Signification
Expresses lack of knowledge or understanding.
Contexte culturel
Saying 'I don't know' can be a way to show modesty. If someone praises your Korean skills, saying '아직 잘 모르겠어요' (I don't know [it] well yet) is a common humble response. In a Korean office, saying 'I don't know' to a superior without offering to find out can be seen as irresponsible. It's better to say '모르겠습니다. 확인해 보겠습니다' (I don't know. I will check). On platforms like Instagram or KakaoTalk, young people often use the cute version '몰게써요' or '몰랑' to sound less serious or more 'aegyo' (cute). When asked 'Do you like me?', answering '잘 모르겠어요' is a classic way to play hard to get or to avoid a direct rejection, leaving the other person to guess your true feelings.
Add '잘' for Native Fluency
Always try to say '잘 모르겠어요' instead of just '모르겠어요'. It sounds much more natural and humble.
Don't Overuse with Teachers
If you say '모르겠어요' too many times in class, the teacher might think you aren't paying attention. Try '다시 한번 설명해 주시겠어요?' (Could you explain one more time?).
Signification
Expresses lack of knowledge or understanding.
Add '잘' for Native Fluency
Always try to say '잘 모르겠어요' instead of just '모르겠어요'. It sounds much more natural and humble.
Don't Overuse with Teachers
If you say '모르겠어요' too many times in class, the teacher might think you aren't paying attention. Try '다시 한번 설명해 주시겠어요?' (Could you explain one more time?).
The 'Polite No'
If a Korean person says '잘 모르겠어요' to an invitation, it often means 'No'. Don't push too hard for a 'Yes'.
Shorten it for Texting
When texting friends, you can use '몰겠어' or even just the consonants 'ㅁㄹ' (though 'ㅁㄹ' is very slangy).
Teste-toi
Choose the most polite and natural way to say 'I don't know' to your teacher.
선생님: 이 단어의 뜻을 알아요?
'모르겠어요' is the standard polite way to address a teacher. '몰라' is too casual, and '안 알아요' is grammatically incorrect.
Complete the sentence to say 'I don't know where the bathroom is.'
화장실이 어디에 _______ 모르겠어요.
The suffix '-는지' is used with '모르다' to create an indirect question ('whether it is').
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
1. 모르겠습니다 2. 몰라 3. 모르겠어요
Formality levels must match the social context: Formal (interview), Informal (friend), Neutral/Polite (shop).
Fill in the blank to politely disagree.
가: 이 옷 어때요? 예쁘죠? 나: 음... 저는 잘 _______.
Using '잘 모르겠어요' is a common way to politely express that you don't share the same opinion.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formality Levels of 'I don't know'
Common Adverbs with 모르겠어요
Softening
- • 잘 (well)
- • 좀 (a bit)
Emphasizing
- • 전혀 (at all)
- • 도무지 (not at all)
Thinking
- • 글쎄요 (well...)
- • 아직 (yet)
Banque d exercices
4 exercices선생님: 이 단어의 뜻을 알아요?
'모르겠어요' is the standard polite way to address a teacher. '몰라' is too casual, and '안 알아요' is grammatically incorrect.
화장실이 어디에 _______ 모르겠어요.
The suffix '-는지' is used with '모르다' to create an indirect question ('whether it is').
1. 모르겠습니다 2. 몰라 3. 모르겠어요
Formality levels must match the social context: Formal (interview), Informal (friend), Neutral/Polite (shop).
가: 이 옷 어때요? 예쁘죠? 나: 음... 저는 잘 _______.
Using '잘 모르겠어요' is a common way to politely express that you don't share the same opinion.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
14 questions몰라요 is more direct and factual. 모르겠어요 is softer, more polite, and implies a subjective feeling of not knowing.
Yes, but '모르겠습니다' is safer in a very formal office. '모르겠어요' is fine if you have a friendly relationship.
You can say '전혀 모르겠어요' or '하나도 모르겠어요'.
It's a suffix that adds a nuance of 'conjecture' or 'it seems to me', which makes the statement less blunt.
Yes. '그 사람을 모르겠어요' means 'I don't know that person'.
Only if you say it to someone older or a stranger. With close friends, it's perfectly normal.
Use '왜 그런지 모르겠어요'.
Yes, it is often used that way, though '이해가 안 돼요' is more specific to understanding.
모르겠습니다 (Moreugesseumnida).
Yes! '뭘 살지 모르겠어요' (I don't know what to buy) is very common.
No, '모르다' is a pure Korean word.
It's a flap sound, like the 'tt' in 'better'. Don't roll it like a Spanish 'r' or make it heavy like an English 'l'.
In formal writing, '알 수 없다' or '불분명하다' (unclear) is often preferred over the conversational '모르겠어요'.
You can say '몰라요~' with a rising intonation at the end.
Expressions liées
잘 모르겠어요
specialized formI'm not really sure.
이해가 안 돼요
similarI don't understand.
기억이 안 나요
similarI don't remember.
알 수 없어요
similarThere is no way to know.
글쎄요
builds onWell... / Let me see...
무지하다
specialized formTo be ignorant ({無知|무지}하다)
