Politely Interrupting in Korean Meetings

Asking Permission to Speak

To interrupt politely, use a permission question. The phrase «잠시 말씀드려도 될까요?» means 'May I say something for a moment?' It is a general way to request a turn. When you want to add a specific point, use «한 가지 덧붙여도 될까요?», which means 'May I add one thing?' If the meeting is tense, start with an apology: «죄송하지만, 한 말씀 드려도 될까요?» means 'Sorry, but may I say a word?' To ask for permission to give your opinion, use «제 의견을 말씀드려도 괜찮을까요?», meaning 'Would it be okay if I share my opinion?' All these phrases use polite endings and honorifics. Practice saying them with a soft, respectful tone.

Responding to an Interruption

When someone interrupts, you can give them permission. In the recorded dialogue, speaker A says «이번 프로젝트의 예산에 대해 논의하겠습니다.», which means 'We will discuss the budget for this project.' Then speaker B says «죄송하지만, 잠시 말씀드려도 될까요?», meaning 'Sorry, but may I say something for a moment?' Speaker A replies with «네, 말씀하세요.», which means 'Yes, please go ahead.' This shows how to grant permission politely. Later, speaker B adds a point and asks again with «예산을 조정할 필요가 있을 것 같습니다. 한 가지 덧붙여도 될까요?», meaning 'I think we need to adjust the budget. May I add one thing?' Notice how the interruption is softened with an apology and a permission question.

Putting It Together

In a real meeting, you might need to interrupt to share an idea. Use «잠시 말씀드려도 될까요?» or «한 가지 덧붙여도 될까요?» to ask for a turn. If you need to apologize first, use «죄송하지만, 한 말씀 드려도 될까요?». To ask about sharing your opinion, use «제 의견을 말씀드려도 괜찮을까요?». When someone interrupts you, respond with «네, 말씀하세요.» to allow them to speak. Remember to listen carefully and wait for a pause before speaking. Practice these phrases until they feel natural.

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