answers with «네, 왜요?», which means "Yes, what is it?" This shows that the interruption was accepted and B is ready to listen. Speaker A then explains the reason with «급한 일이 있어서요. 표를 잘못 샀어요.», which means "It's because I have something urgent. I bought the wrong ticket." Speaker B responds with «아, 그래요? 다시 사야 돼요.», which means "Oh, really? You need to buy it again." This short scene shows the full pattern: pause, get permission, explain, and receive a reply. When you practice, keep the roles clear. A is the person interrupting, and B is the person who was interrupted. The phrase in «급한 일이 있어서요. 표를 잘못 샀어요.» gives a reason, so it is not a new interruption; it is the explanation that follows the pause.

Playing Both Roles Out Loud

Speaking practice works best when you say the lines out loud rather than only reading them. Start by repeating «죄송하지만 잠깐만요.» slowly, then at a natural speed. Next, say «죄송하지만 잠깐만요.» and imagine that someone has just answered you with «네, 왜요?». Then continue with «급한 일이 있어서요. 표를 잘못 샀어요.» and finish by imagining the reply «아, 그래요? 다시 사야 돼요.». After that, switch roles: you play B and respond to A's lines. Use the self-checks in each exercise to compare your speech with the recorded lines. Focus on a calm, polite tone. An interruption can feel rude if the tone is too strong, so keep your voice steady and your apology clear.

Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.

Checking available voices…

Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.

Common questions