Easy Korean Level 10 - Unit 18: Advanced Situational Expressions (Showing Interest)

In Korean culture, active listening (리액션 - reactions) is extremely important in conversations. If you just nod silently, the speaker might think you are bored.

In this lesson, we will learn how to show interest and encourage the other person to keep talking!

1. The Power of "그래서요?"

When someone is telling a story and pauses, you should prompt them to continue. - 그래서요? (And then? / So what happened?) - 그래서 어떻게 됐어요? (So how did it turn out?)

2. Empathizing Reactions (Listening sounds)

Koreans use a lot of short interjections to show they are following along. - 아~ / 오~ / 우와~ (Ah~ / Oh~ / Wow~) - 어머, 웬일이야. (Oh my, what in the world / what a surprise. - Used when hearing gossip or shocking news.) - 맞아요, 맞아요. (Right, right.) - 그렇구나~ / 그러게요. (I see~ / Tell me about it.)

3. Asking for details: "Tell me more!"

When you want the juicy details! - 자세히 좀 얘기해 봐요. (Tell me about it in detail.) - 무슨 일 있었어요? (Did something happen?) - 대체 왜 그런 거예요? (Why on earth did they do that?)

4. Showing Fascination

• 너무 흥미롭네요. (That is so interesting/fascinating.)
• 귀가 솔깃해지는 이야기네요. (It's a story that makes my ears perk up. -> It's very tempting/interesting.)

Example Dialogue

A: 저 어제 길에서 우연히 전 남자친구를 만났어요. (I ran into my ex-boyfriend on the street yesterday by chance.) B: 어머, 웬일이야! 그래서 어떻게 됐어요? (Oh my, what a surprise! So what happened?) A: 눈이 마주쳤는데 모른 척하고 지나갔어요. (We made eye contact, but we pretended not to know each other and passed by.) B: 진짜요? 자세히 좀 얘기해 봐요. 표정이 어땠어요? (Really? Tell me in detail. What was his expression like?)