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10 Ways to Enjoy Soju

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10 Ways to Enjoy Soju

For all visual demonstrations of the following list, watch the video above :)

  1. Take a LOVE SHOT with your crush! Actually you can share this fun and flirty moment with anyone: your significant other, friends, momma, poppa, etc.
     
  2. Enjoy a pitcher of YOGURT SOJU! As a kid, my friends and I liked to drink the Asian yogurt drinks. Now yogurt drinks grew up and married soju. It's a popular beverage sold in Korea and Koreatown LA.
     
  3. Take a ride on the SEOUL TRAIN! The more friends, the better. Line up a glass of half-filled beer, then place a line of shot glasses of soju on top. Knock one side of the soju line and the rest tumble like dominoes! Check out the epically long Seoul Train in Psy's "Hangover" video at 42 seconds in.
     
  4. Get fruity with WATERMELON SOJU! It's a refreshing treat for the hot summer days and a great tropical vacation in the mouth during chilly winter months.
     
  5. Or you can just drink your soju VIRGIN! Bring your bottle of soju to enjoy by the Han River. Maybe drink it on your hike at Bukhansan Mountain (which Yoonah and I did in this KWOW episode).
     
  6. Shake your soju bottle to create a TORNADO! Not up and down, but shake in rotated circles. Then stop upright. Some say soju tornadoes soften the flavor, but no one really knows why Koreans love to shake it. It sure can be a great arm exercise!
     
  7. Play some drinking games, like FLICK THE SOJU CAP! After popping open your bottle, don't toss the cap. There will be a metal strip dangling. Take turns flicking it with your buddies. Whoever flicks the metal off is the winner! Either the people sitting right and left of them drink, or just everyone. Watch the demo in the video above.
     
  8. Another game with the cap: GUESS THE NUMBER. Many soju caps have a number written inside. Whoever guesses the correct number chooses who will drink the next shot of soju.
     
  9. Drink your soju with ANJU! Anju are foods that accompany alcohol. Every type of alcohol has their own dedicated set of anju. Pork belly is eaten with soju, while fried chicken is eaten with beer.
     
  10. After the party, CLEAN WITH SOJU! Some Korean BBQ restaurants replace the top of soju bottles with a spray and use the alcohol to wipe tables. True story.


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10 Wise Korean Proverbs

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10 Wise Korean Proverbs

  1. 짚신도 짝이 있다.
    Jipshindo jjakee itda.
    Even the straw shoe has a mate.
     
  2. 티끌모아 태산.
    Tiggeulmoah taesan.
    One can build a mountain by collecting specks of dust.
     
  3. 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다.
    Ganeun malee goaya oneun malee gopda.
    If the outgoing words are beautiful, the incoming words will be beautiful.
     
  4. 평안 감사도 제가 싫으면 그만이다.
    Pyeongahn gamsado jega shileumyeon geumaneeda.
    A man may lead his horse to water, but cannot make it drink.
     
  5. 등잔 밑이 어둡다.
    Deungjan meetee uhdoopda.
    It’s dark under the oil lamp.
     
  6. 서당 개 삼년이면 풍월을 읊는다.
    Suhdang gae samneuneemyun poongwoleul eulbneunda.
    A dog raised in a private school for three years can recite alphabets.
     
  7. 남의 떡이 더 커 보인다.
    Namui tteokee duh kuh boinda.
    Someone else’s rice cake always looks bigger.
     
  8. 시작이 반이다.
    Shijakee baneeda.
    Starting is half the task.
     
  9. 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다.
    Wonsoongeedo namooaesuh dduhluhjinda.
    Even monkeys fall off trees.
     
  10. 호랑이에게 물려가도 정신만 차리면 산다.
    Horangeeaegae moollyuhgado jungshinman chalimyun sanda.
    Even if you are caught by a tiger, you will survive if you keep your cool.

Hope you enjoyed the featured Korean proverbs. Next time you’re faced with trials in life, may these bits of wisdom be a guide to your health, wealth and happiness. See you on Mondays for more phrase lessons and on KWOW Wednesdays for travel episodes. Anyong!


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10 Phrases for Bargain Shopping in Korean

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10 Phrases for Bargain Shopping in Korean

  1. 그냥 구경 좀 할게요.
    Geunyang googyung jom halggeyo.
    I’m just browsing.
    (formal)
     
  2. ________ 있어요?
    ________ issuhyo?
    Do you have ________?
    (formal)

    Examples:
    검은 치마 있어요?
    Geomeun chima issuhyo?
    Do you have black dresses?

    빨간 하이힐 있어요?
    Bbalgan haiheel issuhyo?
    Do you have red high heels?

    갈색 외투 있어요?
    Galsek waeteu issuhyo?
    Do you have brown coats?
     
  3. 다른 사이즈 있어요?
    Dareun ssaejeu issuhyo?
    Do you have another size?
    (formal)

    다른 색 있어요?
    Dareun sek issuhyo?
    Do you have it in another color?
    (formal)
     
  4. 입어봐도 돼요?
    Eebuhbwado dwaeyo?
    Can I try it on?
     
  5. 얼마예요?
    Ulmayeyo?
    How much is it?
     
  6. 좀 깎아 주세요.
    Jom ggagga juseyo.
    Please give me a discount.
     
  7. 더 둘러보고 올게요.
    Duh dooluhbogo olggaeyo.
    I’ll come back after I look around.
     
  8. 다른 가게에선 더 싼대요.
    Dareun gageaesun duh ssandaeyo.
    It is cheaper at another shop.
     
  9. 이거 살께요.
    Eguh salggeyo.
    I’ll buy this.
     
  10. 감사합니다. 많이 파세요.
    Gamsahapnida. Manee paseyo.
    Thank you. Please sell a lot.

Other helpful videos:
Clothes in Korean
Colors in Korean
Korean Money

See you next Monday for more phrase lessons and on Wednesdays for KWOW travel episodes. Anyong!


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