How to say “I don't understand” in Korean
- 이해가 안 돼요ihaega an dwaeyo
I don't understand
"I don't understand" in Korean is 이해가 안 돼요 (ihaega an dwaeyo), a polite way to say something does not make sense to you. If you simply did not catch what someone said, 못 알아들었어요 (mot aradeureosseoyo) is more natural.
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 이해가 안 돼요 ihaega an dwaeyo | Polite | "I don't understand (it)." For an idea, explanation or situation that does not make sense. |
| 이해가 안 됩니다 ihaega an doemnida | Formal | The formal version, for work or speaking to elders. |
| 이해가 안 돼 ihaega an dwae | Casual | To friends. Can also mean "I can't believe it" when something seems unreasonable. |
| 못 알아들었어요 mot aradeureosseoyo | Polite | "I didn't catch that." When someone spoke too fast or you did not hear the words. |
| 무슨 뜻이에요 museun tteusieyo | Polite | "What does it mean?" Asked as a question about a word or phrase. |
| 잘 모르겠어요 jal moreugesseoyo | Polite | "I'm not sure." A gentle way to say you don't follow. |
Examples
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Asking your teacher for help in class
Someone speaks to you very quickly
Seeing a new slang word online
Tips
Use 이해가 안 돼요 for ideas, and 못 알아들었어요 for words you did not hear or catch. Language learners usually need the second one more.
이해가 안 돼 can also express disbelief, like "I just don't get why she did that". You will hear this often in dramas.
Koreans are usually happy to repeat. Adding 천천히 말해 주세요 (please speak slowly) helps a lot.
Questions learners ask
How do you say "I don't understand Korean"?
Say 한국어 잘 못해요 (hangugeo jal motaeyo), "I don't speak Korean well". This is the most natural way to explain.
How do you ask what a word means in Korean?
Say the word and then 무슨 뜻이에요? (museun tteusieyo?), "what does it mean?"