“I’ve heard a lot about you” in Korean: 말씀 많이 들었습니다

말씀 많이 들었습니다

malsseum mani deureotseumnida

Situation: Introductions & meeting peopleLevel: Advanced (TOPIK 5–6)

Meaning

I’ve heard a lot about you.

A greeting for someone you have just been introduced to, showing you have heard good things about them. 말씀 is the honorific word for “talk.”

Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.

Syllables: 9 · Words: 3

Said aloud, it sounds like [말씀 마니 드럳씀니다].

Syllable	Letters (consonant + vowel + final)	Romanization
말씀
말	ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄹ	mal
씀	ㅆ+ㅡ+ㅁ	sseum
많이
많	ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄶ	[마] ma
이	ㅇ+ㅣ	[니] ni
들었습니다
들	ㄷ+ㅡ+ㄹ	[드] deu
었	ㅇ+ㅓ+ㅆ	[럳] reot
습	ㅅ+ㅡ+ㅂ	[씀] seum
니	ㄴ+ㅣ	ni
다	ㄷ+ㅏ	da

A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.

Silent ㅎ: a final ㅎ (including the ㅎ inside ㄶ and ㅀ) is not pronounced before a vowel. 많이 → [마니]
Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 들었습 → [드럳씀]
Tensing: after a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ sound, ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅈ become tense (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ). 었습니 → [얻씀니]
Nasalization: a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ becomes ㅇ, ㄴ or ㅁ before ㄴ or ㅁ (and a ㄹ after ㅁ or ㅇ becomes ㄴ). 습니 → [슴니]

Style: Formal polite (합쇼체)Sentence type: Statement or set phrase

Ends in -ㅂ니다 or -습니다. The most formal polite style, used for announcements, presentations, business and first meetings.

신세 많이 졌습니다Thank you for everything you’ve done for me
마음이 많이 힘들었겠어요That must have been very hard on you
객실이 예약 때 본 사진과 많이 달라서 변경이 가능한지 여쭤보고 싶은데요The room is quite different from the photos I saw when booking, so I’d like to ask whether it’s possible to change rooms
새해 복 많이 받으세요Happy New Year

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Question 1 What does “말씀 많이 들었습니다” mean?

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Answer: I’ve heard a lot about you

Question 2 How do you say “I’ve heard a lot about you” in Korean?

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Answer: 말씀 많이 들었습니다 malsseum mani deureotseumnida

Question 3 How is “말씀 많이 들었습니다” pronounced?

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Answer: [말씀 마니 드럳씀니다]

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