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How to say I Don't Understand in Korean: i hae mot haess eo yo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. When do Koreans say "I don't understand" — 이해 못 했어요 (ihae mot haesseoyo)?

When explanation is too fast — subway directions, teacher grammar, shopkeeper instructions. Koreans happily repeat when they hear this polite expression.

Q2. What's the difference between 이해 못 했어요, 이해 못 했어, and 잘 이해가 안 됩니다?

이해 못 했어요 (ihae mot haesseoyo) = polite standard. 이해 못 했어 (ihae mot haesseo) = casual with friends. 잘 이해가 안 됩니다 (jal ihaega an doemnida) = formal, respectful.

Q3. What will Koreans say after you say you don't understand?

They say 다시 설명할게요 (dasi seolmyeonghalgeyo) = I'll explain again, or 천천히 말할게요 (cheoncheonhi malhalgeyo) = I'll speak slowly.

EPS TOPIK: How to Say "I Don't Understand" in Korean

What does "이해 못 했어요 (ihae mot haesseoyo)" mean?

이해 못 했어요 (ihae mot haesseoyo) means "I don't understand." 이해 (ihae) = understand + 못 (mot) = not + 했어요 (haesseoyo) = did → 이해 못 했어요 (ihae mot haesseoyo). Polite way to ask for help.

Polite: 이해 못 했어요 (i-hae mot haess-eo-yo) - Standard polite
Formal: 잘 이해가 안 됩니다 (jal i-hae-ga an doem-ni-da) - Formal, respectful
Casual: 이해 못 했어 (i-hae mot haess-eo) - Friends

Grammar Breakdown

이해 (i-hae) = understand
못 (mot) = not (unable)
했어요 (haess-eo-yo) = did (polite)
이해 (i-hae) + 못 (mot) + 했어요 (haess-eo-yo) → 이해 못 했어요 (i-hae mot haess-eo-yo) = understand + not + did → I don't understand
→ 이해 못 했어요 (i-hae mot haess-eo-yo) = I don't understand.

When to Use It

1. Too fast: Directions, grammar, instructions too fast.
2. Confused: Didn't catch explanation.
3. Polite ask: Koreans will happily explain again.

Real-Life Examples

이해 못 했어요. 다시 설명해주세요. (ihae mot haesseoyo. dasi seolmyeonghaejuseyo.) i-hae mot haess-eo-yo. da-si seol-myeong-hae-ju-se-yo.

I don't understand. Please explain again.

잘 이해가 안 됩니다. 여기 부분입니다. (jal ihaega an doemnida. yeogi bubunimnida.) jal i-hae-ga an doem-ni-da. yeo-gi bu-bun-im-ni-da.

I don't quite understand. This part here. (Formal)

이해 못 했어. 다시 말해줘. (ihae mot haesseo. dasi malhaejwo.) i-hae mot haess-eo. da-si mal-hae-jwo.

I don't understand. Say it again. (Casual)

아, 다시 설명할게요. 천천히 말할게요. (a, dasi seolmyeonghalgeyo. cheoncheonhi malhalgeyo.) a, da-si seol-myeong-hal-ge-yo. cheon-cheon-hi mal-hal-ge-yo.

Ah, I'll explain again. I'll speak slowly.

Similar Expressions

• 다시 설명해주세요 (dasi seolmyeonghaejuseyo) - Please explain again
• 천천히 말해주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhaejuseyo) - Please speak slowly
• 어떤 부분이 어려우신가요? (eotteon bubuni eoryeousingayo?) - Which part is difficult?

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