What it means
말이다 (or 말이에요) is used to clarify, restate, or emphasize what was just said — similar to "I mean," "that is to say," or "what I'm saying is."
Nuance & when to use
무슨 말이에요? = What do you mean? 제 말이 맞아요 = What I say is right. ~말이에요 = is what I mean. ~말이 아니에요 = that's not what I mean. Very common in conversations when clarifying misunderstandings. 아니, 그 말이 아니라 = No, that's not what I mean.
⚠ Common mistake
말이에요 can sound confrontational if tone is wrong. 제 말은... = What I mean is... (softer lead-in).
Example sentences
See also
FAQ
When is this used?
무슨 말이에요? = What do you mean? 제 말이 맞아요 = What I say is right. ~말이에요 = is what I mean. ~말이 아니에요 = that's not what I mean. Very common in conversations when clarifying misunderstandings. 아니, 그 말이 아니라 = No, that's not what I mean.
What's a common mistake?
말이에요 can sound confrontational if tone is wrong. 제 말은... = What I mean is... (softer lead-in).
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