What does 솔직히 말하면 mean?

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  솔직히 말하면, 그 의견에 동의하지 않아요.

  sol-jik-hi mal-ha-myeon, geu ui-gyeon-e dong-ui-ha-ji an-a-yo., sol jik hi mal ha myeon, geu ui gyeon e dong ui ha ji an a yo.

  ‘솔직히 말하면’ is naturally placed at the start to express honest opinion.

• ⭕

  나는 솔직히 말하면 그 계획이 별로야.

  na-neun sol-jik-hi mal-ha-myeon geu gye-hoek-i byeol-ro-ya., na neun sol jik hi mal ha myeon geu gye hoek i byeol ro ya.

  ‘솔직히 말하면’ comes before the subject to show honest feeling.

• ⭕

  그 사람 솔직히 말하면, 정말 친절해.

  geu sa-ram sol-jik-hi mal-ha-myeon, jeong-mal chin-jeol-hae., geu sa ram sol jik hi mal ha myeon, jeong mal chin jeol hae.

  Properly placed in the middle to convey honest evaluation.

• ⭕

  솔직히 말하면, 너는 틀렸어.

  sol-jik-hi mal-ha-myeon, neo-neun teul-ryeoss-eo., sol jik hi mal ha myeon, neo neun teul ryeoss eo.

  Suitable for gently delivering honest criticism.

• ❌

  말하면 솔직히, 그거 별로야.

  mal-ha-myeon sol-jik-hi, geu-geo byeol-ro-ya., mal ha myeon sol jik hi, geu geo byeol ro ya.

  ‘말하면 솔직히’ word order is unnatural and awkward.

• ❌

  솔직히 말하면은 그게 사실이야.

  sol-jik-hi mal-ha-myeon-eun geu-ge sa-sil-i-ya., sol jik hi mal ha myeon eun geu ge sa sil i ya.

  ‘솔직히 말하면은’ uses redundant particles, which is incorrect.

1. Where is ‘솔직히 말하면’ usually placed in a sentence?

   ‘솔직히 말하면’은 문장에서 주로 어디에 위치하나요?(‘sol-jik-himal-ha-myeon’eunmun-jang-e-seoju-roeo-di-ewi-chi-ha-na-yo?, ‘soljikhimalhamyeon’eunmunjangeseojuroeodiewichihanayo?)
   • 문장 맨 앞(mun-jangmaenap, munjangmaenap)
   • 문장 중간(mun-jangjung-gan, munjangjunggan)
   • 문장 맨 뒤(mun-jangmaendwi, munjangmaendwi)
   • 문장 어디에나(mun-jangeo-di-e-na, munjangeodiena)

2. What does ‘솔직히 말하면’ mean?

   ‘솔직히 말하면’의 의미는 무엇인가요?(‘sol-jik-himal-ha-myeon’uiui-mi-neunmu-eos-in-ga-yo?, ‘soljikhimalhamyeon’uiuimineunmueosingayo?)
   • 거짓말을 할 때(geo-jis-mal-eulhalttae, geojismaleulhalttae)
   • 솔직하게 말할 때(sol-jik-ha-gemal-halttae, soljikhagemalhalttae)
   • 질문할 때(jil-mun-halttae, jilmunhalttae)
   • 명령할 때(myeong-ryeong-halttae, myeongryeonghalttae)

3. How to replace ‘솔직히 말하면’ in formal situations?

   ‘솔직히 말하면’을 격식 있는 상황에서 바꾸려면?(‘sol-jik-himal-ha-myeon’eulgyeok-sikiss-neunsang-hwang-e-seoba-kku-ryeo-myeon?, ‘soljikhimalhamyeon’eulgyeoksikissneunsanghwangeseobakkuryeomyeon?)
   • 솔직히 말씀드리면(sol-jik-himal-sseum-deu-ri-myeon, soljikhimalsseumdeurimyeon)
   • 솔직히 말해(sol-jik-himal-hae, soljikhimalhae)
   • 솔직히 말해요(sol-jik-himal-hae-yo, soljikhimalhaeyo)
   • 솔직히 말할게(sol-jik-himal-hal-ge, soljikhimalhalge)