Easy Korean Level 10 - Unit 8: Advanced Situational Expressions (Defending oneself)

In this lesson, we will look at how to naturally defend yourself or clear up a misunderstanding in Korean. When someone accuses you or assumes something incorrectly, how do you say "That's not what I meant"?

1. "That's not what I meant."

When your words are taken out of context or misunderstood. - 제 말은 그게 아니라... (What I meant wasn't that, but...) - 그런 뜻으로 한 말이 아니에요. (I didn't say it with that intention.) - 오해하지 마세요. (Please don't misunderstand.)

2. "I had no choice." / "It wasn't on purpose."

When you did something, but it wasn't malicious or you were forced into it. - 어쩔 수 없었어요. (I had no choice. / It couldn't be helped.) - 일부러 그런 게 아니에요. (I didn't do it on purpose.) - 고의가 아니었습니다. (It wasn't intentional. - Formal)

3. "Let me explain."

When you need a chance to tell your side of the story. - 제 말 좀 끝까지 들어보세요. (Please listen to my words until the end.) - 변명 같겠지만... (It might sound like an excuse, but...) - 상황이 어떻게 된 거냐면요... (To explain how the situation turned out...)

Example Dialogue

A: 어제 왜 회의에 안 왔어요? 저를 무시하는 건가요? (Why didn't you come to the meeting yesterday? Are you ignoring me?) B: 오해하지 마세요. 그런 뜻이 아니에요. 상황이 어떻게 된 거냐면요... 갑자기 응급실에 가게 돼서 어쩔 수 없었어요. (Please don't misunderstand. It doesn't mean that. To explain the situation... I suddenly had to go to the emergency room, so I had no choice.) A: 아, 그런 줄 몰랐네요. (Oh, I didn't know that.)