Using Fillers: 그게... / 저기...

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TL;DR 🦄

🙋 저기... [jeo-gi...] — "Um... / Excuse me..." (getting attention)

💬 그게... [geu-ge...] — "Well... / That is..." (starting to explain)

🤔 음... [eum...] — "Hmm..." (thinking)

😅 그러니까... [geu-reo-ni-kka...] — "So... / What I mean is..."

🔁 뭐랄까... [mwo-ral-kka...] — "How should I put it..."

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🎧 Iru Helper Note — Head to the Korean Helper Widgets and listen to today's phrases at natural speed. 저기... 그게... 음... [jeo-gi... geu-ge... eum...] — practice the pauses and tone, not just the words! 🌟

🌈 The Big Picture

Fillers — little words like 음, 어, 그게, 저기 — are everywhere in natural Korean speech. They give you thinking time, soften a statement, or signal that you're about to say something a bit awkward. Using them makes you sound much more natural (and less like you're reading from a script)! 💭

🧩 Where to Use Each Filler

Different fillers fit different moments:

저기... [jeo-gi...] — to politely get someone's attention or start a request 🙋

그게... [geu-ge...] — right before explaining something, especially if it's a bit complicated or awkward 💬

음.../어... [eum.../eo...] — while you're thinking of the right word 🤔

그러니까... [geu-reo-ni-kka...] — to rephrase or clarify what you just said 🔁

뭐랄까... [mwo-ral-kka...] — when you're searching for just the right way to describe something 🎯

🧳 Essential Phrase Kit

저기... [jeo-gi...] — Um... / Excuse me... 🙋

그게... [geu-ge...] — Well... / That is... 💬

음... [eum...] — Hmm... 🤔

어... [eo...] — Uh... 😶

그러니까... [geu-reo-ni-kka...] — So... / What I mean is... 🔁

뭐랄까... [mwo-ral-kka...] — How should I put it... 🎯

아니 그게 아니라... [a-ni geu-ge a-ni-ra...] — No, that's not it, but... 🙅

어떻게 말해야 되지... [eo-tteo-ke mal-hae-ya doe-ji...] — How should I say this... 🧐

잠깐만요... [jam-kkan-man-yo...] — Just a moment... ⏳

아무튼... [a-mu-teun...] — Anyway... ➡️

🛠️ Putting It Together

A: 저기... 죄송한데 뭐 좀 여쭤봐도 될까요? B: 네, 말씀하세요. [A: jeo-gi... joe-song-han-de mwo jom yeo-jjwo-bwa-do doel-kka-yo? B: ne, mal-sseum-ha-se-yo.]

A: "Um... sorry, can I ask you something?" B: "Yes, go ahead." 🙋 — a polite way to start a request.

A: 어제 왜 안 왔어요? B: 그게... 사실 좀 일이 있었어요. [A: eo-je wae an wa-sseo-yo? B: geu-ge... sa-sil jom il-i i-sseo-sseo-yo.]

A: "Why didn't you come yesterday?" B: "Well... actually something came up." 💬 — softening an explanation.

A: 그 영화 어땠어요? B: 음... 뭐랄까, 재미는 있었는데 좀 길었어요. [A: geu yeong-hwa eo-ttae-sseo-yo? B: eum... mwo-ral-kka, jae-mi-neun i-sseot-neun-de jom gi-reo-sseo-yo.]

A: "How was that movie?" B: "Hmm... how should I put it, it was fun but a bit long." 🤔 — thinking while giving an honest opinion.

🗣️ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue

Read both roles out loud, then switch roles!

민수: 저기, 지은 씨. 잠깐 시간 있어요?

[Minsu: jeo-gi, ji-eun ssi. jam-kkan si-gan i-sseo-yo?]

Minsu: "Um, Jieun. Do you have a moment?"

지은: 네, 무슨 일이에요?

[Jieun: ne, mu-seun il-i-e-yo?]

Jieun: "Sure, what's up?"

민수: 그게... 사실은 부탁이 하나 있어서요.

[Minsu: geu-ge... sa-sil-eun bu-tak-i ha-na i-sseo-seo-yo.]

Minsu: "Well... actually I have a favor to ask."

지은: 음... 어떤 부탁인데요?

[Jieun: eum... eo-tteon bu-tak-in-de-yo?]

Jieun: "Hmm... what kind of favor?"

민수: 그러니까... 이거 한국어로 어떻게 말해야 되지... 잠깐만요, 생각 좀 해볼게요.

[Minsu: geu-reo-ni-kka... i-geo han-gug-eo-ro eo-tteo-ke mal-hae-ya doe-ji... jam-kkan-man-yo, saeng-gak jom hae-bol-ge-yo.]

Minsu: "So... how do I say this in Korean... just a moment, let me think."

지은: 천천히 말해도 돼요. 괜찮아요!

[Jieun: cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae-do dwae-yo. gwaen-cha-na-yo!]

Jieun: "You can take your time. It's okay!"

🧭 Speaking Tip

Don't be afraid of silence — fillers like 음... and 그게... are completely normal while you think. Adding them actually makes you sound more natural, not less fluent. Native speakers use them constantly! 💭

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ Staying completely silent while thinking → ✅ Use 음... / 어... to fill the gap naturally.

❌ Jumping straight into a request without warming up → ✅ Start with 저기... to politely get attention.

❌ Sounding too blunt when explaining something awkward → ✅ Soften it with 그게... first.

❌ Overusing one filler (e.g. only "음") → ✅ Mix in 그러니까, 뭐랄까, 아무튼 for variety.

Great job — your Korean will sound much more natural now! 💭✨

Try this exercise

Instructions: Choose the best word or phrase for each situation.

1. Politely get someone's attention before asking a question: ＿＿＿＿...

Answer

저기... [jeo-gi...]

2. Start explaining something a bit awkward: ＿＿＿＿...

Answer

그게... [geu-ge...]

3. Fill a pause while thinking of a word: ＿＿＿＿...

Answer

음... [eum...]

4. Rephrase or clarify what you just said: ＿＿＿＿...

Answer

그러니까... [geu-reo-ni-kka...]

5. Say "How should I put it...": ＿＿＿＿

Answer

뭐랄까... [mwo-ral-kka...]

6. Correct a misunderstanding: "No, that's not it, but...": ＿＿＿＿

Answer

아니 그게 아니라... [a-ni geu-ge a-ni-ra...]

7. Say "How should I say this...": ＿＿＿＿

Answer

어떻게 말해야 되지... [eo-tteo-ke mal-hae-ya doe-ji...]

8. Ask someone to wait a moment while you think: ＿＿＿＿...

Answer

잠깐만요... [jam-kkan-man-yo...]

9. Move on to a new point: ＿＿＿＿...

Answer

아무튼... [a-mu-teun...]

10. Practice saying this out loud: 음... 그게... 어떻게 말해야 되지... [eum... geu-ge... eo-tteo-ke mal-hae-ya doe-ji...]

Answer

"Hmm... well... how should I say this..." → totally natural hesitation!

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Vocabulary Box

저기 [jeo-gi] → um/excuse me

그게 [geu-ge] → well/that is

음/어 [eum/eo] → hmm/uh

그러니까 [geu-reo-ni-kka] → so/I mean

뭐랄까 [mwo-ral-kka] → how to put it

아니 그게 아니라 → no, not that, but

잠깐만요 → just a moment

아무튼 → anyway

사실은 → actually

천천히 → slowly

Pitfalls 💡

Fillers = natural, not weak

Mix them up

Use before requests

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Want more reps? Visit the Practice Hub when you're ready! 🚀

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🎯 Practice Hub — Using Fillers: 그게... / 저기...

안녕하세요! [an-nyeong-ha-se-yo] Let's practice sounding more natural with fillers! 💭✨

🔊 Audio reminder: Use the Korean Helper Widgets to hear any phrase.

Exercise 1 — Pick the Right Form 🎯

A. Politely get attention before a request: ＿＿＿＿...

Answer

저기... [jeo-gi...]

B. Start an awkward explanation: ＿＿＿＿...

Answer

그게... [geu-ge...]

C. Fill a thinking pause: ＿＿＿＿...

Answer

음... [eum...]

D. True or False: 그러니까 is used to rephrase or clarify.

Answer

True

E. Say "How should I put it...": ＿＿＿＿

Answer

뭐랄까... [mwo-ral-kka...]

F. Say "Just a moment...": ＿＿＿＿

Answer

잠깐만요... [jam-kkan-man-yo...]

G. Correct a misunderstanding: ＿＿＿＿

Answer

아니 그게 아니라... [a-ni geu-ge a-ni-ra...]

H. True or False: Overusing only 음 sounds the most natural.

Answer

False → mixing fillers sounds more natural.

I. Say "Anyway...": ＿＿＿＿

Answer

아무튼... [a-mu-teun...]

J. Say "How should I say this...": ＿＿＿＿

Answer

어떻게 말해야 되지... [eo-tteo-ke mal-hae-ya doe-ji...]

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Quick Reference:

Attention → 저기...

Explain → 그게...

Think → 음/어...

Rephrase → 그러니까...

Exercise 2 — Fill in the Blank: Natural Pauses 💬

A. A: ＿＿＿＿, 죄송한데 여기 자리 있어요? B: 아니요, 앉으세요.

Answer

저기 [jeo-gi] → "Um, sorry, is this seat taken?"

B. A: 왜 늦었어요? B: ＿＿＿＿... 차가 너무 막혔어요.

Answer

그게 [geu-ge] → "Well... traffic was really bad."

C. A: 이거 한국어로 뭐예요? B: ＿＿＿＿... 잠깐만요, 생각 좀 해볼게요.

Answer

음 [eum] → "Hmm..."

D. True or False: 그러니까 can mean "in other words."

Answer

True

E. A: 그 사람 어때요? B: ＿＿＿＿, 착한데 좀 무뚝뚝해요.

Answer

뭐랄까 [mwo-ral-kka] → "How should I put it..."

F. A: 그래서 어디로 간다는 거예요? B: ＿＿＿＿, 내일 부산에 간다는 말이에요.

Answer

그러니까 [geu-reo-ni-kka] → "So, what I mean is..."

G. A: 그거 너 때문이야! B: ＿＿＿＿, 제가 그런 게 아니에요!

Answer

아니 그게 아니라 [a-ni geu-ge a-ni-ra] → "No, that's not it, but..."

H. True or False: 잠깐만요 can be used to ask someone to wait while you think.

Answer

True

I. A: ＿＿＿＿, 다음 얘기로 넘어갈게요.

Answer

아무튼 [a-mu-teun] → "Anyway,"

J. Practice saying this out loud: 저기... 그게... 제가 어제 좀 늦게 와서요. 그러니까... 미안해요. [jeo-gi... geu-ge... je-ga eo-je jom neut-ge wa-seo-yo. geu-reo-ni-kka... mi-an-hae-yo.]

Answer

"Um... well... I came a bit late yesterday. So... I'm sorry."

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Quick Rule — Match the Context:

Soften request → 저기...

Soften explanation → 그게...

Buy time → 음/어/잠깐만요

Wrap up → 아무튼

Exercise 3 — Mix It All Together 🗣️

A. You need to interrupt a coworker politely. Start with: ＿＿＿＿...

Answer

저기... [jeo-gi...] or 잠깐만요...

B. Fill in: A: 그래서 결론이 뭐예요? B: ＿＿＿＿... 음... 다시 생각해봐야 할 것 같아요.

Answer

그게 [geu-ge] → "Well..."

C. True or False: Using no fillers at all sounds more fluent to native speakers.

Answer

False → it can sound robotic; natural speech includes fillers.

D. Translate: "How should I put this... it was a bit difficult." ＿＿＿＿

Answer

뭐랄까... 좀 어려웠어요. [mwo-ral-kka... jom eo-ryeo-wo-sseo-yo.]

E. Your friend misunderstands your tone as angry. Clarify: ＿＿＿＿

Answer

아니 그게 아니라, 화난 거 아니에요. [a-ni geu-ge a-ni-ra, hwa-nan geo a-ni-e-yo.] — "No, that's not it, I'm not angry."

F. A: 발표 준비 다 했어요? B: ＿＿＿＿... 거의 다 했는데 조금만 더 시간 주세요.

Answer

음/그게 [eum/geu-ge] → "Um/Well..."

G. True or False: 그러니까 can be used both to clarify and to mean "so" when summarizing.

Answer

True

H. Fill in: A: 왜 그렇게 생각해요? B: ＿＿＿＿, 경험상 그런 것 같아요.

Answer

그러니까/뭐랄까 [geu-reo-ni-kka/mwo-ral-kka] → "Well/I mean..."

I. Translate: "Um, excuse me, can I ask something for a moment?" ＿＿＿＿

Answer

저기... 잠깐 뭐 좀 여쭤봐도 될까요? [jeo-gi... jam-kkan mwo jom yeo-jjwo-bwa-do doel-kka-yo?]

J. Practice saying this out loud: 저기... 그게... 사실 잘 모르겠어요. 음... 다시 한번 설명해 주실 수 있어요? [jeo-gi... geu-ge... sa-sil jal mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo. eum... da-si han-beon seol-myeong-hae ju-sil su i-sseo-yo?]

Answer

"Um... well... actually I'm not sure. Hmm... could you explain it once more?" → fully natural hesitation!

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Everyday Cheat Sheet:

저기... (attention)

그게... (explain)

음/어... (think)

그러니까... (rephrase)

아무튼... (move on)

🎉 잘했어요! [jal-haess-eo-yo] Your Korean will sound so much more natural now! 💭✨