How to say A LOT in Korean

Last week we learned the word 좀 (jom), which means “a little, a bit, some.” This week we venture to the other side of the spectrum: 많이 (mani)! Which means A LOT.

Here are some phrases using 많이 (mani):

1. 새해 복 많이 받으세요!
   Saehae bok mani badeuseyo!
   Happy New Year!
   (formal)
    
2. 저 사람 어디서 많이 봤는데. 어디에서 봤지?
   Juh saram uhdisuh mani bwatneundae. Uhdiaesuh bwatji?
   I saw that person a lot somewhere. Where did I see him/her?
   (informal)
    
3. 돈 많이 벌자!
   Don mani bulja!
   Let’s make a lot of money!
   (informal)
    
4. 다쳤어? 어디? 많이 아파?
   Dachyussuh? Uhdi? Mani apa?
   Did you get hurt? Where? Are you in a lot of pain?
   (informal)
    
5. 그남자 많이 변했어.
   Geunamja mani byunhaessuh.
   That guy changed a lot.
   (informal)

For you Kpop fans, can you spot where Girls' Generation sings 많이 (mani) in their music video?

Here’s a common phrase to know:

많이 먹어.
Mani muguh.
Eat a lot.
(informal)

Ever since I was young, my grandma and other adults would tell me at the dinner table: 많이 먹어. It didn't matter whether I was chubby or skinny. They’d always tell me: 많이 먹어. It’s a sign of a generous host. If the adults prepared the meal for you, they’ll say 많이 먹어. If they're buying you a meal, they'll say 많이 먹어 as well.

많이 먹어 is informal, so it is used towards those your age or younger than you. You can use 많이 먹어 to your friends as well.

If you want to tell an older person to eat a lot as a generous gesture, you’d say 많이 드세요 (mani deuseyo). This is the formal version of 많이 먹어.

Sometimes just to be playful or to be extra polite, older adults might use the formal version to you: 많이 드세요. When I dine at Korean restaurants or street food stalls, the workers sometimes bring my food then say: 많이 드세요. Then you’d reply with:

잘 먹겠습니다.
Jal mukgesseubnida.
I will eat well.
(formal)

This is a way of giving thanks for the meal.

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Here are other common phrases that adults say to young people:

1. 많이 컸네.
   Mani kutneh.
   You grew up a lot.
   (informal)
    
2. 많이 컸다.
   Mani kutdah.
   This also means “You grew up a lot.”
   (informal)
    
3. 살 많이 빠졌네.
   Sal mani bbajyutne.
   You lost a lot of weight.
   (informal)
    
4. 여드름 많이 있네.
   Yuhdeureum mani itne.
   You have a lot of pimples.
   (informal)
    
5. 많이 예뻐졌네.
   Mani yebbuhjyutne.
   You became a lot prettier.
   (informal)

Old-school Kpop time! Can you find where Gummy sings 많이 (mani) in this music video? If it's your first time hearing about Gummy, she is from the same entertainment company as Big Bang and 2NE1!

Here are positive phrases using MANI:

1. 여보, 많이 사랑해요.
   Yuhbo, mani saranghaeyo.
   Honey, I love you a lot.
   (formal)
    
2. 저녁은 내가 살게! 나 요즘에 돈 많이 벌어.
   Juhnyukeun naega salggae! Na yojeumae don mani buluh.
   Dinner’s on me! I make a lot of money these days.
   (informal)
    
3. 나 너 많이 좋아해.
   Nah nuh mani jowahae.
   I like you a lot.
   (informal)
    
4. 몸 많이 좋아졌어.
   Mohm mani jowajyussuh.
   My body got a lot better.
   (informal)

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Sometimes you’ll hear 많이 (mani) paired with 너무 (nuhmoo). 너무 많이 (nuhmoo mani). 너무 (nuhmoo) by itself means “too.” 많이 (mani) as explained already, means "a lot." Together 너무 많이 (nuhmoo mani) means “too much.”

Here are some phrases using 너무 많이 (nuhmoo mani):

1. 휴~ 너무 많이 먹었어.
   Hyu~ Nuhmoo mani mugussuh.
   Whew~ I ate too much.
   (informal)
    
2. 너무 많이 마시지마.
   Nuhmoo mani mashijima.
   Don’t drink too much.
   (informal)
    
3. 너무 많이 생각 하지마. 머리 아파.
   Nuhmoo mani saengak hajima. Muhri apa.
   Don’t think too much. It’ll give you a headache.
   (informal)
    
4. 너무 많이 운동하는거 안좋아. 뭘 하던지 적당히 해.
   Nuhmoo mani oondonghaneunguh ahnjoa. Mwol hadunji jukdanghee hae.
   It’s not good to exercise too much. Whatever you do, do in moderation.
   (informal)
    
5. 우리 셀카 너무 많이 찍어 그치?
   Oori selca nuhmoo mani jjikuh geuchi?
   We take too many selfies, right?
   (informal)

One of my favorite Kpop music videos of all time uses 많이 (mani) in their lyrics. Can you find out where it's first sung? Warning: this music video is known to make men cry. Not all men, but you might be one of them :)

Hope you enjoyed this week's lesson! Be sure to tune into my YouTube channel every Wednesday for more videos.

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How to say A LITTLE in Korean

The Korean word of the week is 좀 (jom), which means “a little, a bit, some.” JOM is the shortened version of 조금 (JOGEUM).

Example phrases using 좀 (jom):

• 좀 있다가 전화할께요.
  Jom itdaga junhwa halggeyo.
  I’ll call you a little later.
  (formal)
   
• 이것 좀 먹어 봐! 진짜 맛있어!
  Egut jom muguh bwa! Jinjja mashissuh!
  Try some of this! It’s really delicious!
  (informal)
   
• 좀 싱겁다. 소금 좀 넣어.
  Jom shingubda. Sogeum jom nuhuh.
  It’s a little bland. Put in a little salt.
  (informal) 
   
• 좀 더 기다려 주세요.
  Jom duh geedaryuh juseyo.
  Please wait a little more.
  (formal)
   
• 좀 서둘러야돼요.
  Jom suhdooluhya dweyo.
  We have to hurry a bit.
  (formal)

Did your friend order something delicious at the restaurant and you want to have a bite? Ask them…

좀 먹어 봐도 돼?
Jom muguh bwado dwe?
Can I eat some?
(informal)

Busy doing something? Simply reply:

좀 있다가.
Jom itdaga.
A little later.
(informal)

Add a 요 (yo) at the previous statement to make it formal:

좀 있다가요.
Jom itdagayo.
A little later.

Here are example conversations that use 좀 (jom):

미나야, 숙제 언제 할거야?
Minaya, sukje unje halguhya?
Mina, when are you going to do homework?
(informal)

좀 있다가요. 좀 쉬구요.
Jom itdagayo. Jom shweeguyo.
A little later. After I rest a bit.
(formal)

우리 밥 언제 먹어?
Oori bap unje muguh?
When are we going to eat?
(informal)

좀 있다가. 여섯시 어때?
Jom itdaga. Yuhsusshi uhddae?
A little later. How does 6 o’clock sound?
(informal)

Here are some super simple phrases that you can use on daily basis:

• 좀 걷자.
  Jom gutja.
  Let’s walk a little.
  (informal)
   
• 좀 쉬자.
  Jom shweeja.
  Let’s rest a little.
  (informal)
   
• 좀 먹자.
  Jom mukja.
  Let’s eat a little.
  (informal)
   
• 좀 자자.
  Jom jaja.
  Let’s sleep a little.
  (informal)
   
• 좀 있다봐!
  Jom itdabwa!
  See you a little later!

Here are some phrases you might hear in a Korean drama:

• 난 좀 달라.
  Nan jom dallah.
  I’m a little different.
  (informal)
   
• 나도 좀 살자.
  Nado jom salja.
  Just let me live a little.
  (informal)
   

Here's a Kpop music video using the previous phrase!

• 왜 그래? 말 좀 해봐.
  Wae geurae? Mal jom haebwa.
  What’s wrong? Say a little something.
  (informal)
   
• 좀 비켜 줄래?
  Jom beekyuh joolae?
  Can you move out of the way?
  (informal)
   
• 벌써 또 나가? 아~ 좀 쉬자.
  Bulssuh ddo naga? Ah~ Jom shweeja.
  Are we going back out again? Ah, let’s rest a little.
  (informal)

Have you been home ALL DAY LONG? Or feeling frustrated about something? Maybe you need to blow off some steam. Go get a little fresh air.

• 바람 좀 쐐자.
  Baram jom sswaeja.
  Let’s get some fresh air.
  (informal)
   
• 바람이나 좀 쐐.
  Baramena jom sswae.
  Go get some fresh air.
  (informal)
   
• 바람 좀 쐘가?
  Baram jom sswaelgga?
  Shall we get some fresh air?
  (informal)

I love these fresh air phrases. Growing up, adults in my family would use these phrases often. If they want to go out for a walk after dinner as a light exercise, they’d invite me by asking: 바람 좀 쐘가?

Surprise! JOM can also mean “please” in certain situations. Here are some examples:

• 핸드폰 좀 꺼주시겠어요?
  Hendeupon jom gguhjushi gessuhyo?
  Would you please turn off your cell phone?
  (formal)
   
• 차 좀 빼주실래요?
  Cha jom bbaejulshillaeyo?
  Would you please move your car out?
  (formal)

Now that you know the word 좀 (jom), I will teach you a bonus word: 좀비 (jombie)! 좀비 means “zombie.” In Korea, there is no Z consonant, so we use the J consonant instead. Thus "jombie" instead of "zombie."

Attention Kpop fans! Here are some of your fave celebs using the word 좀 (jom) in the following music videos. Can you find where SHINee sings 좀?

What?! Girls' Generation also uses 좀 in their song, too? You bet! Listen closely. Can you find where?

Hope you enjoyed this lesson! See you next week on my YouTube channel.

How to say DOPE in Korean

When you see something dope/sick/awesome, you say it is 쩔어 (jjuhruh). The word was largely used in Incheon years ago, but has spread to other parts of Korea. Thanks to Big Bang and BTS, 쩔어 (jjuhruh) has made its mark in Kpop, further popularizing its usage. While 쩔어 is more accurately Romanized as "jjuhruh," Big Bang--specifically GD and TOP--created a stylish Romanization: ZUTTER. Check out their music video, which is 쩔어:

In GD and TOP’s music video, they say: 내가 좀 쩔어 (Naega jom jjuhruh), which translates to “I’m a little dope.”

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쩔어 is both a positive and negative word. Depending on how you say it, you can portray enthusiasm or disgust. It's like how we use the word "sick" in the States. If someone is wearing cool shoes, we might say, "Oohhh! Those shoes are so sick, bro!" However if we see something gross, such as a bloody horror film, we may say, "Ew. That movie is sick. Makes me want to puke."

Here's an example of when 쩔어 can be used in a positive and negative situation. Let's say you eat a delicious plate of kimchi. You can exclaim with excitement:

이 김치 쩔어!
Ee kimchi jjuhruh!
This kimchi is amazing!

However if the kimchi tastes nasty, you can say the same phrase with a displeased face.

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Here are some more examples of when you can use 쩔어.

You see a hot guy with a six pack:
저 남자봐. 쩔어!
Juh namjabwa. Jjuhruh!
Look at that guy. He’s dope!

You see a really stylish girl:
저 여자 쩔어!
Juh yuhja jjuhruh!
That girl is dope!

CL releases her new music video and it is dope:
와~ CL 쩔어!
Wah~ CL jjuhruh!
Wow~ CL is dope!

Oh dang, your bestie wore the coolest shirt ever:
스타일 쩔어!
Seu-ta-il jjuhruh!
Your style is dope!

You just finished reading the most badass book ever:
이책 좀 쩔어!
Ee-check jom jjuhruh!
This book is dope!

You won Cards of Humanity 7 times in a row. You’re so dope:
난 좀 쩔어!
Nan jom jjuhruh!
I’m just a little dope!

Pretty much anything and anyone can be 쩔어!

My mom goes clubbing with me and a young man dances with her:
우리 엄마 쩔어!
Oori umma jjuhruh!
My mom is dope!

Your friend sang amazingly at karaoke:
네 목소리 쩔어!
Nee moksori jjuhruh!
Your voice is dope!

Did you win EXO concert tickets with a backstage pass?
쩔어!
Jjuhruh!
Dope!

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You can use 쩔어 as is all alone. Or you can add a noun in front of it.

___________ 쩔어!
___________ jjuhruh!
___________ is dope/sick/awesome!

이 노래 쩔어!
Ee norae jjuhruh!
This song is dope!

이 파티 쩔어!
Ee pa-tee jjuhruh!
This party is dope!

저 차 쩔어!
Juh cha jjuhruh!
That car is dope!

You can make 쩔어! formal by adding a YO at the end. 쩔어요.

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쩔어 is also the title of a BTS track. They sing, “우린 머리부터 발끝까지 전부 다 쩌 쩔어," which means, "We’re so dope from head to toe."

Can you count how many times 쩔어 is sung in the music video below?

Hope you enjoyed this week's lesson. Tune in my YouTube channel next week to learn more!