Vocabulary
덥다
adjective
Beginner
to be hot (weather)
daily life weather
오늘 날씨가 너무 더워서 밖에 나가기 싫어.
It's so hot today that I don't want to go outside.
배달하다
verb
Beginner
to deliver (food, packages)
daily life food
비 오는 날에는 음식 배달시켜 먹어.
On rainy days I order food delivered.
당첨되다
verb
Beginner
to win (a lottery, prize); to be selected
daily life luck
로또에 당첨되면 뭐 하고 싶어?
What do you want to do if you win the lottery?
안심되다
verb
Beginner
to feel relieved; to be at ease
emotions romance
네 목소리 듣고 나서야 안심됐어.
I only felt relieved after hearing your voice.
허락
noun
Beginner
permission; approval
daily life social norms
부모님한테 허락받고 나서 여행 갔어.
I got permission from my parents and then went on the trip.
실컷
adverb
Intermediate
to one's heart's content; as much as one wants
daily life food
오늘은 실컷 자도 돼, 내일 약속 없잖아.
You can sleep to your heart's content today — you have no plans tomorrow.
골다공증
noun
Intermediate
osteoporosis
health
우유를 많이 마시면 골다공증 예방에 좋다고 해.
They say drinking a lot of milk is good for preventing osteoporosis.
종종거리다
verb
Intermediate
to bustle about with quick, small steps; to scurry around
daily life emotions
그 애는 항상 종종거리면서 바쁘게 살더라.
That person always scurries around living busily.
훼손되다
verb
Intermediate
to be damaged; to be defaced; to be harmed
daily life social norms
계약서가 훼손되면 효력이 없어질 수 있어.
If the contract is damaged, it may lose its validity.
원상 복구
noun
Intermediate
restoration to original state; returning something to how it was
daily life social norms
공사 후에 반드시 원상 복구를 해야 돼.
After construction, you must definitely restore it to its original state.
대관료
noun
Intermediate
venue rental fee; location fee
daily life money
이 카페는 대관료가 생각보다 비싸더라.
The rental fee for this café was more expensive than I thought.
끼니
noun
Intermediate
a meal; a mealtime (refers to regular mealtimes)
food daily life
바쁠 때도 끼니는 거르지 마.
Even when you're busy, don't skip your meals.
슬쩍
adverb
Intermediate
quietly; sneakily; on the sly; without drawing attention
daily life romance
마음에 드는 사람한테 슬쩍 선물 놓고 왔어.
I quietly left a gift for someone I like.
특약 사항
noun
Advanced
special contract clause; special stipulation
social norms legal
계약할 때 특약 사항을 꼭 확인해야 나중에 문제 없어.
You must check the special clauses when signing a contract to avoid problems later.
양도하다
verb
Advanced
to transfer (ownership, rights); to cede
social norms legal
권리를 타인에게 양도할 때는 공증이 필요해.
When transferring rights to another person, notarization is needed.
혹여나
adverb
Advanced
in case; by any chance; lest (slightly formal/emphatic version of 혹시)
daily life social norms
혹여나 문제가 생기면 바로 연락해.
In case any problem comes up, contact me right away.
Key Expressions
Expressing relief and concern for someone
안심된다
"my heart is at ease / I'm relieved"
Conveys emotional reassurance after worry; often used when someone cares deeply about another person's wellbeing.
목소리 들으니까 이제 안심돼.
Now that I hear your voice, I feel at ease.
가끔 생각했지
"I thought about it sometimes"
A casual, understated way of admitting you have been thinking about someone or something — used to soften an emotional confession.
너 가끔 생각했어, 잘 지내나 하고.
I sometimes thought about you, wondering if you were doing well.
Setting conditions and rules
무조건 -아/어야 돼
"no matter what, must -"
Used to state a non-negotiable requirement or condition; adds firmness and emphasis that there are no exceptions.
이건 무조건 둘이서 같이 결정해야 돼.
This is something we absolutely must decide together.
조건 없이 -다는 조항
"a clause that says unconditionally -"
A semi-formal expression used when discussing contractual or agreement terms; combines casual speech with quasi-legal phrasing.
계약서에 조건 없이 환불한다는 조항을 넣어 줘.
Put a clause in the contract saying you'll give an unconditional refund.
절대 건드리면 안 돼
"you must absolutely not touch it"
A strong prohibition; 절대 intensifies the negative command to make clear something is completely off-limits.
그 서류 절대 건드리면 안 돼, 알겠어?
You must absolutely not touch those documents, understand?
Understated romantic expression
슬쩍 -했지
"just quietly did -"
Downplays a thoughtful or meaningful action as if it were casual; common in Korean romance when someone wants to hide how much they care.
네 생각나서 슬쩍 커피 사다 뒀어.
I was thinking of you so I quietly got you a coffee.
-ㄹ 것 같아서
"because I thought you'd probably -"
Expresses anticipating someone else's needs or state as a reason for your action; very common in caring or considerate speech.
배고플 것 같아서 미리 밥 해 뒀어.
I thought you'd probably be hungry so I made food in advance.
Warm small-talk and community interaction
무한으로 공급해 드릴 테니까
"since I'll supply you with an unlimited amount"
An exaggerated, playful offer used to show warmth and generosity toward an elder or someone you care for; common in community-building small talk.
음식 많이 했으니까 무한으로 드셔도 돼요.
I made a lot of food, so you can eat as much as you want.
덜 외롭지 않겠나?
"wouldn't it be a little less lonely?"
A gentle, indirect way of acknowledging loneliness while reframing a situation positively; typical of how older Korean speakers express vulnerability indirectly.
가끔 얼굴 보면 나도 덜 외롭지 않겠어?
If I see your face sometimes, wouldn't I be a little less lonely too?
Grammar Patterns
-(으)ㄹ 것 같아서
Anticipatory reason: 'because I thought [someone] would probably -'
This pattern combines the speculative future form -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 with the causal connector -아/어서 to explain that you took an action because you anticipated someone else's situation or need. It's especially warm in tone and signals thoughtfulness or consideration for others. Very natural in everyday conversational Korean.
Practice sentences
피곤할 것 같아서 일찍 끝내자고 했어.
I suggested we finish early because I thought you'd probably be tired.
심심할 것 같아서 영화 예매해 뒀어.
I booked movie tickets because I thought you'd probably be bored.
💡 Don't confuse with -(으)ㄹ 것 같아 (simple speculation); the addition of -서 makes it a reason clause, so a result action must follow in the sentence.
-(으)면은 무조건 [V]-아/어야 돼
Non-negotiable condition: 'if -, then you absolutely must -'
This structure combines a conditional clause -(으)면 (often stretched to -(으)면은 in spoken Korean for emphasis) with 무조건, meaning 'without exception / unconditionally,' followed by an obligation form -아/어야 돼. The result is a firm rule with no wiggle room. It appears frequently when negotiating terms, setting ground rules, or expressing strong personal expectations.
Practice sentences
늦으면은 무조건 연락해야 돼.
If you're going to be late, you absolutely must contact me.
계약 내용이 바뀌면은 무조건 다시 서명해야 돼.
If the contract terms change, you must unconditionally sign again.
💡 The -면은 form (with 은) is a spoken-register habit that adds slight emphasis; in written Korean -면 alone is standard. Don't translate 무조건 as 'no conditions' — it functions as an adverb meaning 'unconditionally' or 'no matter what.'
-(으)ㄴ 거야? / -(으)ㄴ 거예요?
Checking understanding or surprise: 'Did you really -? / You -ed, didn't you?'
This pattern attaches -(으)ㄴ 거야/예요? to a verb stem to seek confirmation about something you just discovered or find surprising. It's softer and more seeking than a plain past tense question, implying 'so that's what happened?' It is pervasive in K-drama dialogue when characters react to unexpected revelations.
Practice sentences
혼자 다 먹은 거야?
Did you eat all of it by yourself?
진짜 그냥 지나친 거예요?
You really just passed by?
💡 Notice -(으)ㄴ 거야? uses past/completed tense; for present or ongoing situations you'd use -는 거야? instead — mixing these up is the most common learner error.
Cultural Notes
반장 (Ban-jang) — neighborhood chief title
홍 반장 (Chief Hong) refers to a 반장, an informal community coordinator role found in Korean neighborhoods (통/반 system). This person manages small local matters, passes on information, and looks after residents — especially the elderly. Du-sik holding this role defines his character as the community's caretaker.
로또 선물 답례 — reciprocating a lottery ticket gift
In Korean social culture, 답례 (returning a favor in kind) is an important social norm. Eun-cheol buying Miseun fried chicken with his ₩5,000 lottery win — even though the chicken costs ₩7,000 — is played for gentle comedy but also shows his sincere and earnest character. The slight overpay is a sign of goodwill exceeding calculation.
선배/후배 relationship (선배 address term)
Hye-jin calls Seong-hyeon 선배 (sunbae), meaning senior or upperclassman from school or work. In Korean society, the sunbae-hubae bond carries lasting obligations of care and mentorship. When a sunbae shows up to personally deliver brunch, it signals deep personal investment beyond casual friendship — making Seong-hyeon's action romantically loaded.
Indirect confession through worry (걱정 표현)
Korean romantic expression often works through worrying about the other person rather than direct 'I like you' statements. Seong-hyeon listing what he used to worry about — is she sleeping enough, skipping meals, running around stressed — is a culturally recognizable love confession delivered through the language of concern. This indirect style (걱정해 왔어) is considered genuine and moving.