🔗 FB.TikTok / Sound Problem? >> Click here to open in New Window

How to Say Explain in Korean: Essential EPS-TOPIK Verb Quiz

---
👩🏫 Teacher's Tip - EPS-TOPIK Style
Tap to start learning!
---
---
💡 Click the correct answer to view a detailed explanation.
🤖
Ask AI Tutor
Have questions about 설명하다? Ask AI Teacher!
Free Personal Korean Tutor
1,000+ Essential Korean sentences / free

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do Koreans say "Explain"?

설명하다([seol-myeong-ha-da/explain]) means to explain or describe. In polite speech, say 설명해요([seol-myeong-hae-yo]).

Q2. How do I say "explained"?

설명했어요([seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo/explained]) is the polite past form. Example: 방법을 설명했어요 (I explained the method).

Q3. How do I say "have to explain"?

설명해야 해요([seol-myeong-hae-ya hae-yo/have to explain]) means you must explain. Example: 지금 설명해야 해요 (I have to explain now).

EPS TOPIK Learn More: How to Say "Explain" in Korean - 설명하다([seol-myeong-ha-da/explain])

What does "설명하다([seol-myeong-ha-da/explain])" mean?

설명하다([seol-myeong-ha-da/explain]) means "to explain". It is used when you make something clear in detail.

Casual: 설명해 (seol-myeong-hae)
Polite: 설명해요 (seol-myeong-hae-yo)
Formal: 설명합니다 (seol-myeong-ham-ni-da)

Grammar Breakdown

설명하다([seol-myeong-ha-da/explain]) = 설명 + 하다 (explanation + do)
설명했어요([seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo/explained]) = 설명했 + 어요 (explained + polite)
설명하고 싶어요([seol-myeong-ha-go si-peo-yo/want to explain]) = 설명하 + 고 싶어요 (explain + want to)
설명해야 해요([seol-myeong-hae-ya hae-yo/have to explain]) = 설명해 + 야 해요 (explain + have to)
설명하지 마세요([seol-myeong-ha-ji ma-se-yo/don't explain]) = 설명하 + 지 마세요 (explain + please don't)

When to Use It (EPS-TOPIK Style)

1. Daily: “방법을 설명해요 (bang-beo-beul seol-myeong-hae-yo)”
2. Past: 설명했어요([seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo/explained]) explained.
3. Duty: 설명해야 해요([seol-myeong-hae-ya hae-yo/have to explain]) have to explain.
4. Warning: 설명하지 마세요([seol-myeong-ha-ji ma-se-yo/don't explain]) don't explain.

Real-Life Examples - A-B-A-B Dialogue (EPS-TOPIK)

A: 뭘 설명해요? A: mwol seol-myeong-hae-yo?

A: What do you explain?

B: 방법을 설명해요. B: bang-beo-beul seol-myeong-hae-yo.

B: I explain the method.

A: 왜 설명해요? A: wae seol-myeong-hae-yo?

A: Why do you explain?

B: 이해 못 해서 설명해요. B: i-hae mot hae-seo seol-myeong-hae-yo.

B: I explain because they don't understand. - 설명하다([seol-myeong-ha-da/explain])

A: 어제 설명했어요? A: eo-je seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo?

A: Did you explain yesterday?

B: 네, 설명했어요. B: ne, seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo.

B: Yes, I explained.

A: 뭘 설명했어요? A: mwol seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo?

A: What did you explain?

B: 계획을 설명했어요. B: gye-hoe-geul seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo.

B: I explained the plan. - 설명했어요([seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo/explained])

A: 언제 설명해야 해요? A: eon-je seol-myeong-hae-ya hae-yo?

A: When do you have to explain?

B: 지금 설명해야 해요. B: ji-geum seol-myeong-hae-ya hae-yo.

B: I have to explain now.

A: 뭘 설명해야 해요? A: mwol seol-myeong-hae-ya hae-yo?

A: What do you have to explain?

B: 보고서를 설명해야 해요. B: bo-go-seo-reul seol-myeong-hae-ya hae-yo.

B: I have to explain the report. - 설명해야 해요([seol-myeong-hae-ya hae-yo/have to explain])

Similar Expressions (EPS-TOPIK)

• 설명하다([seol-myeong-ha-da/explain]) explain
- 설명했어요([seol-myeong-hae-sseo-yo/explained]) explained
- 설명하고 싶어요([seol-myeong-ha-go si-peo-yo/want to explain]) want to explain
- 설명해야 해요([seol-myeong-hae-ya hae-yo/have to explain]) have to explain
- 설명하지 마세요([seol-myeong-ha-ji ma-se-yo/don't explain]) don't explain

📈 Today's Most Viewed Quiz • Chosen by our 150,000 FB Followers

🔤 Browse Words/Sentences Alphabetically

© 2026 K-Free. All rights reserved. Learn 설명하다([seol-myeong-ha-da/explain])