Discourse Markers
Fillers and connectors that keep conversation flowing
'just' — softens or dodges a reason
그냥 한번 물어봤어요.— I just asked, that's all.
왜 왔어? — 그냥, 심심해서.— Why'd you come? — No reason, I was bored.
'but, by the way' (casual)
근데 그거 언제까지 내야 돼요?— By the way, when is that due?
근데 나 지금 좀 배고픈데.— But I'm kind of hungry right now.
'I mean' — rephrases or strongly agrees
그러니까 제 말은 오늘은 어렵다는 거예요.— What I mean is, today won't work.
그러니까! 내 말이 그 말이야.— Exactly! That's what I'm saying.
'well' — softens, shows indifference
뭐, 괜찮아요. 다음에 하죠.— Well, it's fine. Let's do it next time.
뭐 어쩌겠어, 이미 지난 일인데.— Well, what can you do — it's over.
softens a request or complaint
이것 좀 도와주시겠어요?— Could you help me with this for a sec?
야, 좀 비켜 봐.— Hey, move over a bit.
'so' — result, or 'and then?'
늦잠을 잤어요. 그래서 지각했어요.— I overslept, so I was late.
그래서? 그다음엔 어떻게 됐는데?— So? What happened next?
'wait, what' — surprise or protest, not a real 'no'
아니, 이게 무슨 일이에요?— Wait — what's going on here?
아니 왜 나한테 말을 안 했어?— Hey, why didn't you tell me?
'really' — emphasis or surprise
여기 진짜 맛있어요.— This place is really good.
진짜? 그 얘기 언제 들었어?— Really? When did you hear that?
'but, by the way' (fuller form)
그런데 혹시 지금 시간 괜찮으세요?— By the way, do you have a moment?
그런데 그 얘기는 왜 나왔지?— But how did that come up?
'you know…' — gently opens a topic
있잖아요, 부탁이 하나 있는데요.— Listen, I have a favor to ask.
저기, 있잖아요, 그거 진짜예요?— Um, you know… is that true?
clipped 'I mean / exactly'
그니까, 내 말이 그거야.— Exactly, that's my point.
그니까 결론이 뭐예요?— So what's the conclusion?
'umm' — buying time to think
음… 잠깐만요, 생각 좀 해 볼게요.— Umm… hold on, let me think.
음… 글쎄, 잘 모르겠는데.— Hmm… I'm not sure.
'uh' — hesitation sound
어… 그게 어디였더라?— Uh… where was that again?
어, 네, 알겠습니다.— Uh, yes, understood.
'then, in that case'
그럼 내일 뵙겠습니다.— Then I'll see you tomorrow.
그럼 나 먼저 갈게.— Then I'll head out first.
'still, even so'
힘드시죠? 그래도 조금만 더 해 봐요.— Tough, right? Still, let's push a little more.
비싸. 그래도 나는 살래.— It's pricey. Still, I'm buying it.
'like, just kept' — storytelling filler
사람들이 막 뛰어나오는 거예요.— People just came running out.
걔가 막 화를 내더라고.— He was, like, totally losing it.
'actually' — reveals new information
사실 저 그 영화 아직 안 봤어요.— Actually, I haven't seen that movie.
사실 나 그날 못 가.— Actually, I can't make it that day.
'anyway' — back to the point
아무튼 결론은 이번엔 어렵다는 겁니다.— Anyway, the point is it won't work this time.
아무튼 고마워, 덕분에 살았어.— Anyway, thanks — you saved me.
'in any case'
어쨌든 시간은 꼭 지켜 주세요.— In any case, please be on time.
어쨌든 끝났으니까 됐어.— Anyway, it's over, so it's fine.
'now' — marks a shift
이제 슬슬 일어나야겠어요.— I should get going now.
이제 그만하자, 응?— Let's stop now, okay?
'excuse me' — getting a stranger's attention
저기요, 이 자리 비었어요?— Excuse me, is this seat free?
저기요, 이거 얼마예요?— Excuse me, how much is this?
'the thing is…' — starts an excuse
그게… 오늘은 좀 곤란한데요.— The thing is… today's a bit difficult.
그게 말이야, 사실 나도 잘 몰라.— The thing is, I don't really know either.
'honestly' — about to speak frankly
솔직히 저는 별로였어요.— Honestly, I didn't like it much.
솔직히 요즘 좀 힘들어.— Honestly, things have been hard lately.
'oh right!' — sudden recall
맞다, 우산 안 가져왔네요.— Oh right, I forgot my umbrella.
아, 맞다! 내일 회의 있지.— Oh right! There's a meeting tomorrow.
'oh, by the way' — one more thing
아 참, 그 서류는 어제 보내 드렸어요.— Oh, by the way, I sent that document yesterday.
아 참, 너 어제 어디 갔었어?— Oh right, where'd you go yesterday?
'yeah, right?' — soft agreement
요즘 너무 덥죠? — 그러게요.— It's so hot lately, isn't it? — It really is.
그러게요, 저도 그렇게 생각합니다.— I know, I thought the same thing.
'come to think of it, you're right'
하긴, 네 말도 맞다.— Come to think of it, you have a point.
하긴 요즘 다들 바쁘시죠.— True, everyone's busy these days.
'as expected'
역시 여기 커피가 제일 맛있어요.— As I thought, the coffee here is the best.
역시 네가 올 줄 알았어.— I knew you'd come.
'no wonder' — you now see why
어쩐지 오늘 길이 한산하더라고요.— No wonder the roads were empty today.
어쩐지 아까부터 조용하더라.— No wonder it's been so quiet.
'I think, probably' — a soft guess
아무래도 오늘은 어려울 것 같아요.— I don't think today's going to work.
아무래도 걔가 화난 것 같아.— I think he's upset.
'first of all, for now'
일단 여기 앉으세요.— First of all, please have a seat.
일단 밥부터 먹자.— Let's eat first.
'by any chance' — softens a question
혹시 김 선생님 아니세요?— Are you Mr. Kim, by any chance?
혹시 펜 있어?— Do you happen to have a pen?
'that's true, but…'
그렇긴 한데 가격이 좀 부담스럽네요.— True, but the price is a bit steep.
그렇긴 한데 시간이 없잖아.— True, but we don't have time.
'so to speak' — rephrases simply
말하자면 제가 중간에서 전달하는 역할입니다.— So to speak, I pass messages between the two sides.
말하자면 연습 경기 같은 거야.— It's like a practice match, so to speak.
'in a way' — one way of seeing it
어떻게 보면 잘된 일이에요.— In a way, it worked out for the best.
어떻게 보면 걔도 피해자지.— In a way, he's a victim too.
'how should I put it'
뭐랄까, 좀 애매해요.— How should I put it — it's kind of vague.
뭐랄까… 설명하기가 좀 어려운데.— How do I say this… it's hard to explain.
'well, I'm not sure' — polite non-answer
글쎄요, 좀 더 생각해 볼게요.— Hmm, let me think about it more.
글쎄요, 저도 잘 모르겠습니다.— Well, I'm not really sure either.
'anyway, more to the point'
그나저나 요즘 어떻게 지내세요?— Anyway, how have you been?
그나저나 밥은 먹었어?— Anyway, have you eaten?
'that aside' — new topic
그건 그렇고 회의는 몇 시죠?— That aside, what time is the meeting?
그건 그렇고 너 살 빠졌다.— Anyway, you've lost weight.
'anyway, either way'
어차피 늦었으니까 천천히 가요.— We're late either way, so let's take our time.
어차피 안 될 거야.— It won't work out anyway.
'anyhow' — wrapping up, often exasperated
하여튼 조심하세요.— Anyhow, do be careful.
하여튼 너는 못 말려.— Honestly, you're impossible.
'in the end'
결국 처음부터 다시 했어요.— In the end I started over from scratch.
결국 걔가 이겼어.— In the end, he won.
'and' — adds the next thing
밥 먹고, 그리고 영화도 봤어요.— We ate, and then we saw a movie.
그리고 또 뭐가 필요해?— And what else do we need?
'also, again'
또 늦었어?— Late again?
그리고 또 하나 말씀드릴 게 있습니다.— And there's one more thing I'd like to say.
'then, in that case'
그러면 이렇게 하시죠.— Then let's do it this way.
그러면 나는 어떡해?— Then what am I supposed to do?
'because' (spoken)
못 가요. 왜냐면 일이 좀 있어서요.— I can't go — because I have something on.
왜냐면 걔가 먼저 그랬거든.— Because he started it.
'exactly, that's what I'm saying'
그러니까 말이야, 나도 그 생각 했어.— Exactly — I was thinking the same thing.
그러니까 말이에요, 너무하죠.— Right? It's really too much.
'that's my point' — total agreement
내 말이. 나도 똑같이 생각했어.— That's what I'm saying. I thought the exact same.
내 말이요, 진짜 이해가 안 갑니다.— Right? I really don't get it.
'now that you mention it'
그러고 보니 오늘이 금요일이네요.— Now that you mention it, today is Friday.
그러고 보니 걔 요즘 안 보인다.— Come to think of it, I haven't seen him lately.
'it turned out that…'
알고 보니 제 실수였어요.— It turned out to be my mistake.
알고 보니 둘이 아는 사이더라.— Turns out those two know each other.