How to Say ‘Maybe’ in Korean

Yes is  네 (ne)  and no is 아니요 (aniyo), but do you know how to say ‘maybe’ in Korean yet? If your answer to this just so happens to be ‘maybe’, or perhaps even ‘no’, then this is the lesson for YOU!

Today you’ll learn the ways of how to say ‘maybe’ in Korean, and whatever using that word can bring about for you. Just maybe this is the word to jumpstart your Korean language learning journey. Get your notebook and pen ready, and let’s get going!

 

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‘Maybe’ in Korean

 

Although there are several different ways to imply the meaning of ‘maybe’, there are three main words to use to describe it directly and generally. The first word to use is 아마 (ama), the second word to use is 아마도 (amado), and the third word to use is 어쩌면 (eojjeomyeon), all of which are interchangeable with each other.

If you want to use the word ‘maybe’ with the meaning of ‘by any chance’ (as in “can you maybe help me with this?) then using the Korean equivalent of 혹시 (hokshi) is the way to go. In turn, if you’re using the word ‘maybe’ with the connotation of ‘I wouldn’t know’ or leaning towards the negative (as in “Maybe that’s the answer, maybe it isn’t”) then you should say 글쎄요 (geulsseyo).

 

A word of caution about Romanization

While it is possible for you to study the words in this article simply by reading their romanized versions, it will come in handy for you to be able to read Hangeul if you ever wish to come to Korea. Hangeul is the Korean alphabet, and not difficult to learn. In fact, you can learn it in just 90 minutes.

After you’ve familiarized yourself with Hangeul, life in Korea will suddenly seem so much easier and the country won’t appear so foreign for you. So, if you’re serious about learning Korean, why not learn Hangeul today?

 

Sample Sentences

Standard:

아마 내일 다시 비가 올거에요. (Ama naeil dashi biga olgeoeyo.)

Maybe it will rain again tomorrow.

 

아마도 여섯시까지 일을 다 마무리할 수 있을 거예요. (Amado yeoseossikkaji ireul da mamurihal su isseul goyeyo.)

Maybe I can finish all of my work by 6.

 

Informal:

혹시 그 파티에 같이 갈래? (Hokshi geu patie kachi gallae?)

By any chance, wanna go to that party together?

 

어쩌면 그가 한 말이 모두 사실일지도 몰라. (Eojjeomyeon geuga han mari modu sasiriljido molla.)

Maybe everything he said was true.

 

글쎄, 그 약속이 아직 확실한지 모르겠네. (Geulsse, geu yaksoki ajik hwakshilhanji moreugettne.)

I wouldn’t know, that appointment hasn’t been finalized yet.

 

Maybe, just maybe, you now know how to say ‘maybe’ in Korean? We’d love for you to show us your mad skills! What word would you like to learn next? Let us know in the comments below and maybe your choice will be our next article!

 

*Want more Korean phrases? Go to our Korean Phrases Page for a complete list!

Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto

The post How to Say ‘Maybe’ in Korean appeared first on 90 Day Korean.

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