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Using 'Suji' (Fillers) to Sound Like a Native

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μΆ”μž„μƒˆ
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Intermediate Speaking
πŸ—£οΈ
IS #194 β€” Using Fillers to Sound Like a Native
The small words and sounds that make Korean conversation feel alive and real.
πŸ”Š
Iru Helper Note
Native Korean speakers don't speak in clean, complete sentences β€” they use filler words (μΆ”μž„μƒˆ, 감탄사) constantly. These aren't mistakes; they're signals of active listening, natural thinking, and engagement. Learning them is learning conversational fluency.
μ•„ μ§„μ§œμš”? λŒ€λ°•... κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”, 저도 κ·Έλ ‡κ²Œ μƒκ°ν–ˆκ±°λ“ μš”.
(Oh really? Wow... exactly, I thought the same thing, you see.)
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πŸ—£οΈ What You'll Learn Today

Today you'll learn Korean filler words, response sounds, and conversational glue β€” the expressions that show you're listening, thinking, reacting, and engaging. These aren't vocabulary items to memorize in isolation; they're the texture of real conversation.

πŸ“Œ Korean Filler Words & Conversational Sounds

Expression
Romanization
Meaning/Use
When
음
eum
hmm / uh
thinking pause
μ–΄
eo
uh / yeah (casual)
casual agreement / pause
μ•„
ah
oh / ah
realization or acknowledgment
μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”?
ah, jinjjayo?
oh, really?
surprised response
κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”
geunikka-yo
exactly / that's what I mean
agreement, shared feeling
λ§žμ•„μš” / 맞죠
maja-yo / majjo
right / that's right
agreement
κ·Έλ ‡μ£ 
geureochjo
right / exactly
confirmation
μ–΄, λ§žμ•„
eo, maja
yeah, right (casual)
casual agreement
근데
geunde
but / by the way (casual 그런데)
transition
뭐
mwo
well / whatever (filler)
softening / casual
μ’€
jom
a bit / kind of (softener)
everywhere
λ­λž„κΉŒ
mworalkkah
how shall I put it
searching for words
왠지
wenchi
somehow / for some reason
vague feeling
어쩐지
eojjeonji
no wonder / I had a feeling
retrospective
에이
ei
come on / no way
mild disbelief/pushback
πŸ’‘ Key insight: κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš” is the most important one β€” it signals "I completely agree and feel that too." Native speakers use it constantly as an empathetic response.

πŸ’¬ Conversations in Action

Dialogue 1 β€” 곡감 ν‘œν˜„ (Showing agreement)
A: μš”μ¦˜ λ„ˆλ¬΄ λ°”λΉ μ„œ νž˜λ“€μ–΄μš”.
(I'm so busy lately, it's tough.)
B: κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”. 저도 μš”μ¦˜ 정신이 μ—†μ–΄μš”.
(Exactly. I'm also a mess lately.)
A: 뭐, κ·Έλž˜λ„ 주말에 쉴 수 μžˆμœΌλ‹ˆκΉŒ μ°Έκ³  μžˆμ–΄μš”.
(Well, I can rest on weekends so I'm managing.)
B: λ§žμ•„μš”. μ–΄, 근데 이번 주말에 뭐 ν•΄μš”?
(Right. Oh, by the way, what are you doing this weekend?)
Dialogue 2 β€” λ°˜μ‘ ν‘œν˜„ (Reacting)
A: 어젯밀에 κ·Έ λ“œλΌλ§ˆ λ΄€μ–΄μš”? 결말이 λŒ€λ°•μ΄μ—μš”.
(Did you watch that drama last night? The ending is amazing.)
B: μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”? μ €λŠ” 아직 λͺ» λ΄€κ±°λ“ μš”. 슀포 ν•˜μ§€ λ§ˆμš”!
(Oh, really? I haven't seen it yet, you see. Don't spoil it!)
A: 에이, κ·Έλƒ₯ μ’‹λ‹€κ³ λ§Œ ν• κ²Œμš”. 왠지 였늘 밀에 보게 될 것 κ°™μ€λ°μš”.
(Come on, I'll just say it's good. For some reason I feel like you'll watch it tonight.)

🌏 Cultural Note β€” μΆ”μž„μƒˆ: The Art of Active Listening

Korean conversation has a concept called μΆ”μž„μƒˆ (chwimsae) β€” the sounds and responses a listener makes to show they're engaged. In Korean, silence while someone else talks can feel cold. Saying μ–΄, λ§žμ•„ / κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš” / μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”? signals warmth and presence. Good Korean listeners are vocal listeners.
Answer
<summary>Try This Speaking Exercise
Respond to each situation using the most natural filler or response.
A. Your friend says something you completely agree with.
κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”! 저도 λ”± κ·Έλ ‡κ²Œ μƒκ°ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
B. Someone tells you surprising news.
Answer
μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”? λŒ€λ°•...
C. You're searching for the right word.
Answer
음... λ­λž„κΉŒ... 그게 μ’€ λ³΅μž‘ν•˜κ±°λ“ μš”.
D. You want to softly push back on something.
Answer
에이, 그건 μ’€ μ•„λ‹Œ 것 κ°™μ•„μš”.
E. You're transitioning to a new topic casually.
Answer
μ–΄, 근데 μžˆμž–μ•„μš”...
F. You have a vague feeling about something.
Answer
왠지 였늘 λ­”κ°€ 잘 될 것 κ°™μ•„μš”.
G. You realize now why something happened.
Answer
어쩐지 μ΄μƒν•˜λ‹€ μ‹Άμ—ˆμ–΄μš”.
H. You want to soften a statement.
Answer
뭐, κ·Έλƒ₯ 제 μƒκ°μ΄μ—μš”.
I. You're affirming what someone said confidently.
Answer
λ§žμ•„μš” / κ·Έλ ‡μ£ !
J. You want to show you're actively listening during a story.
Answer
μ•„, κ·Έλž˜μš”? μ–΄, λ§žμ•„. κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”.
πŸ“š
Expression Reference
Filler
Core Use
κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”
full empathetic agreement
μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”?
surprised reaction
에이
mild pushback
왠지
vague feeling
어쩐지
"I had a feeling / no wonder"
λ­λž„κΉŒ
word searching
근데
casual topic shift
뭐
casual softener
μ’€
tones down intensity
πŸ’‘
Listening Tip
어쩐지 = "no wonder / I thought something was off" β€” it's used when a new piece of information explains something you already sensed. 어쩐지 μ΄μƒν•˜λ‹€ μ‹Άμ—ˆμ–΄μš” = "I had a feeling something was off (and now I understand why)."
</summary>
πŸ”
Want more reps?
Watch a Korean conversation (drama, variety show, or vlog) for 5 minutes and count how many times you hear κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”, λ§žμ•„μš”, μ•„ μ§„μ§œ?, 근데, and 뭐. These are the most frequent conversational glue words. The more you notice them, the more naturally you'll start using them.
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πŸ“¦ Practice Hub β€” Korean Fillers & Conversational Glue

Exercise 1 β€” Choose the Right Filler

Match each situation to the most natural filler or response.
A. Your friend says something you totally relate to.
Answer
κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”! 저도 λ”± κ·Έλ ‡κ²Œ μƒκ°ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
B. Someone shares surprising news you didn't expect.
Answer
μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”? λŒ€λ°•...
C. You want to push back gently on something.
Answer
에이, 그건 μ’€ μ•„λ‹Œ 것 κ°™μ€λ°μš”.
D. You're pausing to think of the right word.
Answer
음... λ­λž„κΉŒ...
E. You're changing the subject casually.
Answer
μ–΄, 근데 μžˆμž–μ•„μš”...
F. You have a vague feeling something will happen.
Answer
왠지 였늘 잘 될 것 κ°™μ•„μš”.
G. You now understand why something weird happened.
Answer
어쩐지 μ΄μƒν•˜λ‹€ μ‹Άμ—ˆμ–΄μš”.
H. You're affirming something confidently.
Answer
λ§žμ•„μš”! / κ·Έλ ‡μ£ !
I. You want to soften a casual statement.
Answer
뭐, κ·Έλƒ₯ 제 μƒκ°μ΄μ—μš”.
J. You're actively listening while someone tells a story.
Answer
μ•„, κ·Έλž˜μš”? / μ–΄, λ§žμ•„. / κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”.
πŸ“š
Quick Reference
Filler
Core Use
κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”
full empathetic agreement
μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”?
surprised reaction
에이
gentle pushback
음...
thinking pause
λ­λž„κΉŒ
word-searching
왠지
vague feeling
어쩐지
"I had a feeling / no wonder"
근데
casual transition
뭐
casual softener
μ’€
tone-down particle
🚫
Common Pitfall
에이 is a mild, friendly pushback β€” not rude. But tone matters: said with a warm smile, 에이, μ„€λ§ˆμš” (come on, no way) is friendly. Said coldly or repeatedly, it can seem dismissive. Always pair it with a follow-up.

Exercise 2 β€” Korean β†’ English Translation

A. κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”, 저도 그게 이해가 μ•ˆ λκ±°λ“ μš”.
Answer
Exactly, I didn't understand that either, you see.
B. 에이, 그건 λ„ˆλ¬΄ μ‹¬ν•œ κ±° μ•„λ‹ˆμ—μš”?
Answer
Come on, isn't that a bit too much?
C. 음... λ­λž„κΉŒ... λ”± λ§žλŠ” ν‘œν˜„μ΄ μ—†λŠ” 것 κ°™μ•„μš”.
Answer
Hmm... how shall I put it... there doesn't seem to be an exact expression.
D. 왠지 였늘 λ­”κ°€ 쒋은 일이 생길 것 κ°™μ•„μš”.
Answer
For some reason I feel like something good will happen today.
E. 어쩐지 연락이 없더라. λ°”μ˜μ…¨κ΅°μš”.
Answer
No wonder there was no contact. You were busy.
F. 근데 μžˆμž–μ•„μš”, κ·Έ μ‚¬λžŒ μ–΄λ–»κ²Œ λμ–΄μš”?
Answer
By the way, what happened with that person?
G. 뭐, κ·Έλƒ₯ ν•œλ²ˆ ν•΄λ³΄λŠ” κ±°μ£ .
Answer
Well, it's just giving it a try.
H. μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”? μ €λŠ” λͺ°λžμ–΄μš”!
Answer
Oh, really? I didn't know!
I. μ–΄, λ§žμ•„. κ·Έ μ–˜κΈ° λ‚˜λ„ λ“€μ—ˆμ–΄.
Answer
Yeah, right. I heard that too.
J. μ’€ μ• λ§€ν•˜κΈ΄ ν•œλ°, 뭐 ν•΄λ³Ό 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”.
Answer
It's a bit ambiguous, but well, we can try.
πŸ“š
Vocabulary Cheat Sheet
Korean
English
λ”± λ§žλŠ”
perfectly fitting / exact
μ‹¬ν•˜λ‹€
excessive / too much
μ• λ§€ν•˜λ‹€
ambiguous / unclear
연락이 μ—†λ‹€
no contact / didn't reach out
μ„€λ§ˆ
no way / surely not
어쩐지
no wonder / I had a feeling
πŸ’‘
Grammar Tip
어쩐지 + [past observation] + [new explanation] = the classic retrospective realization structure. 어쩐지 μ‘°μš©ν•˜λ”λΌ. λ‹€λ“€ 일찍 κ°”κ΅¬λ‚˜. = "No wonder it was quiet. Everyone left early."

Exercise 3 β€” Complete the Sentence

A. _, 저도 κ·Έκ±° 정말 κ³΅κ°ν•΄μš”.
(Exactly, I really relate to that too.)
Answer
κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”
B. _ μ§„μ§œμš”? μ–΄λ–»κ²Œ 된 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”?
(Oh, really? What happened?)
Answer
μ•„,
C. _, 그건 μ’€ κ³Όν•œ κ±° μ•„λ‹ˆμ—μš”?
(Come on, isn't that a bit over the top?)
Answer
에이
D. _ 였늘 쒋은 μ†Œμ‹μ΄ 올 것 κ°™μ•„μš”.
(For some reason I feel like good news is coming today.)
Answer
왠지
E. _ μ΄μƒν•˜λ”λΌ, κ·Έ μ΄μœ κ°€ μžˆμ—ˆκ΅°μš”.
(No wonder it felt strange β€” there was a reason.)
Answer
어쩐지
F. _ μžˆμž–μ•„μš”, μ € 사싀 κ·Έκ±° μ•Œκ³  μžˆμ—ˆμ–΄μš”.
(By the way, I actually already knew that.)
Answer
근데
G. _ μ–΄λ–»κ²Œ λ§ν•˜λ©΄ μ’‹μ„κΉŒμš”?
(Hmm... how should I put this?)
Answer
음...
H. _ κ·Έλƒ₯ ν•΄λ΄μš”. 잘 될 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”.
(Well, just try it. It'll work out.)
Answer
뭐,
I. λ”± _ ν‘œν˜„μ΄ μ—†λŠ” 것 κ°™μ•„μš”.
(There doesn't seem to be an exact right expression.)
Answer
λ§žλŠ”
J. _ ν•œλ²ˆ λ¬Όμ–΄λ΄μš”. μ•ˆ 될 건 μ—†μž–μ•„μš”.
(Well, just ask once. Nothing to lose.)
Answer
뭐,
πŸ“š
Sentence Starters
Filler
Position
κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”
agreement opener
μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”?
surprise response opener
에이
soft pushback opener
왠지
before vague feeling
어쩐지
before retrospective realization
근데
mid-conversation transition
음...
beginning of any hesitation
뭐
before softened statement
πŸ’‘
Production Tip
뭐 as a filler (not "what?") adds casual acceptance: 뭐, ν•΄λ΄μš” = "well, just try it." 뭐, μ–΄μ©” 수 μ—†μ£  = "well, nothing you can do." It softens conclusions without dismissing them.

Exercise 4 β€” Dialogue Completion

A.
A: μš”μ¦˜ λ„ˆλ¬΄ λ°”λΉ μ„œ νž˜λ“€μ–΄μš”.
B: _, 저도 μš”μ¦˜ 정신이 μ—†μ–΄μš”.
Answer
κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”
B.
A: μ–΄μ œ κ·Έ 식당 λ¬Έ λ‹«μ•˜λŒ€μš”.
B: _ μ§„μ§œμš”? 자주 κ°”λŠ”λ°...
Answer
μ•„,
C.
A: 이걸 였늘 μ•ˆμ— λ‹€ ν•΄μ•Ό ν•΄μš”.
B: _, 그건 μ’€ 무리 μ•„λ‹ˆμ—μš”?
Answer
에이
D.
A: κ°‘μžκΈ° μ™œ κ·Έ 생각이 λ‚¬μ–΄μš”?
B: _ 였늘 κ·Έ μ‚¬λžŒ 연락이 올 것 κ°™μ•˜κ±°λ“ μš”.
Answer
왠지
E.
A: κ·Έ μ‚¬λžŒμ΄ μ•Œκ³  λ³΄λ‹ˆ 제 친ꡬ μ•„λŠ” μ‚¬λžŒμ΄λž˜μš”.
B: _ 낯이 읡더라. κ·Έλ ‡κ΅°μš”.
Answer
어쩐지
F.
A: κ·Έλ‚˜μ €λ‚˜ 였늘 뭐 먹을 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”?
B: _ μžˆμž–μ•„μš”, μ € 였늘 κ·Έ 식당 가보고 μ‹Άμ—ˆκ±°λ“ μš”.
Answer
근데
G.
A: μ–΄λ–»κ²Œ μƒκ°ν•΄μš”?
B: _ 쒋은 것 κ°™κΈ΄ ν•œλ°, μ’€ 생각해 λ³Όκ²Œμš”.
Answer
뭐,
H.
A: μ–΄λ–»κ²Œ ν‘œν˜„ν•˜λ©΄ λ κΉŒμš”?
B: _ λ­λž„κΉŒ... μžμ—°μŠ€λŸ½κ²Œ ν•˜λ©΄ λΌμš”.
Answer
음...
I.
A: 그게 정말 λ§žλŠ” 말인 것 κ°™μ•„μš”.
B: λ§žμ•„μš”! _, 저도 λ˜‘κ°™μ΄ μƒκ°ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.
Answer
κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”
J.
A: κ²°κ³Όκ°€ μ’‹μ„κΉŒμš”?
B: _ 잘 될 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”. 뭐, 해봐야 μ•Œμ£ .
Answer
왠지
πŸ“š
Useful Phrases
Expression
Use
낯이 읡닀
to look familiar
무리 μ•„λ‹ˆμ—μš”?
isn't that too much?
정신이 μ—†λ‹€
to be a mess / overwhelmed
해봐야 μ•Œμ£ 
you only know by trying
κ·Έλ‚˜μ €λ‚˜
by the way / anyway
πŸ’‘
Conversation Tip
낯이 읡닀 = "the face is familiar" β€” a natural phrase for recognizing someone without knowing exactly who they are. 어쩐지 낯이 읡더라 = "No wonder they looked familiar (and now I understand why)."

Exercise 5 β€” Free Speaking Practice

A. React to surprising news using μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”? and follow up with a question.
B. Agree strongly with something using κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš” + your own experience.
C. Gently push back on an extreme idea using 에이 + a softer suggestion.
D. Express a vague feeling about today or the week using 왠지.
E. Realize why something happened using 어쩐지.
F. Transition to a new topic mid-conversation using 근데 μžˆμž–μ•„μš”.
G. Pause and search for the right word using 음... λ­λž„κΉŒ...
H. Soften a casual response using 뭐, κ·Έλƒ₯...
I. Show active listening during a 3-sentence "story" using at least three different response sounds.
J. Have a full mini-conversation (5 turns) where you naturally use at least 5 different fillers.
πŸ“š
Sentence Starters
Prompt
Starter
A
μ•„, μ§„μ§œμš”? 그럼 ~
B
κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”! 저도 ~
C
에이, ~ μ•„λ‹Œ 것 κ°™μ•„μš”
D
왠지 였늘 ~ 것 κ°™μ•„μš”
E
어쩐지 ~ 더라. 이제 μ•Œκ² μ–΄μš”
F
근데 μžˆμž–μ•„μš”, ~
G
음... λ­λž„κΉŒ... 그게 ~
H
뭐, κ·Έλƒ₯ ~
I
μ•„ κ·Έλž˜μš”? / λ§žμ•„μš” / κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”
J
[free conversation]
πŸ†
Speaking Challenge
Retell a short story (something from your week) entirely in Korean, using at least one of each: 음..., 근데, κ·Έλ‹ˆκΉŒμš”, 왠지, 뭐. The goal isn't perfect grammar β€” it's natural conversational flow. Fillers are the music between the words.
μžμ—°μŠ€λŸ¬μš΄ λŒ€ν™”λŠ” 단어 사이사이에 μžˆμ–΄μš”. ✨
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