Clarifying: 'What I mean is...'

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Clarifying: 'What I mean is…'

Even fluent speakers need to clarify. Knowing how to rephrase, correct, and explain yourself more clearly is essential to real Korean conversation.

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Iru Helper Note

You've started a sentence and it didn't come out right. Or someone misunderstood you. Or you want to say it more directly. Today you'll learn five expressions for clarifying what you meant — the Korean equivalents of "what I mean is," "to be more precise," "in other words," and "let me put it differently." These phrases rescue conversations that would otherwise stall, and they signal to your listener that you're thoughtful and precise.

제가 말하고 싶은 건, 더 정확히 말하면 이게 더 중요하다는 거예요.

(What I want to say is, to be more precise, this is what's more important.)

🔍 What You'll Learn Today

Clarifying is a daily need in any language. Today you'll master five Korean expressions that let you rephrase, refocus, or correct what you've said. From the versatile 제가 말하고 싶은 건 (what I want to say is) to the corrective 아니, 그게 아니라 (no, that's not what I mean), these expressions will help you stay in control of your message — even when the words don't come out perfectly the first time.

📌 Five Ways to Clarify What You Mean

Expression	Literal Meaning	When to Use
제가 말하고 싶은 건	What I want to say is	Refocusing or restating your core point
다시 말하면	If I say it again / To put it another way	Rephrasing something you just said
더 정확히 말하면	To be more precise	Adding precision or correcting a vague first attempt
그러니까	So / I mean / What I'm saying is	Natural filler-to-clarifier — extremely common in spoken Korean
아니, 그게 아니라	No, that's not it / What I mean is	Correcting a misunderstanding gently

💡 Key distinction: 그러니까 is the most common in natural speech — it does double duty as both a filler and a clarifier. 아니, 그게 아니라 corrects a misunderstanding directly. 더 정확히 말하면 adds precision to something you've already said.

Pattern in use:

저는... 그러니까, 아직 결정을 못 했어요.

(I... I mean, I haven't decided yet.)

아니, 그게 아니라 — 싫다는 게 아니라 시간이 없다는 거예요.

(No, that's not it — it's not that I don't want to, it's that I don't have time.)

더 정확히 말하면, 완전히 반대는 아니에요.

(To be more precise, I'm not completely against it.)

💬 Conversations in Action

Mini-Dialogue 1 — Correcting a misunderstanding

A: 그럼 이 계획이 싫으신 거예요?

B: 아니, 그게 아니라 — 제가 말하고 싶은 건 조금 더 시간이 필요하다는 거예요. 싫은 게 아니에요.

A: 아, 그렇군요. 그럼 시간을 더 드릴게요.

(A: So does that mean you don't like this plan?

B: No, that's not it — what I want to say is that I need a little more time. It's not that I don't like it.

A: Oh, I see. Then I'll give you more time.)

Mini-Dialogue 2 — Rephrasing a vague answer

A: 한국어 공부 재미있어요?

B: 음... 그러니까... 재미있는데 어렵기도 해요. 다시 말하면, 어려워서 더 재미있는 것 같아요.

A: 아, 도전이 재미있다는 거죠?

(A: Is studying Korean fun?

B: Um... I mean... it's fun but also hard. To put it another way, it might be fun because it's challenging.

A: Oh, so you mean the challenge makes it fun?)

🌏 Cultural Note — 그러니까: Korea's Most Useful Clarifier

그러니까 is one of the most commonly used words in everyday Korean speech. It functions simultaneously as:

A thinking filler (like "um" or "so...")

A clarifying lead-in ("what I mean is...")

A conclusion marker ("so, in other words...")

Native Korean speakers use 그러니까 constantly — both when they're gathering their thoughts and when they're about to say something important. If you hear someone say 그러니까... before their next sentence, it often means: "let me say this more carefully."

Learning to use 그러니까 naturally is one of the fastest ways to sound more fluent in Korean. It bridges your thoughts, buys you time, and signals to your listener that you're being intentional with your words.

<summary>Try This Speaking Exercise

Clarify or rephrase each statement using the expression in parentheses.

A. You said "I don't like it" but meant "I need more time to decide." (아니, 그게 아니라)

<summary>Answer

아니, 그게 아니라 — 싫은 게 아니라 결정할 시간이 조금 더 필요해요.

(No, that's not it — it's not that I don't like it, it's that I need a little more time to decide.)

</summary>

B. You said Korean is easy. You want to clarify it's easy compared to what you expected. (더 정확히 말하면)

<summary>Answer

더 정확히 말하면, 한국어가 생각보다 쉬운 것 같아요.

(To be more precise, Korean seems easier than I expected.)

</summary>

C. Someone asks what you want to say. You refocus your point. (제가 말하고 싶은 건)

<summary>Answer

제가 말하고 싶은 건, 더 많은 연습이 필요하다는 거예요.

(What I want to say is, more practice is needed.)

</summary>

D. You gave a complicated explanation. Now rephrase it simply. (다시 말하면)

<summary>Answer

다시 말하면, 매일 조금씩 하면 된다는 거예요.

(To put it another way, the point is that doing a little every day is enough.)

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E. You're hesitating and want to clarify your main thought. (그러니까)

<summary>Answer

그러니까... 제가 하고 싶은 말은 솔직히 잘 모르겠다는 거예요.

(I mean... what I want to say is that honestly I'm not sure.)

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F. Someone thinks you're criticizing them. You want to correct that. (아니, 그게 아니라)

<summary>Answer

아니, 그게 아니라 — 비판하는 게 아니라 의견을 나누고 싶었어요.

(No, that's not it — I wasn't criticizing, I just wanted to share an opinion.)

</summary>

G. You said you're not interested, but meant you're just tired right now. (제가 말하고 싶은 건)

<summary>Answer

제가 말하고 싶은 건, 관심이 없는 게 아니라 지금 너무 피곤하다는 거예요.

(What I want to say is, it's not that I'm not interested — I'm just very tired right now.)

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H. You explained something complex. Simplify the key point. (그러니까)

<summary>Answer

그러니까... 짧게 말하면 이 방법이 제일 효율적이에요.

(I mean... to put it briefly, this method is the most efficient.)

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I. You said a movie was "interesting." Clarify that you meant it in a negative way. (더 정확히 말하면)

<summary>Answer

더 정확히 말하면, 흥미롭긴 한데 기대했던 것과는 달랐어요.

(To be more precise, it was interesting but different from what I expected.)

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J. You gave a long answer and want to restate the essence. (다시 말하면)

<summary>Answer

다시 말하면, 핵심은 꾸준히 하는 것이에요.

(To put it another way, the key is doing it consistently.)

</summary>

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Expression Reference

Expression	Function
제가 말하고 싶은 건	Refocus your point
다시 말하면	Rephrase what you said
더 정확히 말하면	Add precision
그러니까	Natural clarifying filler
아니, 그게 아니라	Correct a misunderstanding

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Fluency Tip

Start using 그러니까 every time you pause in Korean. It's one of the most natural things a Korean speaker says, and it will immediately make your speech sound less choppy and more native. Think of it as your "thinking out loud" word in Korean.

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Want more reps?

Clarifying is a real-life skill you'll use constantly. The Practice Hub below trains you across a wide range of misunderstandings, rephrasing situations, and precision-building exercises.

📦 Practice Hub — Clarifying What You Mean

Exercise 1 — Choose the Right Expression

For each situation, choose the most natural clarifying expression.

A. Someone heard you say you "don't want to go" but you actually meant you can't, not that you don't want to.

a) 다시 말하면

b) 아니, 그게 아니라

c) 더 정확히 말하면

<summary>Answer

b) 아니, 그게 아니라 — 아니, 그게 아니라 가기 싫은 게 아니라 못 가는 거예요. Correcting a misunderstanding directly.

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B. You gave a complicated explanation and want to rephrase the key idea more simply.

a) 그러니까

b) 아니, 그게 아니라

c) 다시 말하면

<summary>Answer

c) 다시 말하면 — 다시 말하면, 핵심은 매일 연습하는 거예요. Rephrasing the same content more simply.

</summary>

C. You're pausing to gather your thoughts and want to signal you're about to clarify.

a) 더 정확히 말하면

b) 그러니까

c) 제가 말하고 싶은 건

<summary>Answer

b) 그러니까 — 그러니까... 제 생각은 이래요. 그러니까 is the natural spoken filler-to-clarifier.

</summary>

D. You said something was "okay" but you want to be precise: it was actually really good.

a) 더 정확히 말하면

b) 아니, 그게 아니라

c) 다시 말하면

<summary>Answer

a) 더 정확히 말하면 — 더 정확히 말하면, 괜찮은 게 아니라 정말 좋았어요. Adding precision to a vague statement.

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E. Someone asks what you're trying to say. You want to state your core point directly.

a) 그러니까

b) 제가 말하고 싶은 건

c) 다시 말하면

<summary>Answer

b) 제가 말하고 싶은 건 — 제가 말하고 싶은 건, 이 방법이 더 좋다는 거예요. Restating your core message clearly.

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F. Someone thinks you dislike them. You want to clarify you were just tired that day.

a) 더 정확히 말하면

b) 아니, 그게 아니라

c) 제가 말하고 싶은 건

<summary>Answer

b) 아니, 그게 아니라 — 아니, 그게 아니라 그날 제가 많이 피곤했어요. Correcting the misunderstanding first.

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G. You want to rephrase what you just explained so it's easier to understand.

a) 그러니까

b) 아니, 그게 아니라

c) 다시 말하면

<summary>Answer

c) 다시 말하면 OR a) 그러니까 — both work. 다시 말하면 is more deliberate; 그러니까 is more casual.

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H. You used the word "interesting" and want to clarify whether you meant it positively or negatively.

a) 더 정확히 말하면

b) 다시 말하면

c) 제가 말하고 싶은 건

<summary>Answer

a) 더 정확히 말하면 — 더 정확히 말하면, 흥미롭긴 하지만 좋다는 건 아니에요. Adding precision to an ambiguous word.

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I. You've been talking for a while and want to say "in other words, my point is this."

a) 그러니까

b) 아니, 그게 아니라

c) 더 정확히 말하면

<summary>Answer

a) 그러니까 — 그러니까, 제가 하고 싶은 말은 이거예요. 그러니까 is perfect for "in other words, here's my point."

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J. Someone misunderstood your tone — you sounded angry but weren't. Correct it.

a) 제가 말하고 싶은 건

b) 아니, 그게 아니라

c) 더 정확히 말하면

<summary>Answer

b) 아니, 그게 아니라 — 아니, 그게 아니라 화가 난 게 아니에요. 그냥 솔직하게 말한 거예요. Corrects the emotional misread.

</summary>

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Quick Reference

Expression	Core Use
제가 말하고 싶은 건	State your main point
다시 말하면	Rephrase more simply
더 정확히 말하면	Add precision
그러니까	Natural clarifying filler
아니, 그게 아니라	Correct misunderstandings

⚠️

Pitfall

아니, 그게 아니라 can sound abrupt if said too sharply. In Korean conversation, it helps to soften it: 아, 아니, 그게 아니라... (with a gentle "아" before it) signals you're correcting, not dismissing.

Exercise 2 — Korean → English Translation

Translate each clarifying sentence naturally.

A. 제가 말하고 싶은 건, 더 많은 시간이 필요하다는 거예요.

<summary>Answer

What I want to say is, I need more time.

</summary>

B. 아니, 그게 아니라 — 바쁜 게 아니라 좀 쉬고 싶어요.

<summary>Answer

No, that's not it — it's not that I'm busy, I just want to rest a bit.

</summary>

C. 다시 말하면, 꾸준히 하는 게 제일 중요해요.

<summary>Answer

To put it another way, being consistent is the most important thing.

</summary>

D. 더 정확히 말하면, 완전히 반대하는 게 아니에요.

<summary>Answer

To be more precise, I'm not completely against it.

</summary>

E. 그러니까... 제가 하고 싶은 말은 이게 어렵다는 게 아니에요.

<summary>Answer

I mean... what I want to say is it's not that this is hard.

</summary>

F. 제가 말하고 싶은 건, 방법이 문제가 아니라는 거예요.

<summary>Answer

What I want to say is, the method isn't the problem.

</summary>

G. 다시 말하면, 이 제품이 더 효율적이에요.

<summary>Answer

To put it another way, this product is more efficient.

</summary>

H. 아니, 그게 아니라 — 싫다는 게 아니라 아직 생각 중이에요.

<summary>Answer

No, that's not it — it's not that I don't like it, I'm still thinking about it.

</summary>

I. 더 정확히 말하면, 그 영화는 재미있었는데 기대와 달랐어요.

<summary>Answer

To be more precise, the movie was fun but different from what I expected.

</summary>

J. 그러니까, 결국 중요한 건 꾸준히 하는 거예요.

<summary>Answer

In other words, what matters in the end is doing it consistently.

</summary>

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Vocabulary Cheat Sheet

Korean	English
반대하다	To oppose / be against
효율적이다	To be efficient
방법	Method / way
기대와 다르다	To be different from expectations
생각 중이다	To be thinking about it
솔직하게	Honestly / frankly

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Grammar Tip

Many clarifying expressions end with -는 거예요 or -다는 거예요: 제가 말하고 싶은 건 [point]이라는 거예요 / 시간이 필요하다는 거예요. This pattern nominalizes your core point and lets you say exactly what it is you mean.

Exercise 3 — Complete the Sentence

Fill in the blank with the correct clarifying expression.

A. A: 이 계획이 싫어요? B: 아니, — 싫은 게 아니라 시간이 좀 더 필요해요.

<summary>Answer

그게 아니라 — 아니, 그게 아니라 — 싫은 게 아니라 시간이 좀 더 필요해요.

</summary>

B. 설명이 길었는데, 이 방법이 더 빠르다는 거예요.

<summary>Answer

다시 말하면 — 다시 말하면 이 방법이 더 빠르다는 거예요.

</summary>

C. 말하면, 완전히 동의하는 건 아니에요.

<summary>Answer

더 정확히 — 더 정확히 말하면, 완전히 동의하는 건 아니에요.

</summary>

D. 제가 말하고 싶은 건 이게 아니에요.

<summary>Answer

그러니까 — 그러니까, 제가 말하고 싶은 건 이게 아니에요.

</summary>

E. 말하고 싶은 건, 더 많은 연습이 필요하다는 거예요.

<summary>Answer

제가 — 제가 말하고 싶은 건, 더 많은 연습이 필요하다는 거예요.

</summary>

F. 어렵다고 했는데, 말하면 어렵지만 즐겁다는 거예요.

<summary>Answer

다시 — 다시 말하면 어렵지만 즐겁다는 거예요.

</summary>

G. 아니, — 화가 난 게 아니라 걱정이 됐어요.

<summary>Answer

그게 아니라 — 아니, 그게 아니라 — 화가 난 게 아니라 걱정이 됐어요.

</summary>

H. 이 제품이 좋다는 게 아니라 가성비가 좋다는 거예요.

<summary>Answer

더 정확히 말하면 — 더 정확히 말하면 이 제품이 좋다는 게 아니라 가성비가 좋다는 거예요.

</summary>

I. 그게 핵심이에요.

<summary>Answer

그러니까 — 그러니까, 그게 핵심이에요.

</summary>

J. 건, 이 방법보다 저 방법이 낫다는 거예요.

<summary>Answer

제가 말하고 싶은 — 제가 말하고 싶은 건, 이 방법보다 저 방법이 낫다는 거예요.

</summary>

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Sentence Starters

Starter	Followed By
제가 말하고 싶은 건	[your core point]이라는 거예요
다시 말하면	[simpler restatement]
더 정확히 말하면	[more precise version]
그러니까	[clarifying statement]
아니, 그게 아니라	[corrected version of what you meant]

💡

Production Tip

When you say something and feel like it came out wrong, don't just repeat louder — use a clarifier. 그러니까... (pause) gives you time to think, and then add the correction. This sounds far more fluent than repeating the same imprecise sentence.

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Exercise 4 — Dialogue Completion

Complete B's clarifying response naturally.

A. A: 그러면 저를 믿지 않는다는 거예요? B:

<summary>Answer

아니, 그게 아니라 — 믿지 않는 게 아니라 좀 더 확인이 필요하다는 거예요.

(No, that's not it — it's not that I don't trust you, it's that I need a bit more confirmation.)

B. A: 이해했어요? B: 그러니까...

<summary>Answer

그러니까... 제가 말하고 싶은 건 아직 완전히 이해하지 못했다는 거예요. 한 번만 더 설명해줄 수 있어요?

(I mean... what I want to say is I haven't fully understood yet. Can you explain once more?)

C. A: 이 방법이 싫어요? B:

<summary>Answer

아니, 그게 아니라 — 싫은 게 아니라 다른 방법도 한번 고려해보고 싶어요.

(No, that's not it — it's not that I don't like it, I just want to consider other methods too.)

D. A: 결국 뭐가 하고 싶은 거예요? B:

<summary>Answer

제가 말하고 싶은 건, 더 많은 시간과 더 나은 계획이 필요하다는 거예요.

(What I want to say is, more time and a better plan are needed.)

E. A: 그 사람이 마음에 안 드는 거예요? B:

<summary>Answer

아니, 그게 아니라 — 더 정확히 말하면 아직 잘 모르겠어요. 더 알아가고 싶어요.

(No, that's not it — to be more precise, I'm not sure yet. I want to get to know them better.)

F. A: 너무 길게 설명하셨는데, 핵심이 뭐예요? B:

<summary>Answer

다시 말하면, 이 프로젝트의 핵심은 소통이에요. 그러니까, 팀이 잘 연락해야 해요.

(To put it another way, the key of this project is communication. In other words, the team needs to stay in good contact.)

G. A: 한국어가 어렵다고 했죠? B:

<summary>Answer

더 정확히 말하면, 어렵긴 한데 재미있어요. 그러니까 포기할 생각은 없어요.

(To be more precise, it is difficult but it's fun. In other words, I have no intention of giving up.)

H. A: 이 제안에 반대예요? B:

<summary>Answer

아니, 그게 아니라 — 반대하는 게 아니라 제가 말하고 싶은 건 몇 가지 수정이 필요하다는 거예요.

(No, that's not it — I'm not against it. What I want to say is that a few modifications are needed.)

I. A: 왜 그렇게 조용했어요? B:

<summary>Answer

그러니까... 제가 말하고 싶은 건, 화가 난 게 아니라 그냥 생각을 정리하고 있었어요.

(I mean... what I want to say is, I wasn't angry — I was just organizing my thoughts.)

J. A: 그게 무슨 뜻이에요? B:

<summary>Answer

다시 말하면, 이 방법보다 저 방법이 더 효율적이라는 거예요.

(To put it another way, I'm saying that method is more efficient than this one.)

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Useful Phrases

Phrase	Meaning
한 번만 더 설명해줄 수 있어요?	Can you explain once more?
수정이 필요하다	Modifications are needed
생각을 정리하다	To organize one's thoughts
포기할 생각이 없다	To have no intention of giving up
고려해보다	To consider / think about

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Conversation Tip

When correcting a misunderstanding, always say what you DO mean after saying what you DON'T mean. 아니, 그게 아니라 [X가 아니라 Y예요] — "No, not X — Y." This two-part structure (negation + correction) is the clearest and most natural way to clarify in Korean.

Exercise 5 — Free Speaking Practice

Clarify each statement or situation using expressions from this lesson.

A. You said you "don't feel like studying today." Clarify that you mean you're tired, not unmotivated.

<summary>Sample Answer

아니, 그게 아니라 — 공부하기 싫은 게 아니라 오늘 너무 피곤해서요. 제가 말하고 싶은 건 잠깐 쉬고 싶다는 거예요.

(No, that's not it — it's not that I don't want to study, I'm just very tired today. What I want to say is I want to rest for a bit.)

B. Someone thought your silence meant you were angry. Clarify.

<summary>Sample Answer

아니, 그게 아니라 — 화가 난 게 아니에요. 더 정확히 말하면, 그냥 생각이 많았어요.

(No, that's not it — I wasn't angry. To be more precise, I just had a lot on my mind.)

C. You gave a long explanation about why you prefer working from home. Wrap it up clearly.

<summary>Sample Answer

설명이 길었는데, 다시 말하면 재택근무가 저한테 더 잘 맞아요. 그러니까, 사무실보다 집에서 더 집중이 잘 돼요.

(The explanation was long, but to put it another way, working from home suits me better. In other words, I concentrate better at home than at the office.)

D. Someone thought you didn't like their idea. Clarify.

<summary>Sample Answer

아니, 그게 아니라 — 아이디어가 싫은 게 아니에요. 제가 말하고 싶은 건 조금 더 구체적으로 계획이 필요하다는 거예요.

(No, that's not it — I don't dislike the idea. What I want to say is that a bit more specific planning is needed.)

E. Explain the difference between 하지만 and 그런데 to a fellow learner.

<summary>Sample Answer

둘 다 '그런데'랑 비슷한데요. 더 정확히 말하면, 하지만이 더 강한 대비예요. 그러니까, 그런데는 부드럽게 전환할 때 쓰고 하지만은 명확한 반대를 표현할 때 써요.

(They're both similar, but to be more precise, 하지만 is a stronger contrast. In other words, 그런데 is used for a soft shift, while 하지만 expresses a clear opposition.)

F. Someone thinks you're bad at Korean. Clarify — you're just a beginner.

<summary>Sample Answer

아니, 그게 아니라 — 못하는 게 아니라 아직 배우는 중이에요. 제가 말하고 싶은 건, 틀려도 계속 연습하고 있다는 거예요.

(No, that's not it — I'm not bad at it, I'm still learning. What I want to say is that even when I make mistakes, I keep practicing.)

G. You said a book was "good." Clarify exactly what you liked about it.

<summary>Sample Answer

좋다고만 했는데, 더 정확히 말하면 스토리보다 문체가 특히 마음에 들었어요. 다시 말하면, 작가의 표현 방식이 인상적이었어요.

(I just said it was good, but to be more precise, I especially liked the writing style more than the story. To put it another way, the author's way of expression was impressive.)

H. Explain what 눈치 means to someone simply.

<summary>Sample Answer

눈치는 한국어로 설명하기 어렵지만, 다시 말하면 상황을 읽는 능력이에요. 그러니까, 말을 안 해도 분위기를 파악하는 거예요.

(Nunchi is hard to explain in Korean, but to put it another way, it's the ability to read a situation. In other words, it's understanding the atmosphere without being told.)

I. You said you're "fine" but you meant you're not actually great.

<summary>Sample Answer

괜찮다고 했는데, 더 정확히 말하면 완전히 괜찮은 건 아니에요. 그러니까, 좀 힘들긴 한데 말하기 어려웠어요.

(I said I was fine, but to be more precise, I'm not completely fine. In other words, it's a bit hard but I found it difficult to say.)

J. Explain why you prefer studying in a café.

<summary>Sample Answer

카페에서 공부하면 집중이 잘 돼요. 제가 말하고 싶은 건, 집에서는 쉬고 싶은 마음이 생겨서요. 다시 말하면, 공부 공간이랑 쉬는 공간을 분리하고 싶어요.

(I can concentrate well when I study at a café. What I want to say is, at home I feel like resting. To put it another way, I want to separate my study space from my rest space.)

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Sentence Starters

Starter	Use For
제가 말하고 싶은 건	Stating your actual point
다시 말하면	Simpler restatement
더 정확히 말하면	Adding precision
그러니까	Natural pause + clarify
아니, 그게 아니라	Correcting a misread

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Speaking Challenge

Practice this pattern: (1) Say something, (2) pause and say 그러니까..., (3) restate it more clearly. Do this three times with three different topics. The goal is to make the pause + clarify feel natural, not effortful. That's when you know these expressions are really part of your spoken Korean.

말이 완벽하지 않아도 괜찮아요. 다시 말하면 되니까요. ✨