Present
현재 · now and habits: polite, formal and casual speech
| Form | Polite | Formal | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI explain | |||
| NegativeI don’t explain |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
과거 · finished actions: 갔어요, 갔습니다, 갔어
| Form | Polite | Formal | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI explained | |||
| NegativeI didn’t explain |
Future
미래 · plans and guesses: -(으)ㄹ 거예요
| Form | Polite | Formal | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI will explain | |||
| NegativeI won’t explain |
Honorific
높임말 · to or about an elder: the -시- forms
| Form | Polite | Formal |
|---|---|---|
| PresentI explain (respectfully) | ||
| PastI explained (respectfully) | ||
| FutureI will explain (respectfully) |
Connectives
연결 어미 · and, so, if, because, but: joining two sentences
- And (-고) explaining, and…, and…
- So, and then (-아/어서) explaining, and…, so…
- If, when (-(으)면) if I explain
- Because (-(으)니까) because I explain
- But (-지만) I explain, but…
Requests and commands
명령형 · -(으)세요, -(으)십시오, the casual form, -지 마세요
- Please (-(으)세요) please explain
- Formal request (-(으)십시오) please explain (formal)
- Plain command explain! (casual)
- Please don’t please don’t explain
How to use 설명하다
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present
박 선생님은 문법을 아주 쉽게 설명해요.
Mrs. Park explains grammar very simply.
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Past
의사가 약 먹는 법을 자세히 설명했어요.
The doctor explained in detail how to take the medicine.
-
Future
회의에서 새 계획을 설명할 거예요.
At the meeting I'll explain the new plan.
-
Honorific
김 사장님이 새 규칙을 직접 설명하셨어요.
Mr. Kim explained the new rules himself.
-
Connectives
천천히 설명하면 다 이해할 수 있어요.
If you explain slowly, I can understand it all.
-
Requests and commands
이 단어를 쉬운 한국어로 설명하세요.
Explain this word in simple Korean.
Good to know
- 설명 is the noun: 설명서 is an instruction manual, and 설명해 주세요 asks for an explanation.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: 하다 verb.