Vocabulary
울다
verb
Beginner
to cry, to weep
emotions
왜 울어? 무슨 일 있어?
Why are you crying? Did something happen?
어색하다
adjective
Beginner
to feel awkward, uncomfortable, unnatural
emotions
처음 만나는 사람이랑 있으면 좀 어색해.
It feels a bit awkward being with someone I'm meeting for the first time.
걱정하다
verb
Beginner
to worry
emotions family
나 잘 지낼 테니까 걱정하지 마.
I'll be doing fine, so don't worry.
비싸다
adjective
Beginner
to be expensive
work
이 식당 음식이 맛있긴 한데 너무 비싸.
The food at this restaurant is good, but it's way too expensive.
뒷바라지
noun
Beginner
taking care of someone from behind the scenes; supporting someone through a difficult period (e.g. military service)
family community
부모님이 내 대학 생활 뒷바라지를 해 주셨어.
My parents supported me through my university life.
책임지다
verb
Intermediate
to take responsibility for something/someone
community family
내가 이 일 책임지고 끝낼게.
I'll take responsibility and finish this job.
정규직
noun
Intermediate
permanent (full-time) employment; regular employee status
work
인턴 끝나고 정규직으로 전환됐어.
After the internship ended, I was converted to a full-time position.
인턴
noun
Intermediate
intern; internship position
work
이번 여름에 대기업 인턴에 합격했어.
This summer I passed the internship selection at a large company.
삥 뜯다
expression
Intermediate
to extort money from someone; to squeeze money out of someone (slang, often used humorously among close people)
community
야, 형이 맨날 나한테 삥 뜯어.
Hey, my older brother is always squeezing money out of me.
살려 내다
verb
Intermediate
to bring someone back to life; to save (someone who has died) — used in emotional demands
emotions family
그 사람을 살려 낼 수 있었는데 못 했어.
I could have saved that person but I couldn't.
오열하다
verb
Intermediate
to sob uncontrollably, to wail
emotions
소식을 듣고 그 자리에서 오열했어.
Upon hearing the news, she wailed uncontrollably right there.
보호막
noun
Intermediate
protective shield; barrier (can be used literally or figuratively)
emotions
사람들 앞에서는 항상 보호막을 치고 있어.
In front of people, I always put up a protective shield.
납량
noun
Advanced
the experience of feeling a chill/shudder (used in the context of 납량 특집 — a summer horror special designed to make viewers feel cool through fright)
community
여름마다 방송국에서 납량 특집을 만들잖아.
Every summer the broadcasters put out spine-chilling horror specials, right?
월척
noun
Advanced
an exceptionally large catch (lit. 'one cheok' = approx. 30cm); used to describe landing a big fish or, metaphorically, a great catch/prize
community
오늘 드디어 월척을 잡았어, 진짜 대박이야.
Today I finally caught a whopper — it's absolutely amazing.
인심 쓰다
expression
Advanced
to be generous; to show big-heartedness (often used sarcastically or playfully when someone acts like they're being extremely generous)
community emotions
야, 커피 한 잔 사 주면서 인심 쓴다고?
Hey, you're calling yourself generous for buying just one cup of coffee?
Key Expressions
Denying an emotional reaction
울긴 누가 울어
"crying — who's crying"
A colloquial denial structure (V긴 누가 V어) used to pushback against an accusation, often when the denial is not entirely believable. Shows embarrassment or defensiveness.
화나긴 누가 화나, 난 괜찮아.
Who's angry — not me, I'm fine.
엎드려서 먼지 들어가서 그렇
"it's because I was lying face-down and dust got in (my eyes)"
A humorous, unconvincing excuse to cover up crying. Shows how Koreans use elaborate deflection to avoid admitting vulnerability among friends.
눈이 빨간 건 그냥 바람 때문에 먼지 들어가서 그렇지.
My eyes are red just because the wind blew some dust in, that's all.
Making promises / expressing future commitment
-(으)ㄹ 테니까
"I will [do X], so / since I intend to [do X]"
Expresses the speaker's firm intention or expectation, with the implication that the listener can relax or act accordingly. Common in reassurances and promises.
내가 다 알아서 할 테니까 넌 쉬어.
I'll take care of everything, so you rest.
무조건 ~ 된다
"definitely / no matter what ~ will happen"
무조건 adds absolute certainty or determination to a prediction. Used to pump yourself or others up, often in competitive or hopeful contexts.
이번 시험은 무조건 합격한다, 열심히 공부했으니까.
I'll definitely pass this exam — I studied so hard.
Expressing guilt and raw grief
미안해 / 미안합니다
"I'm sorry (informal) / I'm sorry (formal)"
In this scene, the shift from 미안해 to 미안합니다 signals Du-sik's deepening devastation — he drops into formal speech not out of politeness but out of overwhelming contrition, prostrating himself emotionally.
아무리 미안해도 그 말로는 부족할 것 같아.
No matter how sorry I am, those words feel like they're not enough.
Playful refusal / price negotiation between friends
얼마면 돼?
"How much is enough? / How much will it take?"
A casual expression asking what sum of money would satisfy someone. Used literally in negotiation or playfully/sarcastically among friends.
얼마면 돼? 내가 살게.
I want to buy this bag—how much would it take?
두 장 얹어 줄게
"I'll add two sheets (200,000 won) on top"
얹다 means to place/add on top; 장 is a counter for bills and colloquially means 100,000 won. Together this phrase means 'I'll sweeten the deal by adding X.'
원래 가격에 한 장 더 얹어 줄 테니까 다시 생각해 봐.
I'll add 100,000 won on top of the original price, so think it over again.
Grammar Patterns
-(으)ㄹ 테니까
Expressing firm intention as a reason/reassurance
Attaches to a verb stem to express the speaker's strong intention or prediction, used as a basis for a following suggestion or command. It reassures the listener that because the speaker will handle something, the listener need not worry or can act freely. The 테 comes from the bound noun 터 (meaning 'the fact/basis') and 이다, giving it a confident, declarative tone.
Practice sentences
내가 먼저 가 있을 테니까 천천히 와.
I'll go ahead and wait, so take your time.
밥은 내가 할 테니까 넌 청소만 해.
I'll cook, so you just handle the cleaning.
💡 Don't confuse -(으)ㄹ 테니까 (speaker's own intention) with -(으)ㄹ 거니까 (neutral prediction); -(으)ㄹ 테니까 implies the speaker is personally committed to the action.
-아/어서 그렇다
Giving a reason as an excuse or explanation
Uses -아/어서 (causal connector) followed by 그렇다 to mean 'it's because of ~' or 'that's why ~.' This construction appears constantly in everyday Korean to deflect, explain, or excuse something. In this scene it is used comically as Du-sik desperately explains away his tears.
Practice sentences
많이 먹어서 그런지 배가 좀 불편해.
Maybe it's because I ate too much, but my stomach is a bit uncomfortable.
피곤해서 그래, 좀 쉬면 괜찮아질 거야.
It's because I'm tired — I'll be fine once I rest a bit.
💡 Learners often drop 그렇 and end the sentence with -아/어서 alone, which sounds incomplete; always include 그래/그렇다 to complete the 'that's why' structure.
-았/었어야지
Expressing regret or blame over what should have happened
Combines the past tense marker -았/었- with the obligation/expectation ending -아야지 to mean 'should have done.' It conveys strong regret or reproach — either self-directed or aimed at another person. In grief and confrontation, this pattern carries an accusatory, emotionally charged weight.
Practice sentences
그때 솔직하게 말했어야지, 왜 참았어?
You should have spoken honestly then — why did you hold back?
미리 연락했어야지, 그냥 오면 어떡해.
You should have contacted me in advance — how could you just show up?
💡 Do not confuse -았/었어야지 (past unfulfilled obligation / reproach) with -아/어야지 (present intention or mild obligation going forward); the past tense marker -았/었 is what signals that the action did NOT happen and should have.
Cultural Notes
Speaking to an ancestor's altar (제사)
In Korean culture, memorial rites (제사) involve offerings and respectful speech directed at the deceased's spirit, represented by a photograph or tablet at the altar. Jeong-u's speech to Du-sik's grandfather — introducing himself, explaining his relationship, and making promises — is a recognizable social act. Non-family members addressing the altar this way signals deep, family-level intimacy and responsibility.
The social weight of 'survivor guilt' in Korean expression
Seon-a's line 네가 죽었어야지 ('You should have died instead') is an extreme expression rarely taken as a literal wish — it externalizes unbearable grief. In Korean emotional culture, this type of raw outburst at the person who survived is understood as grief rather than a true accusation, though it leaves lasting psychological scars. Du-sik's silent acceptance without self-defense shows he internalizes the blame fully.
Informal money counting: 장 (장 = 100,000 won)
In casual Korean speech, 한 장, 두 장 literally mean 'one sheet, two sheets' but colloquially refer to 100,000-won banknotes — so 두 장 = 200,000 won and 다섯 장 = 500,000 won. This shorthand is common in informal haggling or playful financial talk between friends and is not used in formal or written contexts.
납량 특집 — Korea's summer horror tradition
Every summer, Korean broadcasters air 납량 특집 (spine-chilling specials) — variety shows, dramas, or documentaries featuring ghosts, horror, and urban legends. The idea is that being scared will make viewers feel cool during the hot summer. Characters referencing this (홍콩 할매, 빨간 마스크, 만득이 귀신) are invoking shared childhood fears from classic Korean urban legend lore, marking them as of the same generation.