Vocabulary
부담되다
verb
Beginner
to feel burdened; to feel pressured by something
emotions romance
선물이 너무 비싸서 부담돼요.
The gift is too expensive so I feel burdened.
과하다
adjective
Beginner
excessive; too much; over the top
emotions romance
음식을 너무 많이 시켜서 좀 과한 것 같아요.
I think ordering so much food is a bit excessive.
기념일
noun
Beginner
anniversary; a commemorative day
romance emotions
오늘이 우리 사귄 지 100일 기념일이에요.
Today is our 100-day anniversary.
특별하다
adjective
Beginner
special; out of the ordinary
romance emotions
오늘 하루가 정말 특별해요.
Today is truly special.
자중하다
verb
Beginner
to restrain oneself; to act with more self-control
emotions romance
앞으로 더 자중하겠습니다.
I will restrain myself more from now on.
박봉
noun
Beginner
meager salary; low pay
finance
박봉이라도 저는 이 일이 좋아요.
Even with a meager salary, I love this work.
어울리다
verb
Intermediate
to suit; to match; to look good on someone
romance emotions
그 색깔이 언니한테 정말 잘 어울려요.
That color really suits you well.
지니다
verb
Intermediate
to carry on one's person; to keep with oneself
romance
항상 이 사진을 몸에 지녀요.
I always carry this photo on me.
뒷돈
noun
Intermediate
under-the-table money; bribe money; kickback
finance emotions
그 사람이 뒷돈을 받았다는 게 밝혀졌어요.
It was revealed that that person had taken bribe money.
심야
noun
Intermediate
late night; the dead of night (often used for late-night screenings or events)
romance
심야 영화는 사람이 별로 없어서 좋아요.
I like late-night movies because there aren't many people.
곤란하다
adjective
Intermediate
to be in a difficult/awkward situation; to be troublesome
emotions finance
갑자기 그런 부탁을 하시면 저도 곤란해요.
If you make such a sudden request, it puts me in a difficult spot too.
센스 있다
expression
Intermediate
to have good taste/sense; to be perceptive about what others like
romance
선물 고르는 거 보니까 정말 센스 있어요.
Looking at how you pick gifts, you really have great taste.
무리하다
verb
Intermediate
to overdo it; to push oneself too hard; to strain oneself
finance emotions
몸이 안 좋을 때는 무리하지 마세요.
Please don't overdo it when you're not feeling well.
검색병
noun
Advanced
an obsession with searching things online; 'search addiction' (colloquial, humorous coinage)
romance
요즘 가격 비교하다가 검색병 걸린 것 같아요.
I think I've caught search addiction from comparing prices lately.
가격대가 나가다
expression
Advanced
to be in a high price range; to cost quite a bit (idiom)
finance
이 브랜드는 가격대가 꽤 나가요.
This brand's prices are quite up there.
의미심장하다
adjective
Advanced
full of hidden meaning; significant in an ominous or suggestive way
emotions romance
그 사람 표정이 왜 이렇게 의미심장해요?
Why does that person's expression look so full of hidden meaning?
Key Expressions
Expressing that something is too much / out of line
이건 아닌 것 같아요
"I think this is not right / this isn't it"
Used to politely but firmly say that something crosses a line or feels wrong; softer than a direct refusal.
이렇게 비싼 걸 받는 건 아닌 것 같아요.
I don't think it's right for me to receive something this expensive.
아무 날도 아닌데
"it's not even any particular day"
Used to point out that there is no special occasion to justify a gesture, heightening the sense that something is excessive.
아무 날도 아닌데 왜 이렇게 챙겨 줘요?
It's not even a special day — why are you taking such good care of me?
너무 과하잖아요
"it's just too excessive, isn't it"
The -잖아요 ending appeals to shared understanding; the speaker expects the listener to agree that something is obviously too much.
파티 준비가 너무 과하잖아요.
The party preparations are just too over the top, aren't they?
Expressing sincere feelings in romance
매일매일이 기념일이에요
"every single day is an anniversary"
A romantic expression used to convey that being with someone makes every ordinary day feel precious and worth celebrating.
좋아하는 사람이랑 있으면 매일매일이 기념일이에요.
When you're with someone you like, every day is an anniversary.
Deflecting or making an excuse
오늘은 안 될 것 같아요
"it seems like today won't work"
A polite, hedged way to decline a plan without giving a full explanation; the -(으)ㄹ 것 같아요 softens the refusal.
죄송한데 내일은 안 될 것 같아요.
I'm sorry, but it seems like tomorrow won't work for me.
밤에 근무가 있어 가지고
"because I have a night shift"
-어 가지고 is a spoken-language causal connector meaning 'because of / since'; common in excuses and informal explanations.
약속이 있어 가지고 조금 늦을 것 같아요.
I have an appointment, so I think I'll be a little late.
Expressing surprise or admiration
어떻게 그런 걸 나보다 더 잘 아냐?
"how do you know that better than me?"
Used to express playful disbelief or impressed surprise that someone has more knowledge about something than expected.
어떻게 그 노래를 저보다 더 잘 알아요?
How do you know that song better than I do?
Grammar Patterns
-(으)ㄹ 것 같아서
Softened reason with speculation
Attaches to a verb or adjective stem to express a speculative reason: 'because it seemed like ~'. The speaker softens their statement by framing it as their impression rather than a certainty. This is very common in polite explanations and gift-giving contexts.
Practice sentences
이 케이크가 맛있을 것 같아서 사 왔어요.
I bought this cake because I thought it would be delicious.
길이 막힐 것 같아서 일찍 출발했어요.
I left early because I thought the roads would be congested.
💡 Don't drop 것; saying '어울릴 것 같아서' vs '어울릴 것 같아요' — the -아서 makes it a reason clause leading to the next action, not a standalone sentence.
-는 거잖아요 / -인 거잖아요
Appeals to shared/obvious fact
Combines the nominalizer -는/-(으)ㄴ 것 with -이다 and the ending -잖아요, which appeals to something both speakers should already know or acknowledge. Used to assert something as obviously true or to gently challenge the listener to agree.
Practice sentences
이렇게 늦게 연락하면 걱정되는 거잖아요.
If you contact me this late, of course I'm going to worry — you know that.
혼자 다 하려고 하면 힘든 거잖아요.
Trying to do everything alone is hard — that's obvious.
💡 -잖아요 carries a mild reproach or reminder tone; avoid using it with someone much higher in social rank as it can sound presumptuous.
-(으)ㄹ 줄 알았어요
Mistaken expectation
Expresses that the speaker had assumed or expected something to be the case, but reality turned out differently. The pattern marks a gap between a past assumption and the actual outcome, making it ideal for expressing surprise or regret.
Practice sentences
오늘 쉬는 날인 줄 알았어요.
I thought today was a day off.
은철 씨가 벌써 도착했을 줄 알았어요.
I thought Eun-cheol would have already arrived.
💡 Don't confuse -(으)ㄹ 줄 알았어요 (mistaken expectation) with -(으)ㄹ 줄 알아요 (knowing how to do something); the past tense -았/었- is the key marker of the mistaken-belief meaning.
Cultural Notes
100원 when receiving a sharp gift
In Korean folk custom, when someone gives you a sharp object (scissors, a knife) or sometimes a leather item, you give them a small coin — typically 100원. This is to 'buy' the item symbolically, so it doesn't 'cut' the relationship. Eun-cheol asks for 100원 after giving Mi-seon a wallet, reflecting this lighthearted tradition.
박봉 (meager salary) and gift culture
In Korea, gift-giving is a major expression of care in romantic relationships, often linked to 기념일 (anniversary days) like 100-day, 200-day, and monthly anniversaries. Spending beyond one's 박봉 on gifts is seen as a sign of devotion, but Mi-seon's concern shows modern awareness that financial strain in a relationship is a serious issue.
궁서체로 써요 (writing in a serious font)
'궁서체' (gungseo font) is a formal, traditional Korean typeface associated with official documents and seriousness. Saying '궁서체로 써요' (I'm writing this in gungseo font) is a popular Korean internet expression meaning 'I am dead serious' — Mi-seon uses it to signal she is not joking about wanting a marriage-oriented relationship.
Military collectibles as a niche hobby
Military miniatures, replica weapons, and tactical collectibles (밀리터리 피규어/완구) are a popular niche hobby in Korea, especially among men who completed mandatory military service. Eun-cheol's hobby of selling toy guns at a night market is treated as slightly eccentric but endearing, and resolves Mi-seon's fear that he was engaging in corruption.