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Korean Lesson

Korean Phrases for Partying and Drinking Etiquette

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Korean Phrases for Partying and Drinking Etiquette

FEATURED PHRASES:
*the following phrases are informal, so use towards friends and those younger than you.

불금이다!
Bulgeumeda!
It’s Fire Friday!
(Formal version: 불금이예요! Bulgeumiyeyo!)

While "bulgeum" is the most popular combo, you can apply "bul" (fire) to other weekdays.
불토 / Fire Saturday / bulto
불일 / Fire Sunday / bulil
불월 / Fire Monday / bulwol
불화 / Fire Tuesday / bulhwa
불수 /Fire Wednesday / bulsu
불목 / Fire Thursday / bulmok

불금인데 뭐해?
Bulgeumindae mwohae?
It’s Fire Friday. What are you gonna do?
(Formal: 불금인데 뭐해요? Bulgeumindae mwohaeyo?)

소맥 한잔 해야지.
Ssomek hanjan haeyaji.
We must drink somek.
(Formal: 소맥 한잔 해야지요. Ssomek hanjan haeyajiyo.)

왜 혼자 따랐어?
Wae honja ddalassuh?
Why’d you pour for yourself?
(Formal: 왜 혼자 따랐어요? Wae honja ddalassuhyo?)

폭탄주 만들 줄 알아?
Poktanju mandeul jul alah?
Do you know how to make bomb shots?
(Formal: 폭탄주 만들 줄 알아요? Poktanju mandeul jul alahyo?)

내가 폭탄주 만들어 줄게.
Naega poktanju mandeuluh julggae.
I’ll make a bomb shot for you.
(Formal: 재가 폭탄주 만들어 줄게요. Jaega poktanju mandeuluh julggaeyo.)

너 주량이 어떻게 돼?
Nuh julyangee eodduhgae dwae?
What’s your drinking capacity?
(Formal: 주량이 어떻게 돼요? Julyangee eodduhgae dwaeyo?)

너 술버릇 있어?
Nuh sulbeoleut issuh?
Do you have any drinking habits?
(Formal: 술버릇 있어요? Sulbeoleut issuhyo?)

나는 취하면 애교가 많아져.
Naneun chwihamyun aegyoga manahjyuh.
When I get drunk, I have a lot of aegyo. 
(Formal: 저는 취하면 애교가 많아져요. Jeoneun chwihamyun aegyoga manajyeoyo.)

나는 취하면 그냥 자.
Naneun chwihamyun geunyang ja.
When I get drunk, I just fall asleep.
(Formal: 저는 취하면 그냥 자요. Jeoneun chwihamyun geunyang jayo.)

나는 소주 한병 마실 수 있어.
Naneun ssoju hanbyung mashil soo issuh.
I can drink one bottle of soju.
(Formal: 저는 소주 한병 마실 수 있어요. Jeoneun soju hanbyeong mashil soo issuhyo.)

난 맥주 한잔이면 만취야.
Nan mekju hanjanemyun manchwiya.
I get super drunk off a serving of beer.
(Formal: 전 맥주 한잔이면 만취예요. Jeon mekju hanjanimyun manchwiyeyo.)

요즘은 어느 클럽이 물이 좋아?
Yojeumeun uhneu keullubee moolee joah?
What’s the best club to go these days?
(Formal: 요즘은 어느 클럽이 물이 좋아요? Yojeumeun uhneu keullubee moolee joayo?)

건배!
Gunbae!
Cheers!

“Gunbae” is the old-school way of saying “cheers.” Use it when drinking with work colleagues and elders. Remember to clink your glass with your party peoples. What do the younger generations say these days?

짠!
Jjan!

JJAN is the sound effect of glasses hitting each other. Use JJAN with friends or people your age. Don’t use it with the elders.



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Korean Lesson 5: The Two Number Systems

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Korean Lesson 5: The Two Number Systems

Professor Oh teaches you the two number systems used in Korea: the Native & Sino-Korean Systems. When do you use what? Watch to find out:

The Native Korean Numbers:

1 = 하나 (ha-na)
2 = 둘 (dool)
3 = 셋 (seht)
4 = 넷 (heht)
5 = 다섯 (da-suht)
6 = 여섯 (yuh-suht)
7 = 일곱 (eel-gop)
8 = 여덟 (yuh-duhl)
9 = 아홉 (ah-hop)
10 = 열 (yuhl)

20 = 스물 (seu-mool)
30 = 서른 (suh-reun)
40 = 마흔 (ma-heun)
50 = 쉰 (shwin)
60 = 예순 (yeh-soon)
70 = 일흔 (eel-heun)
80 = 여든 (yuh-deun
90 = 아흔 (ah-heun)
100 = 온 (ohn)


When numbers go beyond 10, you create combinations. For example, to say the number 13, you'd combine 10 and 3 (see image below).

10 + 3 = 13
YUHL + SEHT = YUHLSEHT

native korean number 15

What about the 20s, 30s and beyond? For example, you want to say 37. You combine 30 and 7 together (see image below).

30 + 7 = 37
SUH-REUN + EEL-GOP = SUH-REUN EEL-GOP

native korean numbers

The Sino-Korean Number System:

1 = 일 (eel)
2 = 이 (ee)
3 = 삼 (sahm)
4 = 사 (sah)
5 = 오 (oh)
6 = 육 (yook)
7 = 칠 (cheel)
8 = 팔 (pahl)
9 = 구 (goo)
10 = 십 (ship)

11 = 십일 (ship eel)
12 = 십이 (ship ee)
13 = 십삼 (ship sahm)
14 = 십사 (ship sah)
15 = 십오 (ship oh)
16 = 십육 (ship yook)
17 = 십칠 (ship cheel)
18 = 십팔 (ship pahl)
19 = 십구 (ship goo)
 

20 = 이십 (ee ship)
30 = 삼십 (sahm ship)
40 = 사십 (sah ship)
50 = 오십 (oh ship)
60 = 육십 (yook ship)
70 = 칠십 (cheel ship)
80 = 팔십 (pahl ship)
90 = 구십 (goo ship)
100 = 백 (baek)

The Sino-Korean Number System is similar to the Native Korean System, however has its differences. Notice how the number 30 is literally 3 (sahm) and 10 (ship) combined together. Three tens make a thirty.

How do you say the number 21 using the Sino-Korean Number System? You say 2, 10 and 1. In this exact order. EE, SHIP, EEL.

How do you say the number 21 using the Sino-Korean Number System? You say 2, 10 and 1. In this exact order. EE, SHIP, EEL.

To learn more about the Sino-Korean Number System and how to tell the date in Korean, you are invited to watch KWOW episode 15:



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Korean Lesson 4: Diphthongs (Complex + Compound Vowels)

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Korean Lesson 4: Diphthongs (Complex + Compound Vowels)

Diphthong. It's a funny word. Try not to divide it into two. As naughty as the term may sound, diphthongs are actually complex and compound vowels. You'll see them in Korean text on a daily basis.

Let's learn about diphthongs with Professor Oh in Lesson 4:

There are 11 diphthongs in the Korean language. A diphthong starts with one vowel sound and ends with another.

The diphthongs in alphabetical order.

The diphthongs in alphabetical order.

Diphthongs rearranged to show repetitive patterns.

Diphthongs rearranged to show repetitive patterns.

How to pronounce the diphthongs when they are combined with the silent consonant (the circle in red).

How to pronounce the diphthongs when they are combined with the silent consonant (the circle in red).


Some of the diphthongs (when paired with the silent consonant) are a word. For example, YEH means the formal "yes" in Korean.

Some of the diphthongs (when paired with the silent consonant) are a word. For example, YEH means the formal "yes" in Korean.

Billy Jin demonstrating how to use YEH when speaking to your elders.

Billy Jin demonstrating how to use YEH when speaking to your elders.


WEH means "why" in Korean.

WEH means "why" in Korean.

Granny Kim asks Billy Jin why her hair is so big using the diphthong WEH.

Granny Kim asks Billy Jin why her hair is so big using the diphthong WEH.

Congratulations to the CF girl on making her debut on "Let's Learn Korean with Professor Oh"!

Congratulations to the CF girl on making her debut on "Let's Learn Korean with Professor Oh"!


To download the following worksheet, right click on your mouse. Then press "Save Image as..." and save to your intended location. Have fun practicing your Korean skills!

korean lesson 4 worksheet


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