Functional Phrases
Expressions for requesting, declining, agreeing, and more
could we swap seats?
일행이랑 같이 앉고 싶어서요. 자리 좀 바꿔 주실 수 있을까요?— I'd like to sit with my friend. Could we swap seats?
죄송한데 자리 좀 바꿔 주실 수 있을까요?— Sorry, would you mind swapping seats?
could you take a photo for us?
실례합니다, 사진 좀 찍어 주시겠어요?— Excuse me, could you take a photo for us?
여기 배경 나오게 사진 좀 찍어 주시겠어요?— Could you take one with the background in it?
I'd be grateful if you could hurry a little
출고 시간이 얼마 안 남아서요. 조금만 서둘러 주시면 감사하겠습니다.— We're close to the shipping deadline — I'd be grateful if you could hurry.
조금만 서둘러 주시면 감사하겠습니다. 기다리는 분들이 계셔서요.— I'd appreciate it if you could hurry a little. People are waiting.
sorry, today would be difficult (soft refusal)
죄송한데 오늘은 좀 어려울 것 같아요. 내일은 괜찮아요.— Sorry, today would be difficult. Tomorrow is fine though.
가고 싶은데 죄송한데 오늘은 좀 어려울 것 같아요.— I'd like to, but I'm afraid today won't work.
that's a bit difficult right now (indirect no)
지금은 좀 곤란한데요. 이따 다시 말씀드릴게요.— It's a bit awkward right now. I'll get back to you later.
죄송해요, 지금은 좀 곤란한데요.— Sorry, right now is a bit difficult.
I'll gratefully accept the thought (declining a gift/offer)
이런 건 부담스러워서요. 마음만 감사히 받겠습니다.— This is too much for me. I'll just accept the thought.
마음만 감사히 받겠습니다. 정말 괜찮습니다.— I'll gratefully accept the thought. Really, it's fine.
could we do it another time?
오늘은 몸이 안 좋아서요. 다음에 하면 안 될까요?— I'm not feeling well today. Could we do it another time?
죄송한데 다음에 하면 안 될까요? 이번 주는 일정이 꽉 찼어요.— Sorry, could we do it next time? My week is full.
let me think about it (often a polite no)
좋은 제안이긴 한데, 생각 좀 해 볼게요.— It's a good offer, but let me think about it.
생각 좀 해 볼게요. 연락드릴게요.— Let me think about it. I'll get back to you.
no thank you, I'm fine
저는 괜찮습니다. 방금 마셨어요.— I'm fine, thank you. I just had one.
저는 괜찮습니다. 두 분 드세요.— None for me, thanks. You two go ahead.
no, that's all right (plain refusal)
아니요, 됐어요. 그냥 구경만 할게요.— No, that's all right. I'm just looking.
아니요, 됐어요. 봉투는 필요 없어요.— No, that's fine. I don't need a bag.
I don't think I can today (casual)
미안, 나 오늘은 안 될 것 같아. 다음에 가자.— Sorry, I don't think I can make it today. Let's go another time.
나 오늘은 안 될 것 같아. 야근이야.— I can't today. I'm working late.
I'm afraid something has come up
죄송한데 제가 사정이 좀 있어서요. 이번엔 빠질게요.— Sorry, something has come up. I'll sit this one out.
제가 사정이 좀 있어서요. 자세한 건 나중에 말씀드릴게요.— I have a situation. I'll explain later.
I'm afraid that would be difficult (firm, polite)
일정상 그건 좀 힘들 것 같습니다.— Given the schedule, that would be difficult.
죄송하지만 그건 좀 힘들 것 같습니다. 다른 방안을 찾아보겠습니다.— I'm sorry, but that would be hard. I'll look for another way.
that's not possible under the rules
환불은 규정상 어렵습니다. 교환은 가능합니다.— A refund isn't possible under our policy. An exchange is.
죄송합니다, 그건 규정상 어렵습니다.— I'm sorry, the rules don't allow that.
I'll definitely come next time
오늘은 선약이 있어서요. 다음 기회에 꼭 갈게요.— I have other plans today. I'll definitely come next time.
초대해 주셔서 감사해요. 다음 기회에 꼭 갈게요.— Thanks for inviting me. I'll be there next time for sure.
it isn't my call to make
제가 결정할 일이 아니라서요. 위에 여쭤보겠습니다.— It isn't my call. I'll ask upstairs.
죄송한데 제가 결정할 일이 아니라서요.— Sorry, that isn't something I can decide.
I'm afraid that won't work
오늘 예약은 안 되겠는데요. 내일은 자리가 있습니다.— I'm afraid we can't take a booking today. Tomorrow we have space.
이 카드로는 안 되겠는데요.— I'm afraid this card won't go through.
may I come in?
팀장님, 들어가도 될까요?— Sir, may I come in?
실례합니다. 들어가도 될까요?— Excuse me. May I come in?
may I sit here?
자리 비었어요? 여기 앉아도 돼요?— Is this seat free? May I sit here?
여기 앉아도 돼요? 다른 자리가 없어서요.— May I sit here? There are no other seats.
may I step out for a moment?
병원 예약이 있어서 잠깐 나갔다 와도 될까요?— I have a doctor's appointment — may I step out for a bit?
점심시간에 은행에 잠깐 나갔다 와도 될까요?— May I run to the bank during lunch?
is it okay to take photos?
여기 사진 찍어도 되나요?— Is it okay to take photos here?
전시물 사진 찍어도 되나요? 플래시는 안 쓸게요.— May I photograph the exhibits? I won't use flash.
would it be all right if I left first?
오늘 몫은 다 끝냈는데, 먼저 퇴근해도 괜찮을까요?— I've finished my share for today — would it be all right if I left?
몸이 좀 안 좋아서요. 먼저 퇴근해도 괜찮을까요?— I'm not feeling well. Would it be okay if I went home first?
can I use this? (casual)
이거 써도 돼? 잠깐만 쓸게.— Can I use this? Just for a second.
네 우산 이거 써도 돼?— Can I use this umbrella of yours?
sorry to interrupt
말씀 중에 죄송한데요, 손님이 찾으십니다.— Sorry to interrupt, but a customer is asking for you.
말씀 중에 죄송한데요, 하나만 여쭤봐도 될까요?— Sorry to cut in — may I ask just one thing?
you may go ahead and do that
네, 그렇게 하셔도 됩니다.— Yes, you may do it that way.
서류는 이메일로 보내셔도 됩니다.— You can send the documents by email.
same here
저도요. 저도 매운 건 잘 못 먹어요.— Same here. I can't handle spicy food either.
저도요! 그 드라마 진짜 재밌더라고요.— Same! That drama was really good.
that's exactly what I'm saying
제 말이 그 말이에요. 사람을 더 뽑아야 해요.— That's exactly what I'm saying. We need to hire more people.
그렇죠? 제 말이 그 말이에요.— Right? That's exactly my point.
I think so too (formal)
저도 그렇게 생각합니다. 일정을 미루는 게 낫겠습니다.— I think so too. It would be better to push the schedule back.
네, 저도 그렇게 생각합니다.— Yes, I think so as well.
understood (accepting an instruction)
네, 알겠습니다. 바로 처리하겠습니다.— Yes, understood. I'll take care of it right away.
알겠습니다. 오후까지 마무리하겠습니다.— Understood. I'll finish it by this afternoon.
okay, got it (polite, softer)
알겠어요, 그럼 그렇게 할게요.— Okay, I'll do it that way then.
네, 알겠어요. 걱정 마세요.— Yes, got it. Don't worry.
okay, fine (casual)
그래, 알았어. 내가 갈게.— Okay, fine. I'll go.
알았어, 알았어. 이제 그만 말해.— All right, all right. Stop nagging.
sounds good (approving a proposal)
좋습니다. 그 방향으로 진행하시죠.— Sounds good. Let's go in that direction.
네, 좋습니다. 내일 다시 이야기하겠습니다.— Yes, good. We'll talk again tomorrow.
I feel the same way (formal)
말씀하신 부분에 동감입니다.— I agree with the point you made.
저도 동감입니다. 안전이 우선이죠.— I feel the same. Safety comes first.
of course
그럼요, 얼마든지요.— Of course, as much as you like.
그럼요. 제가 도와드릴게요.— Of course. I'll help you.
I'm not so sure about that
그게 정말 나은 방법인지는 잘 모르겠는데요.— I'm not sure that's really the better way.
저는 잘 모르겠는데요. 다른 분 의견도 들어 보죠.— I'm not sure. Let's hear what others think.
my view is a little different (polite disagreement)
제 생각은 좀 다릅니다. 비용을 먼저 봐야 할 것 같습니다.— My view is a bit different. I think we should look at the cost first.
말씀은 이해하지만 제 생각은 좀 다릅니다.— I understand your point, but I see it differently.
I don't think that's right
그건 아닌 것 같은데요. 제가 들은 거랑 달라요.— I don't think that's right. It's different from what I heard.
음, 그건 아닌 것 같은데요. 다시 확인해 볼까요?— Hmm, that doesn't seem right. Shall we check again?
I take your point, but...
말씀은 알겠는데요, 인원이 부족합니다.— I take your point, but we're short of people.
말씀은 알겠는데요, 오늘까지는 무리입니다.— I understand, but finishing today isn't realistic.
that's not necessarily so
꼭 그렇지는 않아요. 사람마다 달라요.— Not necessarily. It depends on the person.
다 비싸다고요? 꼭 그렇지는 않아요.— You say it's all expensive? Not necessarily.
I'm not really into it (casual)
난 별로야. 다른 데 가면 안 될까?— I'm not into it. Can we go somewhere else?
그 영화? 난 별로야.— That movie? Not my thing.
I'm afraid I can't agree (formal)
그 조건에는 동의하기 어렵습니다.— I can't agree to those terms.
죄송하지만 그 부분은 동의하기 어렵습니다.— I'm sorry, but I can't agree on that point.
no, that's not what I meant
그게 아니라요, 제 말은 순서를 바꾸자는 거예요.— No, what I mean is that we should change the order.
아니, 그게 아니라요. 오해가 있으신 것 같아요.— No, that's not it. I think there's a misunderstanding.
how about doing it this way?
시간이 없으니까 이렇게 하는 게 어때요?— We're short on time, so how about doing it this way?
이렇게 하는 게 어때요? 둘로 나눠서 하는 거예요.— How about this? We split it in two.
shall we go together?
저도 그쪽으로 가는데 같이 갈까요?— I'm heading that way too — shall we go together?
점심 먹으러 같이 갈까요?— Shall we go get lunch together?
shall we just grab a bite? (casual)
할 것도 없는데 우리 밥이나 먹을까?— Nothing else to do — shall we just get some food?
우리 밥이나 먹을까? 근처에 괜찮은 데 있어.— Want to grab a bite? There's a good place nearby.
what if we tried it this way?
순서를 바꿔서 이렇게 해 보면 어떨까요?— What if we changed the order and did it this way?
이렇게 해 보면 어떨까요? 시간을 절반으로 줄일 수 있습니다.— What if we tried this? It could halve the time.
give it a try
어렵지 않아요. 한번 해 보세요.— It's not hard. Give it a try.
맛있으니까 한번 드셔 보세요.— It's good — try some.
then let's do it this way
그럼 이렇게 하시죠. 오전은 제가, 오후는 과장님이 맡는 걸로요.— Then let's do this: I'll take the morning, you take the afternoon.
그럼 이렇게 하시죠. 내일 다시 모이겠습니다.— Let's do it this way then. We'll meet again tomorrow.
if you're free, want to join?
주말에 등산 갈 건데, 시간 되면 같이 하실래요?— I'm going hiking this weekend — want to join if you're free?
시간 되면 같이 하실래요? 부담 갖지 마시고요.— Want to join if you have time? No pressure.
would you like to grab a coffee?
잠깐 쉬면서 커피 한잔하실래요?— Want to take a break and grab a coffee?
이야기도 할 겸 커피 한잔하실래요?— Shall we get a coffee and talk?