Navigating academic challenges in a different language can be daunting, especially in technical subjects like physics. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and cultural context for students needing to ask a Teaching Assistant (TA) for help with physics problems during class or office hours in a Korean university setting.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 조교님, 질문 있어요.
Pronunciation: jo-gyo-nim, jil-mun iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: TA, I have a question. (This is the most direct and common way to initiate asking for help.)
Asking for Help
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Expression: 조교님, 잠깐 시간 괜찮으세요?
Pronunciation: jo-gyo-nim, jam-kkan si-gan gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo?
Meaning: TA, do you have a moment? (Polite way to ask if they are available.) -
Expression: 이 문제 좀 도와주실 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: i mun-je jom do-wa-ju-sil su iss-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could you help me with this problem? -
Expression: 이 부분이 잘 이해가 안 돼요.
Pronunciation: i bu-bun-i jal i-hae-ga an dwae-yo.
Meaning: I don’t understand this part well. -
Expression: 설명 좀 다시 해주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: seol-myeong jom da-si hae-ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Could you explain it again? -
Expression: 어디서부터 시작해야 할지 모르겠어요.
Pronunciation: eo-di-seo-bu-teo si-jak-hae-ya hal-ji mo-reu-gess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I don’t know where to start. -
Expression: 이 문제 푸는 것 좀 봐주세요.
Pronunciation: i mun-je pu-neun geot jom bwa-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please take a look at how I’m solving this problem. -
Expression: 힌트 좀 주실 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: hin-teu jom ju-sil su iss-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could you give me a hint? -
Expression: 물리학 질문이 있습니다.
Pronunciation: mul-li-hak jil-mun-i iss-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I have a physics question. (More formal) -
Expression: 개념 설명이 필요해요.
Pronunciation: gae-nyeom seol-myeong-i pil-yo-hae-yo.
Meaning: I need an explanation of the concept. -
Expression: 이 문제 때문에 막혔어요.
Pronunciation: i mun-je ttae-mun-e mak-hyeoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: I’m stuck because of this problem.
Describing the Physics Problem
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Expression: 이 공식을 어떻게 적용해야 할지 모르겠어요.
Pronunciation: i gong-sik-eul eo-tteo-ke jeog-yong-hae-ya hal-ji mo-reu-gess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I don’t know how to apply this formula. -
Expression: 이 변수가 무엇을 의미하는지 모르겠어요.
Pronunciation: i byeon-su-ga mu-eos-eul ui-mi-ha-neun-ji mo-reu-gess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I don’t know what this variable means. -
Expression: 계산 과정에서 실수가 있는 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: gye-san gwa-jeong-e-seo sil-su-ga iss-neun geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: I think there’s a mistake in my calculation process. -
Expression: 이 개념 자체가 너무 어려워요.
Pronunciation: i gae-nyeom ja-che-ga neo-mu eo-ryeo-wo-yo.
Meaning: This concept itself is too difficult. -
Expression: 교수님 설명과 제 풀이가 달라요.
Pronunciation: gyo-su-nim seol-myeong-gwa je pul-i-ga dal-la-yo.
Meaning: My solution is different from the professor’s explanation. -
Expression: 이 그래프를 어떻게 해석해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: i geu-rae-peu-reul eo-tteo-ke hae-seok-hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: How should I interpret this graph? -
Expression: 단위 변환이 헷갈려요.
Pronunciation: dan-wi byeon-hwan-i het-gal-lyeo-yo.
Meaning: The unit conversion is confusing. -
Expression: 문제의 조건을 이해하지 못했어요.
Pronunciation: mun-je-ui jo-geon-eul i-hae-ha-ji mos-haess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I couldn’t understand the conditions of the problem. -
Expression: 벡터 계산이 복잡해요.
Pronunciation: bek-teo gye-san-i bok-jap-hae-yo.
Meaning: The vector calculation is complicated. -
Expression: 어떤 물리 법칙을 사용해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon mul-li beop-chik-eul sa-yong-hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Which physics law should I use?
Understanding the Explanation
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Expression: 아, 이제 알겠어요.
Pronunciation: a, i-je al-gess-eo-yo.
Meaning: Ah, now I understand. -
Expression: 네, 이해했습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, i-hae-haess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, I understood. (Formal) -
Expression: 설명 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: seol-myeong gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for the explanation. -
Expression: 덕분에 해결했어요.
Pronunciation: deok-bun-e hae-gyeol-haess-eo-yo.
Meaning: Thanks to you, I solved it. -
Expression: 죄송하지만, 다시 한번 설명해주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: joe-song-ha-ji-man, da-si han-beon seol-myeong-hae-ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: I’m sorry, but could you explain it one more time? -
Expression: 이 부분은 여전히 조금 헷갈려요.
Pronunciation: i bu-bun-eun yeo-jeon-hi jo-geum het-gal-lyeo-yo.
Meaning: This part is still a little confusing. -
Expression: 예시를 들어주실 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: ye-si-reul deul-eo-ju-sil su iss-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could you give me an example? -
Expression: 그렇게 생각하면 되는군요.
Pronunciation: geu-reo-ke saeng-gak-ha-myeon doe-neun-gun-yo.
Meaning: Oh, so I should think of it that way. -
Expression: 완전히 이해했어요. 정말 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: wan-jeon-hi i-hae-haess-eo-yo. jeong-mal gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I completely understand. Thank you so much. -
Expression: 도움 주셔서 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: do-um ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for your help.
Korean Culture Notes
Addressing the TA: Always address the Teaching Assistant politely using 조교님 (jo-gyo-nim). This title shows respect for their position. Avoid using their first name unless specifically invited to do so, which is uncommon in academic settings.
Show Your Effort: Before asking for help, it’s generally expected that you have attempted the problem yourself. Korean academic culture values diligence. Explaining what you’ve tried (제가 이렇게 풀어봤는데… – je-ga i-reo-ke pul-eo-bwass-neun-de… – I tried solving it like this, but…) shows you’ve put in effort.
Timing Matters: While TAs are there to help, be mindful of their time. Asking questions during designated office hours (오피스 아워 – o-pi-seu a-wo) or briefly after class is usually appropriate. Avoid interrupting lectures unless the professor encourages questions during the session.
Expressing Gratitude: Clearly expressing thanks (감사합니다 – gam-sa-ham-ni-da or 고맙습니다 – go-map-seum-ni-da) after receiving help is very important in demonstrating politeness.
Using Polite Language: Use the formal polite speech level (-요 [-yo] or –ㅂ니다/습니다 [-mnida/-seumnida]) when speaking to the TA. This is standard in academic interactions.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A student (Minji) approaches the TA (Jihun) after a physics tutorial session.
Roles:
* A: Minji (Student)
* B: Jihun (TA – 조교님)
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Expression: A: 조교님, 잠깐 시간 괜찮으세요? 질문이 있어서요.
Pronunciation: jo-gyo-nim, jam-kkan si-gan gwaen-chan-eu-se-yo? jil-mun-i iss-eo-seo-yo.
Meaning: TA, do you have a moment? I have a question. -
Expression: B: 네, 민지 씨. 괜찮아요. 어떤 문제인가요?
Pronunciation: ne, min-ji ssi. gwaen-chan-a-yo. eo-tteon mun-je-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Yes, Minji. It’s fine. What problem is it? -
Expression: A: 오늘 배운 3번 문제인데요. 이 공식을 어떻게 적용해야 할지 잘 모르겠어요. 제가 이렇게 풀어봤는데 막혔어요.
Pronunciation: o-neul bae-un sam-beon mun-je-in-de-yo. i gong-sik-eul eo-tteo-ke jeog-yong-hae-ya hal-ji jal mo-reu-gess-eo-yo. je-ga i-reo-ke pul-eo-bwass-neun-de mak-hyeoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: It’s problem number 3 that we learned today. I’m not sure how to apply this formula. I tried solving it like this, but I got stuck. -
Expression: B: 아, 이 문제요. 어디 한번 봅시다… 아, 여기 이 변수를 잘못 이해하신 것 같네요. 이 변수는 속도가 아니라 가속도를 의미해요.
Pronunciation: a, i mun-je-yo. eo-di han-beon bop-si-da… a, yeo-gi i byeon-su-reul jal-mot i-hae-ha-sin geot gat-ne-yo. i byeon-su-neun sok-do-ga a-ni-ra ga-sok-do-reul ui-mi-hae-yo.
Meaning: Ah, this problem. Let’s take a look… Ah, it seems you misunderstood this variable here. This variable means acceleration, not velocity. -
Expression: A: 아! 그렇군요! 그래서 계산이 계속 이상했어요. 이제 알겠어요. 설명 감사합니다, 조교님!
Pronunciation: a! geu-reo-kun-yo! geu-rae-seo gye-san-i gye-sok i-sang-haess-eo-yo. i-je al-gess-eo-yo. seol-myeong gam-sa-ham-ni-da, jo-gyo-nim!
Meaning: Ah! I see! That’s why my calculation kept coming out strange. Now I get it. Thank you for the explanation, TA! -
Expression: B: 네, 천만에요. 다른 질문은 없으세요?
Pronunciation: ne, cheon-man-e-yo. da-reun jil-mun-eun eops-eu-se-yo?
Meaning: Yes, you’re welcome. Do you have any other questions? -
Expression: A: 아니요, 괜찮습니다. 도움 주셔서 정말 감사합니다!
Pronunciation: a-ni-yo, gwaen-chan-seum-ni-da. do-um ju-syeo-seo jeong-mal gam-sa-ham-ni-da!
Meaning: No, I’m fine. Thank you so much for your help!
Practice Tips
Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it! TAs are there to support your learning~ Try practicing these phrases by yourself first, imagining a scenario where you’re stuck on a physics problem. You can even role-play with a study partner! Remember to always use polite language (조교님, –요/-ㅂ니다 endings) and show your appreciation. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become in asking for academic help in Korean! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Good luck!)
