When You Do Not Understand Your Korean Supervisor

Korean phrases when you do not understand: Korean phrases when you do not understand should do three things: stop the task, identify the unclear number, place or tool, and repeat the instruction back for confirmation.

Korean phrases when you do not understand: This episode is only about speech you did not hear or understand. Episode 14 covers asking for a full step-by-step demonstration, while Episode 15 explains common factory and construction commands.

Korean phrases when you do not understand: What you will finish

You will ask someone to repeat or slow down, check meaning, numbers, times, locations, tools and parts, manage machine noise, repeat the instruction and obtain permission to start.

Preview the official Job Korean textbook, download it, then open the source

HRDK’s Job Korean textbook covers workplace vocabulary, tools, parts and task communication. Preview the official 180-page PDF, download the same untouched original, and retain the HRDK source page.

1. Official Job Korean textbook preview
   • Open the official 180-page Job Korean textbook preview
2. Official original download

   EPS-TOPIK NEW Standard Textbook 2 — Job Korean PDF · 180 pages · 96,095,320 bytes

3. Official source page

   HRDK official EPS-TOPIK textbook page

Verified on 25 August 2026: the official PDF was reachable, 180 pages, 96,095,320 bytes and matched its PDF signature and recorded SHA-256. BSKorean links to the HRDK original and does not mirror it.

Eight ways to clarify what you heard

1. 1. Say that you did not hear
2. 2. Ask what the words mean
3. 3. Confirm a number or time
4. 4. Confirm the place or direction
5. 5. Confirm the tool or part
6. 6. Repeat the instruction back
7. 7. Stop when noise prevents understanding
8. 8. Get final confirmation before starting

24 Korean clarification phrases

Use the learner-friendly pronunciation first and RR only as a reference. Confirm difficult sounds with Korean audio or a speaker.

1. Say that you did not hear

Say you did not hear before guessing. A short apology plus one direct request is faster and safer than pretending to understand.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
1	죄송하지만 잘 못 들었습니다.	jweh-sohng-hah-jee-mahn jahl moht deu-ruht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Joesonghajiman jal mot deureotsseumnida.	Sorry, but I did not hear clearly.
2	한 번만 다시 말씀해 주세요.	hahn buhn-mahn dah-see mahl-sseum-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Han beonman dasi malsseumhae juseyo.	Please say it one more time.
3	조금 천천히 말씀해 주세요.	joh-geum chuhn-chuhn-hee mahl-sseum-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Jogeum cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo.	Please speak a little more slowly.

2. Ask what the words mean

Ask about the exact word or sentence. A plain-language explanation is different from the complete demonstration reserved for Episode 14.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
4	이 말이 무슨 뜻이에요?	ee mah-ree moo-seun tteu-see-eh-yoh? RR: I mari museun tteusieyo?	What does this mean?
5	제가 이해한 게 맞나요?	jeh-gah ee-heh-hahn geh mahn-nah-yoh? RR: Jega ihaehan ge mannayo?	Did I understand correctly?
6	쉬운 말로 설명해 주세요.	swee-oon mahl-roh suhl-myuhng-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Swiun malro seolmyeonghae juseyo.	Please explain it in simpler words.

3. Confirm a number or time

Repeat the quantity or time as a question. For safety-critical numbers, ask the speaker to write them if speech remains unclear.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
7	몇 개인지 다시 말씀해 주세요.	myuht geh-een-jee dah-see mahl-sseum-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Myeot gaeinji dasi malsseumhae juseyo.	Please tell me again how many.
8	세 시가 맞나요?	seh see-gah mahn-nah-yoh? RR: Se siga mannayo?	Is three o’clock correct?
9	숫자를 적어 주실 수 있나요?	soot-jjah-reul juh-guh joo-seel soo een-nah-yoh? RR: Sutjjareul jeogeo jusil su innayo?	Could you write the number down?

4. Confirm the place or direction

Point only after asking permission and repeat the named location. Do not move material until both people are referring to the same place.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
10	어디에 놓으라고 하셨어요?	uh-dee-eh noh-heu-rah-goh hah-syuh-ssuh-yoh? RR: Eodie noheurago hasyeosseoyo?	Where did you say I should put it?
11	이쪽이 맞나요?	ee-jjoh-gee mahn-nah-yoh? RR: Ijjogi mannayo?	Is this direction correct?
12	위치를 가리켜 주세요.	wee-chee-reul gah-ree-kyuh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Wichireul garikyeo juseyo.	Please point to the location.

5. Confirm the tool or part

Hold or point to the candidate tool without operating it. Confirm both the tool and part name before starting.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
13	어떤 도구를 사용해요?	uh-ttuhn doh-goo-reul sah-yohng-heh-yoh? RR: Eotteon dogureul sayonghaeyo?	Which tool do I use?
14	이 부품이 맞나요?	ee boo-poo-mee mahn-nah-yoh? RR: I bupumi mannayo?	Is this the correct part?
15	이름을 적어 주세요.	ee-reu-meul juh-guh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Ireumeul jeogeo juseyo.	Please write the name down.

6. Repeat the instruction back

Use a short closed-loop repeat-back: first action, next action, then the expected end point. The supervisor must correct any difference.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
16	제가 다시 말해 볼게요.	jeh-gah dah-see mahl-heh bohl-geh-yoh. RR: Jega dasi malhae bolgeyo.	I will repeat it back.
17	먼저 이것을 하고 다음에 저것을 하면 되죠?	muhn-juh ee-guh-seul hah-goh dah-eu-meh juh-guh-seul hah-myuhn dweh-jyoh? RR: Meonjeo igeoseul hago daeume jeogeoseul hamyeon doejyo?	I do this first and that next, correct?
18	여기까지 이해했습니다.	yuh-gee-kkah-jee ee-heh-heht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Yeogikkaji ihaehaetsseumnida.	I understand up to this point.

7. Stop when noise prevents understanding

Noise can hide numbers and warnings. Stop the task, move to a quieter safe location or shut down equipment through the authorized procedure before confirming.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
19	기계 소리 때문에 잘 안 들려요.	gee-gyeh soh-ree tteh-moo-neh jahl ahn deul-ryuh-yoh. RR: Gigye sori ttaemune jal an deulryeoyo.	I cannot hear well because of the machine noise.
20	잠깐 조용한 곳에서 확인해도 될까요?	jahm-kkahn joh-yohng-hahn goh-seh-suh hwah-geen-heh-doh dwehl-kkah-yoh? RR: Jamkkan joyonghan goseseo hwaginhaedo doelkkayo?	May we check in a quiet place for a moment?
21	이해할 때까지 작업을 멈추겠습니다.	ee-heh-hahl tteh-kkah-jee jah-guh-beul muhm-choo-geht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Ihaehal ttaekkaji jageobeul meomchugetsseumnida.	I will stop the work until I understand.

8. Get final confirmation before starting

Ask whether you may start and invite correction. Confirmation does not replace required training, guarding, lockout or protective equipment.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
22	지금 시작해도 되나요?	jee-geum see-jah-keh-doh dweh-nah-yoh? RR: Jigeum sijakaedo doenayo?	May I start now?
23	틀린 부분이 있으면 말씀해 주세요.	teul-reen boo-boo-nee ee-sseu-myuhn mahl-sseum-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Teulrin bubuni isseumyeon malsseumhae juseyo.	Please tell me if any part is wrong.
24	확인해 주셔서 감사합니다.	hwah-geen-heh joo-syuh-suh gahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah. RR: Hwaginhae jusyeoseo gamsahamnida.	Thank you for checking.

20 words to recognize

Replies you may hear

• 네, 다시 말할게요. – Yes, I will say it again.
• 이건 포장하라는 뜻이에요. – It means to package this.
• 세 개만 준비하세요. – Prepare only three.
• 완성품 옆에 놓으세요. – Put it next to the finished goods.
• 빨간 손잡이 도구를 쓰세요. – Use the tool with the red handle.
• 네, 순서가 맞아요. – Yes, that order is correct.
• 기계를 끄고 다시 이야기합시다. – Turn off the machine and let us talk again.
• 맞아요. 이제 시작하세요. – Correct. You may start now.

Two workplace clarification dialogues

1

상사: 이 부품 세 개를 완성품 옆에 놓으세요.

근로자: 죄송하지만 잘 못 들었습니다.

상사: 부품 세 개를 저쪽에 놓으세요.

근로자: 세 개를 완성품 옆에 놓으면 되죠?

상사: 맞아요. 이제 시작하세요.

A worker clarifies the number and location, then repeats the complete short instruction.

2

상사: 빨간 손잡이 도구로 먼저 조이세요.

근로자: 기계 소리 때문에 잘 안 들려요.

상사: 기계를 끄고 다시 이야기합시다.

근로자: 어떤 도구를 사용하는지 가리켜 주세요.

상사: 이 도구예요. 모르면 시작하기 전에 다시 확인하세요.

Machine noise blocks a tool instruction, so the worker stops and confirms in a safe condition.

Confirm before you begin

• I stopped before guessing
• I named what was unclear
• The number or time was repeated
• The location was pointed out
• The tool and part were confirmed
• I repeated the instruction in order
• Noise was controlled safely
• The supervisor corrected or confirmed it
• I received permission to start
• Required training and PPE remain in place

Keep demonstration and command training separate

• Episode 14 covers a full repeated demonstration
• Episode 15 explains common site commands
• This page does not authorize operating unfamiliar equipment
• Emergency signals override ordinary clarification
• A translation app can assist but cannot replace supervisor confirmation

If an instruction involves a moving machine, vehicle, electricity, chemicals, heights or lifting, stop in a safe state and obtain an unambiguous confirmation. Never approach a hazard just to hear better.

Prepared by BSKorean Content Studio for foreign workers and new residents. HRDK’s current Job Korean textbook and official EPS-TOPIK assessment criteria were reviewed on 25 August 2026.

Official sources checked

• HRDK — EPS-TOPIK NEW Standard Textbook download page
• HRDK — EPS-TOPIK NEW Standard Textbook 2: Job Korean (PDF)
• HRDK — EPS-TOPIK official evaluation criteria

Five-minute practice

Practise stopping, asking once, repeating the number, place and tool, and receiving a final confirmation before work begins.

Practise these phrases in the BSKorean app →

View all 30 episodes