Archive #12

Annyeong Daily #12: answers explained

October 16, 2026 · Today's five include an end-of-work phrase, a fan video, ordering food to go, the possessive particle 의 (ui), and the spelling of mom.

Want to try it first? The answers are below.Play #12

1Drama talk

It's the end of the workday and your coworkers are leaving. What's a natural thing to say?

축하합니다
수고하셨습니다
어서 오세요
잘 먹었습니다

Answer: 수고하셨습니다

수고하셨습니다 (sugohasyeotseumnida) means "You worked hard" or "Thank you for your hard work." Coworkers say it at the end of a workday, after a meeting or after a project. 수고 (sugo) means effort or trouble. -시- (-si-) adds respect, and -었- shows the past. When leaving a shop, people often say a related form, 수고하세요 (sugohaseyo). Some people feel 수고 sounds like an older person talking to a younger one. So with a boss, 고생하셨습니다 (gosaenghasyeotseumnida) or 감사합니다 is safer. Example: 오늘 다들 수고하셨습니다 (oneul dadeul sugohasyeotseumnida) — "Thank you all for your hard work today."

Formal (합쇼체) · Say it to: Coworkers and peers at the end of work

2K-pop

A '직캠' of one member went viral. What is it?

직캠 (jikkaem)

A group photo
A live stream
A video filmed live, often following one member
A music video

Answer: A video filmed live, often following one member

직캠 (jikkaem) comes from 직접 (jikjeop), "directly", and 캠 (kaem), from the English "cam". It means a video filmed live on the spot. Fans or TV stations film it at concerts, festivals and music shows. A 개인 직캠 (gaein jikkaem), "personal cam", follows one member for the whole stage. In English, people often call it a "fancam". Sometimes a 직캠 spreads very fast online and makes a member suddenly famous. Example: 이 직캠 조회수가 천만이야 (i jikkaem johoesuga cheonmaniya) — "This fancam has ten million views." A music video is different. The company plans, films and edits it.

Say it to: Anyone — common word, even on TV

3Food

You want to take your food home. What do you say?

저기요
포장해 주세요
계산해 주세요
배불러요

Answer: 포장해 주세요

포장해 주세요 (pojanghae juseyo) means "To go, please." 포장 (pojang) means wrapping or packing. So the idea is "Please pack it for me." Say it when you order, so the staff know you will not eat there. You can also use it for food you did not finish. Many Korean restaurants will pack leftovers for you. Example: 남은 거 포장해 주세요 (nameun geo pojanghae juseyo) — "Please pack the leftovers." Do not confuse it with 계산해 주세요 (gyesanhae juseyo), which means "The bill, please." Delivery to your home is a different word: 배달 (baedal).

Polite (해요체) · Say it to: Restaurant and café staff

4Grammar

Fill in the blank: 'my friend's book'

친구___ 책 (chingu___ chaek)

Answer: 의 — 친구의 책

친구의 책 (chinguui chaek) means "my friend's book" or "a friend's book." 의 (ui) is the possessive particle. A particle is a small word ending that shows the role of a word. A possessive particle shows who owns something, like 's in English. In everyday speech, 의 is often said like 에 (e). People also drop it: 친구 책 (chingu chaek). The meaning stays the same. With "I", Korean uses a short joined form. 저의 becomes 제 (je), and 나의 becomes 내 (nae). Example: 이거 제 가방이에요 (igeo je gabangieyo) — "This is my bag." 가 (ga) and 를 (reul) mark the subject and the object.

5Hangul

Using the official Revised Romanization, how is this written?

엄마

eoma
umma
emma
eomma

Answer: eomma

엄마 (eomma) means mom. Children call their mother this, and many adults keep using it. The more formal word is 어머니 (eomeoni), "mother". 엄 (eom) has the vowel ㅓ, which Revised Romanization writes eo. It sounds a bit like the "u" in "up". The final ㅁ of 엄 meets the first ㅁ of 마, so you write two m's: eomma. Example: 엄마, 배고파요 (eomma, baegopayo) — "Mom, I'm hungry." "Umma" is a common informal spelling online. "eoma" drops one m, so it shows a different sound. Dad is 아빠 (appa).