Asking to Speak Slower

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TL;DR 🦄

🐢 천천히 말해 주세요 [cheon-cheo-ni mal-hae ju-se-yo] — "Please speak slowly"

🙏 좀 더 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요? [jom deo cheon-cheo-ni mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?] — "Could you speak a bit more slowly?"

📚 한국어를 배우고 있어서요 [han-gu-geo-reul bae-u-go i-sseo-seo-yo] — "Because I'm learning Korean"

💨 조금 빨라요 [jo-geum ppal-la-yo] — "That's a bit fast"

😊 네, 천천히 할게요 [ne, cheon-cheo-ni hal-ge-yo] — "Sure, I'll go slowly"

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🎧 Iru Helper Note: Hear every phrase in this lesson spoken aloud and practice your pronunciation with the Iru Helper Widgets.

🌈 The Big Picture

천천히 [cheon-cheo-ni] means "slowly." As a learner, this is one of the most valuable words you'll use — most Koreans are happy to slow down once they know you're studying the language.

천천히 말해 주세요 — "Please speak slowly"

한국어를 배우고 있어서 천천히 말씀해 주시면 감사하겠습니다 — "I'm learning Korean, so I'd appreciate it if you could speak slowly"

Adding a short reason — 한국어를 배우고 있어서요 ("because I'm learning Korean") — helps people understand why you're asking, and they'll often slow down naturally and choose simpler words too.

🎭 Asking Others vs. Describing Yourself

천천히 말해 주세요 asks someone else to slow down. But you can also use 천천히 to describe your own speech: 천천히 말할게요 ("I'll speak slowly") — useful when you're explaining something to someone else, or even just buying yourself time to think while you speak.

(상대방에게) 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요? — "(To someone else) Could you speak slowly?"

(나에 대해) 제가 천천히 설명할게요 — "(About yourself) I'll explain slowly"

Both directions use the same core word 천천히 — just paired with a different verb form depending on who's doing the slowing down.

🧳 Essential Phrase Kit

천천히 말해 주세요 [cheon-cheo-ni mal-hae ju-se-yo] — "Please speak slowly"

좀 더 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요? [jom deo cheon-cheo-ni mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?] — "Could you speak a bit more slowly?"

한국어를 배우고 있어서요 [han-gu-geo-reul bae-u-go i-sseo-seo-yo] — "Because I'm learning Korean"

조금 빨라요 [jo-geum ppal-la-yo] — "That's a bit fast"

네, 천천히 할게요 [ne, cheon-cheo-ni hal-ge-yo] — "Sure, I'll go slowly"

제가 천천히 설명할게요 [je-ga cheon-cheo-ni seol-myeong-hal-ge-yo] — "I'll explain slowly"

조금만 더 쉬운 말로 해 주세요 [jo-geum-man deo swi-un mal-lo hae ju-se-yo] — "Please use a bit simpler words"

천천히 하셔도 괜찮아요 [cheon-cheo-ni ha-syeo-do gwaen-cha-na-yo] — "It's okay even if you go slowly"

아직 한국어가 익숙하지 않아요 [a-jik han-gu-geo-ga ik-su-ka-ji a-na-yo] — "I'm not used to Korean yet"

천천히 말해 주셔서 감사해요 [cheon-cheo-ni mal-hae ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-hae-yo] — "Thank you for speaking slowly"

🛠️ Putting Together

A. At a market stall

A: 이거 얼마예요? 그리고... 음... 또 이거... 좀 비싸지 않아요?

B: 손님, 천천히 말씀해 주세요. 무슨 말인지 잘 못 들었어요.

A: 아, 죄송해요. 한국어를 배우고 있어서요. 이거 얼마예요?

A: How much is this? And... um... also this... isn't it a bit expensive?

B: Sir/Ma'am, please speak slowly. I didn't quite catch what you said.

A: Oh, sorry. I'm learning Korean. How much is this?

✨ Grammar note: 무슨 말인지 잘 못 들었어요 ("I couldn't quite hear what you said") is a gentle way for the listener to admit they didn't follow — useful to recognize even if you don't say it yourself.

B. In a language class

A: 선생님, 좀 더 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요? 너무 빨라서 따라가기 힘들어요.

B: 네, 알겠어요. 천천히 다시 설명할게요.

A: 감사합니다. 훨씬 도움이 돼요.

A: Teacher, could you speak a bit more slowly? It's too fast and hard to keep up.

B: Okay, got it. I'll explain again slowly.

A: Thank you. That helps a lot.

✨ Grammar note: 따라가기 힘들어요 ("it's hard to keep up") is a natural way to explain why you need things slower, without sounding like you're blaming the speaker.

C. On the phone with customer service

A: 여보세요, 죄송한데 한국어가 아직 익숙하지 않아서요. 천천히 말씀해 주실 수 있을까요?

B: 아, 네! 천천히 말씀드릴게요. 어떤 부분이 궁금하세요?

A: 네, 감사합니다. 조금만 더 쉬운 말로 설명해 주세요.

A: Hello, sorry, but I'm not used to Korean yet. Could you speak slowly?

B: Oh, sure! I'll speak slowly. Which part are you curious about?

A: Yes, thank you. Please explain with a bit simpler words too.

✨ Grammar note: 말씀드릴게요 is the humble form of "I'll tell/say" — service staff often switch to this form once they realize they should slow down for you.

🗣️ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue

민수: 지은아, 이 근처에 맛있는 식당 알아? 어제 친구가 추천해 줬는데 이름이 좀 복잡해서 기억이 잘 안 나...

[ji-eun-a, i geun-cheo-e ma-shin-neun sik-dang a-ra? eo-je chin-gu-ga chu-cheon-hae jwon-neun-de i-reu-mi jom bok-ja-pae-seo gi-eo-gi jal an-na]

Jieun, do you know a good restaurant nearby? A friend recommended one yesterday but the name was complicated so I don't remember it well...

지은: 어? 미안, 좀 천천히 말해 줄래? 너무 빨라서 못 들었어.

[eo? mi-an, jom cheon-cheo-ni mal-hae jul-lae? neo-mu ppal-la-seo mot deu-reo-sseo]

Huh? Sorry, can you say that a bit slower? It was too fast, I didn't catch it.

민수: 아, 미안. 다시 천천히 말할게. 이 근처에 맛있는 식당 알아?

[a, mi-an. da-shi cheon-cheo-ni mal-hal-ge. i geun-cheo-e ma-shin-neun sik-dang a-ra?]

Oh, sorry. I'll say it slowly again. Do you know a good restaurant nearby?

지은: 응, 알아! 근데 너도 한국어 천천히 듣는 연습 중이지? 같이 천천히 말하자.

[eung, a-ra! geun-de neo-do han-gu-geo cheon-cheo-ni deut-neun yeon-seup jung-iji? ga-chi cheon-cheo-ni mal-ha-ja]

Yeah, I know one! By the way, you're also practicing listening to Korean slowly, right? Let's both speak slowly.

민수: 좋아. 천천히 말해 줘서 고마워. 훨씬 이해하기 쉬워.

[jo-a. cheon-cheo-ni mal-hae jwo-seo go-ma-wo. hwol-ssin i-hae-ha-gi swi-wo]

Good. Thanks for speaking slowly. It's much easier to understand.

지은: 천천히 하면 돼. 우리 둘 다 연습하는 거니까!

[cheon-cheo-ni ha-myeon dwae. u-ri dul da yeon-seu-pa-neun geo-ni-kka]

It's fine to go slowly. We're both practicing, after all!

🧭 Speaking Tip

When you ask someone to slow down, adding a short reason — 한국어를 배우고 있어서요 ("because I'm learning Korean") — makes a huge difference. Without it, 천천히 말해 주세요 can sound like you're criticizing how fast they talk. With it, people instantly understand and often switch to simpler vocabulary too, not just a slower pace.

It also helps to repeat back the part you did understand before asking for the rest again — this shows you're following along and just need a bit more time, not that you're lost completely.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ 천천히! (said bluntly, with no 말해 주세요)

✅ 천천히 말해 주세요 — always attach a request verb so it doesn't sound like a command

❌ Never explaining why you need them to slow down

✅ 한국어를 배우고 있어서요 — a short reason makes people happy to help

❌ Using 천천히 말해 주세요 when you actually just missed one word (better suited to lesson 190's 다시 한번)

✅ Save 천천히 for when the overall pace is too fast, not just a single missed word

❌ Forgetting to thank the person afterward

✅ 천천히 말해 주셔서 감사해요 — acknowledging their effort encourages them to keep doing it

🐢 천천히, 천천히 — at your own pace, you've got this! ✨

<summary>Try this exercise

Instructions: Choose the best phrase from this lesson for each situation. Tap "Answer" to check.

You want to politely ask a stranger to speak more slowly.

<summary>Answer

좀 더 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요? — "Could you speak a bit more slowly?"

You want to explain why you need things slower.

<summary>Answer

한국어를 배우고 있어서요 — "Because I'm learning Korean"

Someone is speaking a bit too fast and you want to mention it casually.

<summary>Answer

조금 빨라요 — "That's a bit fast"

You're agreeing to slow down for someone else.

<summary>Answer

네, 천천히 할게요 — "Sure, I'll go slowly"

You want to say you'll explain something slowly yourself.

<summary>Answer

제가 천천히 설명할게요 — "I'll explain slowly"

You want to ask for simpler vocabulary, not just a slower pace.

<summary>Answer

조금만 더 쉬운 말로 해 주세요 — "Please use a bit simpler words"

You're reassuring someone that it's fine if they take their time.

<summary>Answer

천천히 하셔도 괜찮아요 — "It's okay even if you go slowly"

You want to explain that you're not yet comfortable with Korean.

<summary>Answer

아직 한국어가 익숙하지 않아요 — "I'm not used to Korean yet"

After someone slows down for you, how do you thank them specifically for that?

<summary>Answer

천천히 말해 주셔서 감사해요 — "Thank you for speaking slowly"

The most basic, all-purpose way to ask someone to speak slowly.

<summary>Answer

천천히 말해 주세요 — "Please speak slowly"

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Vocabulary Box

천천히 — slowly

빠르다 — to be fast

배우다 — to learn

익숙하다 — to be familiar/used to

설명하다 — to explain

쉬운 말 — simple words

말씀하다 — to speak (honorific)

듣다 — to listen/hear

따라가다 — to keep up/follow

감사하다 — to be thankful

Pitfalls 💡

천천히 alone sounds like a command — pair it with 말해 주세요

Giving a reason (한국어를 배우고 있어서요) gets a much warmer response

천천히 ≠ 다시: one is about pace, the other about repeating

🚀

Want more reps? Try saying each phrase out loud at a genuinely slow pace — it'll help you internalize both the words and the rhythm you're asking for!

📦

🎯 Practice Hub — Asking to Speak Slower

Ready to slow things down? These three exercises cover asking for a slower pace, explaining why, and full conversations. Use the Iru Helper Widgets to listen and repeat each phrase at a slow, deliberate pace.

Exercise 1 — Slow It Down 🐢

A. How do you say "Please speak slowly"?

<summary>Answer

천천히 말해 주세요

B. How do you politely ask "Could you speak a bit more slowly?"

<summary>Answer

좀 더 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요?

C. How do you say "That's a bit fast"?

<summary>Answer

조금 빨라요

D. How do you say "I'll explain slowly"?

<summary>Answer

제가 천천히 설명할게요

E. How do you say "It's okay even if you go slowly"?

<summary>Answer

천천히 하셔도 괜찮아요

F. How do you say "Sure, I'll go slowly"?

<summary>Answer

네, 천천히 할게요

G. How do you ask for simpler words instead of just a slower pace?

<summary>Answer

조금만 더 쉬운 말로 해 주세요

H. How do you say "I'm not used to Korean yet"?

<summary>Answer

아직 한국어가 익숙하지 않아요

I. How do you thank someone for speaking slowly?

<summary>Answer

천천히 말해 주셔서 감사해요

J. How do you say "Because I'm learning Korean"?

<summary>Answer

한국어를 배우고 있어서요

📚

Quick Reference

천천히 — slowly

말씀하다 — to speak (honorific)

빨라요 — (it's) fast

익숙하다 — to be familiar with

쉬운 말 — simple words

~아/어 주시겠어요? — "could you please...?"

~아/어서요 — "because..."

Exercise 2 — Explaining Why 📚

A. Combine: "I'm learning Korean" + "so please speak slowly."

<summary>Answer

한국어를 배우고 있어서 천천히 말씀해 주세요.

B. Combine: "I'm not used to Korean yet" + "so I'm sorry."

<summary>Answer

한국어가 아직 익숙하지 않아서 죄송해요.

C. Combine: "It's too fast" + "so I couldn't hear it well."

<summary>Answer

너무 빨라서 잘 못 들었어요.

D. Combine: "Please speak slowly" + "I'll listen carefully."

<summary>Answer

천천히 말해 주세요. 잘 들을게요.

E. Combine: "Thank you for speaking slowly" + "it's much easier now."

<summary>Answer

천천히 말해 주셔서 감사해요. 훨씬 쉬워요.

F. Combine: "I'll speak slowly" + "so listen carefully too."

<summary>Answer

제가 천천히 말할게요. 그러니까 잘 들어 주세요.

G. Combine: "Could you speak a bit more slowly?" + "I'm a beginner."

<summary>Answer

좀 더 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요? 저는 초보자예요.

H. Combine: "It's a bit fast" + "could you use simpler words?"

<summary>Answer

조금 빨라요. 조금만 더 쉬운 말로 해 주시겠어요?

I. Combine: "It's okay even if you go slowly" + "take your time."

<summary>Answer

천천히 하셔도 괜찮아요. 천천히 하세요.

J. Combine: "I didn't catch it" + "could you say it again slowly?"

<summary>Answer

잘 못 들었어요. 다시 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요?

📚

Cheat Sheet

~아/어서 — "because... / so..."

잘 못 들었어요 — "I didn't catch it well"

초보자 — beginner

그러니까 — "so / therefore"

다시 — again

Combine reason + request for the most natural-sounding Korean

Exercise 3 — Full Conversations 🗣️

A. Greet a shop clerk and ask them to speak slowly because you're learning Korean.

<summary>Answer

안녕하세요, 한국어를 배우고 있어서요. 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요?

B. Respond to someone who just slowed down for you, thanking them.

<summary>Answer

천천히 말해 주셔서 감사해요. 이제 잘 이해돼요.

C. Tell a teacher the lesson is a bit too fast for you.

<summary>Answer

선생님, 수업이 조금 빨라요. 천천히 설명해 주시겠어요?

D. Apologize for not understanding and ask for a simpler explanation.

<summary>Answer

죄송해요, 잘 이해하지 못했어요. 조금만 더 쉬운 말로 설명해 주세요.

E. Offer to slow down yourself while explaining something to a friend.

<summary>Answer

내가 천천히 설명할게. 잘 들어 봐.

F. Tell someone on the phone that you're not used to Korean yet.

<summary>Answer

여보세요, 제가 한국어가 아직 익숙하지 않아서요.

G. Ask a friend to repeat what they said, slowly this time.

<summary>Answer

다시 천천히 말해 줄래?

H. Reassure a language partner that it's fine to go slowly.

<summary>Answer

천천히 하셔도 괜찮아요. 우리 둘 다 연습 중이니까요.

I. Tell someone that speaking slowly really helps you.

<summary>Answer

천천히 말해 주시면 정말 도움이 돼요.

J. Agree to a friend's request and promise to speak slowly from now on.

<summary>Answer

알겠어, 이제부터 천천히 말할게.

📚

Cheat Sheet

도움이 되다 — to be helpful

이제부터 — from now on

연습 중이다 — to be practicing

잘 이해돼요 — "I understand well now"

~아/어 봐 — "try doing..."

Mix reason + request + thanks for the most natural conversations

🎉 잘했어요! Now you can ask anyone to slow down — politely, clearly, and with confidence. 천천히, but surely!