How to Say "Please speak slowly" in Korean | Korean Expression

Quick Answer: "Please speak slowly" in Korean is "천천히 말해 주세요." (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo.). Level: A1.

Learn how to say "Please speak slowly" in Korean: "천천히 말해 주세요.". A simple and natural Korean sentence perfect for beginners.

Category: 인사

What does "Please speak slowly" mean in Korean?

The Korean sentence "천천히 말해 주세요." translates to "Please speak slowly." in English. "천천히 말해 주세요." is a gentle, storybook-style way of saying "please speak slowly". The "-요" ending gives it a polite, everyday tone — exactly how you would speak to a friend's parent or a shopkeeper.

Pronunciation guide: cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo.

Korean Sentence Structure Breakdown

Korean follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order, which is different from English (SVO). In "천천히 말해 주세요.", the verb comes at the end of the sentence. Here is the word-by-word breakdown: • 천천히 (cheoncheonhi) • 말해 (malhae) • 주세요 (juseyo)

In fairy tales, Korean sentences tend to be shorter and simpler than in novels. This makes them perfect for language practice.

Why This Korean Expression Sounds Natural

English might express "Please speak slowly" with emphasis or exclamation marks. Korean achieves the same emotional weight through verb endings and particles — quieter tools, but equally powerful.

Cultural Insight

한국의 인사는 단순한 말이 아니라, 상대의 안부를 살피는 작은 의식이에요. '안녕하세요'는 문자 그대로 '평안하신가요?'라는 뜻입니다.

Examples

천천히 말해 주세요. — cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo. — Please speak slowly.

천천히 말해 주세요? — cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo? — Please speak slowly?

저녁에 천천히 말해 주세요. — jeonyeoke cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo. — In the evening, please speak slowly.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect: 주세요 천천히 말해 → Correct: 천천히 말해 주세요. Korean uses Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order. The verb must come at the end of the sentence, unlike English where it comes after the subject.

Quiz

How do you say "Please speak slowly" in Korean?

The correct Korean translation is "천천히 말해 주세요.". cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo.

Fill in the blank: 천천히 말해 ___

The correct ending is "주세요". The polite -요 form is essential for everyday Korean conversation.