크게 말해
keuge malhae
To speak up in Korean is 크게 말해 (keuge malhae).
The phrase is used to talk more loudly or plainly.
Meaning: to talk more loudly or plainly (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 크게 (loudly/big) and 말해 (speak/talk).
Which one should you use?
While 크게 말해 is the default form, you can use 크게 말해봐 for a more casual way to say 'Speak up'. For a more polite request, you can use 크게 말씀해주세요 or the polite form 크게 말씀하세요.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, use 크게 말씀해주세요.
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form uses the honorific verb 말씀하세요 instead of the casual 말해. You can also add the auxiliary verb -줘 to 말해 to form 크게 말해줘, which makes the phrase sound like a request for a favor rather than a command.
How do you pronounce it?
keuge malhae
Did you know?
- The word 말 (speech) is a homonym in Korean. Depending on the context, it can mean 'word', 'language' or even 'horse'.
- While English uses 'speak up' for both volume and honesty, Korean uses different terms for each. 크게 말해 is strictly for volume, while 'speaking one's mind' requires different vocabulary.
- In Korean, 'speaking up' can also be expressed using the concept of 'voice' (목소리), such as saying 'make your voice big' rather than 'speak loudly'.
Examples in context
- 크게 말해!Speak up!This sentence is useful for an imperative 'Speak up!' using 크게 말해.Tatoeba #8363283 by Eunhee, translation #35175 by CK
- 토론에서 크게 말씀해주세요.Please speak up in the discussion.
- 회의 중에 다른 의견이 있으면 크게 말씀해주세요.If you have any other opinions during the meeting, please speak up.
- 친구, 좀 크게 말해봐!Friend, please speak up a bit!
- 잘 안 들리니까 크게 말해.jal an deullinikka keuge malhae.I can't hear you well, so speak up.
- 조금 더 크게 말해 줄래?jogeum deo keuge malhae jullae?Can you speak up a little more?
Example conversation
Dohyun and Jieun are talking in a noisy cafe.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은아, 뭐라고 했어?Jieun-a, mworago haesseo?Jieun, what did you say?
- 지은 Ji-eun너무 작게 말했나?Neomu jakge malhaenna?Did I speak too quietly?
- 도현 Do-hyeon응, 카페가 시끄러우니까 크게 말해.Eung, kap-ega sikkeureounikka keuge malhae.Yeah, the cafe is noisy, so speak up.
- 지은 Ji-eun알았어, 다시 말할게.Arasseo, dasi malhalge.Okay, I'll say it again.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
