A Travel Must-Say — How to Slow Down a Conversation with "천천히 말해 주세요"
When is the most flustering moment while traveling in Korea? It’s exactly when the other person talks so fast that you can’t catch a single word. When a market vendor rattles off prices, or a subway station worker gives you directions at lightning speed, your mind goes blank. In moments like these, memorizing just one sentence lets you bring the conversation back to your own pace. That’s today’s expression.
천천히 말해 주세요
천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo) is a polite way to ask someone to “speak a little more slowly.” In English, it comes out to roughly “Please speak slowly.”
Breaking the sentence apart makes it easy to understand. 천천히 (cheoncheonhi) is an adverb meaning “slowly,” and 말하다 (malhada) is the verb “to speak.” When you add -아/어 주세요 (-a/eo juseyo) to it, you get the polite request “please do ~.” So when you put the three pieces together, “slowly + speak + please do” = 천천히 말해 주세요.
The nuance matters. This expression is not a command but a request. Because it contains ‘-주세요’, it carries a respectful feeling, so you can use it even with someone you’ve just met without sounding rude. In fact, when a foreigner says this sentence clearly, most Korean people will smile and gladly slow down.
Example Sentences by Situation
① When you’re listening to a menu explanation at a restaurant The server introduces today’s special quickly. At this point, raise your hand slightly and try saying this.
죄송한데 천천히 말해 주세요. 제가 한국어를 배우고 있어요. (joesonghande cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo. jega hangugeoreul baeugo isseoyo.) Sorry, but could you speak slowly? I’m learning Korean.
Adding “죄송한데 (joesonghande)” at the front works as a cushioning phrase meaning “sorry, but,” which makes it much softer.
② When you ask for directions but the answer is too fast A passerby explains the way, but there’s no way you can keep up.
한 번만 더 천천히 말해 주세요. (han beonman deo cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo.) Could you say it slowly just one more time?
“한 번만 더 (han beonman deo)” means “one more time,” and it pairs nicely when you want to ask someone to repeat.
③ When you’re confirming a reservation over the phone You call your accommodation, but the other person is speaking fast.
잘 안 들려요. 조금만 천천히 말해 주세요. (jal an deullyeoyo. jogeumman cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo.) I can’t hear you well. Could you speak just a little more slowly?
Adding “조금만 (jogeumman)” turns it into the gentle request “just a little.”
Comparing Formal, Casual, and Similar Expressions
Even with the same meaning, you have to change your tone depending on who you’re talking to.
- Formal (polite): 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo) — the safe, basic form for everyone you meet while traveling.
- More polite: 천천히 말씀해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malsseumhae juseyo) — a form that raises the level of formality one notch by using the honorific ‘말씀하다’ instead of ‘말하다’.
- Casual (between close friends): 천천히 말해 줘 (cheoncheonhi malhae jwo) — only for friends or peers. If you use it with someone you’re meeting for the first time, it sounds rude.
A similar expression is 다시 말해 주세요 (dasi malhae juseyo, “please say it again”). This one asks for “repetition” rather than “speed,” so pick the right one for the situation. If speed is the problem, use ‘천천히’; if you missed it and want to hear it again, use ‘다시’.
Cultural Background
When you watch Korean dramas, there are many scenes where the characters chatter back and forth at a dizzying pace. Real everyday conversation is also much faster than the clear, careful pronunciation in learning textbooks. That’s why, for Korean learners, ‘천천히 말해 주세요’ is close to a survival sentence.
One more tip: when you say this sentence, it’s best to pronounce it slowly and clearly yourself. If you mumble it in a rush, the other person actually won’t understand you. If you ask relaxed and with a smile, most Korean people will gladly slow down and help you even more kindly. Be sure to remember that a single polite request can change the mood of your entire trip.
Closing Quiz
The other person is talking too fast, and you want to politely ask them to slow down. Which adverb fits the blank?
______ 말해 주세요. (a) 빨리 (ppalli) (b) 천천히 (cheoncheonhi) (c) 다시 (dasi)
The answer is (b) 천천히 (cheoncheonhi). Watch out — (a) ‘빨리’ actually means “quickly,” and (c) ‘다시’ means “again/repeatedly”!