معنی
Expresses uncertainty or incomplete knowledge about something.
زمینه فرهنگی
Koreans often use '잘 모르겠어요' to avoid saying 'No' directly, which is considered harsh. It's a way to maintain social harmony (Kibun). In a company, saying '잘 모르겠습니다' is often followed by '알아보겠습니다' (I will look into it). Just saying you don't know is seen as unprofessional. Students are encouraged to use this phrase to show humility before a teacher, even if they have a partial idea of the answer. Younger generations use the cute version '몰루' (Mollu) accompanied by a specific emoji of a character with a blank expression.
The Head Tilt
When saying this phrase, a slight head tilt or a small shrug makes you look much more natural and truly 'uncertain.'
Avoid '몰라'
Never say '몰라' (mol-la) to someone older than you. It's very rude and sounds like a child talking back.
معنی
Expresses uncertainty or incomplete knowledge about something.
The Head Tilt
When saying this phrase, a slight head tilt or a small shrug makes you look much more natural and truly 'uncertain.'
Avoid '몰라'
Never say '몰라' (mol-la) to someone older than you. It's very rude and sounds like a child talking back.
Add '죄송하지만'
Start with '죄송하지만...' (I'm sorry, but...) before '잘 모르겠어요' to reach peak Korean politeness.
The 'Polite No'
If you ask a Korean for a favor and they say '잘 모르겠어요,' don't push. They are likely trying to say 'No' without hurting your feelings.
خودت رو بسنج
Which phrase is the most polite way to say 'I don't know' to your boss?
Boss: '이 보고서 어디 있어요?' (Where is this report?)
The '-습니다' ending is the most formal and appropriate for a workplace setting with a superior.
Complete the sentence to say 'I don't know the name well.'
이름을 ___ 모르겠어요.
'잘' is the standard adverb used with '모르겠어요' to soften the expression.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
가: 저 식당이 맛있어요? 나: 글쎄요, 저도 ___.
The speaker is expressing uncertainty about the restaurant's taste.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Situation: You are texting a close friend and don't know what time the movie starts.
With close friends, the informal 'banmal' (dropping the 'yo') is used.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Direct vs. Polite
بانک تمرین
4 تمرینهاBoss: '이 보고서 어디 있어요?' (Where is this report?)
The '-습니다' ending is the most formal and appropriate for a workplace setting with a superior.
이름을 ___ 모르겠어요.
'잘' is the standard adverb used with '모르겠어요' to soften the expression.
가: 저 식당이 맛있어요? 나: 글쎄요, 저도 ___.
The speaker is expressing uncertainty about the restaurant's taste.
Situation: You are texting a close friend and don't know what time the movie starts.
With close friends, the informal 'banmal' (dropping the 'yo') is used.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
سوالات متداول
10 سوالNot exactly. It mostly means 'I don't know the information.' If you don't understand the words being said, '이해가 안 돼요' is better.
Yes, but drop the '요' to make it '잘 모르겠어.'
It's a linguistic quirk. It makes the 'not knowing' sound more considered and therefore more polite.
'몰라요' is blunt and direct. '잘 모르겠어요' is soft, polite, and suggests you've thought about it.
Yes, but use the formal version: '잘 모르겠습니다.'
Use the past tense: '잘 몰랐어요.'
In casual settings, people just say '글쎄요' (Well...) which implies they don't know.
No, in this context, it indicates conjecture or a softened assertion in the present.
Yes, the root '모르다' is the same, though the intonation and some endings may differ.
Yes! It's perfect for when you have a guess but don't want to be held responsible if you're wrong.
عبارات مرتبط
글쎄요
similarWell... / I'm not sure
기억이 안 나요
similarI don't remember
이해가 안 돼요
similarI don't understand
확실하지 않아요
similarIt's not certain
알 수 없어요
similarThere's no way to know
전혀 모르겠어요
builds onI have no idea at all
