How to say "Not gonna lie" in Korean

The natural way Koreans say "Not gonna lie" — with the polite form, close alternatives, and audio for every line.

When to use it

Put it at the very start of your sentence, exactly like the English. It signals that what follows is your blunt, unfiltered opinion.

Polite form

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  솔직히 말씀드리면

  soljiki malsseumdeurimyeon

  Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.

Other ways to say it

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  까놓고 말해서

  kkanoko malhaeseo

  = To put it bluntly

  Stronger. Literally 'opening it up and saying it.'
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  솔까말

  solkkamal

  = NGL (abbreviated)

  An abbreviation of 까놓고 말해서 that trended in the 2010s. You'll still be understood, but it sounds dated — use 솔직히 instead.

In a sentence

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  솔직히 풀 맛 날 것 같아.

  soljiki pul mat nal geot gata.

  Not gonna lie, I think it's going to taste like grass.
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  솔직히 별로였어.

  soljiki byeollo-yeosseo.

  Not gonna lie, it wasn't great.