Do you know what NAMJA, YUHJA, and CHINGOO mean? You don’t? Time for some edutainment. (Note: edutainment = education + entertainment)

NAMJA means “man,” but is also used as  “boy” and “male.”
YUHJA means “woman,” but is also used as “girl” and “female.”
CHINGOO simply means “friend.”

Here are some word equations:
namja + chingoo = namjachingoo
(boy + friend = boyfriend)

yuhja + chingoo = yuhjachingoo
(girl + friend = girlfriend)

Now that you know YUHJA, NAMJA, and CHINGOO, think you can spot them within context? I challenge you to take the following quiz. I promise it’ll be fun :)

Answers are located at the end of this blog entry. No peeking!

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Question #1: When does the NAMJA and YUHJA appear in 2NE1′s “I Am the Best”?

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Question #2: Where is the fourth YUHJA in Lee Seungi’s “Because You’re My Girl”? Click for English subtitles.

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Question #3: How many CHINGOOs appear in Big Bang’s “Bad Boy”?

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Question #4: Can you find the first YUHJA in Boyfriend’s “Don’t Touch My Girl”?

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GRAND FINALE QUESTION #5: How many YUHJAs and NAMJAs are in KISS’s “Because I’m a Girl” (2001)?

This one-hit wonder remains an old-school Korean classic. Ladies, get a tissue. Gentlemen, it’s okay to cry. Many namjas admitted to tearing up when watching this video. You are not alone.

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Answer #1: NAMJA appears at 1:54.
남자들은 날 돌아보고
Namjadeureun nal dorabogo
Guys turn around to look at me

YUHJA appears at 1:56.
여자들은 따라해
Yuhjadeureun ddarahae
Girls follow what I do

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Answer #2: The fourth YUHJA is sung at 0:54. High five if you got it! If you didn’t, high five for trying!

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Answer #3: CHINGOO appears once at 1:51.
내 꿈속의 신부 이제 그냥 친구
Nae ggoomsokae shinbu eejae geunyang chingoo
Bride of my dream now we’re only friends

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Answer #4: The first YUHJA appears at 1:13.
내 여자 손대지마
Nae yuhja sondaejima
Don’t touch my girl

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Answer #5: Think you found them all? Write your answer in the comment section with a fun question to Billy Jin. First *three* people to get the correct answer wins a reply from this week’s KWOW host Billy Jin! No questions, no reply. Good luck :)

There seems to be a misconception of ganji. Search online for “ganji style” or “ganji fashion” and you’ll see photos of females wearing baggy pants paired with an oversized t-shirt.

Ganji is NOT a specific style! Just because you dress up like the females above does not make you ganji. This Korean slang term is much broader than that: GANJI means “swag” and “stylish.” Anyone and anything can have ganji. For example…

(www.ganzinara.com)

저 남자 간지난다.
That man’s got swag!
Juh namja ganjinandah!

(www.aka.co.kr)

드레스 간지난다.
The dress is stylish.
Deurehseu ganjinandah.

2NE1 간지난다.
2NE’1′s got swag.
2NE1 ganjinandah.

***Who do you think has GANJI? For this week’s mini contest…

1. Fill in the blank “______ 간지난다!” with the name of your favorite K-pop singer. Write the complete phrase ten times on a paper. This will be good practice for you :)
2. Take a photo.
3. Upload it online via Twitter.
4. Copy and paste the link in the comment section below, along with a QUESTION to Granny Kim. She likes crazy, fun, random questions!

First ten people to complete this task wins a reply from Granny Kim. No question, no reply! If you’re confused, see the first comment below for the example.

For more pronouns, read our blog on Korean Pronouns. (coming soon!)

Ready or not, it’s time for our weekly KWOW exercises. Test out your new skills by seeing if you can spot this episode’s vocabulary! Answers are located at end of this blog entry.

Question #1: How many I, my, me, and mine’s do you hear in Se7en’s “When I Can’t Sing”?

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Question #2: Where does the third MINE (naegguh/내꺼) appear in Infinite’s “Be Mine”?

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Question #3: Are you ready for a challenge? How many Korean AND English variations of I, my, me, and mine’s can you spot in 4Minute’s “I, My, Me, Mine”?

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GRAND FINALE QUESTION #4:
How many MY’s (NAE/내) can you find in Miss A’s “Touch”?

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Answer #1: Four times. Let’s find them together, shall we?
1. (0:12) 내가 모든걸 잃어도 — Even if I lose everything
2. (0:16) 내 인기가 떨어져도 — Even if my popularity drops
3. (0:26) 나라는 이유만으로 — For the sole reason of me
4. (0:29) 날 계속 사랑해 줄 수 있니 –Do you think you can continue to love me?

Answer #2: The third MINE (naegguh/내꺼) is sung at 2:04.

Answer #3: Whew! Granny Kim says she found 120 Korean and English versions of I, my, me, and mine. How many did you catch?

Answer #4: Write your answer in the comment section below with a fun question to Professor Oh. First *three* people to get the correct answer get a reply from this week’s KWOW host! No question, no reply. Try your best and good luck :)

Think you can recognize APA and APEUDA? Test yourself with these exercises. Answers are located at end of this blog entry.

Question #1: When does the 3rd APA appear in 2AM’s “I Made a Mistake”?

Question #2: How many APAs can you find in this excerpt from “200 Pounds Beauty”?

Question #3: Where do you hear the 1st APA in Fly to the Sky’s performance of “Even Though My Heart Breaks”?

(Trivia: This song is an OST for the Korean drama “Fashion 70s.” See the original music video here.)

***GRAND FINALE QUESTION #4***
How many APAs are sung in 2NE1′s “It Hurts” music video?

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Answer #1: The 3rd APA appears at 2:16 right after two APAs.

Answer #2: Two is the magic number!

Answer #3: Brian Joo sings the first APA at 1:47.

Answer #4: Write your answer in the comment section below with a question to Bongja. First *three* people to get the correct answer get a reply from this week’s KWOW host! No question, no reply. Good luck :)

Shall we do a quick review? The English translation of sunbae is “senior.” Sunbae is NOT synonymous with elderly people. The term has nothing to do with age. Someone is sunbae to you if they…

-attended the same school as you (before you did).
-worked in the same company as you (before you did).

Anyone who entered your academic or work environment before you is sunbae.

Sunbae is informal. The formal version is sunbaenim. Use sunbae only to those you are good friends with. For all other relations it is recommended to use sunbaenim. In most cases it is safer to speak formally. On the other hand, it can be awkward if you speak formally to your same-age friends.

If sunbae means “senior,” is there a Korean word for juniors? Yes! “Junior” is hoobae. Keep in mind that sunbae and hoobae do NOT refer to grade levels (i.e. freshman, sophomore, junior, senior). Sunbae and hoobae are titles used beyond the school years. Alumni continue to call their seniors as sunbae long after they’ve have graduated.

The sunbae culture is taken seriously in Korea. If you don’t address your sunbaes correctly, they may be offended.

Think you understand the sunbae and hoobae system? Let’s put your skills to the test! (Answers at end of blog entry)

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Question #1: G-Wagon was born in 1988. Taeyin was born in 1984. G-Wagon started working for Galbi Entertainment in 2001. Taeyin entered the same company in 2005. Who’s the sunbae?

Question #2: You were an 11th grader at Kimchi High School, but just transferred to Tongdak High. You became friends with Bobby Lee, a 9th grader. Who’s the sunbae?

Question #3: Your new 9th grade buddy Bobby Lee transferred to Kimchi High School. An year later you graduated from Tongdak High. Who’s the sunbae now?

Question #4: Your grandmother is heading back to school! She was recently accepted at your college, which you graduated from last year. Who’s the sunbae?

Question #5: Where do you hear sunbaenim in this video?

***GRAND FINALE QUESTION #6***
Where does the first sunbae appear in this clip of “Boys Before Flowers”?

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Answer #1: Even though Taeyin is four years older, G-Wagon is sunbae to Taeyin. Remember, age has nothing to do with someone being your sunbae.

Amswer #2: Regardless of age and grade level, Bobby Lee is sunbae because he attended Tongdak High School before you.

Amswer #3: Bobby Lee is still sunbae to you at Tongdak High School. This is because Bobby attended the school before you did. But guess what? You are sunbae to him at Kimchi High School. How? Because you had attended Kimchi High before Bobby did. You are both sunbaes, but at different schools!

Amswer #4: You are sunbae to your grandma. Once again, age has nothing to do with being a sunbae. It has everything to do with who attended the school first.

Answer #5: Sunbaenim appears at 0:16.

Answer #6: Write ONE answer in the comment section below with a question to Taekwon Do. First *three* people to get the correct answer will get a reply from our handsome KWOW host!

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How did you do? Did you get all of them right? Awesome. If not, don’t worry. Go watch KWOW #47 again ;)

By now you know that GGUH JYUH (꺼져) is the Korean slang word for “Get away!” Other translations include: beat it, get lost, back off, and scram.

Gguh jyuh is a conjugation of the verb gguh jee dah (꺼지다). Gguh jee dah may be used in various situations. It can mean “to be turned off” (i.e. My phone was turned off), for a candle “to be blown out” and “to cave in” regarding sunken roads.

Time for some KWOW exercises!

How many GGUH JYUH’s can you find in 2NE1′s “I Don’t Care” music video?

The first GGUH JYUH is sung at 0:55 by Minzy:
매일 하루에 수십번 꺼져있는 핸드폰
Everyday your phone is always turned off
Maeil harueh sooshipbun gguhjyuheetneun hendeupon

CL shouts out the second GGUH JYUH at 3:39:
아님 눈 앞에서 당장 꺼져
If not, get out of my sight (If not, get away from me)
Ahnim noon apaesuh dangjang gguhjyuh

Can you spot the first GGUH JYUH in Seo Inyoung’s “Loser”?

Did you find it? It appears at 1:07!

***GRAND FINALE QUESTION!***
How many GGUH JYUH’s are there in G.NA’s “I’ll Go Away so You Can Live Well” (꺼져 줄게 잘 살아)? Write ONE answer in the comment section below, along with a question you’d like to ask Billy Jin. The first FIVE people to get the correct answer wins a reply from Miss Aegyo! :)

BABO (바보) has multiple definitions. Depending on your intention, the term can be neutral or offensive. In neutral tones, babo can mean “fool” and “blockhead.” Offensive versions of babo include “stupid.” Babo can also refer to a mentally handicapped person. You’ll hear various versions of babo in K-pop songs and Korean dramas.

Remember: babo is not a bad word, unless you intend it to be. Use the word playfully and gently with family and friends, but never call an elder a babo!

There’s an endearing movie called “Babo,” starring Cha Tae-Hyun (from the classic Korean romantic comedy “My Sassy Girl”). While the literal translation of the film title is “Fool,” its official English title is “Miracle of a Giving Fool.”

Here’s a brief summary: The main character Seung-ryong suffered from an accident in his childhood leaving him to be a babo, a mentally handicapped person. Now 27 years old, he sells his famous toasts while keeping an eye out for two people: his younger sister and the return of his childhood love Ji-ho.

You can watch the full movie with English subtitles on Youtube. Let’s begin with part one:

Watch rest of the parts here: part 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

While watching “Babo,” did some words sound familiar? That’s probably because you’ve been an attentive student! You’ll hear words taught in KWOW episodes 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 16, 23, 31, 33, 37, and more.

By the way, did you notice the young Ji-ho is played by Sulli from f(x)?

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Time for our KWOW word search exercises!

When does the *fourth* BABO appear in 2AM’s performance of “Like a Fool” (바보처럼)? (The song is a soundtrack from the Korean drama “Personal Taste,” starring Lee Min Ho.)

Did you find it? The fourth BABO is sung at 1:07.

The next one is for you Big Bang fans out there! How many BABOs appear in their “A Fool of Tears” song?

BABO appears once at 2:22 :)

***GRAND FINALE QUESTION***

How many BABOs are in Epik High’s “Babo” song? The echos count, too!

Write ONE answer in the comment section below, along with a question you’d like to ask Granny Kim. First THREE people to get the answer correct wins a reply from our hip-hoppin granny!

MOLLA (몰라) means “I don’t know.” This is informal so use this version towards friends and those younger than you. When speaking to the elders, always remember to add a “yo” at the end of “molla.” Mollayo.

Time to develop your ear to hear MOLLA in songs and more! Can you find where Girls’ Generation sings “MOLLA” in their song “Gee”?

Did you find it? MOLLA is sung at 2:05!
Korean: (몰라몰라몰라몰라) 몰라몰라 하며
Romanization: (Molla Molla Molla Molla ) Molla Molla hamyuh
English: (I don’t know, don’t know, don’t know, don’t know) While saying I don’t know, don’t know

Next song! Where do you hear MOLLA in 2NE1′s “Ugly”? Listen carefully.

Ready for the answer? MOLLA is found in Minzy’s part at 1:47.

(민지)날 쉽게 이해한다고 하지마
못생기고 삐뚤어진 내 마음이 널 원망할지도 몰라

(Minzy) Don’t say you understand me so easily
You don’t know, but my ugly, crooked heart may come to resent you.

Can you spot the first MOLLA sung in T-ara’s “Roly Poly”?

Did you find it? It was at 5:10!

For you SHINee lovers out there, here’s Taemin singing “Molla” (originally sung by Uhm Jung-hwa back in the 90s). Can you spot the third MOLLA he sings?

Answer time! He sings the third MOLLA at 1:31.

***Are you ready for the GRAND FINALE QUESTION?***

How many MOLLA’s can you find in FT Island’s “Girls Don’t Know”? Write your answer in the comment area below! The first three people to get the right answer get a reply from their favorite KWOW host :) Post ONE number and tell us your favorite host by this Saturday, April 14, midnight PST.

Micheossuh (미쳤어) means “crazy.” The unconjugated version of this verb is michida (미치다), which means “to go crazy” or “to be out of one’s mind.”

There’s a lot of songs that use micheossuh and the various conjugations of michida. But no other K-pop song uses this word more than Son Dambi’s “Crazy”:

Here are some phrases from Son Dambi’s song:

At 0:15
내가 미쳤어 정말 미쳤어
(Nega micheossuh jungmal micheossuh)
I’m crazy really crazy

At 0:30
미쳤어, 내가 미쳤어, 그땐 미쳐 널 잡지 못했어
(Micheossuh, nega micheossuh, geudden micheo nuhl jabji motaessuh)
Crazy, I’m crazy, I’m going crazy because I didn’t hold onto you

In 2NE1′s “Fire” song at 1:30, they say…

“난 미미미미미미미치고싶어”
(Nan mi mi mi mi mi mi michigoshipuh)

This translates to “I want to go c-c-c-c-c-c-crazy.” Check it out here:

T’ara’s “I Go Crazy Because of You” is yet another song that uses variations of “michida.”

At 0:30
너땜에 온종일 미쳐
(Nuh ddemae onjongil micheo)
I go crazy all day because of you

At 0:32
내 영혼 마저 미쳐
(Neh yoounghon majuh micheo)
Even my soul goes crazy

At 0:39
너땜에 내가 미쳐
(Nuh ddemae nega micheo)
I go crazy because of you

Can you think of other K-pop songs that use micheossuh and the varied conjugations of michida? Let us know in the discussion area below :)

This week’s episode on KWOW featured two very common words in Korean dramas: AJOOMA and AJUSSHI. If you haven’t seen it yet, watcha waiting for? Watch the video above :)

When I visited Seoul, I saw a woman walking on the street who lives up to the Ajooma Standard.

Short permed hair? Check. Mismatching patterned clothes and slippers? Check. She wasn’t plump, but she’s definitely an awesome cook. How do I know this? Because this ajooma is my mother!

If my mom finds out I posted this photo, I’ll probably be grounded for the next few weeks. Regardless of how old I am. Just kidding. I must mention: my mother is now more fashion-conscious and wears a balanced amount of patterns.

As we learned in KWOW #42, ajooma is used towards middle-aged women. Ajusshi is the term for middle-aged males.

For those who love Lee Minho, this is for you. Scene from “City Hunter” using the term ajusshi:

There’s a movie titled “Ajusshi,” starring Won Bin. You’ll notice the young girl calling the main character “ajusshi” even though he is not middle-aged. Remember that “ajusshi” also means “mister,” thus is acceptable to use toward younger males. However it is not recommended to call females “ajooma” if they are younger than 40 years of age.

Trailer for the “Ajusshi” movie:

Another situation where ajusshi is used as “mister” rather than as “middle-aged man”:

Check back next Wednesday! :)