이해가 안 돼요 — Learn Korean Phrase

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이해가 안 돼요 / 이해가 안 돼 💬

[i-hae-ga an-dwae-yo] / [i-hae-ga an-dwae]

Learn Korean Phrase — “I don’t understand” (Polite & Casual)

🗣️ Polite — 이해가 안 돼요

이해가 안 돼요 [i-hae-ga an-dwae-yo]

👩 A: 제 말 이해되세요?
Do you understand what I’m saying? 👨 B: 이해가 안 돼요. (I don’t understand.)

Word & Grammar Breakdown:

이해 (i-hae) — “understanding”
가 (ga) — subject marker
안 돼요 (an-dwae-yo) — “does not work / cannot / not okay” (polite form)

✅ Combined: 이해가 안 돼요 = “I don’t understand.” (polite)

🎭 Casual — 이해가 안 돼

이해가 안 돼 [i-hae-ga an-dwae]

👦 A: 무슨 말이야?
What do you mean? 👧 B: 이해가 안 돼. (I don’t get it.)

Word & Grammar Breakdown:

이해 (i-hae) — “understanding”
안 돼 (an-dwae) — “not working / not okay” (casual form)

✅ Combined: 이해가 안 돼 = “I don’t understand.” (casual/friendly)

🇰🇷 Cultural Note:
In Korea, people often say “이해가 안 돼요” softly when they don’t understand something, especially in polite or classroom settings. It can also express confusion or surprise, like “I can’t believe it” depending on tone. For example, if someone hears unexpected news, they might say, “진짜 이해가 안 돼요(!jin jja i hae ga an dwae yo)” meaning “I really can’t understand!” Using polite speech keeps the tone gentle and respectful.

Link — Free Korean Basic Verb Matching Game 1