What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 한국어 (Korean language), 아주 (very), 조금 (a little) and 알아요 (know).
Which one should you use?
While the default form uses the polite ending 알아요, you can use the informal version 알아 when speaking to a close friend or someone younger. To convey that you are not good at the language specifically, you might also say 한국어를 잘 못해요.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 한국어 아주 조금 알아요 is a polite, standard way to speak to strangers or people older than you. For formal situations, you can use the form 저는 한국어를 아주 조금밖에 못합니다, which utilizes the respectful pronoun 저는 (jeoneun) and the formal polite ending -ㅂ니다 (-mnida). Conversely, in casual settings, you can use the informal form 나는 한국어를 아주 조금만 할 수 있어 or simply 한국어를 잘 몰라.
How does it change in a sentence?
In more grammatically complete speech, the object marker 를 can be added to 한국어 to form 한국어를.
How do you pronounce it?
hangugeo aju jogeum arayo
Did you know?
- To be even more humble, Koreans may use 못해요 ('cannot do') instead of 알아요 ('know'), as emphasizing a lack of ability is often considered more polite than stating a limited amount of knowledge.
- The word 한국어 is a combination of the name for Korea and the character 어 ('language'), which is a Sino-Korean root shared with Chinese and Japanese terminology for languages.
- In Korean, the word 조금 ('a little') can be used to politely soften a request or a refusal, similar to how English speakers use 'a bit' to sound less direct.
Examples in context
- 죄송해요, 한국어 아주 조금 알아요.Joesonghaeyo, Hangugeo aju jogeum arayo.I'm sorry, I know very little Korean.
Example conversation
A foreigner is talking to a Korean person at a cafe.
- 민준 Min-jun한국어 아주 조금 알아요.Hangugeo aju jogeum arayo.I know very little Korean.
- 지은 Ji-eun괜찮아요. 천천히 말할게요.Gwaenchanayo. Cheoncheonhi malhalgeyo.It's okay. I will speak slowly.
- 민준 Min-jun감사합니다, 지은 씨.Gamsahamnida, Jieun ssi.Thank you, Jieun.
- 지은 Ji-eun아니에요, 민준 씨.Anieyo, Minjun ssi.No problem, Minjun.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 아주, 조금, 한국어, CC BY-SA 4.0.
