Intermediate 1 · Lesson 28

Set a boundary around personal questions

Lesson information & display

Planning guide: about 30 min · Progress by understanding and practice, not by the clock.

Completion records the activities you finished. It is not a pronunciation score or a Korean proficiency certificate.

Unit contents

Relationships and cultural differences

25Explain different expectations 26Apologize while separating intention and impact 27Decline a request politely 28Set a boundary around personal questions 29Check whether a misunderstanding is resolved 30Work through differences in conversation

Your goal Before you start Explore the situation Learn the expressions

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Learn the expressions

그 이야기는 하지 않고 싶어요 expresses that you prefer not to discuss that topic. 지금은 말하기 어려워요 emphasizes the present. “Now” does not promise a future answer.

Situation or form	Korean expression
화제를 거절	그 이야기는 하지 않고 싶어요.
세부 정보만 거절	자세한 내용은 말하기 어려워요.
일반적인 범위만 답하기	서울에 살아요. 자세한 주소는 말하지 않고 싶어요.
다른 화제로 전환	대신 주말 계획을 이야기할까요?

하고 싶지 않아요 can also express not wanting to do something. Our target is 하지 않고 싶어요, while natural alternatives are allowed. A brief boundary need not be followed by a long explanation.