TOPIK I Listening: Understanding Hesitation & Fillers

Agent Progress
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Keywords
주저하다 / 생각 중 / 대화 뉘앙스
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
TOPIK I Prep
✅
TL;DR
  • Korean hesitation fillers like 음, 어, 글쎄요, and 잠깐만요 often show that the speaker is thinking, unsure, delaying, or politely softening an answer.
  • In TOPIK I Listening, fillers rarely carry the main answer alone; they help you predict the speaker’s attitude before the key information appears.
  • Train yourself to hear the filler, then listen for the decision word: 네/아니요, 갈게요, 못 가요, 괜찮아요, 아마, 먼저, 나중에.
🎧
🎧 Audio Practice
Use the tracks below as TTS scripts. For every track, practice the 2-pass method:
  1. First pass: listen without pausing and choose the answer quickly.
  1. Second pass: listen again for fillers, keywords, and final decision phrases.
  1. Optional shadowing: repeat the hesitant sentence aloud, copying the pause and intonation.

🔑 The Big Picture

Hesitation is not “empty noise.” In Korean conversations, short fillers often show how certain, ready, or comfortable the speaker feels.
For TOPIK I Listening, hesitation usually appears before simple but important information:
  • a changed plan: 음… 오늘은 좀 어려워요.
  • uncertainty: 글쎄요, 잘 모르겠어요.
  • thinking time: 잠깐만요. 확인해 볼게요.
  • polite refusal: 어… 미안해요. 못 가요.
  • remembering: 뭐였지? 아, 도서관이에요.
The key is not to translate every filler. Instead, hear the filler as a signal: “The answer may be uncertain, delayed, softened, or corrected.”

🧩 Core Concepts / Patterns

1. Thinking fillers

  • 음… / 어… = “um / uh,” often before thinking or answering carefully.
  • 그러니까… = “so / what I mean is,” often before explanation.
  • 뭐였지? = “What was it again?” often before remembering.
Example:
A: 몇 시에 만나요?
B: 음… 세 시에 만나요.
Meaning: B is thinking, then gives the answer: 3 o’clock.

2. Uncertainty fillers

  • 글쎄요 = “Well… / I’m not sure.”
  • 아마 = “probably.”
  • 잘 모르겠어요 = “I’m not sure / I don’t know well.”
Example:
A: 내일 비가 와요?
B: 글쎄요. 아마 안 올 거예요.
Meaning: B is not fully certain, but thinks it probably will not rain.

3. Delay and checking phrases

  • 잠깐만요 = “Just a moment.”
  • 확인해 볼게요 = “I’ll check.”
  • 기다려 주세요 = “Please wait.”
Example:
A: 이 책 있어요?
B: 잠깐만요. 확인해 볼게요.
Meaning: B does not answer immediately; they will check first.

4. Soft refusals

Korean speakers may hesitate before saying no, especially to sound polite.
  • 어… 미안해요.
  • 음… 오늘은 좀 어려워요.
  • 죄송하지만 안 돼요.
Example:
A: 같이 영화 볼까요?
B: 음… 미안해요. 오늘은 좀 바빠요.
Meaning: B is refusing politely.

5. Correction after hesitation

A speaker may start uncertain, then correct the answer.
  • 아니, 아니요 = correction or change.
  • 아, 맞아요 = remembering correctly.
  • 그게 아니라 = “not that / what I mean is…”
Example:
A: 식당이 2층이에요?
B: 어… 아니요. 3층이에요.
Meaning: The final answer is 3rd floor, not 2nd.

✅ Exam Strategy

  1. Do not choose based only on the filler. Wait for the final content word.
  1. Listen for contrast after hesitation. Words like 아니요, 그런데, 하지만, and 그래도 can change the answer.
  1. Mark speaker attitude quickly.
      • 글쎄요 → uncertain
      • 잠깐만요 → checking / delaying
      • 음… 미안해요 → likely refusal
      • 뭐였지? 아… → remembering
  1. For TOPIK I choices, choose the simple meaning. The test usually asks what the person will do, where they are, what time it is, or how the person feels.
  1. Use the second pass to confirm one keyword. Do not replay the whole sentence in your head; catch the answer word.

⚠️ Pitfalls

  • Pitfall 1: Treating “글쎄요” as a full answer. It usually means uncertainty; the answer may come after it.
  • Pitfall 2: Missing polite refusal. “오늘은 좀…” often signals “not today” or “difficult.”
  • Pitfall 3: Choosing the first number or place you hear. If the speaker says 아니요, the correct answer may be the second number or place.
  • Pitfall 4: Ignoring tone. Long pauses and 음… often show the speaker is not ready to say yes.
  • Pitfall 5: Overthinking fillers. TOPIK I does not test deep pragmatics here. Find the practical result: yes/no, time, place, action, or feeling.

🎧 Listening Script Bank

Use these sentence patterns for extra shadowing:
  • 음… 저는 커피보다 차가 좋아요.
  • 어… 오늘은 시간이 없어요.
  • 글쎄요. 잘 모르겠어요.
  • 잠깐만요. 다시 말해 주세요.
  • 뭐였지? 아, 지갑이에요.
  • 그러니까 내일 아침에 만나요.
  • 아마 토요일에 갈 거예요.
  • 음… 죄송하지만 안 돼요.
📝
Practice Hub — 50 TOPIK I Listening Questions

Set 1 — Hear the hesitation signal

Track 1
  1. A: 지금 출발해요? B: 음… 네, 지금 출발해요.
  1. A: 이 음식이 매워요? B: 어… 조금 매워요.
  1. A: 내일 학교에 가요? B: 글쎄요. 아직 몰라요.
  1. A: 전화번호가 뭐예요? B: 잠깐만요. 010-2345-6789예요.
  1. A: 오늘 시간이 있어요? B: 음… 미안해요. 오늘은 바빠요.
  1. A: 어디에서 만나요? B: 뭐였지? 아, 은행 앞이에요.
  1. A: 같이 먹을까요? B: 어… 저는 이미 먹었어요.
  1. A: 이 버스가 서울역에 가요? B: 글쎄요. 기사님께 물어보세요.
  1. A: 몇 시에 끝나요? B: 음… 다섯 시쯤 끝나요.
  1. A: 이 사람은 선생님이에요? B: 어… 아니요. 학생이에요.
  1. Q1. B will leave when?
    1. Now
    2. Tomorrow
    3. After lunch
    4. Not today
  1. Q2. How is the food?
    1. Not spicy
    2. A little spicy
    3. Very sweet
    4. Cold
  1. Q3. What does B mean?
    1. B will definitely go.
    2. B already went.
    3. B is not sure yet.
    4. B cannot go because of work.
  1. Q4. Why does B say 잠깐만요?
    1. To refuse
    2. To check or think before answering
    3. To say goodbye
    4. To ask for food
  1. Q5. What is B doing?
    1. Politely refusing
    2. Inviting A
    3. Asking the time
    4. Buying a ticket
  1. Q6. Where will they meet?
    1. In the bank
    2. In front of the bank
    3. At school
    4. At home
  1. Q7. Why does B probably not eat with A?
    1. B is sick.
    2. B already ate.
    3. B has no money.
    4. B dislikes A.
  1. Q8. What should A do?
    1. Ask the driver
    2. Walk to Seoul Station
    3. Get off now
    4. Buy coffee
  1. Q9. What time does it finish?
    1. Around 3
    2. Around 4
    3. Around 5
    4. Around 6
  1. Q10. Who is the person?
    1. A teacher
    2. A student
    3. A doctor
    4. A driver
Answers — Set 1
  1. 1 — 네, 지금 출발해요 gives the final answer.
  1. 2 — 조금 매워요 means “a little spicy.”
  1. 3 — 글쎄요 / 아직 몰라요 shows uncertainty.
  1. 2 — 잠깐만요 gives time before answering.
  1. 1 — 음… 미안해요. 오늘은 바빠요 is a polite refusal.
  1. 2 — The remembered place is 은행 앞.
  1. 2 — 이미 먹었어요 means B already ate.
  1. 1 — B is unsure and says to ask the driver.
  1. 3 — 다섯 시쯤 means around 5.
  1. 2 — B corrects the answer: 아니요. 학생이에요.

Set 2 — Catch the final decision

Track 2
  1. A: 커피 마실래요? B: 음… 좋아요. 따뜻한 커피 주세요.
  1. A: 오늘 운동해요? B: 어… 오늘은 좀 힘들어요. 내일 할게요.
  1. A: 이 옷을 살 거예요? B: 글쎄요. 좀 비싸요.
  1. A: 지금 주문할까요? B: 잠깐만요. 친구가 아직 안 왔어요.
  1. A: 토요일에 만나요? B: 음… 토요일은 안 돼요. 일요일은 괜찮아요.
  1. A: 이거 누구 책이에요? B: 뭐였지? 아, 민수 씨 책이에요.
  1. A: 버스로 갈까요? B: 어… 아니요. 지하철이 더 빨라요.
  1. A: 숙제를 다 했어요? B: 음… 아직 조금 남았어요.
  1. A: 영화가 재미있었어요? B: 글쎄요. 저는 조금 지루했어요.
  1. A: 같이 사진 찍을까요? B: 어… 네, 좋아요.
  1. Q11. What does B want?
    1. Warm coffee
    2. Cold water
    3. Juice
    4. Tea
  1. Q12. When will B exercise?
    1. Today
    2. Tomorrow
    3. Saturday
    4. Never
  1. Q13. Why is B unsure about buying the clothes?
    1. They are too small.
    2. They are expensive.
    3. They are too old.
    4. The color is bad.
  1. Q14. Why should they wait?
    1. The shop is closed.
    2. The food is cold.
    3. The friend has not arrived.
    4. B forgot money.
  1. Q15. Which day is okay for B?
    1. Friday
    2. Saturday
    3. Sunday
    4. Monday
  1. Q16. Whose book is it?
    1. A’s
    2. B’s
    3. Minsu’s
    4. The teacher’s
  1. Q17. How will they probably go?
    1. By bus
    2. By subway
    3. By taxi
    4. On foot
  1. Q18. What is true about B’s homework?
    1. It is finished.
    2. It has not started.
    3. A little remains.
    4. B lost it.
  1. Q19. How did B feel about the movie?
    1. It was boring.
    2. It was exciting.
    3. It was scary.
    4. It was too short.
  1. Q20. What does B say about taking a picture?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Maybe tomorrow
    4. Ask a friend
Answers — Set 2
  1. 1 — B says 따뜻한 커피 주세요.
  1. 2 — B says today is hard and will do it 내일.
  1. 2 — 좀 비싸요 explains the hesitation.
  1. 3 — The friend has not arrived yet.
  1. 3 — Saturday is not possible; Sunday is okay.
  1. 3 — B remembers: 민수 씨 책이에요.
  1. 2 — B rejects bus and says subway is faster.
  1. 3 — 아직 조금 남았어요 means a little is left.
  1. 1 — 지루했어요 means boring.
  1. 1 — 네, 좋아요 means yes.

Set 3 — Understand polite refusal and delay

Track 3
  1. A: 저녁에 같이 공부할까요? B: 음… 미안해요. 약속이 있어요.
  1. A: 이 문제 알겠어요? B: 글쎄요. 다시 설명해 주세요.
  1. A: 지금 들어가도 돼요? B: 잠깐만요. 선생님께 물어볼게요.
  1. A: 생일 파티에 올 수 있어요? B: 어… 토요일에는 못 가요.
  1. A: 이 가방은 얼마예요? B: 잠깐만요. 삼만 원이에요.
  1. A: 오늘 점심은 뭐예요? B: 뭐였지? 아, 김치찌개예요.
  1. A: 같이 쇼핑 갈래요? B: 음… 오늘은 쉬고 싶어요.
  1. A: 이 길이 맞아요? B: 글쎄요. 지도 앱을 봐요.
  1. A: 창문을 열까요? B: 어… 아니요. 추워요.
  1. A: 내일 일찍 만날까요? B: 음… 아홉 시는 괜찮아요.
  1. Q21. Why can’t B study in the evening?
    1. B has an appointment.
    2. B is hungry.
    3. B lost a book.
    4. B dislikes studying.
  1. Q22. What does B ask for?
    1. A different book
    2. Another explanation
    3. A phone number
    4. A bus ticket
  1. Q23. What will B do first?
    1. Enter immediately
    2. Ask the teacher
    3. Open the window
    4. Call a friend
  1. Q24. Can B go to the party on Saturday?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Only in the morning
    4. B already went
  1. Q25. How much is the bag?
    1. 10,000 won
    2. 20,000 won
    3. 30,000 won
    4. 40,000 won
  1. Q26. What is for lunch?
    1. Bibimbap
    2. Gimbap
    3. Kimchi stew
    4. Bulgogi
  1. Q27. What does B want to do today?
    1. Go shopping
    2. Rest
    3. Study
    4. Cook
  1. Q28. What does B suggest?
    1. Use a map app
    2. Ask a teacher
    3. Take a taxi
    4. Go home
  1. Q29. Why does B not want the window open?
    1. It is noisy.
    2. It is cold.
    3. It is dark.
    4. It is raining.
  1. Q30. What time is okay for B?
    1. 7
    2. 8
    3. 9
    4. 10
Answers — Set 3
  1. 1 — 약속이 있어요 is the reason.
  1. 2 — 다시 설명해 주세요 asks for another explanation.
  1. 2 — B will ask the teacher first.
  1. 2 — 못 가요 means B cannot go.
  1. 3 — 삼만 원 is 30,000 won.
  1. 3 — 김치찌개 is kimchi stew.
  1. 2 — 쉬고 싶어요 means B wants to rest.
  1. 1 — B suggests checking the map app.
  1. 2 — 추워요 means it is cold.
  1. 3 — 아홉 시 is 9 o’clock.

Set 4 — Notice correction after hesitation

Track 4
  1. A: 수업이 1시에 시작해요? B: 어… 아니요. 2시에 시작해요.
  1. A: 우체국은 왼쪽이에요? B: 음… 아니요. 오른쪽이에요.
  1. A: 이 사람은 언니예요? B: 어… 아니요. 제 친구예요.
  1. A: 한국어 시험은 금요일이에요? B: 뭐였지? 아, 목요일이에요.
  1. A: 점심을 식당에서 먹어요? B: 음… 아니요. 집에서 먹어요.
  1. A: 회의가 세 시예요? B: 어… 맞아요. 세 시예요.
  1. A: 버스 번호가 120번이에요? B: 글쎄요. 아마 102번이에요.
  1. A: 오늘 비가 와요? B: 음… 아니요. 날씨가 좋아요.
  1. A: 이 약은 아침에 먹어요? B: 잠깐만요. 네, 아침에 먹어요.
  1. A: 도서관은 5층이에요? B: 어… 아니요. 4층이에요.
  1. Q31. When does class start?
    1. 1 o’clock
    2. 2 o’clock
    3. 3 o’clock
    4. 4 o’clock
  1. Q32. Where is the post office?
    1. Left
    2. Right
    3. Upstairs
    4. Behind the bank
  1. Q33. Who is the person?
    1. B’s older sister
    2. B’s younger sibling
    3. B’s friend
    4. B’s teacher
  1. Q34. What day is the Korean test?
    1. Wednesday
    2. Thursday
    3. Friday
    4. Saturday
  1. Q35. Where will B eat lunch?
    1. At a restaurant
    2. At school
    3. At home
    4. At a cafe
  1. Q36. What time is the meeting?
    1. 2 o’clock
    2. 3 o’clock
    3. 4 o’clock
    4. 5 o’clock
  1. Q37. What bus number does B think it is?
    1. 102
    2. 120
    3. 201
    4. 210
  1. Q38. What is the weather like?
    1. Rainy
    2. Snowy
    3. Good
    4. Windy
  1. Q39. When should the medicine be taken?
    1. Morning
    2. Afternoon
    3. Evening
    4. Before sleep
  1. Q40. Which floor is the library on?
    1. 3rd floor
    2. 4th floor
    3. 5th floor
    4. 6th floor
Answers — Set 4
  1. 2 — The correction is 2시에 시작해요.
  1. 2 — B corrects left to 오른쪽.
  1. 3 — B corrects the relationship: 제 친구예요.
  1. 2 — B remembers 목요일.
  1. 3 — B says not at a restaurant, but 집에서.
  1. 2 — 맞아요. 세 시예요 confirms 3 o’clock.
  1. 1 — 아마 102번 shows probable answer.
  1. 3 — 날씨가 좋아요 means the weather is good.
  1. 1 — B confirms 아침에 먹어요.
  1. 2 — B corrects 5th floor to 4층.

Set 5 — Mixed TOPIK I hesitation practice

Track 5
  1. A: 지금 바빠요? B: 음… 네, 조금 바빠요.
  1. A: 이 물건을 살까요? B: 글쎄요. 필요 없어요.
  1. A: 몇 번 버스를 타요? B: 잠깐만요. 7번 버스를 타요.
  1. A: 내일 같이 갈 수 있어요? B: 어… 아마 갈 수 있어요.
  1. A: 왜 늦었어요? B: 음… 버스를 놓쳤어요.
  1. A: 이 카페가 좋아요? B: 어… 네, 조용해서 좋아요.
  1. A: 수영할 줄 알아요? B: 글쎄요. 조금 할 수 있어요.
  1. A: 어디에 가방을 두었어요? B: 뭐였지? 아, 의자 위에 두었어요.
  1. A: 매운 음식을 좋아해요? B: 음… 아니요. 안 좋아해요.
  1. A: 언제 다시 전화할까요? B: 그러니까… 저녁에 전화해 주세요.
  1. Q41. How busy is B?
    1. Not busy
    2. A little busy
    3. Very bored
    4. Free all day
  1. Q42. What does B think about buying the item?
    1. B needs it.
    2. B bought it already.
    3. B does not need it.
    4. B will buy two.
  1. Q43. Which bus should they take?
    1. Number 5
    2. Number 6
    3. Number 7
    4. Number 8
  1. Q44. Can B probably go tomorrow?
    1. Probably yes
    2. Definitely no
    3. B already went
    4. B does not know the place
  1. Q45. Why was B late?
    1. B missed the bus.
    2. B was sleeping.
    3. B forgot the time.
    4. B went to the wrong room.
  1. Q46. Why does B like the cafe?
    1. It is cheap.
    2. It is quiet.
    3. It is big.
    4. It is near school.
  1. Q47. How well can B swim?
    1. Very well
    2. A little
    3. Not at all
    4. B teaches swimming
  1. Q48. Where is the bag?
    1. Under the chair
    2. On the chair
    3. Next to the door
    4. In the classroom
  1. Q49. Does B like spicy food?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Sometimes
    4. B does not answer
  1. Q50. When should A call again?
    1. In the morning
    2. At lunch
    3. In the evening
    4. Tomorrow afternoon
Answers — Set 5
  1. 2 — 조금 바빠요 means a little busy.
  1. 3 — 필요 없어요 means B does not need it.
  1. 3 — B says 7번 버스.
  1. 1 — 아마 갈 수 있어요 means probably can go.
  1. 1 — 버스를 놓쳤어요 means B missed the bus.
  1. 2 — 조용해서 좋아요 means B likes it because it is quiet.
  1. 2 — 조금 할 수 있어요 means B can do it a little.
  1. 2 — 의자 위 means on the chair.
  1. 2 — 아니요. 안 좋아해요 means no.
  1. 3 — 저녁에 전화해 주세요 means call in the evening.

✅ Final Review

Before answering a TOPIK I Listening question with hesitation:
  1. Identify the filler: 음, 어, 글쎄요, 잠깐만요, 뭐였지.
  1. Predict the function: thinking, uncertainty, delay, refusal, or correction.
  1. Catch the final decision word or information.
  1. Choose the option that matches the final practical meaning.