Korean reactions and small talk
Korean listeners talk back constantly — 진짜?, 맞아, 그렇구나 — to show they are following. A silent listener sounds like someone who is not listening.
Korean conversation is full of short responses from the listener, called 맞장구. 진짜? (jinjja?), 나도 (nado), 맞아 (“right”) and 그렇구나 (“I see”) come every few seconds. Stay quiet and the speaker may stop to check you are still there.
Politeness still applies, even to one-word replies. 진짜? becomes 진짜요?, 나도 becomes 저도요, and 당연하지 (dangyeonhaji) becomes 당연하죠. Adding 요 to a reaction is the quickest way to sound polite without thinking about grammar.
Some reactions mark age. 아이고 (aigo) and 세상에 (sesange) (세상에) are used by everyone but sound especially natural from older people; younger speakers reach for 헐 and 대박. Learners using 아이고 is endearing rather than odd.
Disagreeing is usually indirect. Instead of a flat no, Koreans say 글쎄요 (“well…”), 별로예요 (byeollo-yeyo), or 잘 모르겠어요 (“I’m not sure”) — softer than 몰라 (molla), which can sound like “how should I know?”.
The 12 phrases on this page
Hear it in a real conversation
Coworkers talking about last night's drama. Press play on any line to hear it.
- A 어제 그 드라마 봤어요? 마지막에 주인공이 죽었어요.eoje geu deurama bwasseoyo? majimage juingongi jugeosseoyo.Did you watch that drama last night? The main character died at the end.
- B 진짜요? 세상에!jinjjayo? sesange!Really? Oh my god!
- A 저도 깜짝 놀랐어요.jeodo kkamjjak nollasseoyo.I was shocked too.
- B 왜 그렇게 끝냈을까요?wae geureoke kkeunnaesseulkkayo?Why would they end it like that?
- A 글쎄요, 잘 모르겠어요. 원래 그 작가가 그래요.geulsseyo, jal moreugesseoyo. wollae geu jakgaga geuraeyo.Hmm, I'm not sure. That writer's always like that.
- B 아, 그럼 말이 되네요. 아무튼 다음 주에 같이 봐요.a, geureom mari doeneyo. amuteun daeum jue gachi bwayo.Ah, that makes sense then. Anyway, let's watch it together next week.
How to say “Really?” in Korean
진짜?
jinjja?
Literally: Real?
The reaction word you will hear more than any other. Learners who master just this one sound instantly more natural in conversation.
Polite form
- 진짜요?jinjjayo?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 정말?jeongmal?= Really? (softer)Slightly more proper. Same meaning.
- 헐heol= No way / whoaPure shock. Very common among young people.
- 대박daebak= Awesome / unbelievableFor good AND bad surprises. Literally jackpot.
In a sentence
- 진짜? 언제?jinjja? eonje?Really? When?
- 헐, 대박.heol, daebak.Whoa, no way.
How people answer
- 응, 진짜야.eung, jinjjaya.= Yeah, really.
How to say “Me too” in Korean
나도
nado
Literally: I also.
Two syllables that work almost everywhere. 나 (I) plus 도 (also) - and that 도 attaches to any noun to mean too.
Polite form
- 저도요jeodoyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 저도jeodo= Me too (polite)저 is the humble word for I. Use it with anyone older or at work.
- 나도 그래nado geurae= Same hereWhen agreeing with how someone feels.
- 이것도igeotdo= This one tooSame 도, different noun. That is the whole pattern.
In a sentence
- 배고파. 나도.baegopa. nado.I'm hungry. Me too.
- 저도 같은 걸로 주세요.jeodo gateun geollo juseyo.I'll have the same, please.
How to say “Of course” in Korean
당연하지
dangyeonhaji
Literally: It is natural.
Answering a question whose answer was never in doubt. Confident and a bit playful.
Polite form
- 당연하죠dangyeonhajyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 물론이지mullonije= CertainlyA touch more formal in feel, same meaning.
- 그럼geureom= Sure / of courseShort and very common as a one-word answer.
In a sentence
- 올 거지? 당연하지.ol geoji? dangyeonhaji.You are coming, right? Of course.
- 당연하죠, 제가 할게요.dangyeonhajyo, jega halgeyo.Of course, I will do it.
How to say “That makes sense” in Korean
말 되네
mal doene
Literally: The words work.
Not it has meaning - the words work. Said when an explanation clicks. The 네 ending is the sound of realising something on the spot.
Polite form
- 말이 되네요mari doeneyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 아, 그러네a, geureone= Ah, rightPlain agreement without the reasoning. Extremely common.
- 말도 안 돼maldo an dwae= That is ridiculousThe same expression negated. Literally the words do not even work. Used for disbelief, good or bad.
In a sentence
- 아, 말 되네.a, mal doene.Ah, that makes sense.
- 설명 들으니까 말이 되네요.seolmyeong deureunikka mari doeneyo.Now that I have heard the explanation, it makes sense.
How to say “I do not know” in Korean
몰라
molla
Literally: I do not know.
Korean has a dedicated verb for not knowing (모르다) instead of adding a negative. Note it is not 안 알아 - that is a classic learner mistake.
Polite form
- 몰라요mollayoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 잘 모르겠어요jal moreugesseoyo= I am not really sureSofter and much more polite. Use this with strangers.
- 글쎄geulsse= Hmm, wellFor when you are thinking about it rather than refusing to answer.
In a sentence
- 나도 몰라.nado molla.I do not know either.
- 죄송해요, 잘 모르겠어요.joesonghaeyo, jal moreugesseoyo.Sorry, I am not really sure.
How to say “Not really” in Korean
별로예요
byeollo-yeyo
Literally: It is not much.
The word Koreans reach for instead of saying something is bad. 별로 does not mean terrible — it means not much, not especially. That gap is the whole point: it lets you turn something down, or say you did not enjoy it, without the word 'bad' ever being said. It also works on quantity — 사람 별로 없네 means there are not many people here.
Where you hear it
My Mister (나의 아저씨) · tvN D ENT
별로 맛은 없었어요
It didn't taste like much.
She is not saying the food was bad. She is saying there was not much to it — and that is softer than any English equivalent.
Polite form
- 별로예요byeollo-yeyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 별로야byeollo-ya= Not greatCasual. What you say to a friend about a film you did not like.
- 별로 안 좋아해byeollo an joahae= I don't really like it별로 + 안 + verb. The most common way to say you are not into something.
- 별로 없어요byeollo eopseoyo= There aren't manyOn quantity, not opinion. 시간이 별로 없어요 — I don't have much time.
In a sentence
- 영화 어땠어? 별로였어.yeonghwa eottaesseo? byeollo-yeosseo.How was the film? Not great.
- 저는 별로 안 매운 게 좋아요.jeoneun byeollo an maeun ge joayo.I prefer things that aren't very spicy.
- 오늘은 사람이 별로 없네요.oneureun sarami byeollo eomneyo.There aren't many people today.
How to say “Oh my god” in Korean
세상에
sesange
Literally: In the world.
Korean has no religious oh-my-god. 세상에 is the closest - literally in the world, as in「of all the things in the world」.
Polite form
- 세상에sesangeUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 헐heol= Whoa / no wayPure shock, one syllable. The most common reaction among young people.
- 어머eomeo= Oh mySofter and traditionally women's speech, though that line is blurring.
- 미쳤다michyeotda= That's insaneLiterally it's gone mad. Strong, and used for good things too.
In a sentence
- 세상에, 이게 무슨 일이야.sesange, ige museun iriya.Oh my god, what is going on.
- 헐, 진짜?heol, jinjja?Whoa, really?
How to say “Oh dear / ugh” in Korean
아이고
aigo
Literally: Aigo.
The all-purpose sigh. Sympathy, exhaustion, mild exasperation, pity - the tone does all the work. You will hear it from older Koreans constantly.
Polite form
- 아이고aigoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 아이고 참aigo cham= Oh honestlyAdds a note of exasperation.
- 아휴ahyu= Ugh / sighCloser to pure tiredness than sympathy.
In a sentence
- 아이고, 고생했다.aigo, gosaenghaetda.Oh dear, you've been through a lot.
- 아이고, 무거워.aigo, mugeowo.Ugh, this is heavy.
How to say “Why so...?” in Korean
왜 그렇게
wae geureoke
Literally: Why like that?
왜 on its own is just why. 왜 그렇게 asks why so much — and it almost never comes out flat. Depending on your tone it is surprise, worry, or a complaint. It is one of those phrases that tells the listener how you feel before the sentence is finished.
Where you hear it
My Mister (나의 아저씨) · tvN D ENT
왜 그렇게 멀리 가?
Why are you going so far away?
He is not asking for a reason. He is saying it is too far — the question is the objection.
Polite form
- 왜 그렇게 그래요?wae geureoke geuraeyo?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 왜 그렇게 바쁘세요?wae geureoke bappeuseyo?= Why are you so busy?Worry, or small talk. Very common at work.
- 왜 그렇게 늦어?wae geureoke neujeo?= Why are you so late?Casual, and usually a complaint.
- 왜 그래요?wae geuraeyo?= What's wrong?Drop 그렇게 and it becomes asking after someone, not questioning them.
In a sentence
- 왜 그렇게 화가 났어요?wae geureoke hwaga nasseoyo?Why are you so angry?
- 왜 그렇게 많이 샀어?wae geureoke mani sasseo?Why did you buy so much?
- 왜 그렇게 조용해요?wae geureoke joyonghaeyo?Why are you so quiet?
How to say “That's just how it is” in Korean
원래 그래요
wonrae geuraeyo
Literally: It is originally like that.
원래 means from the start, by nature, all along. Put it in front of almost anything and you are saying this was always the case — so there is nothing to explain and nothing to fix. It is how Koreans close a small argument without anyone losing: not you are wrong, just that is how it has always been.
Where you hear it
My Mister (나의 아저씨) · tvN D ENT
원래 다 그래요
Everyone's like that, it's normal.
Said to make someone stop apologising for something ordinary. That is the usual job of this word — it takes the blame out.
Polite form
- 원래 그래요wonrae geuraeyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 원래 그런 거야wonrae geureon geoya= That's just how it goesCasual. Often said while shrugging.
- 저 원래 이래요jeo wonrae iraeyo= I've always been like thisAbout yourself. Half apology, half not.
- 원래는wonrae-neun= Originally / I had meant toWith 는 it flips to 'originally, before things changed': 원래는 가려고 했어요 — I had meant to go.
In a sentence
- 이 가게는 원래 일찍 닫아요.i gageneun wonrae iljjik dadayo.This shop has always closed early.
- 김치찌개는 원래 안 매워요?gimchi-jjigaeneun wonrae an maewoyo?Is kimchi stew not spicy to begin with?
- 원래는 어제 오려고 했어요.wonraeneun eoje oryeogo haesseoyo.I had actually meant to come yesterday.
How to say “It is what it is” in Korean
어쩔 수 없지
eojjeol su eopji
Literally: There's nothing that can be done about it.
When something went wrong, you can't fix it, and you've decided to just accept it. Koreans use this a lot — it's the sound of shrugging.
Polite form
- 어쩔 수 없죠eojjeol su eopjyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 뭐 어쩌겠어mwo eojjeogesseo= What can you doSame casual level, but more resigned — a little sigh in it.
- 할 수 없지hal su eopji= Can't be helpedAlmost identical. Both are used interchangeably.
In a sentence
- 늘 같은 맛이야. 어쩔 수 없지.neul gateun masiya. eojjeol su eopji.It always tastes the same. It is what it is.
- 비 오네. 어쩔 수 없지, 뭐.bi one. eojjeol su eopji, mwo.It's raining. Well, it is what it is.
How to say “Anyways” in Korean
아무튼
amuteun
Literally: In any case.
The word you use to cut your own story short and move on. It sits at the start of the sentence, exactly where anyway sits in English, and it signals that everything before it was a detour.
Polite form
- 아무튼요amuteunyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 어쨌든eojjaetdeun= Anyway / in any caseSame job, slightly more written. Both are heard constantly in speech.
- 아무튼 넘어가자amuteun neomeogaja= Anyway, let us move onThe full move-on sentence. Useful when you have talked too long.
In a sentence
- 아무튼, 그래서 늦었어.amuteun, geuraeseo neujeosseo.Anyway, that is why I was late.
- 어쨌든 고마워요.eojjaetdeun gomawoyo.Anyway, thank you.
Mistakes learners make
- Listening in silenceNodding is not quite enough. A 네, 진짜요? or 그렇구나 every so often tells the speaker you are with them.
- 몰라 to someone you should be polite to몰라 can sound dismissive even between friends. 잘 모르겠어요 is the safe version.
- 네 and 아니요 after a negative questionKorean 네 agrees with the question as asked. 안 갔어요? — 네 means “right, I didn’t go”. This trips up nearly every English speaker at first.
Practise these. Every phrase here is in the phrase quiz — five rounds, no sign-up. Not reading Hangul yet? Start with the alphabet in 20 minutes, and see the speech levels guide for when to use the polite forms.