Korean · Real conversations
How to respond to “그 말을 들으니 마음이 아파요.” in Korean
Sympathy can be answered with thanks, a short acknowledgment of difficulty, or a clear preference for privacy.
What you might hear
그 말을 들으니 마음이 아파요.geu mareul deureuni maeumi apayo.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Choose a reply that fits
그렇게 말해 줘서 고마워요.geureoke malhae jwoseo gomawoyo.
Thank you for saying that.
Acknowledge the supportive words.
마음 써 줘서 고마워요.maeum sseo jwoseo gomawoyo.
I appreciate your kindness.
Recognize the person's kindness.
힘든 시간이었어요.himdeun siganieosseoyo.
It's been difficult.
Share a little about how things have felt.
지금은 그 얘기를 하지 않았으면 좋겠어요.jigeumeun geu yaegireul haji anasseumyeon jokesseoyo.
I'd prefer not to talk about it right now.
Set a conversational boundary when you need it.
Two short exchanges
Receiving sympathy
그 말을 들으니 마음이 아파요.geu mareul deureuni maeumi apayo.
I'm sorry to hear that.
그렇게 말해 줘서 고마워요.geureoke malhae jwoseo gomawoyo.
Thank you for saying that.
A supportive personal message
많이 힘드시겠어요. 정말 안타까워요.mani himdeusigesseoyo. jeongmal antakkawoyo.
I'm so sorry for what you're going through.
마음 써 줘서 고마워요.maeum sseo jwoseo gomawoyo.
I appreciate your kindness.
Your turn
Acknowledge that the situation has been difficult without adding details.
Reveal a sample reply
힘든 시간이었어요.himdeun siganieosseoyo.
It's been difficult.
This response guide in other languages
A note on speaking Korean
Most examples use polite 해요-style endings. A more formal ending may appear when addressing staff or making a careful request. Do not switch to casual speech with a stranger simply because the English translation sounds friendly.
Hangul is the main text; romanization helps you read along. Korean often leaves a clear subject unstated. Particles and endings carry information that English may express with separate words.
