안녕하세요, 여러분! Welcome back to TOPIK & Beyond. In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of the easiest ways to make your Korean sound more natural: using fillers! I’ll be introducing you to essential fillers like 음…, 그러니까, and 글쎄요, and showing you how they add a smooth, relaxed tone to your conversations. If you’re ready to start sounding more fluent and confident, let’s get started!
[INTRO MUSIC]
안녕하세요, 여러분! Hello and welcome back to TOPIK & Beyond. I’m so glad you’re here with me today!
Today, we’re diving into a topic that might seem small but can have a huge impact on how natural and confident you sound in Korean: fillers. Now, when we think about learning a language, we often focus on big things like grammar rules or vocabulary. But sometimes, it’s the little things, like fillers, that make the biggest difference in how natural our conversations feel.
In Korean, there are some key fillers like 음… (which is like saying ‘um…’ in English), 그러니까 (meaning ‘so…’ or ‘therefore’), and 글쎄요 (which is like saying ‘well…’ when you’re not sure). Using these fillers helps make conversations flow smoothly and gives you time to think while still keeping your listener engaged.
So why are fillers important? Well, when native speakers use fillers, it makes their conversations sound relaxed and friendly. If you’ve ever felt that your Korean sounds a bit too formal or stiff, adding fillers can be a great way to fix that! Fillers help bridge pauses, connect ideas, and make your speech sound less like something from a textbook and more like real-life conversation.
And here’s something important to keep in mind—if you’re preparing for the TOPIK speaking test or even doing interviews in Korean, using fillers is much better than going completely silent. A quick 음… or 글쎄요 shows that you’re processing the question and thinking about your response, instead of just freezing up. Fillers help you keep the flow, which is key in these situations.
So today, we’ll go over these essential fillers, talk about where they fit naturally, and give you examples so you can start practicing right away.
Let’s dive into our first filler: 음 (um…)
음 is one of the simplest and most common fillers in Korean. Just like saying "um" or "uh" in English, 음 gives you a little time to think and helps fill the silence in a natural way. It’s perfect when you’re searching for the right word or need a moment to organize your thoughts. Adding 음 to your speech makes it sound more relaxed and helps keep the conversation flowing, even if you’re not sure what to say next. This also works in texting, by the way!
Let’s look at a couple of examples to see how 음 fits naturally into conversation.
* 음… 이거 좀 어려운 질문이네요. — “Um… this is a bit of a tough question.”
* 음… 내일 시간이 있을지 모르겠어요. — “Um… I’m not sure if I’ll have time tomorrow.”
To give you a tip for using 음: try saying it whenever you’re pausing or feeling a little uncertain. It may feel funny at first, but it can actually help your speech sound smoother and more natural, like you’re genuinely thinking about what to say. 음 is an easy way to bring a more native feel into your Korean conversations!
Now, let’s move on to our second filler: 그러니까 (so…)
그러니까 is another really useful filler in Korean. It’s similar to "so" or "therefore" in English and is often used to summarize what you just said or to emphasize a key point. It’s also a great way to transition between ideas, helping your conversation flow more smoothly and showing that you’re building on what you just mentioned. If you want to make your speech sound more connected and natural, 그러니까 is a great filler to use.
Let’s go through a couple of examples:
* 그러니까, 제 말은 우리 내일 다시 만나야 해요. — “So, what I’m saying is, we should meet again tomorrow.”
* 그러니까, 이거 진짜 중요한 거예요. — “So, this is really important.”
그러니까, whenever you’re transitioning to a new idea or emphasizing a pointㅡuse 그러니까. It will give your Korean a more fluent, natural feel and help you sound more engaged in the conversation. If you’re used to saying 그렇기 때문에, 그러하기 때문에, or 그리하기 때문에 from textbooks, 그러니까 is a perfect, conversational replacement! This simple switch makes your Korean sound more natural and less formal.
Finally, let’s talk about our third filler for today: 글쎄요 (well…)
글쎄요 is another common filler in Korean that’s perfect when you’re unsure or hesitant. It’s similar to saying "well…" or "hmm…" in English, giving you a moment to think or signaling that you’re considering your response. This filler is especially useful when you’re asked a question and need a moment to think about your answer, or when you’re not entirely sure what to say. 글쎄요 adds a thoughtful and polite touch to your speech.
Here are a couple of examples of 글쎄요 in action:
* 글쎄요, 저도 잘 모르겠어요. — “Well, I’m not sure either.”
* 글쎄요… 조금 더 생각해볼게요. — “Well… I’ll think about it a bit more.”
* 글쎄요… 생각할 시간 좀 주세요.— “Well… please give me a moment to think.”
If you’re ever unsure or just need a moment to think, try using 글쎄요. It’s a gentle way to give yourself time, and it shows that you’re considering your response. It can make your conversations feel thoughtful and polite, which is always a plus in Korean culture.
So, those are our three key fillers for today—음, 그러니까, and 글쎄요. Each of these fillers has its own unique purpose, and using them can make a big difference in how natural and relaxed you sound in Korean. Fillers may seem small, but they’re a huge part of fluent, everyday Korean!
Give these fillers a try the next time you’re speaking Korean, and don’t be afraid to experiment with them. They’ll help you feel more confident in your conversations and make your speech sound smoother, even if you’re pausing or unsure. Let’s keep practicing and adding these little touches that make a big impact!
Now that we know the basics of each filler, let’s talk about where these fillers fit naturally in conversation.
Using fillers like 음, 그러니까, and 글쎄요 can make pauses in your speech feel natural, help you gather your thoughts, and keep your listener engaged. Without fillers, pauses can sometimes feel a bit awkward, but adding just a little 글쎄요 helps smooth things out and signals that you’re actively thinking.
So to recap,
1. If you’re gathering thoughts, searching for the right words or just need a moment to think, adding 음… at the beginning of your sentence can keep the conversation flowing.
2. If you’re hesitating or uncertain or need a thoughtful pause, 글쎄요 adds a polite, hesitant tone.
3. If you’re transitioning from one idea to another, 그러니까 is perfect. It helps clarify and connect thoughts, making your message clearer and your tone more engaging.
So, let’s look at a short dialogue to see how these fillers work together in a natural conversation.
A: 내일 시간 있나요? — “Do you have time tomorrow?”
B: 음… 아직 모르겠어요.— “Um… I’m not sure yet.”
A: 내일 시간 있나요? — “Do you have time tomorrow?”
B: 글쎄요, 내일 일정 확인해봐야 해요.— “Well, I need to check my schedule.”
A: 내일 시간 있나요? — “Do you have time tomorrow?”
B: 다른 약속이 있을 수도 있어요. 그러니까, 오늘 중으로 연락 드릴게요.— “I might have another appointment. So, I’ll let you know by today.”
In these conversations,
* 음 lets Speaker B pause to think without rushing into the answer.
* 글쎄요 shows that Speaker B is uncertain, softening the response and sounding thoughtful.
* 그러니까 introduces the conclusion and ties the response together, giving a clear next step.
Filler 연습에 도움이 되는 팁을 알려드릴게요. Here’s a tip to help you practice with fillers: Try adding 음, 글쎄요, or 그러니까 whenever you feel a pause in your speaking, or when you’re unsure about what to say next. Even if it feels a bit unnatural, with practice, you’ll start to sound more fluent, and these fillers will become second nature.
Using fillers not only helps you sound more like a native but also gives you a confidence boost as you practice more fluid, conversational Korean. Try it out the next time you speak, and see how fillers can really transform the flow of your conversation!
Alright, so now you’ve got a few essential fillers to help you sound more natural and relaxed in Korean. But fillers are just the beginning! Using 음, 그러니까, and 글쎄요 is one of the many ways to make your Korean sound more fluent and confident. And I’m excited to let you know that there’s something special coming up to help you take this even further.
I’m launching a mini speaking challenge for Black Friday—a chance to practice expressing yourself naturally and comfortably in Korean. This challenge is designed to help you sound more like a native speaker by focusing on real-life conversational skills, including fillers and other essential phrases that let your personality shine through in Korean.
If you’ve ever wanted to sound more confident or have been looking for a way to take your Korean to the next level, this challenge is for you. You’ll get to practice everything from fillers to expressing your thoughts and emotions in an authentic way. And here’s an extra bonus: if you join my private Facebook group, you’ll not only be the first to know when sign-ups open, but you’ll also get an exclusive extension! While the main challenge lasts 5 days, group members can enjoy an extended 10-day version—giving you two full weeks of practice and growth.
So, stay tuned for more details, and make sure to join the Facebook group to take advantage of this exclusive bonus. Let’s get ready to take your Korean to new heights with our mini challenge!
Next week, we’re going all-in with a full Korean episode, so make sure to tune in if you’re ready to challenge yourself and immerse yourself in natural Korean.
Thank you so much for tuning in today! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with your friends. It really helps me keep going and continue providing more content for you in the future. Until then, happy studying, and I’ll see you again next week. 감사합니다!
