Archive #21

Annyeong Daily #21: answers explained

October 25, 2026 · Today was about meeting old friends, singing at concerts, food delivery and saying "not." You also learned what Gangnam really means.

Want to try it first? The answers are below.Play #21

1Drama talk

Two old friends meet on the street: '오랜만이야!' What did they say?

오랜만이야! [오랜마니야!] (oraenmaniya!)

Happy birthday!
See you later!
Long time no see!
Nice to meet you!

Answer: Long time no see!

오랜만이야! (oraenmaniya!) means "Long time no see!" 오랜만 (oraenman) means "after a long time." It is a short form of 오래간만 (oraeganman). The ending -이야 is casual, for friends. Polite: 오랜만이에요 (oraenmanieyo). Formal: 오랜만입니다 (oraenmanimnida). Koreans often add a question after it, like "How have you been?" Example: 오랜만이에요. 잘 지냈어요? (oraenmanieyo. jal jinaesseoyo?) — "Long time no see. Have you been well?" "Nice to meet you" is wrong here. That is for a first meeting, like 처음 뵙겠습니다 (cheoeum boepgetseumnida).

Casual (반말) · warm · Say it to: Friends your age or younger

2K-pop

At the concert, the whole crowd did a '떼창'. What happened?

떼창 (ttechang)

Everyone left early
Everyone was silent
Everyone threw flowers
Everyone sang along together

Answer: Everyone sang along together

떼창 (ttechang) means a whole crowd singing together. 떼 (tte) means a big group, and 창 (chang) means singing. At concerts in Korea, fans often sing every word with the artist. They even sing songs in English or other languages. Many visitors are surprised by how loud and united the crowd is. For fans, it is a way to show love and to feel like one big group. Example: 관객들이 다 같이 떼창했어요 (gwangaekdeuri da gachi ttechanghaesseoyo) — "The audience all sang along together." It is the opposite of a quiet crowd.

Say it to: Anyone — it's a plain noun; your verb sets the politeness

3Food

It's late and you don't want to go out. You order '배달'. What is it?

배달 (baedal)

A discount coupon
A takeout box
A reservation
Food delivery

Answer: Food delivery

배달 (baedal) means delivery, and here it means food delivery. Korea has a very strong delivery culture. With an app, you can order chicken, noodles, soup and even coffee. Food often arrives fast, and many places deliver late at night. People even order food to parks by the Han River. Example: 치킨 배달시켰어요 (chikin baedalsikyeosseoyo) — "I ordered chicken for delivery." 배달시키다 (baedalsikida) means "to order delivery." A takeout box is a different idea. Takeout is 포장 (pojang), when you pick up the food yourself.

Say it to: Anyone — it's a plain noun; your verb sets the politeness

4Grammar

Fill in the blank: 'I don't eat meat (I'm vegetarian).'

고기를 ___ 먹어요. (gogireul ___ meogeoyo.)

Answer: 안 — 고기를 안 먹어요.

고기를 안 먹어요 (gogireul an meogeoyo) means "I don't eat meat." 안 (an) is a plain "not." You put it right before the verb. It usually shows a choice or a simple fact. 못 (mot) means "cannot." It shows you are not able, or something stops you. Example: 저는 커피를 안 마셔요 (jeoneun keopireul an masyeoyo) — "I don't drink coffee." Some Korean vegetarians still say 고기 못 먹어요 (gogi mot meogeoyo). It sounds softer, like "I am not able to," so the host does not feel bad. 잘 (jal) means "well" and 다 (da) means "all," so they do not fit here.

5Hangul

Using the official Revised Romanization, how is this written?

강남

Gangnaem
Gangnum
Kangnam
Gangnam

Answer: Gangnam

강남 (Gangnam) is a busy area of Seoul, south of the Han River. 강 (gang) means river, and 남 (nam) means south. So the name means "south of the river." The north side is called 강북 (gangbuk), "north of the river." In Revised Romanization, ㄱ at the start is g, ㅏ is a, and a final ㅇ is ng. So it is Gangnam. The old spelling, Kangnam, used k. Example: 주말에 강남에 가요 (jumare gangname gayo) — "I'm going to Gangnam on the weekend." "Gangnum" is wrong because ㅏ is always a.