Phrase in 30 Seconds
A polite and essential request used to ask someone to reduce their speaking speed for better understanding.
- Means: 'Please speak slowly' (a survival phrase for learners).
- Used in: Travel, classrooms, and when talking to fast-speaking locals.
- Don't confuse: With '조용히 하세요' which means 'Please be quiet'.
आपके स्तर पर व्याख्या:
मतलब
Requesting someone to reduce their speaking speed.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
The 'Pali-pali' culture means speed is often prioritized. Asking someone to slow down is a common and accepted part of the learning process for foreigners. In Korean companies, hierarchy dictates speech. If a boss speaks too fast, a subordinate might use '말씀' and a bowing gesture to be extra polite. Korean teachers (Seonsaengnim) are highly respected. Using the '-세요' ending is mandatory when asking them to slow down. In KakaoTalk, people often use abbreviations. You might see '천천히' written as 'ㅊㅊㅎ' in very casual settings, though rare.
Use your hands
Pair the phrase with a 'slow down' hand gesture (palms facing down, moving up and down) to be understood even better.
Don't forget '요'
Always include '요' at the end unless you are 100% sure you are in a casual 'Banmal' situation.
Use your hands
Pair the phrase with a 'slow down' hand gesture (palms facing down, moving up and down) to be understood even better.
Don't forget '요'
Always include '요' at the end unless you are 100% sure you are in a casual 'Banmal' situation.
Smile while saying it
A smile makes the request sound like a friendly plea for help rather than a criticism of their speech speed.
खुद को परखो
Fill in the missing adverb to ask the person to speak slowly.
죄송합니다. (______) 말해주세요.
'천천히' means slowly. '빨리' is fast, '크게' is loudly, and '많이' is a lot.
Which of these is the most polite way to ask a teacher to slow down?
선생님, ...
'말씀' is the honorific form of '말', making it the most respectful choice for a teacher.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 한국말이 너무 빨라요? B: 네, (_________________).
If the speech is too fast (너무 빨라요), the logical request is to speak slowly.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are talking to a close friend who is speaking too fast.
The '-줘' ending is the informal (Banmal) version used with close friends.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
अभ्यास बैंक
5 अभ्यास죄송합니다. (______) 말해주세요.
'천천히' means slowly. '빨리' is fast, '크게' is loudly, and '많이' is a lot.
선생님, ...
'말씀' is the honorific form of '말', making it the most respectful choice for a teacher.
A: 한국말이 너무 빨라요? B: 네, (_________________).
If the speech is too fast (너무 빨라요), the logical request is to speak slowly.
You are talking to a close friend who is speaking too fast.
The '-줘' ending is the informal (Banmal) version used with close friends.
🎉 स्कोर: /5
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालNo, it's actually considered polite because it shows you are trying hard to understand them.
Yes, but use the honorific version: '천천히 말씀해 주세요'.
You can say '조금만 더 천천히 말해주세요' (Please speak just a little MORE slowly).
'천천히' is the natural choice for speech and actions; '느리게' is more about physical velocity.
Use '천천히 말씀해 주시겠습니까?'
If you are the same age and have agreed to speak casually, yes!
It turns the verb into a request for a favor, literally 'Give me the act of speaking slowly'.
In an emergency or very casual setting, yes, but it sounds like a command 'Slowly!'
No, it's specifically for spoken communication.
Confusing it with '조용히 하세요' (Be quiet).
संबंधित मुहावरे
다시 말해주세요
similarPlease say it again.
크게 말해주세요
similarPlease speak loudly.
조금만 천천히
specialized formJust a little slowly.
써 주세요
builds onPlease write it down.
이해 못 했어요
contrastI didn't understand.
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
At the Airport
Staff: 여권이랑 입국 신고서 보여주세요.
Learner: 죄송합니다. 천천히 말해주세요.
In a Taxi
Driver: 어디로 갈까요? 고속도로로 갈까요?
Learner: 아, 천천히 말해주세요. 홍대입구역 가주세요.
Ordering Coffee
Barista: 드시고 가세요? 적립카드 있으세요?
Learner: 천천히 말해주세요. 커피 한 잔 주세요.
Language Exchange
Partner: 어제 진짜 재미있는 일이 있었는데 들어봐!
Learner: 잠깐만! 천천히 말해줘. 못 알아들었어.
On the Phone
Caller: 안녕하세요, 택배 기사입니다. 지금 계신가요?
Learner: 잘 안 들려요. 천천히 말씀해 주세요.
Asking Directions
Stranger: 저기서 우회전해서 쭉 가다가 편의점에서 왼쪽으로...
Learner: 죄송해요. 천천히 말해주세요.
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Think of a 'CHugging' train going 'CH-CH' (Cheon-Cheon) slowly up a hill.
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a fast-moving sports car (the speaker) hitting a giant yellow 'SLOW' sign (the word 천천히) and turning into a calm turtle.
Rhyme
Don't be in a hurry, say Cheon-cheon-hi!
Story
You are in a busy Seoul market. The ajumma is shouting prices like a rapper. You hold up your hand like a traffic cop and say 'Cheon-cheon-hi!' She smiles, takes a breath, and speaks like a gentle grandmother.
In Other Languages
In Japanese, 'Yukkuri' (slowly) sounds similar in its soft, repetitive nature. In English, we often use 'Could you...' to soften the request, just like '-주세요' does in Korean.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Go to a YouTube video of a Korean news broadcast. Try to say '천천히 말해주세요' every time you lose track of the words.
Review this phrase 1 hour after learning, then 1 day, then 3 days. It's a survival tool!
उच्चारण
The 'ㄴ' (n) at the end of the second '천' flows into the '히' (hi), making it sound like 'cheon-cheo-ni'.
The 'ㄹ' (r/l) is a light tap, and '주세요' is pronounced with a soft 'j' sound.
औपचारिकता का स्तर
천천히 말씀해 주십시오. (General communication)
천천히 말해주세요. (General communication)
천천히 말해줘. (General communication)
천천히 좀! (General communication)
The word '천천히' is a native Korean adverb. It is believed to be a reduplication of a root expressing slowness, similar to how 'slow-slow' might sound. The verb '말하다' is a combination of '말' (native Korean for speech/word) and '하다' (to do).
रोचक तथ्य
The '히' at the end of '천천히' is a common suffix that turns adjectives into adverbs, similar to '-ly' in English.
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
The 'Pali-pali' culture means speed is often prioritized. Asking someone to slow down is a common and accepted part of the learning process for foreigners.
“In a busy restaurant, a server might rattle off the menu. It's okay to say '천천히 말해주세요'.”
In Korean companies, hierarchy dictates speech. If a boss speaks too fast, a subordinate might use '말씀' and a bowing gesture to be extra polite.
“부장님, 죄송하지만 조금만 천천히 말씀해 주시겠습니까?”
Korean teachers (Seonsaengnim) are highly respected. Using the '-세요' ending is mandatory when asking them to slow down.
“선생님, 천천히 말해주세요.”
In KakaoTalk, people often use abbreviations. You might see '천천히' written as 'ㅊㅊㅎ' in very casual settings, though rare.
“좀 ㅊㅊㅎ 말해줘 (Very casual slang)”
बातचीत की शुरुआत
한국 친구와 이야기할 때 속도가 어때요?
택시 기사님이 너무 빨리 말하면 어떻게 할 거예요?
선생님의 설명을 못 알아들었을 때 뭐라고 해요?
सामान्य गलतियाँ
천천히 말하세요.
천천히 말해주세요.
L1 Interference
조금 말해주세요.
천천히 말해주세요.
L1 Interference
천천히 말해.
천천히 말해주세요.
L1 Interference
느리게 말해주세요.
천천히 말해주세요.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Hable más despacio, por favor.
Korean uses the 'give' auxiliary verb (-주세요) to imply a favor.
Parlez plus lentement, s'il vous plaît.
French 's'il vous plaît' is a conditional phrase, while Korean '-주세요' is an auxiliary verb.
Sprechen Sie bitte langsamer.
German grammar requires the pronoun 'Sie' (formal you), which Korean usually omits.
ゆっくり話してください
Japanese uses the 'te-form' of the verb, while Korean uses the 'ah/eo' connective.
تحدث ببطء من فضلك
Arabic verbs change significantly based on the gender of the person you are asking.
请说慢一点
Chinese word order is Subject-Verb-Adverb, while Korean is Adverb-Verb.
Fale mais devagar, por favor.
Portuguese often uses 'devagar' which can also mean 'quietly' or 'calmly' in some contexts.
Please speak slowly.
English 'please' is an adverb/interjection, while Korean '-주세요' is a conjugated verb ending.
Spotted in the Real World
“천천히 말해봐요.”
When Yoon Se-ri is panicking and speaking too fast in North Korea.
“천천히 말씀해 주세요.”
Tony, who is learning Korean, asks a customer to slow down.
“Slow down, 천천히...”
The lyrics use both English and Korean to emphasize taking things slow.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Both start with a similar rhythm and are requests.
Remember 'Cheon' (천) is for 'Slow' and 'Jo' (조) is for 'Quiet'.
Missing the '말' (speak) part.
'천천히 하세요' means 'Take your time' or 'Do it slowly' (like eating or working).
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (10)
No, it's actually considered polite because it shows you are trying hard to understand them.
cultural usageYes, but use the honorific version: '천천히 말씀해 주세요'.
usage contextsYou can say '조금만 더 천천히 말해주세요' (Please speak just a little MORE slowly).
practical tips'천천히' is the natural choice for speech and actions; '느리게' is more about physical velocity.
grammar mechanicsUse '천천히 말씀해 주시겠습니까?'
usage contextsIf you are the same age and have agreed to speak casually, yes!
usage contextsIt turns the verb into a request for a favor, literally 'Give me the act of speaking slowly'.
grammar mechanicsIn an emergency or very casual setting, yes, but it sounds like a command 'Slowly!'
basic understandingNo, it's specifically for spoken communication.
usage contextsConfusing it with '조용히 하세요' (Be quiet).
common mistakes
