Learning to express agreement or disagreement is essential when engaging in conversations in any language. In Korean, there are various phrases and words that can help you effectively communicate whether you agree or disagree with someone. Understanding these phrases will not only improve your communication skills but will also enrich your cultural understanding of how Koreans express their opinions. Here are some useful Korean phrases for agreement and disagreement:
동의하다 (dong-ui-hada) – to agree
저는 그 의견에 동의합니다.
This verb is used when you want to say that you agree with someone’s opinion or suggestion.
맞다 (mat-da) – to be correct/right
네, 맞아요. 그게 정답입니다.
This verb is often used to confirm that something is correct or right, essentially agreeing with a fact or correct answer.
그렇다 (geu-reoh-da) – to be so/like that
그렇습니다, 저도 같은 생각이에요.
This is another versatile word used to agree with someone, often translated as “That’s right” or “It is so.”
동감하다 (dong-gam-hada) – to empathize/agree
네, 저도 그렇게 생각해요. 동감합니다.
Use this verb when you not only agree but also empathize with the opinion or feeling being expressed.
찬성하다 (chan-seong-hada) – to approve/support
저는 그 제안에 찬성합니다.
This is the verb you use when you want to show your support or approval for a proposal or idea.
반대하다 (ban-dae-hada) – to oppose
저는 그 아이디어에 반대합니다.
This verb is used when you want to express opposition to an idea or suggestion.
아니다 (a-ni-da) – to not be
아니요, 그건 사실이 아닙니다.
This is a straightforward way to disagree, indicating that something is not true or incorrect.
틀리다 (teul-li-da) – to be wrong
아니요, 그건 틀렸어요.
Use this verb when you want to point out that something is wrong or incorrect.
동의하지 않다 (dong-ui-ha-ji anh-da) – to not agree
저는 그 의견에 동의하지 않습니다.
This phrase is used when you want to explicitly state that you do not agree with an opinion or statement.
반대 의견을 가지다 (ban-dae ui-gyeon-eul ga-ji-da) – to have an opposing opinion
저는 반대 의견을 가지고 있습니다.
This phrase is useful when you want to state that you hold an opinion that is opposite to what has been expressed.
저는 생각이 다릅니다 (jeo-neun saeng-gak-i da-reum-ni-da) – I have a different opinion
그 부분에 대해서는 저는 생각이 다릅니다.
This is a polite way to express that your thoughts or opinions differ from someone else’s.
안 그래요 (an geu-rae-yo) – Isn’t that so/Isn’t it
그것은 사실이 아니지 않나요? 안 그래요?
This phrase can be used to subtly disagree or prompt someone to reconsider their statement or belief.
Understanding these phrases and how they are used in context will greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Korean, especially in discussions where expressing agreement or disagreement is necessary. Practice using these phrases in different contexts to become more proficient and comfortable in your Korean language conversations.
