Vocabulary
배달하다
verb
Beginner
to deliver (goods, food, etc.)
community work
커피 두 잔 배달해 줄 수 있어?
Can you deliver two cups of coffee?
취소하다
verb
Beginner
to cancel (an order, plan, etc.)
work community
바빠서 약속을 취소했어.
I canceled the appointment because I was busy.
절하다
verb
Beginner
to bow (a formal, full-body bow as in ceremonies)
community
제삿날에는 다 같이 절해.
On memorial days, everyone bows together.
섭섭하다
adjective
Beginner
to feel upset, disappointed, or let down by someone
emotions
나한테 연락도 없이 가버리면 섭섭하지.
I'd feel hurt if you left without even contacting me.
잇몸
noun
Beginner
gum(s) (in the mouth)
work
스케일링 받고 나서 잇몸이 아팠어.
My gums hurt after the scaling.
단골
noun
Intermediate
regular customer, loyal patron
community work
거기 단골이라 사장님이 서비스도 줘.
I'm a regular there, so the owner gives me freebies.
공개하다
verb
Intermediate
to disclose, reveal, make public
work
개인 정보는 함부로 공개하면 안 돼.
You shouldn't carelessly disclose personal information.
권장량
noun
Intermediate
recommended amount/dosage
work
하루 카페인 권장량을 넘기지 않도록 해.
Try not to exceed the daily recommended caffeine intake.
뻣뻣하다
adjective
Intermediate
to be stiff, rigid (of a body part or material)
work
주사 맞은 자리가 아직도 뻣뻣해.
The spot where I got the injection is still stiff.
찌르다
verb
Intermediate
to poke, stab, sting (with a sharp object like a needle)
work
주사가 좀 따끔할 수 있어.
The needle might sting a little.
칭얼거리다
verb
Intermediate
to whine, to be cheeky or bratty
community emotions
자꾸 말대꾸하지 마.
Stop talking back all the time.
얄밉다
adjective
Intermediate
to be mean in a petty way, stingy and annoying
emotions community
그 사람은 얄미울 정도로 계산이 빨라.
That person is annoyingly quick with calculations.
제사
noun
Advanced
ancestral memorial rite; a traditional ceremony held to honor deceased family members
community
제삿날에는 온 가족이 모여서 제사를 지내.
On memorial days, the whole family gathers to perform the rite.
어동육서
expression
Advanced
ritual rule: fish dishes go east, meat dishes go west on the memorial table
community
어동육서 같은 제사 규칙은 집마다 조금씩 달라.
Ritual rules like eodongyukseo differ a little from family to family.
원칙주의자
noun
Advanced
a stickler for rules; a principled person who strictly follows norms
community emotions
두식이는 원칙주의자처럼 보여도 사실은 융통성이 있어.
Du-sik looks like a stickler for rules, but he's actually flexible.
Key Expressions
Commenting on unexpected behavior
그답지 않네.
"That's not like him."
Used in banmal to express surprise when someone acts out of character. '답지 않다' means 'unlike (someone)'.
오늘은 왜 이렇게 조용해? 너답지 않게.
Why are you so quiet today? That's not like you.
말이 안 나오네.
"Words don't come out."
A colloquial banmal expression for being rendered speechless — usually by something impressive, beautiful, or shocking.
저 경치 너무 예뻐서 말이 안 나오네.
That scenery is so beautiful I'm speechless.
Declining or setting limits
나 움직이면 돈 받아.
"I get paid whenever I move."
A humorous, direct banmal way of asserting that one's time and effort cost money. Used to push back on unreasonable requests.
나 움직이면 돈 받는다고. 배달비는 당연히 내야지.
I get paid whenever I move, you know. Of course there's a delivery fee.
어린애한테 커피 안 팔아.
"I don't sell coffee to kids."
A firm, casual banmal refusal. The structure '안 + verb' is direct and final, leaving little room for negotiation.
미성년자한테는 술 안 팔아.
I don't sell alcohol to minors.
Expressing jealousy or longing
부럽다.
"I'm jealous. / How enviable."
A simple, versatile banmal expression of envy or admiration. Can stand alone as a complete sentence in casual speech.
새 차를 샀다니 정말 부러워요.
You saw him in person? I'm so jealous.
나도 치과 의사 할래!
"I want to be a dentist too!"
'-ㄹ래' expresses the speaker's desire or intention in informal speech, often triggered by envy of someone else's situation.
저도 나중에 치과 의사 할래요!
I want to be a celebrity too. I'm so jealous.
Pushing someone away playfully
잘됐다, 쫓아냈다.
"Good, we got rid of him."
A casual, triumphant banmal expression used after successfully sending someone away. Often said with relief or amusement.
드디어 쫓아냈다. 이제 우리끼리 얘기하자.
We finally got rid of him. Let's talk just among ourselves now.
Grammar Patterns
-(으)ㄹ 것 같아 / -(아/어)서 [결과] 것 같아
Soft conjecture or emotional inference
This pattern expresses a guess or prediction based on what the speaker feels or observes. When combined with an emotion adjective + 아/어서, it explains a likely outcome: 'I feel so [X] that it seems I'll [Y].' It's common in casual spoken Korean to soften statements.
Practice sentences
너무 웃겨서 쓰러질 것 같아.
It's so funny I feel like I'm going to collapse.
배가 너무 고파서 뭐든 먹을 것 같아.
I'm so hungry it feels like I could eat anything.
💡 Don't confuse '-(으)ㄹ 것 같아' (prediction/conjecture) with '-는 것 같아' (observation about current state). The tense of the following verb changes the meaning significantly.
-아/어 보이다
Something appears / looks a certain way
Attached to an adjective stem, '-아/어 보이다' expresses how something or someone looks or seems to an observer. It is used to make inferences about appearance, not verified facts. In banmal, it becomes '-아/어 보여'.
Practice sentences
오늘 피곤해 보여. 잠을 못 잤어?
You look tired today. Didn't you sleep?
저 사람 나이보다 젊어 보여.
That person looks younger than their age.
💡 '-아/어 보이다' comments on visible appearance; don't use it for internal states. Say '피곤해 보여' (looks tired), not '배고파 보여' — the latter sounds awkward for feelings.
-나 봐
Soft inference / 'I guess that must be the case'
'-나 봐' (after verbs/adjectives) expresses a mild inference drawn from indirect evidence — something the speaker didn't personally witness but can reasonably conclude. It is softer and more tentative than '-겠어' and very common in conversational banmal.
Practice sentences
연락이 없는 걸 보니 바쁜가 봐.
Since there's no contact, I guess he must be busy.
표정을 보니 좋은 소식인가 봐.
Looking at your expression, I guess it must be good news.
💡 '-나 봐' follows verb/adjective stems directly in present tense. Don't add '-는' before it for adjectives: say '바쁜가 봐' not '바쁘는가 봐'.
Cultural Notes
Jesa (제사): Korean ancestral memorial rites
Jesa is a traditional Confucian ritual held on the anniversary of a family member's death or on major holidays. Food offerings are arranged on a special table according to strict rules — such as 어동육서 (fish in the east, meat in the west) and 홍동백서 (red fruit in the east, white fruit in the west). The scene shows generational tension: the mother wants to offer her own deceased mother's favorite food (a roll cake), while the traditional arrangement is expected. This reflects how modern Koreans navigate personal sentiment against inherited ritual.
단골 (regular customer) culture
In small Korean towns and local businesses, being a 단골 — a loyal regular — carries real social weight. Owners often give discounts, freebies (서비스), or special treatment to regulars. Du-sik applying a '단골 할인' even while charging a delivery fee reflects the warm, transactional-yet-intimate nature of small-community commerce in Korea.
Idol fan culture and parasocial intimacy
Ju-ri and Mi-seon's fervent reaction to learning Hye-jin treated a K-pop idol (JUNE) reflects the deep parasocial bonds Korean idol fans form. Following a celebrity's vlog to know their fears, carrying a signature doll, and knowing their full schedule is typical fan behavior. The phrase '내 JUNE에게 내려진 신성한 이름' (the sacred name bestowed upon my JUNE) humorously captures the possessive, reverent language fans use about idols.
Caffeine limits and minor health consciousness
Du-sik's precise calculation of Ju-ri's caffeine intake — citing the standard 2.5mg/kg guideline used by Korean health authorities — reflects a broader cultural awareness in Korea around nutritional and health guidelines for children and teenagers. It also shows a quirk of his character: encyclopedic knowledge deployed in everyday, small-town interactions.