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fluentbyear

KOREAN VERB

말하다

to speak, to tell

  • #13 most used
  • 하다 verb

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

현재 · now and habits: polite, formal and casual speech

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI speak
NegativeI don’t speak

Past

과거 · finished actions: 갔어요, 갔습니다, 갔어

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI spoke
NegativeI didn’t speak

Future

미래 · plans and guesses: -(으)ㄹ 거예요

Form Polite Formal Casual
AffirmativeI will speak
NegativeI won’t speak

Honorific

높임말 · to or about an elder: the -시- forms

Form Polite Formal
PresentI speak (respectfully)
PastI spoke (respectfully)
FutureI will speak (respectfully)

Connectives

연결 어미 · and, so, if, because, but: joining two sentences

  1. And (-고) speaking, and…, and…
  2. So, and then (-아/어서) speaking, and…, so…
  3. If, when (-(으)면) if I speak
  4. Because (-(으)니까) because I speak
  5. But (-지만) I speak, but…

Requests and commands

명령형 · -(으)세요, -(으)십시오, the casual form, -지 마세요

  1. Please (-(으)세요) please speak
  2. Formal request (-(으)십시오) please speak (formal)
  3. Plain command speak! (casual)
  4. Please don’t please don’t speak

How to use 말하다

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    일라이 씨는 한국어를 천천히 또박또박 말해요.

    Eli speaks Korean slowly and clearly.

  2. Past

    어제 지영 씨한테 비밀을 말했어요.

    Yesterday I told Ji-yeong a secret.

  3. Future

    내일 부모님께 결혼 이야기를 말할 거예요.

    Tomorrow I'll tell my parents about the wedding.

  4. Honorific

    김 선생님께서 회의에서 뭐라고 말씀하셨어요?

    What did Mr. Kim say at the meeting?

  5. Connectives

    천천히 말하면 저도 다 알아들어요.

    If you speak slowly, I understand everything too.

  6. Requests and commands

    조금만 더 크게 말씀하세요. 잘 안 들려요.

    Please speak a little louder. I can't hear well.

Good to know

  • To or about an elder, 말하다 becomes another verb, 말씀하시다; 말씀 is also the humble word for your own words: 말씀드릴게요.

Where you hear 말하다

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Korean · Beginner Level 2

  • 저는 천천히 말해요. I speak slowly.
  • 엄마한테 말했어요. I told Mum.
  • 내일 교감 선생님께 말할 거예요. Tomorrow I'll tell the vice-principal.

Korean · Beginner Level 3

  • 저는 천천히 말해요. I speak slowly.
  • 엄마한테 말했어요. I told Mum.
  • 내일 교감 선생님께 말할 거예요. Tomorrow I'll tell the vice-principal.
20
Back on his feet

Beginner Level 2 · 민준아, 말하지 마!

Needs a subscription 26
A year older

Beginner Level 2 · 지영이는 서른둘. 말하지 마.

Needs a subscription 28
Sunday lunch

Beginner Level 3 · 엄마, 제가 말했지요?

Needs a subscription 7
The old streets

Intermediate Level 1 · 석 달. 크게 말하지 마.

Needs a subscription 11
A cold phone call

Intermediate Level 1 · 지영이가 말했어. 제주, 삼 주.

Needs a subscription 12
The quarrel

Intermediate Level 1 · 너도 말 안 했어.

Needs a subscription 14
The bench by the river

Intermediate Level 1 · 먼저 말할걸 그랬어. · 응. 먼저 말할걸. · 아니. 화내. 그냥 말해 줘.

Needs a subscription 17
By the heater

Intermediate Level 1 · 겉으로만 그렇습니다. 말하지 마세요.

Needs a subscription 10
After the class

Intermediate Level 2 · 더 천천히 말하지 그랬어요. · 네. 더 천천히 말할걸 그랬어요. · 먼저 말하지 그랬어!

Needs a subscription 12
In order to apply

Intermediate Level 2 · 더 말하기 위해서 배운 걸 말해.

Needs a subscription 19
We ask that you please be seated

Intermediate Level 2 · 더 크게 말해. 다시. · 신랑을 신발처럼 말했어. 다시.

Needs a subscription 2
A room or a hotel

Intermediate Level 3 · 말할게요. 감사합니다, 어머님.

Free

And 23 more lessons.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: 하다 verb.