Essential Words to Know For a Korean Drama Fan : Common unique words in vocabulory
Friday, April 24, 2015
These words appear many times in Kdrama. And of course, it's okay even if you don't know them. But if you do know them, they surely make your drama/movie watching more interesting.
Must know words from everyday vocabulary...
Dhaebak : This word is heard mostly among youngsters and this one could mildly translate to something super, wonderful, big event sort of incident.
Wonjon : An adjective used like 'very' or 'really' as in 'a lot'.
Hul : An exclamation sound.
Jjang : Meaning 'best'.
Chincha : Really / Actually
Chongmal : Really / Truthfully
Kwenchana : The word mean 'Okay' or alright. It's mostly used as a question and answer. If it's 'kwenchana?' as question, then it's 'are you okay?' and if it's 'kwenchana' as an answer then it is 'I am okay'.
Some unique words...
Chossarang : Meaning 'First love'. ('Sarang' means love). First Love is really important in Kdramas. Hence this word is used at least a 1000 times in Kdramas. This word is a poem and novel in itself.
Saturi : This one is one of a kind unique word. Korean language has different dialects in different provinces. And the kind of Korean spoken in Seoul is supposed to be proper. All the other provinces's dialect is considered to be 'saturi'. It also mean as 'country dialect' and someone who uses saturi when speaking is considered to be a country bumpkin, and not a city person. ( You can read more about saturi in here, the Wikipedia page)
Dhaksal : Goosebumps. The word literally translate to 'chicken flesh' (dhak - chicken, sal - flesh). It refers to how a raw chicken looks like having goosebumps. Koreans usually use the word 'dhaksal' for corny and too much melodramatic things. If someone is saying over dramatic things or if some couple are a little more lovey-dovey than others, they say 'ah...dhaksal' (I am getting goosebumps).
Chaebol : Chaebol is a word for someone really rich. Big business families that control large, highly successful businesses are considered to be chaebol families. And the sons and daughters of these type of families are said to be chaebol kids.
Kumminaam : Flower boy. Many of you already might have heard this word. It's used in the title of a lot of Korean Dramas. Kumminam means a really handsome boy. The word is made using combining the words 'kutch' meaning flower and 'minaam' using handsome guy. So it's literally translate to Flower Boy.
Maknae : Maknae is a person who is the youngest among a group of people. The youngest in a family is called 'maknae', so is the youngest one in a Idol group. And in a place of work, the person in the lowest designation is called as the 'maknae'.
Aagyo : Aagyo mean cuteness. Being cute is really a big thing for east Asian countries, like Japan and Korea. And hence someone with a lot of 'aagyo' is adored by everyone. 'Aagyo' also means cute talks or cute gestures. So even a non-cute person can pull out aagyo by talking cutely and doing cute gestures.
Wanjga bhong/ gumju byong : Literal meaning Prince disorder / Princess disorder. This words are commonly heard in Kdramas. These are used to refer to a person who thinks of himself so highly, or have a bit of 'i'm the best' attitude. They are sarcastically compared to having a mental disorder of having illusion that they are prince or princess.
Joseon/Choseon : Joson is the old name for Korea. Korea was Joseon from year 1392 to 1897. (Read more about Joson here, the Wikipedia Page)
Goryeo : Korea was named as 'Goryeo' from years 918 to 1392. The name 'Korea' originated from this old name 'Goryeo'.(Read more about Ghoryo here, the Wikipedia page)
Saeguk : Saeguk is a Korean Drama which story happen hundreds of years back in time. Mostly Saeguks portray Joson era, and in some times Goryeo era.
Hanbuk: Hanbuk is the traditional Korean clothes.
English words...
Some words that are English words, or at least sound to be English words that are common in the vocabulary. These have really unique meanings in Korean vocabulary.
Fighting : (Many of you already know the meaning... Still for those who does not know) 'Fighting' is used as a cheer on term. It's like saying 'chin up'/ 'Go'. It means put on courage and fight on to any situation. This term is most commonly used one in Kdramas and movies.
Call : Call means 'deal' or 'okay, done' in Korean vocabulary. It's like 'seal the deal' kind of a word.
Handphone : You have guessed it right. It's Korean commonly used word for mobile phone.
Skinship : Skinship means anything involving touching between a couple. From holding hands, to hugs and back hugs to kissing and to the next level, everything is grouped together as 'skinship'.
Some : If two people are said to be in a 'some' relationship, then it denotes that they are not 'just friends'. but are not yet dating either. That kind of in between relationship is said to be having 'some' in Korean vocabulary.
MT : Membership Training. Though an English word, this one I heard first in Korean Dramas. Students go on MT when they are in university, and Workers of a company are also taken to MT a lot.
CF : Commercial Film. It's the advertisements that are shot. The kind that appear on television.
Nakkasan : This word actually interests me a lot. And it did took me a while to know the meaning of this word. In Korean vocabulary, Nakkasan is a person who got work (in a company or anywhere) with recommendations, internal connections or in any illegal way. That worker will be termed as 'nakkasan' and might be looked down by other workers.
Netizens : This one is a common English word, but can be heard used in Korean Vocabulary a lot. Netizen is a person who use internet a lot. Mostly the people who comment on social situations and celebrity news and post interesting things online.
Shortening English Words :
Koreans have a knack of shortening some English Words to use in Everyday life. Especially the names of some electrical appliances.
AirCon : Air Condition
Televi : Television
Apart : Apartment
Places that are total part of Korean Culture
Nore bang : Nore bang literally translate to 'Song Room', but it refers to Karaoke place. Karaoke place is another inevitable part of Korean culture.
Chimchil bang : Sauna. Another inevitable thing in Korean Culture.
Terms related with beauty and body
Uljjang : It refers to a person with person with beautiful face. Male or female all pretty and handsome people are considered uljjang. The word is made combining the word 'ulgul' (meanning 'face') and 'jjang' (meaning 'best').
S-line : It refers to a curvy body shape of a girl. The body is so curvy that it forms a sort of 'S' shape.
Bagal : It refers to someone with a baby face and glamorous/muscular body. This term applies to both male and female. Well, among Korean celebrities it is not hard to find that someone with such a cute face to have such a glamorous/muscular body. Those are said to be the Bagals.
Chocolate abs : What others refer to as six-pack abs. It gained this name as the abs form the shape of a chocolate bar.
Must know words from everyday vocabulary...
Dhaebak : This word is heard mostly among youngsters and this one could mildly translate to something super, wonderful, big event sort of incident.Wonjon : An adjective used like 'very' or 'really' as in 'a lot'.
Hul : An exclamation sound.
Jjang : Meaning 'best'.
Chincha : Really / Actually
Chongmal : Really / Truthfully
Kwenchana : The word mean 'Okay' or alright. It's mostly used as a question and answer. If it's 'kwenchana?' as question, then it's 'are you okay?' and if it's 'kwenchana' as an answer then it is 'I am okay'.
Muncha : Mobile Text Message.
Hakyo : School
Hwesa : Company / Corporate office / Any place of work
Chesu hamnida : Sorry (Formal)
Kamsa hamnida : Thank you (Formal)
Miyane : Sorry (Informal)
Gumavo : Thank you (Informal)
Anyonghaseyo : Hello
Anyonghe ghaseyo : Goodbye
Saranghae : I love you
Chuvahae : I like you
Chossarang : Meaning 'First love'. ('Sarang' means love). First Love is really important in Kdramas. Hence this word is used at least a 1000 times in Kdramas. This word is a poem and novel in itself.Saturi : This one is one of a kind unique word. Korean language has different dialects in different provinces. And the kind of Korean spoken in Seoul is supposed to be proper. All the other provinces's dialect is considered to be 'saturi'. It also mean as 'country dialect' and someone who uses saturi when speaking is considered to be a country bumpkin, and not a city person. ( You can read more about saturi in here, the Wikipedia page)
Dhaksal : Goosebumps. The word literally translate to 'chicken flesh' (dhak - chicken, sal - flesh). It refers to how a raw chicken looks like having goosebumps. Koreans usually use the word 'dhaksal' for corny and too much melodramatic things. If someone is saying over dramatic things or if some couple are a little more lovey-dovey than others, they say 'ah...dhaksal' (I am getting goosebumps).
Kumminaam : Flower boy. Many of you already might have heard this word. It's used in the title of a lot of Korean Dramas. Kumminam means a really handsome boy. The word is made using combining the words 'kutch' meaning flower and 'minaam' using handsome guy. So it's literally translate to Flower Boy.
Aagyo : Aagyo mean cuteness. Being cute is really a big thing for east Asian countries, like Japan and Korea. And hence someone with a lot of 'aagyo' is adored by everyone. 'Aagyo' also means cute talks or cute gestures. So even a non-cute person can pull out aagyo by talking cutely and doing cute gestures.
Wanjga bhong/ gumju byong : Literal meaning Prince disorder / Princess disorder. This words are commonly heard in Kdramas. These are used to refer to a person who thinks of himself so highly, or have a bit of 'i'm the best' attitude. They are sarcastically compared to having a mental disorder of having illusion that they are prince or princess.
Joseon/Choseon : Joson is the old name for Korea. Korea was Joseon from year 1392 to 1897. (Read more about Joson here, the Wikipedia Page)
Goryeo : Korea was named as 'Goryeo' from years 918 to 1392. The name 'Korea' originated from this old name 'Goryeo'.(Read more about Ghoryo here, the Wikipedia page)
Saeguk : Saeguk is a Korean Drama which story happen hundreds of years back in time. Mostly Saeguks portray Joson era, and in some times Goryeo era.
Hanbuk: Hanbuk is the traditional Korean clothes.
English words...
Some words that are English words, or at least sound to be English words that are common in the vocabulary. These have really unique meanings in Korean vocabulary.
Fighting : (Many of you already know the meaning... Still for those who does not know) 'Fighting' is used as a cheer on term. It's like saying 'chin up'/ 'Go'. It means put on courage and fight on to any situation. This term is most commonly used one in Kdramas and movies.
Call : Call means 'deal' or 'okay, done' in Korean vocabulary. It's like 'seal the deal' kind of a word.
Handphone : You have guessed it right. It's Korean commonly used word for mobile phone.
Skinship : Skinship means anything involving touching between a couple. From holding hands, to hugs and back hugs to kissing and to the next level, everything is grouped together as 'skinship'.Some : If two people are said to be in a 'some' relationship, then it denotes that they are not 'just friends'. but are not yet dating either. That kind of in between relationship is said to be having 'some' in Korean vocabulary.
MT : Membership Training. Though an English word, this one I heard first in Korean Dramas. Students go on MT when they are in university, and Workers of a company are also taken to MT a lot.
CF : Commercial Film. It's the advertisements that are shot. The kind that appear on television.
Nakkasan : This word actually interests me a lot. And it did took me a while to know the meaning of this word. In Korean vocabulary, Nakkasan is a person who got work (in a company or anywhere) with recommendations, internal connections or in any illegal way. That worker will be termed as 'nakkasan' and might be looked down by other workers.
Netizens : This one is a common English word, but can be heard used in Korean Vocabulary a lot. Netizen is a person who use internet a lot. Mostly the people who comment on social situations and celebrity news and post interesting things online.
Shortening English Words :
Koreans have a knack of shortening some English Words to use in Everyday life. Especially the names of some electrical appliances.
AirCon : Air Condition
Televi : Television
Apart : Apartment
Places that are total part of Korean Culture
Nore bang : Nore bang literally translate to 'Song Room', but it refers to Karaoke place. Karaoke place is another inevitable part of Korean culture.
Chimchil bang : Sauna. Another inevitable thing in Korean Culture.
Terms related with beauty and body
Uljjang : It refers to a person with person with beautiful face. Male or female all pretty and handsome people are considered uljjang. The word is made combining the word 'ulgul' (meanning 'face') and 'jjang' (meaning 'best').S-line : It refers to a curvy body shape of a girl. The body is so curvy that it forms a sort of 'S' shape.
Bagal : It refers to someone with a baby face and glamorous/muscular body. This term applies to both male and female. Well, among Korean celebrities it is not hard to find that someone with such a cute face to have such a glamorous/muscular body. Those are said to be the Bagals.
Chocolate abs : What others refer to as six-pack abs. It gained this name as the abs form the shape of a chocolate bar.