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이해가 안 돼요
How to say I don’t understand in Korean A1
이해가 안 돼요, 무슨 말인지 모르겠어요, 천천히 말해 주세요 — survival listening phrases.
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Every form, from formal to casual
Pair honesty with a request: 천천히 말해 주세요 (“please speak slowly”) or 다시 한 번 말해 주세요.
| Korean | Romanization | Level | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 이해가 안 돼요 | ihaega an dwaeyo | Polite | I don’t get it |
| 무슨 말인지 모르겠어요 | museun marinji moreugesseoyo | Polite | I don’t know what you mean |
| 한국어를 잘 못해요 | hangugeoreul jal mothaeyo | Polite | My Korean isn’t good |
| 천천히 말해 주세요 | cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo | Polite request | Please speak slowly |
| 영어로 해도 돼요? | yeongbeoro haedo dwaeyo? | Polite | May I use English? |
Which one do I actually use?
At a counter when the explanation flies by: 죄송합니다, 이해가 안 돼요. 천천히 말해 주세요. Point at your phone translation if needed — honesty beats pretending.
Pronunciation notes
- 이해가 안 돼요
돼 is [돼/되]; 돼요 rhymes with “dwe-yo.”
Vocabulary set
Cards are saved in this browser and scheduled with spaced repetition.
Quick drill
Common mistakes
- ✗ 몰라요 for “I don’t understand the sentence”✓ 이해가 안 돼요몰라요 is “I don’t know (a fact)”; comprehension uses 이해 / 무슨 말인지.
Example sentences
죄송합니다. 이해가 안 돼요.
joesonghamnida. ihaega an dwaeyo.
Sorry — I don’t understand.
다시 한 번 말해 주세요.
dasi han beon malhae juseyo.
Please say that again.
FAQ
How do you say I don’t understand in Korean?
이해가 안 돼요 or 무슨 말인지 모르겠어요. Add 천천히 말해 주세요 to ask for slow speech.
How do you ask someone to repeat?
다시 한 번 말해 주세요 — “please say it one more time.”
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