이해해요
ihaehaeyo
To say "I understand" in Korean, use 이해해요 (ihaehaeyo).
This phrase is used to show that you comprehend the meaning or importance of something. It focuses on the cognitive process of comprehending a concept, which distinguishes it from phrases used simply to state that you are aware of a specific piece of information.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 이해해요 is in the polite style, making it suitable for most social situations with people you are not close to. For professional settings, news broadcasts or when speaking to superiors, use the formal version 이해합니다. A more polite and deferential formal variant is 이해하였습니다. If you are speaking with close friends or people younger than you, you can use the informal version 이해해. Additionally, in informal conversation with friends or peers, you may use 알았어 or 알겠어.
How do you pronounce it?
ihaehaeyo
Did you know?
- If a Korean speaker says 이해해 주세요, they are not asking if you understand, but are pleading for your empathy or forgiveness regarding a mistake.
- The word 이해 comes from Chinese characters where 이 means 'different' and 해 means 'to untie'. It literally describes the process of untying a knot of confusion.
- In texting, young Koreans often use the shorthand ㅇㅇ to represent '알았어' (understood/okay), which is the equivalent of a quick 'gotcha' or 'ok' in English.
Examples in context
- 이해해요.I understand.This example is useful for practicing the phrase 이해해요.Tatoeba #13174606 by atitarev, translation #433468 by CK
- 알았어, 내일은 편하게 쉬자.I understand, let's take it easy tomorrow.
- 설명을 들어보니 이해해요.seol-myeong-eul deu-reo-bo-ni i-hae-hae-yo.I understand after hearing the explanation.
- 선생님 말씀을 다 이해해요.seon-saeng-nim mal-sseum-eul da i-hae-hae-yo.I understand everything the teacher says.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ji-eun explains a project rule to Do-hyeon.
- 지은 Ji-eun이 부분은 주의해야 해요.i bubuneun juuihaeya haeyo.You have to be careful with this part.
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 이해해요.ne, ihaehaeyo.Yes, I understand.
- 지은 Ji-eun그럼 제가 여기 적어둘게요.geureom jega yeogi jeogeodulgeyo.Then I will write it down here.
- 도현 Do-hyeon고마워요, 지은 씨.gomawoyo, jieun ssi.Thank you, Ji-eun.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
