Improving your Korean pronunciation is crucial for clear communication, but asking for feedback can sometimes feel daunting. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and tips for politely requesting pronunciation correction from native speakers, helping you refine your accent and speak more naturally.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 제 발음 좀 교정해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: je ba-reum jom gyo-jeong-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you please correct my pronunciation? (Polite request)
Basic Phrases for Requesting Correction
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Expression: 발음이 맞아요?
Pronunciation: ba-reum-i ma-ja-yo?
Meaning: Is my pronunciation correct? -
Expression: 이거 어떻게 발음해요?
Pronunciation: i-geo eo-tteo-ke ba-reum-hae-yo?
Meaning: How do you pronounce this? -
Expression: 제 발음 어때요?
Pronunciation: je ba-reum eo-ttae-yo?
Meaning: How is my pronunciation? -
Expression: 다시 한번 발음해 주세요.
Pronunciation: da-si han-beon ba-reum-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please pronounce it again. -
Expression: 천천히 말해주세요.
Pronunciation: cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please speak slowly. -
Expression: 이 단어 발음 좀 도와주세요.
Pronunciation: i dan-eo ba-reum jom do-wa-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please help me with the pronunciation of this word. -
Expression: 어디가 틀렸어요?
Pronunciation: eo-di-ga teul-lyeo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Where did I go wrong? / What part is incorrect? -
Expression: 자연스럽게 들려요?
Pronunciation: ja-yeon-seu-reop-ge deul-lyeo-yo?
Meaning: Does it sound natural? -
Expression: 어떻게 하면 더 좋아질까요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteo-ke ha-myeon deo jo-a-jil-kka-yo?
Meaning: How can I improve it? -
Expression: 따라 해 볼게요.
Pronunciation: tta-ra hae bol-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll try to repeat it. / I’ll try following along.
Specific Pronunciation Questions
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Expression: 이 받침 발음이 어려워요.
Pronunciation: i bat-chim ba-reum-i eo-ryeo-wo-yo.
Meaning: The pronunciation of this final consonant (batchim) is difficult. -
Expression: ‘으’와 ‘어’ 발음 차이가 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: eu-wa eo ba-reum cha-i-ga mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What’s the difference in pronunciation between ‘으’ (eu) and ‘어’ (eo)? -
Expression: 이중모음 발음이 헷갈려요.
Pronunciation: i-jung-mo-eum ba-reum-i het-gal-lyeo-yo.
Meaning: The pronunciation of diphthongs is confusing. -
Expression: 경음 발음하는 법 좀 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: gyeong-eum ba-reum-ha-neun beob jom al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me how to pronounce tense consonants (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). -
Expression: 연음 규칙 때문에 발음이 달라지나요?
Pronunciation: yeon-eum gyu-chik ttae-mun-e ba-reum-i dal-la-ji-na-yo?
Meaning: Does the pronunciation change because of liaison rules (yeon-eum)? -
Expression: 이 단어의 강세는 어디에 있어요?
Pronunciation: i dan-eo-ui gang-se-neun eo-di-e i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Where is the stress in this word? (Note: Korean generally has less stress variation than English) -
Expression: 제 억양이 이상해요?
Pronunciation: je eok-yang-i i-sang-hae-yo?
Meaning: Is my intonation strange? -
Expression: 원어민처럼 발음하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: won-eo-min-cheo-reom ba-reum-ha-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want to pronounce like a native speaker. -
Expression: 이 문장 한번 들어보시고 발음 지적해주세요.
Pronunciation: i mun-jang han-beon deu-reo-bo-si-go ba-reum ji-jeok-hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please listen to this sentence once and point out my pronunciation errors. -
Expression: 이 단어 발음 좀 녹음해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: i dan-eo ba-reum jom no-geum-hae ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Could you possibly record the pronunciation of this word for me?
Receiving Feedback Phrases
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Expression: 아, 그렇군요. 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: a, geu-reo-ku-nyo. gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Oh, I see. Thank you. -
Expression: 다시 해 볼게요.
Pronunciation: da-si hae bol-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll try again. -
Expression: 이렇게요?
Pronunciation: i-reo-ke-yo?
Meaning: Like this? -
Expression: 이제 좀 나아졌나요?
Pronunciation: i-je jom na-a-jyeon-na-yo?
Meaning: Is it a bit better now? -
Expression: 계속 연습할게요.
Pronunciation: gye-sok yeon-seu-pal-ge-yo.
Meaning: I’ll keep practicing. -
Expression: 자세히 설명해주셔서 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: ja-se-hi seol-myeong-hae-ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for explaining in detail. -
Expression: 어떤 점을 더 신경 써야 할까요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon jeom-eul deo sin-gyeong sseo-ya hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: What point should I pay more attention to? -
Expression: 정말 도움이 많이 됐어요.
Pronunciation: jeong-mal do-um-i ma-ni dwae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: It was really helpful. -
Expression: 발음 교정해주셔서 고맙습니다.
Pronunciation: ba-reum gyo-jeong-hae-ju-syeo-seo go-map-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for correcting my pronunciation. (Slightly less formal than 감사합니다) -
Expression: 다음에도 또 부탁드려도 될까요?
Pronunciation: da-eum-e-do tto bu-tak-deu-ryeo-do doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: May I ask you again next time?
Cultural Tips
Politeness Matters: While many Koreans are happy to help language learners, always ask politely before requesting correction. Using phrases ending in -주시겠어요? (ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?) or -주세요 (ju-se-yo) is recommended.
Embrace Mistakes: Don’t be overly embarrassed about making pronunciation errors. It’s a normal and necessary part of the learning process. Koreans generally appreciate the effort you’re making.
Be Specific (If Possible): If you know which sound or word you’re struggling with, mentioning it can make it easier for the person to help you effectively. For example, “The ‘ㄹ’ sound is difficult for me.” (저는 ‘ㄹ’ 발음이 어려워요. / jeo-neun ‘L’ ba-reum-i eo-ryeo-wo-yo.)
Show Gratitude: Always thank the person for their time and help after they provide feedback. A simple 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) or 고맙습니다 (go-map-seum-ni-da) goes a long way.
Context is Key: Consider the situation. It might be more appropriate to ask a teacher, tutor, or close friend for detailed correction rather than a stranger in a brief interaction, unless they offer first.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Alex, a Korean language learner, is talking with their Korean friend, Minji, and wants feedback on their pronunciation of a specific word.
Roles: A = Alex (Learner), B = Minji (Native Speaker)
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Expression: A: 민지 씨, 잠깐 시간 괜찮아요? 한국어 발음 질문이 있어요.
Pronunciation: min-ji ssi, jam-kkan si-gan gwaen-chan-a-yo? han-gu-geo ba-reum jil-mun-i i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Minji, do you have a moment? I have a question about Korean pronunciation. -
Expression: B: 네, 그럼요. 뭔데요?
Pronunciation: ne, geu-reom-yo. mwon-de-yo?
Meaning: Yes, of course. What is it? -
Expression: A: 이 단어, ‘회사원’, 발음이 좀 어려워요. 제 발음 좀 들어봐 주시겠어요? 회…사…원.
Pronunciation: i dan-eo, ‘hoe-sa-won’, ba-reum-i jom eo-ryeo-wo-yo. je ba-reum jom deu-reo-bwa ju-si-ge-sseo-yo? hoe…sa…won.
Meaning: This word, ‘회사원’ (office worker), is a bit difficult to pronounce. Could you please listen to my pronunciation? Hoe…sa…won. -
Expression: B: 아, ‘회사원’이요. 들어볼게요. 음… ‘회’ 발음이 조금 어색하게 들려요. ‘호에’ 보다는 ‘훼’에 가깝게 해보세요. 입술을 좀 더 동그랗게 모아서요. 훼-사-원.
Pronunciation: a, ‘hoe-sa-won’-i-yo. deu-reo-bol-ge-yo. eum… ‘hoe’ ba-reum-i jo-geum eo-saek-ha-ge deul-lyeo-yo. ‘ho-e’ bo-da-neun ‘hwe’e ga-kkap-ge hae-bo-se-yo. ip-sul-eul jom deo dong-geu-ra-ke mo-a-seo-yo. hwe-sa-won.
Meaning: Ah, ‘회사원’. Let me listen. Hmm… the ‘회’ (hoe) sound sounds a little awkward. Try making it closer to ‘hwe’ rather than ‘ho-e’. Round your lips a bit more. Hwe-sa-won. -
Expression: A: 아, 입술을 더 동그랗게… 훼-사-원. 이렇게요?
Pronunciation: a, ip-sul-eul deo dong-geu-ra-ke… hwe-sa-won. i-reo-ke-yo?
Meaning: Oh, round my lips more… Hwe-sa-won. Like this? -
Expression: B: 네! 훨씬 자연스러워요. 잘하시네요!
Pronunciation: ne! hwol-ssin ja-yeon-seu-reo-wo-yo. jal-ha-si-ne-yo!
Meaning: Yes! That’s much more natural. You’re doing great! -
Expression: A: 정말요? 감사합니다! 발음 교정해주셔서 정말 도움이 많이 됐어요.
Pronunciation: jeong-mal-lyo? gam-sa-ham-ni-da! ba-reum gyo-jeong-hae-ju-syeo-seo jeong-mal do-um-i ma-ni dwae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Really? Thank you! Correcting my pronunciation was really helpful.
Practice Tips
Don’t be afraid to ask for help with your pronunciation! Most native speakers appreciate learners making an effort and are often willing to assist~
Try recording yourself speaking Korean and compare it to native speakers. Shadowing (listening and repeating immediately) can also be very effective! Use language exchange apps or find conversation partners who can provide regular feedback. Most importantly, keep practicing and actively listen to how Koreans pronounce words and sentences. You’ll get better with time and effort! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting! / You can do it!)
