Stay in the conversation when you miss one piece

Missing a word in class does not mean you have lost the whole conversation. A short question can bring you back in: 이 단어는 무슨 뜻이에요? asks what the word means, and 다시 말씀해 주세요 asks the teacher to say something again.

The most useful choice depends on what you missed. Sometimes you need the sound repeated; sometimes you need to see the spelling or hear an example. This lesson gives you a small set of polite phrases for those different moments, so you can ask for the help you actually need.

Learn six repair phrases as complete moves

잘 모르겠어요 is a gentle way to say you are not sure or do not quite understand. It is useful when you cannot yet name the problem. Once you can point to a word or sentence, a more specific question makes the reply easier: 이 단어는 무슨 뜻이에요? focuses on meaning, while 어떻게 읽어요? focuses on reading it aloud.

다시 말씀해 주세요 asks for repetition, and 천천히 말씀해 주세요 asks for slower speech. 칠판에 써 주세요 asks the teacher to write it on the board. In an online lesson, 채팅에 써 주세요 can ask for the same help in the chat. Seeing the word may solve a spelling problem that another spoken repetition would not.

Name the exact problem

이 부분을 다시 설명해 주세요 means ‘Please explain this part again.’ 이 부분 gives the teacher a specific section to return to. 예를 하나 들어 주세요 asks for an example, which is often useful when you know a grammar rule but cannot picture it in a sentence.

맞게 썼어요? asks whether you wrote something correctly, and 맞게 읽었어요? asks about your reading. Showing the attempt gives the teacher something concrete to check. 제가 이해한 게 맞아요? can introduce your own interpretation; following it with a short explanation lets the other person see what you understood.

Complete one small classroom repair

The learner begins with a written word and asks how to read it. The teacher supplies 예약. 한 번 더 천천히 말씀해 주세요 then asks for one more slow repetition. 한 번 더 is the useful chunk meaning ‘one more time’; it can be added to other requests too.

The teacher separates 예 and 약 before saying 예약 again. The learner repeats the complete word and asks 맞게 읽었어요? That last question invites correction. In a real lesson, the teacher’s response may focus on one sound, so you can repeat that part before trying the whole word again.

Use titles and attention words with care

선생님 is a natural way to address your teacher before a question. With a classmate, a name or the form of address you normally use may fit better. The title opens the interaction, while the question explains what you need: 선생님, 이 부분을 다시 설명해 주세요.

한국어를 못해요 says more generally that you cannot speak Korean or are not good at it. For one confusing word in class, 잘 모르겠어요. 이 단어는 무슨 뜻이에요? is usually more helpful. It keeps the conversation focused on the small difficulty you are working through now.

Correct likely misunderstandings

다시! can sound abrupt when said alone to a teacher. 다시 말씀해 주세요 turns it into a complete polite request. Similarly, 무슨 뜻이에요? is a comfortable beginner question, while the shorter 무슨 뜻? depends more on a casual relationship and tone.

주세요 belongs to a request construction such as 써 주세요 or 설명해 주세요. You do not need to attach it to a complete question like 무슨 뜻이에요? If you want both meaning and spelling, two short sentences are clearer: 무슨 뜻이에요? 칠판에 써 주세요.

Try it in a familiar situation

A small listening check

References and useful next steps

• Korean–English Learners’ Dictionary — Check meanings, usage labels, conjugated examples and human recordings for the lesson vocabulary.
• Korean With a Local: clarification in conversation — Continue with longer clarification and confirmation strategies.

Reviewed September 4, 2026. Found a mistake? Send a correction.