반복하다
banbokhada[ˈpa̠(ː)nbo̞kʰa̠da̠]
To say repeat in Korean, use 반복하다 (banbokhada), the standard verb for doing or saying something again. You may also hear 되풀이하다 and 따라하다. If unsure, use 반복하다.
Meaning: do or say again (verb)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 반복하다 | banbokhada | [ˈpa̠(ː)nbo̞kʰa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 되풀이하다 | doepurihada | [twe̞pʰuɾiɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [tø̞pʰuɾiɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 따라하다 | ttarahada | [t͈a̠ɾa̠ɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
반복하다 is used for repeating an action, a pattern or a phenomenon, often in a formal or technical context. If you simply did not hear someone and want them to say it again, it is more natural to ask 다시 한번 말씀해 주세요.
What does it mean word for word?
따라하다 is made of 따라 (following) and 하다 (to do), so it literally means to do something following someone.
Which one should you use?
반복하다 is about repetition in general. 따라하다 is used when you repeat by imitating the speaker, as in language classes or when following instructions. 되풀이하다 also means to do or say again.
How do you pronounce it?
반복하다 is romanized as banbokhada.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 반복하다 to ask a person to say something again because you missed it. Use 다시 한번 말씀해 주세요 instead.
Did you know?
- The word 반복하다 is composed of Chinese characters meaning 'opposite' and 'return', reflecting an East Asian conceptualization of repetition as a cycle of returning to the start.
- The word 따라하다 shares the same root as the verb for 'following' a friend down a street or 'following' an account on social media.
- The term 되풀이하다 is a native Korean word, whereas the more formal-sounding 반복하다 is a Sino-Korean word. This distinction often dictates whether a word feels more emotive or more technical.
Examples in context
- 따라하세요Please repeat따라하세요 is the polite request form, used by a teacher asking students to repeat after them.
- 수업 내용을 반복해 주세요.Please repeat the class material.
- 그 춤 다시 해봐.Do that dance again.
- 다시 한 번 해봐요.Let's do it again.
- 똑같은 실수를 반복하다.ttok-gat-eun sil-su-reul ban-bok-ha-da.To repeat the same mistake.
Example conversation
Minjun is helping Seoyeon study for a test.
- 민준 Min-jun이 단어들을 계속 반복하다 보면 외워질 거야.i dan-eo-deul-eul gye-sok ban-bok-ha-da bo-myeon oe-wo-jil geo-ya.If you keep repeating these words, you'll memorize them.
- 서연 Seo-yeon맞아요, 하지만 너무 어려워요.ma-ja-yo, ha-ji-man neo-mu eo-ryeo-wo-yo.That's true, but it's too difficult.
- 민준 Min-jun천천히 다시 반복해 볼까?cheon-cheon-hi da-si ban-bok-hae bol-kka?Shall we try repeating it slowly again?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 민준 씨. 같이 해요.ne, Min-jun ssi. ga-chi hae-yo.Yes, Minjun. Let's do it together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “repeat” translations and entries 반복하다, 되풀이하다, 따라하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 되풀이하다, 따라하다, 반복하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
