How to Say “Slow Down” in Korean

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천천히 가요
cheoncheonhi gayo
To say "slow down" in Korean, you use 천천히 가요 (cheoncheonhi gayo).
In Korean, the phrase you choose depends on whether you want someone to slow down their physical movement or the pace of an action. While 천천히 가요 is used to suggest someone decelerate their movement or travel, you should use 천천히 해요 (do it slowly) if you want someone to slow down the pace of a task or an action they are performing. If you specifically need someone to speak more slowly, you can use the phrase 더 느리게 말해 주세요.
Meaning: (''intransitive'') to decelerate (verb)

What does it mean word for word?

The word 천천히 means "slowly". The full phrase 천천히 가요 literally translates to "go slowly".

Which one should you use?

The choice of verb changes the meaning: 천천히 가요 (or its informal form 천천히 가) is used when someone is moving or walking too quickly. In contrast, 천천히 해요 is used when referring to the pace of work or a specific action.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

Korean uses different levels of politeness. The informal version 천천히 가 is used with friends or people younger than you. To be polite and respectful, you can use 천천히 가세요, as adding the suffix -세요 makes the command more polite. Other polite variations include 천천히 하세요 for performing tasks, 천천히 해요 for doing actions and 더 느리게 말해 주세요 for speech. For a casual setting, you might use 천천히 해 to ask someone to slow down their tasks or 조금 더 느리게 얘기해 줘 when asking someone to speak a bit more slowly.

How does it change in a sentence?

Adding the suffix -세요 to the verb is a way to transform a command into a more polite and respectful request.

How do you pronounce it?

cheoncheonhi gayo

Did you know?

  • While 가요 in 천천히 가요 is a verb meaning 'go', the exact same spelling and pronunciation are used as a noun to mean 'ballad' or 'pop song'.
  • In Korea, saying 천천히 드세요 ('eat slowly') is often used by servers as a polite way to tell a customer to take their time and enjoy the meal.
  • The phrase 천천히 가요 can be used both as a polite suggestion to someone walking and as a way to say 'take your time' in a social context.

Examples in context

  • 너무 빨리 가요!
    You're going too fast!
  • 조금 천천히 가야 돼요.
    You need to go a little slower.
  • 조금만 천천히 가요.
    jogeumman cheoncheonhi gayo.
    Please go a little slower.
  • 너무 빨라요. 천천히 가요.
    neomu ppallayo. cheoncheonhi gayo.
    It is too fast. Slow down.
  • 앞에 차가 있으니 천천히 가요.
    ape chaga isseuni cheoncheonhi gayo.
    Slow down because there is a car in front.

Example conversation

Subin is a passenger in a car driven by Hyunwoo.

  1. 수빈 Su-bin

    현우 씨, 너무 빨라요.
    Hyunwoo ssi, neomu ppallayo.
    Hyunwoo, it's too fast.
  2. 현우 Hyeon-woo

    위험한가요?
    wiheomhangayo?
    Is it dangerous?
  3. 수빈 Su-bin

    네, 천천히 가요.
    ne, cheoncheonhi gayo.
    Yes, slow down.
  4. 현우 Hyeon-woo

    알겠어요. 천천히 갈게요.
    algesseoyo. cheoncheonhi galgeyo.
    Okay. I will go slowly.

Sources

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Phoebe Audrey
Phoebe AudreyHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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