What does it mean word for word?
Literally, 들려요? translates to "Is it being heard?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 들려요? is polite and suitable for use with strangers, colleagues or people older than you. For casual settings with close friends, family, peers or younger people, you can use the informal 들려? In highly formal situations like news broadcasts or military contexts, use 들립니까? You should also use the formal 들리시나요? when speaking to superiors, older people or in professional settings such as meetings, presentations or interviews.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form 들려요? uses the polite ending –요 (-yo), making it a versatile option for many social situations.
How do you pronounce it?
deullyeoyo?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 들어요? to ask if someone can hear you. Instead, use the forms provided to ask if the sound is audible.
Did you know?
- When using the respectful form 들리시나요?, the honorific syllable 시 is actually used to show respect to the listener's ears or their ability to perceive sound.
- Korean often describes sounds as things that 'happen' to a person rather than actions a person 'does'. This is why the passive-style verb 들리다 is preferred over the active 'to listen' verb.
- While 들려요? asks if a sound is audible, using 들어요? implies the act of listening or obeying. In a classroom, a teacher might use 들어요? to tell students to 'listen up' or 'pay attention'.
Examples in context
- 들리시나요?Can you hear me?
- 제 목소리 들려요?je mok-so-ri deul-lyeo-yo?Can you hear my voice?
- 지금 잘 들려요?ji-geum jal deul-lyeo-yo?Can you hear me well now?
Example conversation
Minjun and Seoyeon are having a video call with a poor connection.
- 민준 Min-jun서연 씨, 제 목소리 들려요?Seo-yeon ssi, je mok-so-ri deul-lyeo-yo?Seoyeon, can you hear my voice?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 잘 들려요.ne, jal deul-lyeo-yo.Yes, I can hear you well.
- 민준 Min-jun다행이네요. 화면도 잘 보여요?da-haeng-i-ne-yo. hwa-myeon-do jal bo-yeo-yo?That's a relief. Can you see the screen well too?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 아주 잘 보여요.ne, a-ju jal bo-yeo-yo.Yes, I can see it very well.
