Vocabulary
규약
noun
Beginner
rules, agreement, code of conduct
family community
우리 둘이 같이 살 규약을 만들어 봐요.
Let's make some rules for the two of us living together.
호칭
noun
Beginner
form of address, what you call someone
romance family
연인 사이에 어떤 호칭을 써요?
What form of address do couples use?
소름이 돋다
expression
Beginner
to get goosebumps (from something awkward, creepy, or touching)
romance
그 노래를 들으면 소름이 돋아요.
I get goosebumps when I hear that song.
맡다
verb
Beginner
to take charge of, to be responsible for
family
설거지는 제가 맡을게요.
I'll take care of the dishes.
공동
noun
Intermediate
joint, shared, mutual
family community
공동 생활을 하려면 서로 배려가 필요해요.
To live together, you need to be considerate of each other.
국한되다
verb
Intermediate
to be limited to, to be confined to
community
배움은 학교에만 국한될 필요는 없어요.
Learning doesn't need to be limited to school alone.
스펙트럼
noun
Intermediate
spectrum, range
community
다양한 경험으로 스펙트럼을 넓혀 봐요.
Try broadening your spectrum through various experiences.
야망
noun
Intermediate
ambition, aspiration
romance
야망 있는 사람이 좋아요.
I like people who have ambition.
급진파
noun
Intermediate
radical type, someone who moves fast/aggressively
romance
저도 계획을 세울 때 좀 급진파예요.
I'm also a bit of a radical when making plans.
계획형 인간
expression
Intermediate
a planning-type person, someone who likes to plan everything
romance
저는 계획형 인간이라서 여행 일정을 꼭 짜요.
I'm a planning-type person, so I always make a travel itinerary.
봉사하다
verb
Intermediate
to volunteer, to serve (the community)
community
주말마다 지역 사회를 위해 봉사해요.
I volunteer for the community every weekend.
임기
noun
Advanced
term of office, period of tenure
community
반장 임기가 끝나면 새로운 사람을 뽑아야 해요.
When the section chief's term ends, we have to elect someone new.
Key Expressions
Expressing willingness / making a deal
-ㄹ게 / -을게
"I will (do something) — promise or commitment"
Used to express a voluntary commitment or promise to someone, implying the speaker is deciding to act for the listener's benefit.
그러면 제가 장을 볼게요.
Then I'll do the grocery shopping.
Philosophical / romantic explanation
내가 너고, 네가 나야
"I am you, and you are me"
A deeply romantic expression of unity, used here to explain why 자기 (literally 'oneself') is the perfect term for a partner — because you and your loved one become one.
우리가 정말 가까워지면, 내가 너고 네가 나인 기분이 들어요.
When we get truly close, it feels like I am you and you are me.
~가 되다
"to become ~"
Expresses transformation or a shift in identity or state, often used in emotional or philosophical contexts.
함께하다 보면 어느새 서로가 서로의 일부가 돼요.
As you spend time together, you somehow become a part of each other.
Expressing something is a waste / too good
너무 아깝다
"too much of a waste / too precious to waste"
Used when someone's talent, potential, or value is being underutilized. It's a compliment implying they deserve bigger things.
그 실력으로 여기에만 있기엔 너무 아까워요.
With that talent, it's such a waste to be only here.
개이득
"huge gain / total win (slang)"
Slang expression meaning 'total score' or 'jackpot' — used when something turns out to be way more beneficial than expected. 개 intensifies the noun 이득 (benefit/gain).
할인에 적립까지 되면 완전 개이득이에요.
If you get a discount AND earn points, that's a total win.
Grammar Patterns
-(으)ㄹ 필요는 없다
No need to do something
This pattern expresses that something is unnecessary. Adding 는 after 필요 adds a contrastive nuance — 'there's no particular need (even if you might think so).' It is softer and more nuanced than a flat negative command.
Practice sentences
꼭 비싼 선물을 살 필요는 없어요.
There's no need to buy an expensive gift.
모든 걸 혼자 할 필요는 없어요.
There's no need to do everything alone.
💡 Don't drop 는 — -(으)ㄹ 필요가 없다 is also correct but 는 adds emphasis and contrast.
-기로 하다
Deciding to do something
Attaches to a verb stem to express a decision or agreement to do something. It can be used for personal decisions or mutual agreements, and works in both past (기로 했다) and present (기로 할게) forms.
Practice sentences
우리 앞으로 같이 요리하기로 해요.
Let's decide to cook together from now on.
집안일은 반반씩 나누기로 했어요.
We decided to split the housework fifty-fifty.
💡 Do not confuse with -려고 하다 (intending to do) — -기로 하다 implies a firmer decision or agreement with someone else.
언제까지 -ㄹ 거야?
This pattern combines 언제까지 (until when) with the future/intention form -ㄹ 거야 to challenge or question someone's ongoing behavior. It often carries a gentle or playful push for change.
Practice sentences
언제까지 혼자 살 거예요?
How long are you going to keep living alone?
언제까지 그 일을 계속할 거예요?
How long are you going to keep doing that work?
💡 The casual form is -ㄹ 거야, the polite form is -ㄹ 거예요 — match your register to the situation.
Cultural Notes
호칭 (Terms of Address) in Korean Couples
Korean couples invest real thought in what to call each other. Options include the person's name (casual), name + 씨 (polite), 오빠/언니/형/누나 (older sibling terms used romantically), or 자기 (babe/honey). The choice signals the stage and tone of the relationship. Moving from a formal term to 자기 is often a meaningful milestone, as shown in this scene.
자기 — A Uniquely Korean Romantic Term
자기 literally means 'oneself' in Korean. When used between romantic partners, it carries the beautiful implication that your partner has become an extension of yourself. Du-sik's explanation — '내가 너고 네가 나야' — captures this perfectly and is considered one of the most romantic lines in the series.
반장 and 통장 — Community Leadership Roles
In Korean neighborhoods, 반장 is the leader of a small residential unit (반), responsible for communication and community events. The next level up is 통장, who oversees a larger area composed of several 반. These are informal but important civic roles, especially in close-knit communities like the village in this drama.
개- as a Slang Intensifier
In modern Korean slang, 개 is placed before nouns or adjectives to intensify them, similar to 'super' or 'mega' in English. So 개이득 means 'super beneficial' or 'total jackpot.' While common in informal speech among young Koreans, it is considered rough in formal settings and should not be used with elders or in professional contexts.