잘 모르겠어요
jal moreugesseoyo
The English phrase "not sure" is expressed in Korean as 잘 모르겠어요 (jal moreugesseoyo).
This phrase is used to express that you do not have a definite answer or are uncertain about something.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 잘 모르겠어요 is composed of 잘 (well/really), 모르다 (to not know) and the suffix -겠- which expresses a subjective feeling or conjecture, along with the polite ending -어요.
Which one should you use?
You might use 자세히 모르겠습니다. to say "I don't know in detail" or 확실하지 않습니다. to say "I'm not certain" in formal contexts. In informal situations, 자세히 몰라요. can be used to mean "I don't know in detail."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The highly formal version 잘 모르겠습니다 is used in professional settings or when speaking to superiors.
How does it change in a sentence?
The -겠- component in 모르겠어요 softens the statement, making it sound more polite and less blunt than simply saying 몰라요.
How do you pronounce it?
jal moreugesseoyo
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, the phrase 잘 모르겠어요 can be used as a polite way to decline an invitation or a request without saying a direct 'no'.
- In highly formal settings, a person might use 잘 모르겠습니다 even if they actually do know the answer, as a way to show humility before a superior.
- The word 잘 may be an abbreviation of the noun 자루, which can refer to a unit of measurement or a sack.
Examples in context
- 그게 맞는지 잘 모르겠어요.geuge matneunji jal moreugesseoyo.I am not sure if that is correct.
- 정확한 시간을 잘 모르겠어요.jeonghwakhan siganeul jal moreugesseoyo.I am not sure about the exact time.
Example conversation
Minjun and Subin are discussing where to eat dinner.
- 민준 Min-jun수빈 씨, 저녁에 뭐 먹고 싶어요?Subin ssi, jeonyeoge mwo meokgo sipeoyo?Subin, what do you want to eat for dinner?
- 수빈 Su-bin글쎄요, 저는 잘 모르겠어요.geulsseyo, jeoneun jal moreugesseoyo.Hmm, I'm not sure.
- 민준 Min-jun그럼 비빔밥 먹으러 갈까요?geureom bibimbap meogeureo galkkayo?Then shall we go eat bibimbap?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 좋아요!ne, joayo!Yes, that sounds great!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 잘, CC BY-SA 4.0.
