잠깐만요 — The Most Useful Korean Phrase You'll Ever Learn
잠깐만요 means 'just a moment.' It's short, polite, and you'll use it every single day — in shops, in conversations, on the phone, and everywhere in between.
You're in a shop and the staff asks you something you didn't fully catch.
잠깐만요.
Someone is explaining something quickly and you need a second to process.
잠깐만요.
Your phone rings while you're in the middle of something.
잠깐만요.
This is the phrase that buys you time. Polite, universal, and impossible to overuse.
The word
The variations
In everyday situations
잠깐만요 in action
Various daily situations
When to use which version
Cultural note
잠깐만요 is the phrase that keeps you in the conversation even when you're not ready. Instead of freezing or going silent, you say this — and everyone understands. You need a moment.
It also signals respect. By saying 잠깐만요 rather than just making someone wait without acknowledgment, you're telling them: I know you're there. I'll be with you in just a second.
If you learn only one phrase before visiting or living in Korea, this is a strong candidate. It works in restaurants, in shops, on the phone, in class, on the street. You will use it every day.
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