How to Say “I Don’t Know” in Korean — 몰라요 vs 잘 모르겠습니다

🤷 How to Say “I Don’t Know” in Korean — 몰라요 vs 잘 모르겠습니다

In Korean, there are different ways to say “I don’t know”, depending on how polite you want to be.
Let’s look at two of the most common expressions and when to use them.

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✅ 1. 몰라요 (mollayo)

This is the polite casual way to say “I don’t know.”
It’s used in everyday situations with people of similar age, acquaintances, or strangers when you want to sound polite but not overly formal.

Example:
그거 어디서 샀는지 몰라요. (I don’t know where they bought it.)

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✅ 2. 잘 모르겠습니다 (jal moreugesseumnida)

This is the formal and respectful way to say “I’m not sure” or “I don’t know.”
Often used in business, customer service, interviews, or with elders.

Example:
죄송하지만, 그 부분은 잘 모르겠습니다. (I’m sorry, but I’m not sure about that.)

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🧠 Difference in Politeness Level

• 몰라요 → polite casual, common in everyday conversation
• 잘 모르겠습니다 → very polite, professional settings

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📌 Informal Versions

• 몰라 — casual, close friends or younger people
• 모름 — slang/short form, mostly in text messages

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🎯 Practice Quiz

Which phrase would you use?

1. You don’t know the answer to a friend’s question → __________
2. You’re asked a technical question in a job interview → __________
3. You forgot the location of a restaurant → __________

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🌏 Cultural Tip

In Korea, directly saying “I don’t know” can sometimes feel blunt.
That’s why adding 죄송하지만 (“I’m sorry, but…”) before the phrase makes it softer and more polite.

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📌 Summary

• 몰라요 – polite casual
• 잘 모르겠습니다 – formal respectful
• Adjust politeness level based on the situation

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Now you can say “I don’t know” naturally in Korean!
Stay tuned for our next post: “How to Say ‘Let’s Go’ in Korean.”