Actually, my birthday was this month. 🍰 Isn’t my birthday cake cute? What do people eat or do on birthdays in your country? In Korea, there is not really something you absolutely “have to do” on your birthday. But there is one food that many Koreans feel you “should eat.” It is miyeokguk. Miyeokguk…
Raise your hand if you are confident with spicy food! 🙋🏻♀️ In Korea, there are two words: “맵다(Mep-tta)” and “매콤하다(Mae-kom-ha-da).” “맵다(Mep-tta)” means spicy. It is usually used when something is clearly spicy, and sometimes even a little hard to eat. “매콤하다(Mae-kom-ha-da).” is a little softer. It means that the food has some spiciness, but…
Have you ever heard of “Temple Stay”? Korea does not have an official state religion, but Buddhism has had a big influence on Korean culture and history. About 16% of the population is Buddhist. For reference, about 50% of Koreans have no religion. Until not too long ago, many people thought of temples as…
As I mentioned last time, Korea and other countries use different shoe size systems. In Korea, shoe sizes are usually written in millimeters, like 230mm or 260mm. So today, let’s quickly find out your Korean shoe size!👟 Please note that shoe sizes can vary depending on the brand, design, and country. Also, US, UK,…
One thing you will almost definitely do while traveling is shopping! Today, let’s learn some simple Korean phrases you can use when shopping in Korea. How much is this? Use this when you want to ask the price of something. Korean: 이거 얼마예요? Dictionary Pronunciation: I-geo eol-ma-ye-yo Easy Pronunciation: Ee-guh uhl-ma-yeh-yo? Can I try…
Summer is slowly coming to an end in Korea. Korean summer is very humid and hot. Even so, summer is my favorite season. I love the activities I can do in summer, and I am the type of person who is easily affected by the weather. So I really love bright, sunny days. That…
What if you come to Korea and visit a convenience store? There are a few things the staff may ask you. Today, let’s practice a role-play using the convenience store Korean phrases we learned last time. (The staff takes the item.) (The staff puts chopsticks in the bag.) Was it a little longer than…
Today, let’s practice using the Korean adjective “섭섭하다.” 섭섭하다 Dictionary Pronunciation: Seop-seop-ha-da Easy Pronunciation: Suhp-suhp-ha-da As I explained in the last post, “섭섭하다” is a Korean adjective that is almost impossible to translate directly into English. In the dictionary, “섭섭하다” means: “To feel unhappy or dissatisfied because something did not meet your expectations.” It…
There are so many cafes in Korea. It is quite common to see three or four cafés in just one building. Today, let’s learn how to order coffee at a café in Korea. One Americano, please. Use this when you want to order one Americano. Korean: 아메리카노 하나 주세요. Dictionary Pronunciation: A-me-ri-ka-no ha-na ju-se-yo…
Koreans use the word “우리 (woo-ri)” a lot. “우리” means “our” or “us.” For example, how do you refer to your own country? “My country”? In Korea, people usually say “우리나라.(woo-ri-na-ra)” It literally means “our country.” Of course, it does not mean that Korea belongs only to a certain group of people. It is…