Vocabulary
짜증 나다
expression
Beginner
to be annoyed, to be irritated
emotions
버스가 또 늦어서 너무 짜증 나요.
The bus is late again — I'm so annoyed.
기다리다
verb
Beginner
to wait
daily life
음식이 나올 때까지 잠깐 기다릴게요.
I'll wait a little until the food comes out.
포기하다
verb
Beginner
to give up, to abandon
emotions romance
아직 포기하지 않았어요, 계속 노력할 거예요.
I haven't given up yet — I'm going to keep trying.
선물
noun
Beginner
gift, present
romance daily life
생일에 친구한테 선물을 줬어요.
I gave my friend a gift on their birthday.
완주하다
verb
Beginner
to complete a race, to finish a full course
sports perseverance
그 선수는 마라톤을 세 번이나 완주했어요.
That athlete completed the marathon three times.
챙기다
verb
Beginner
to look after, to take care of someone; to make sure someone has what they need
romance emotions
감기에 걸린 친구를 잘 챙겨 줬어요.
I took good care of my friend who had a cold.
애정 행각
noun
Intermediate
public display of affection (PDA); lovey-dovey behavior
romance
카페에서 커플들이 애정 행각을 해서 눈살이 찌푸려졌어요.
The couples at the café were being so lovey-dovey it made me frown.
번식력
noun
Intermediate
reproductive power, ability to breed/multiply
nature humor
토끼는 번식력이 매우 강한 동물이에요.
Rabbits are animals with very strong reproductive ability.
달달 외우다
expression
Intermediate
to memorize thoroughly by heart, to drill something until it sticks
studying romance
시험 전날 단어를 달달 외웠어요.
I drilled the vocabulary thoroughly the night before the exam.
근성
noun
Intermediate
grit, tenacity, never-give-up spirit
character perseverance
그 팀은 끝까지 포기 안 하는 근성이 있어요.
That team has the grit to never give up until the end.
모셔다드리다
verb
Intermediate
to escort someone (respectfully); to accompany and see someone to a place
polite language daily life
제가 역까지 모셔다드리겠습니다.
I'll escort you to the station.
까칠하다
adjective
Intermediate
to look haggard, rough, or drawn (of a person's face/skin); to be prickly in manner
appearance emotions
요즘 무리해서 그런지 얼굴이 까칠해 보여요.
Maybe it's because of overworking lately, but you look haggard.
뒤풀이
noun
Intermediate
after-party, post-event gathering (often for food and drinks)
social life food
공연이 끝나고 뒤풀이에서 다 같이 치킨을 먹었어요.
After the performance, we all ate chicken together at the after-party.
합리적
adjective
Intermediate
rational, reasonable, logical
communication daily life
그건 꽤 합리적인 제안이에요.
That's quite a reasonable suggestion.
발골하다
verb
Advanced
to debone (meat); to remove the bones from food
food humor
생선을 발골해서 아이한테 줬어요.
I deboned the fish and gave it to the child.
정복하다
verb
Advanced
to conquer, to dominate, to take over completely
humor exaggeration
그 브랜드는 전국 시장을 정복할 기세예요.
That brand looks set to conquer the national market.
홀쭉해지다
verb
Advanced
to become gaunt, to slim down noticeably (often implying unhealthiness)
appearance health
스트레스를 많이 받았는지 얼굴이 홀쭉해졌어요.
Their face has gotten quite gaunt — they must be under a lot of stress.
Key Expressions
Speech levels in this scene: Korean changes verb endings depending on who you're talking to. The short forms here (반말, banmal) are for close friends, partners, and children. Adding -요 makes a sentence polite enough for most adults you don't know well. Characters slide between the two mid-conversation — closer moments get shorter endings. Each expression below says who you can safely say it to.
Clarifying a misunderstanding
그런 뜻이 아니에요
"I didn't mean it that way"
Used to clarify that your words were misinterpreted; signals you want to prevent a misunderstanding from escalating.
🗣 You can say this to a friend your age, a coworker, or someone you're getting close to — the -요 ending keeps it polite enough for someone older or less familiar, but the casual wording still feels warm rather than stiff.
제가 그런 뜻이 아니에요, 다른 의미로 말한 거예요.
I didn't mean it that way — I was saying it in a different sense.
Signalling romantic interest indirectly
의미 있는
"meaningful / significant"
Used to elevate an ordinary object or moment by attaching personal or romantic significance to it.
🗣 Anyone can use this — friends, a partner, or even a coworker — because it simply describes something as having personal meaning, so it fits both casual chats and more heartfelt moments with someone close to you.
이 노래는 저한테 정말 의미 있는 곡이에요.
This song is a really meaningful piece to me.
Expressing perseverance and determination
포기 안 했어요
"I haven't given up"
A direct, emotionally charged declaration used to show ongoing commitment despite setbacks.
🗣 You can say this to a friend your age, a crush, or a partner; the -요 ending makes it polite enough for someone slightly older you're close with, but it's too personal and emotionally direct to say to your boss or a stranger.
아직 포기 안 했어요, 다시 도전할 거예요.
I haven't given up — I'm going to try again.
근성 하나는
"when it comes to grit / at least in terms of tenacity"
A self-deprecating yet proud expression that singles out one strong trait (grit) while implicitly admitting weaknesses in other areas.
🗣 You can use this when talking about yourself to a friend your age, a crush, or a teammate — it's a humble yet proud boast that works best between people who are already comfortable with each other, not with a boss or elder you need to impress.
저 근성 하나는 누구한테도 안 져요.
When it comes to grit, I don't lose to anyone.
Proposing or confirming a plan
우리 연애하겠어요?
"can we date? / shall we be in a relationship?"
A rhetorical or genuine question used to propose formally starting a romantic relationship; the exasperated tone can signal teasing or earnestness.
🗣 You would say this to a crush or a partner you're already close with; the -요 ending keeps it from sounding rude, but the blunt, exasperated tone is still too familiar to use with a boss, a teacher, or someone you've just met.
이렇게 계속 서로 눈치만 보면 우리 연애하겠어요?
If we keep tiptoeing around each other like this, are we ever going to date?
모셔다드리겠습니다
"I will escort you (respectfully)"
A polite, slightly formal offer to accompany someone to their destination; used when the speaker wants to show attentiveness or gallantry.
🗣 A younger person or someone in a lower position at work would say this to an older person, a teacher, or a boss to show real respect and care — it's too formal and deferential to use with friends your own age or someone younger than you.
제가 집까지 모셔다드리겠습니다.
I'll escort you all the way home.
Grammar Patterns
-는 게 아니고 / -(이)가 아니고
Correcting a misperception: 'It's not that…'
This pattern is used to deny the listener's assumption or reframe a misunderstanding before presenting the real explanation. '-는 게 아니고' follows action verbs (A/V-는 게 아니고), while '-(이)가 아니고' follows nouns. It typically appears mid-sentence, with the correction following in the second clause.
Practice sentences
피곤한 게 아니고, 그냥 생각이 많아요.
It's not that I'm tired — I just have a lot on my mind.
화가 난 게 아니고, 그냥 실망한 거예요.
It's not that I'm angry — I'm just disappointed.
거짓말을 하는 게 아니고, 아직 확인을 못 했어요.
I'm not lying — I just haven't confirmed it yet.
💡 Don't drop 게: saying '아니고' alone without the preceding clause feels abrupt and can sound rude. Always provide the full frame of what you're denying.
-(으)ㄹ 테니까
Speaker's intention/will as a reason: 'I will … so / since I'll …'
This pattern expresses the speaker's strong intention or prediction as the reason or condition for something in the following clause. It often softens a suggestion or implies consideration for the listener — 'I'll do X, so you can/should Y.' It is distinct from plain -기 때문에 in that it conveys the speaker's volition, not just objective fact.
Practice sentences
제가 먼저 자리를 잡을 테니까, 천천히 오세요.
I'll grab seats first, so take your time coming.
제가 요리할 테니까, 설거지만 해 주세요.
Since I'll be cooking, just take care of the dishes.
제가 택시를 부를 테니까 잠깐만 기다려 주세요.
I'll call a taxi, so please wait just a moment.
💡 Remember the speaker's future action goes before 테니까, and the listener-directed request or consequence comes after. Don't confuse with -(으)니까 alone, which expresses a general reason rather than the speaker's intention.
-지 않았던 건데
Retrospective soft regret: 'It wasn't that I didn't … but…'
This pattern combines past-retrospective -았/었던 with -건데 to gently reveal an underlying reason or feeling that was not apparent before. It carries a nuance of mild self-reflection or regret and is often used to explain why something turned out differently than expected, implying the speaker wishes things had gone another way.
Practice sentences
관심이 없었던 건데, 이야기를 듣고 보니 마음이 바뀌었어요.
It wasn't that I had no interest — but after hearing the story my mind changed.
일부러 피했던 건데, 오해가 생긴 것 같아요.
It wasn't that I was deliberately avoiding you — but it seems a misunderstanding arose.
💡 The -던 before 건데 signals you are reflecting on a past state or habit, not just a single completed action. Confusing it with -았던 거예요 changes the nuance to a simple past explanation without the soft regret undertone.
Shadow Drills
Listen · Repeat · Reveal · Repeat again. Match the rhythm and intonation of the Korean line.
01
오늘 너무 바빠서 점심도 못 먹었어요, 짜증 나요.
I was so busy today I couldn't even eat lunch — it's so annoying.
💡 Practise the natural rhythm of 짜증 나요 as a two-beat complaint phrase; let the final vowel fall expressively.
02
제가 지하철역까지 모셔다드리겠습니다.
I'll escort you to the subway station.
💡 Focus on the long compound verb 모셔다드리겠습니다 — link each syllable smoothly and keep the polite ending crisp.
03
이건 우리한테 의미 있는 장소예요.
This is a place that holds meaning for us.
💡 Practise the phrasing 우리한테 의미 있는 — feel how 의미 있는 functions as a modifier before a noun.
04
아직 포기하지 않았어요, 계속 도전할 거예요.
I haven't given up yet — I'm going to keep challenging myself.
💡 Concentrate on the contrast between the two clauses; let a brief natural pause fall between them.
05
화가 난 게 아니고, 그냥 피곤한 거예요.
It's not that I'm angry — I'm just tired.
💡 Nail the rhythm of 게 아니고 as a mid-sentence pivot; keep it smooth so the correction feels gentle, not defensive.
06
제가 먼저 도착할 테니까 편하게 오세요.
I'll arrive first, so come at your own pace.
💡 Practise 테니까 as a linking bridge; the intonation should rise slightly on 테니까 before landing on the second clause.
07
사실 관심이 없었던 건데, 자꾸 신경 쓰여요.
It wasn't that I had no interest — but I keep thinking about it.
💡 Focus on -었던 건데 as a reflective phrase; let your voice soften to convey the nuance of mild, inward surprise.
Cultural Notes
전기 구이 통닭 (Rotisserie Chicken Food Trucks)
Rotisserie chicken trucks — where whole chickens are slow-roasted on a spinning spit — are a beloved street-food staple in Korean towns and neighborhoods. They are associated with everyday warmth and nostalgia, making them a fitting symbol for a wholesome, down-to-earth romance rather than a fancy date setting.
복권 당첨 선물 (Lottery Win Gift as a Romantic Gesture)
In Korean courtship culture, small reciprocal gifts carry outsized symbolic weight. Returning or mirroring a gift — even a humble one like a lottery-win chicken — signals 'I remember what you did for me and I'm returning the feeling,' making the gesture deeply meaningful without requiring words.
삐지다 (Sulking as Emotional Communication)
Korean couples and close friends often use 삐지다 (to sulk/pout) as an indirect but recognized signal of hurt feelings. It is understood by both parties as an invitation to be coaxed and reassured, rather than a serious withdrawal. Denying that you are sulking ('삐지긴 뭘, 누가 삐져') while clearly showing it is a familiar playful-serious dynamic in Korean relationships.
공식 연애 (Making a Relationship 'Official')
In Korean dating culture, there is a recognized moment of 사귀자 ('let's date') or an equivalent declaration that formally starts a relationship. Unlike some Western contexts where exclusivity is assumed gradually, Korean couples often mark this as a distinct milestone — complete with earnest speeches, as Euncheol demonstrates — giving the relationship a clear, acknowledged start date.