Workplace Korean · repetition & nuance
“다시 해볼까요? 다시, 다시, 다시.”
Polite on the surface, but can feel like pressure depending on tone and repetition.
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Video lesson
Watch how repetition changes the meaning of polite Korean
1
Base meaning
다시 해볼까요?
👉 Natural English:
“Shall we try again?”
The pattern -아/어 보다 + -까요 often sounds like a polite suggestion: “Shall we try (doing it) again?”
2
The power of repetition: "다시, 다시, 다시"
In your scenario, the boss keeps saying:
"다시 해볼까요? 다시, 다시, 다시."
Even though the grammar is polite, the repeated "다시" adds pressure and frustration.
Natural English options depend on tone:
- "Let's try that again. Again. Again. Again."
- "Why don't we redo it? Again… again… again."
- If annoyed: "We're doing this over. Again. And again."
3
Polite grammar, not-so-polite feelingMembers
At work, Koreans often keep the grammar polite even when they are:
- stressed
- disappointed
- annoyed
So, if your boss says "다시 해볼까요?" in a flat or cold tone, it can feel more like:
"You need to redo this." / "Do it again."
This gap between polite grammar and sharp feeling is a big part of Korean workplace nuance.
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4
How to reuse this pattern safelyMembers
Friendly or neutral versions:
다시 한 번 해볼까요?
"Shall we try once more?"
조금만 수정해서 다시 보내볼까요?
"Shall we tweak it a bit and send it again?"
Here, extra words like 한 번 (once), 조금만 (just a little) soften the feeling and make it sound more like teamwork than blame.
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5
Quick recap
- 다시 해볼까요? = polite suggestion: "Shall we try again?"
- Repeating "다시, 다시, 다시" can feel like pressure or criticism, depending on tone.
- Korean workplace speech often hides emotion behind polite grammar—tone and repetition matter a lot.
6
Quick quiz
Why can "다시, 다시, 다시" feel stressful, even if the grammar is polite?
Which version sounds softer and more collaborative in a work email?
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