뭐라고요?
mwo-ra-go-yo · literally “What did you say?”
Situation: On a call with a client, you didn't catch what they said and want to ask 'Sorry, could you say that again?'
✕ What AI tells you
Translates 'What did you say?' or 'Pardon?' as 뭐라고요?
Why it fails: 뭐라고요? with a rising tone is what people say when they can't believe what they just heard — closer to 'Excuse me?!' or 'What did you just say?' In a polite setting it can sound offended or confrontational.
✓ What Koreans actually say
For a quick 'Sorry?', use 네? For a polite, full request, apologize first and ask them to say it once more using the honorific 말씀.
죄송하지만, 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요?
joe-song-ha-ji-man, da-si han-beon mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo
The safe, polite way — to a client, boss, teacher or stranger
네?
ne
A quick 'Sorry?' with a rising tone when you just missed a word
잘 못 들었어요. 다시 한번만요.
jal mot deu-reo-sseo-yo. da-si han-beon-man-nyo
Casual-polite, to someone close: 'I didn't catch that, once more please'
Cultural nuance, in depth
뭐라고 literally asks 'what (did you) say', and the 요 makes it technically polite. But tone carries a lot in Korean, and this phrase is closely tied to disbelief or irritation, as in arguments and TV dramas. 말씀 is the honorific word for someone else's speech, so 다시 한번 말씀해 주시겠어요? both shows respect and makes clear that the problem is your hearing, not what they said.
- #politeness
- #phone
- #misunderstood
More on workplace & hierarchy
- Workplace & Hierarchyv0.3
고마워요
go-ma-wo-yo · “Thanks”
AI gets it wrong:고마워요 is warm and polite between equals or toward someone younger, but to a superior it can sound a little casual, as if you're thanking a peer. 감사합니다 is the expected form upward.Say instead:도와주셔서 정말 감사합니다.See why → - Workplace & Hierarchyv0.1
김 씨
gim ssi · “Mr./Ms. Kim”
AI gets it wrong:씨 is polite only between equals or toward juniors. Surname + 씨 alone can even sound like you're addressing a laborer or a stranger you look down on. Superiors are called by their job title.Say instead:김 팀장님, 회의 자료 보내 드렸습니다.See why → - Workplace & Hierarchyv0.3
나는
na-neun · “I (plain)”
AI gets it wrong:나 is the plain 'I' for friends and juniors. With polite endings it sounds mismatched, and in front of an interviewer, boss or elder it comes across as not knowing your place. The humble 'I' is 저.Say instead:저는 소피라고 합니다.See why →