Easy Korean Level 10 - Unit 27: Advanced Situational Expressions (Changing the subject)

In this lesson, we will look at how to naturally change the subject during a conversation. When a topic is getting boring, uncomfortable, or you just remembered something else, you can use these buffer phrases.

1. "By the way..." / "Anyway..."

The most standard ways to pivot a conversation. - 그나저나... (Anyway / Be that as it may...) Usage: Very common in spoken Korean to shift from one topic to a completely different one. - 그런데... / 근데... (By the way / But...) - 아무튼... / 어쨌든... (Anyway / Regardless...)

2. "Speaking of which..."

When the current topic reminds you of something else. - 말이 나와서 말인데... (Since the words came out -> Speaking of which...) Example: 말이 나와서 말인데, 우리 점심 언제 먹어? (Speaking of which, when are we eating lunch?) - 그러고 보니까... (Now that I look at it / Come to think of it...)

3. "Let's stop talking about this."

When a topic is too heavy, depressing, or repetitive. - 이 얘기는 그만합시다. (Let's stop talking about this.) - 분위기도 꿀꿀한데 다른 얘기 할까요? (The atmosphere is a bit gloomy, shall we talk about something else?) - 주제를 좀 바꿔 볼까요? (Shall we change the subject a bit?)

4. Remembering something suddenly

• 아, 맞다! (Ah, right!)
• 참! (Oh, by the way!) Example: 참! 너 어제 보낸 이메일 봤어? (Oh! Did you see the email I sent yesterday?)

Example Dialogue

A: 요즘 회사 일이 너무 많아서 매일 야근이에요. 정말 피곤해요. (I have so much work at the company lately, I work overtime every day. I'm really tired.) B: 저도요. 스트레스 받아서 미치겠어요. (Me too. I'm going crazy from stress.) A: 우울한 얘기는 그만할까요? 그나저나, 이번 주말에 뭐 해요? (Shall we stop talking about depressing things? Anyway, what are you doing this weekend?) B: 주말에요? 집에 있을 거예요. 참! 말이 나와서 말인데, 주말에 같이 영화 볼래요? (This weekend? I'll be at home. Oh! Speaking of which, do you want to watch a movie together this weekend?)