말 좀 해봐
Mal jom haebwa
To say "say something" in Korean, you use 말 좀 해봐 (Mal jom haebwa).
말 좀 해봐 is a request for someone to speak or respond when they have been silent. The phrase includes the particle 좀, which literally means "a little," but in this context, it is used to soften the request and make the command sound less blunt and more like a natural request.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 말 (speech/word), 좀 (a particle used to soften requests, literally "a little") and 해봐 (try doing/try saying).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the request polite and suitable for speaking to strangers or people older than you, you should use 말 좀 해봐요.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding 요 to the end of 말 좀 해봐 makes the request polite and suitable for speaking to strangers or people older than you.
How do you pronounce it?
Mal jom haebwa
Did you know?
- The word 말 for 'speech' is a homonym with several other words, including the word for 'horse'.
- The word 말 can also be used to describe the 'end' of a period, such as the end of a month. This stems from its connection to the Hanja character 末, meaning 'end' or 'extremity'.
- The Korean word for 'horse' 말 shares similarities with the Old Chinese word 馬 and the Proto-Indo-European root *márkos.
Examples in context
- 한국어로 어떻게 말합니까?How do you say something in Korean?
- 안녕하세요Hello
- 감사합니다Thank you
- 안녕히 가세요Goodbye
- 너무 조용하니까 말 좀 해봐.neomu joyonghanikka mal jom haebwa.It's too quiet, so say something.
- 화가 났으면 말 좀 해봐.hwaga nasseumyeon mal jom haebwa.If you are angry, say something.
- 기분 나쁜 게 있으면 말 좀 해봐.gibun nappeun ge isseumyeon mal jom haebwa.If something is bothering you, say something.
Example conversation
Jieun is trying to get a reaction from Jihun after he has been silent for a long time.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈아, 왜 아무 말도 안 해?jihun-a, wae amu maldo an hae?Jihun, why aren't you saying anything?
- 지훈 Ji-hun그냥… 할 말이 없어.geunyang… hal mari eopseo.Just… I have nothing to say.
- 지은 Ji-eun답답하니까 말 좀 해봐.dapdaphnikka mal jom haebwa.It's frustrating, so say something.
- 지훈 Ji-hun미안해, 조금만 더 생각할게.mianhae, jogeumman deo saenggakhalge.I'm sorry, let me think a little more.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 말, 좀, CC BY-SA 4.0.
