Vocabulary
굶다
verb
Beginner
to go without eating; to starve oneself
food emotions
바빠서 점심을 굶었어요.
I skipped lunch because I was busy.
약재
noun
Beginner
medicinal herbs; herbal medicine ingredients
medical community
한의원에 가면 여러 가지 약재를 볼 수 있어요.
You can see various medicinal herbs at a Korean medicine clinic.
솔선수범
noun
Beginner
leading by example; taking the initiative
work community
팀장님이 솔선수범해서 청소를 도와줬어요.
The team leader led by example and helped with the cleaning.
분리수거
noun
Beginner
sorted recycling; separating trash for recycling
community
한국에서는 분리수거를 꼭 해야 해요.
In Korea, you must sort your recycling.
식음을 전폐하다
expression
Intermediate
to completely stop eating and drinking; to refuse all food and drink
food emotions
실연당한 후에 며칠간 식음을 전폐했어요.
After the breakup, she refused to eat or drink for a few days.
주제넘다
adjective
Intermediate
presumptuous; overstepping one's bounds; speaking out of turn
emotions work
제가 주제넘은 말씀을 드린 건 아닌지 걱정이에요.
I'm worried I may have said something presumptuous.
큰소리치다
verb
Intermediate
to speak loudly in anger; to bluster; to shout at someone
emotions
괜히 큰소리쳐서 정말 미안해요.
I'm really sorry for raising my voice for no reason.
산만하다
adjective
Intermediate
scattered; restless; unfocused; easily distracted
emotions
교실이 시끄러우면 학생들이 산만해질 수 있어요.
Students can become distracted if the classroom is noisy.
화제 전환
noun
Intermediate
changing the subject; switching topics in a conversation
emotions work
분위기가 어색해지면 자연스럽게 화제 전환을 해 보세요.
If things get awkward, try naturally changing the subject.
어혈
noun
Intermediate
blood stasis; congested or stagnant blood in traditional Korean medicine
medical
한의학에서는 어혈을 풀어 주는 게 중요하다고 해요.
In traditional Korean medicine, it's said that relieving blood stasis is important.
몸값을 올리다
expression
Intermediate
to increase one's market value; to negotiate for a higher salary or status
work
새 직장 제안을 받으면 몸값을 올릴 좋은 기회가 돼요.
Receiving a new job offer can be a great chance to raise your market value.
하반신
noun
Advanced
the lower half of the body; lower body
medical
교통사고 이후로 하반신을 쓰지 못하게 됐어요.
Since the traffic accident, he has been unable to use the lower half of his body.
마비증
noun
Advanced
paralysis; a condition of bodily numbness or inability to move
medical
이 약재는 마비증 완화에 도움이 된다고 알려져 있어요.
This herbal ingredient is known to help alleviate paralysis.
달이다
verb
Advanced
to decoct; to boil down medicinal herbs in water to extract their essence
medical food
한약은 오래 달여야 효과가 좋아요.
Herbal medicine needs to be boiled for a long time to be effective.
Key Expressions
Deflecting or dismissing
쓸데없는 소리를 하고 그래
"going around saying useless things"
Used to scold someone for saying something unnecessary or unhelpful; conveys mild irritation and attempts to shut down a conversation.
왜 그렇게 쓸데없는 소리를 하고 그래요?
Why do you keep saying such unnecessary things?
티를 내다
"to show a sign / to let it show"
Used when someone visibly reveals their feelings or intentions, especially when they are trying not to. Often used in mild teasing.
긴장한 티를 내지 않으려고 했는데 다들 알아채 버렸어요.
I tried not to show that I was nervous, but everyone noticed anyway.
Expressing cause or blame
다 ~ 때문이니까
"it's all because of ~"
Places responsibility squarely on a person or thing; used to assign blame or explain the root cause of a situation, often with a slightly accusatory tone.
다 날씨 때문이니까 날씨 탓을 해야죠.
It's all because of the weather, so we can blame the weather.
괜히 ~ 해 가지고
"pointlessly / unnecessarily having done ~"
Expresses mild self-reproach or regret for having done something that turned out to be unnecessary or that caused a problem.
제가 괜히 그런 말을 해 가지고 분위기가 어색해졌어요.
The atmosphere got awkward because I unnecessarily said that.
Noticing a change in someone
왜 저러는지 몰라서 그래요?
"Is it that you don't know why they're acting that way?"
A rhetorical question implying the listener should already know the reason; used to nudge someone toward self-reflection or honesty.
그 친구가 왜 그러는지 몰라서 그래요?
Do you really not know why that friend is acting that way?
보기보다
"more than how it/they look"
Signals that someone or something defies first impressions, often used to soften a criticism or add a surprising quality.
이 음식이 보기보다 훨씬 맛있어요.
This food is much tastier than it looks.
Accepting hospitality or food
식사 맛있게 하세요
"Please eat your meal deliciously"
A polite farewell or parting wish said to someone who is about to eat; equivalent to 'Enjoy your meal' in Korean social settings.
나가면서 '식사 맛있게 하세요' 하고 인사했어요.
On the way out, I said 'Enjoy your meal' as a farewell.
Grammar Patterns
-아/어서 그래
Explaining the reason behind behavior
Attaches to a verb or adjective stem to explain the cause of a situation or behavior, often as a rhetorical explanation or gentle accusation. The '-서' indicates causation, and '그래' (from 그러다) means 'that's why (they act that way).' It is frequently used in conversation to pin behavior on a specific reason.
Practice sentences
피곤해서 그래요, 조금 쉬면 괜찮아질 거예요.
It's because they're tired — they'll be fine after a short rest.
처음이라서 그래요, 금방 익숙해질 거예요.
It's because it's their first time — they'll get used to it quickly.
💡 Do not confuse '-아/어서 그래' (explaining a reason) with '-기 때문이다' (stating a formal cause); '-아/어서 그래' sounds more conversational and is used to explain someone's behavior specifically.
-ㄹ 리가 (없다/있다)
Expressing disbelief or logical impossibility
Attached to a verb or adjective stem, this pattern expresses that something logically cannot be the case (없다) or could possibly be the case (있다). It conveys the speaker's strong judgment based on what they know about a person or situation, often carrying surprise or denial.
Practice sentences
그 사람이 거짓말을 했을 리가 없어요.
There's no way that person could have lied.
이렇게 맛있는 음식이 몸에 나쁠 리가 없죠.
There's no way food this delicious could be bad for you.
💡 The noun or verb before '-ㄹ 리가' must take the future/prospective modifier form (-ㄹ); do not use the plain present form (-는) before 리가.
-나 봐 / -나 봐요
Inferring a situation from evidence
Used after a verb or adjective stem to express the speaker's inference or conjecture based on observable evidence. It indicates the speaker is reasoning from what they see or hear rather than stating a known fact. The polite form '-나 봐요' fits this scene's dominant speech level.
Practice sentences
밥을 안 먹는 걸 보니 많이 힘드나 봐요.
Seeing that they're not eating, they must be having a really hard time.
표정이 어두운 걸 보니 무슨 일이 있나 봐요.
Judging by their dark expression, something must have happened.
💡 '-나 봐' is used for present/ongoing inference; for past inference, use '-았/었나 봐.' Mixing up the tense is a common learner error.
Cultural Notes
Samgyetang as communal care
Samgyetang (삼계탕), a whole chicken simmered with ginseng and glutinous rice, is traditionally eaten during the hottest days of summer (복날) to replenish stamina. In Korean culture, preparing and offering this dish to someone signals deep care and concern for their health, making Du-sik's gesture particularly meaningful — he is treating the PD's emotional distress as a physical one he can remedy with food.
Traditional Korean medicine (한의학) in daily life
References to medicinal ingredients like 서목태 (small black beans) and terms like 어혈 (blood stasis) reflect how deeply traditional Korean medicine concepts are embedded in everyday speech. Many Koreans are familiar with these terms through family practice, and Do-ha's knowledge signals a devoted son caring for an ill parent at home rather than solely relying on Western medicine.
Hierarchy and apology in the workplace
The exchange between Seong-hyeon and Do-ha — where a junior apologizes for speaking out of turn and the senior apologizes for raising his voice — illustrates the careful management of 체면 (face) in Korean workplace relationships. Even when a senior is clearly in the wrong emotionally, the junior apologizes first, and the senior's counter-apology ('나야말로') is a generous, face-saving act.
분리수거 and community responsibility
Sorted recycling (분리수거) is a legal requirement in South Korea, and community members actively enforce it in neighborhoods. Nam-suk directing the town official Yeong-guk to handle the recycling himself — using the phrase 솔선수범하시라고 — is humorous precisely because it subverts the power dynamic: an ordinary citizen holds a public official accountable in front of the community.