Archive #29

오바하지 마, 후배, 서비스예요 — Korean words explained (#29)

November 2, 2026 · Today covered overreacting, juniors, free extras and two ways to say goodbye. You also learned to write "dad" in Roman letters.

Want to try it first? The answers are below.Play #29

1Drama talk

Your friend is panicking over a tiny scratch on their phone. You say '오바하지 마.' What do you mean?

오바하지 마 (obahaji ma)

Don't buy a new one
Don't go over there
Don't overreact
Don't worry, I'll pay

Answer: Don't overreact

오바하지 마 (obahaji ma) means "Don't overreact." 오바 comes from English "over," as in doing too much. -지 마 means "don't" in casual speech. The standard spelling is 오버 (obeo), but people often say and write 오바. Friends say this to calm each other down, often with a laugh. Example: 별일 아니야, 오버하지 마 (byeollil aniya, obeohaji ma) — "It's nothing, don't overreact." Be careful: it can sound rude to an older person. "Don't go over there" is a trap. It also has "over" in English, but the meaning is different.

Casual (반말) · blunt · Say it to: Close friends only

2K-pop

An idol talks about their 후배 at an awards show. Who are they talking about?

후배 (hubae)

Someone who debuted after them
Their manager
Their parents
Someone who debuted before them

Answer: Someone who debuted after them

후배 (hubae) is someone who started after you, in school, at work or in the music business. The opposite is 선배 (seonbae), someone who started before you. In Korea, this order matters a lot. It decides who uses polite speech and who gets more respect. It is about who started first, not only about age. So a younger singer can be the 선배 of an older one. Example: 제 후배가 오늘 데뷔해요 (je hubaega oneul debwihaeyo) — "My junior debuts today." People often add -님 for respect: 선배님 (seonbaenim).

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

Also read: Ssi and nim meaning — why Koreans add 씨 and 님 after a name

3Food

The owner puts a dish you didn't order on your table and says '서비스예요.' What does it mean?

서비스예요 (seobiseuyeyo)

The service is slow
There's a service fee
Please leave a tip
It's free (a gift from the shop)

Answer: It's free (a gift from the shop)

서비스예요 (seobiseuyeyo) means "It's free." It is a free extra from the shop. In Korean, 서비스 (seobiseu) comes from English "service," but the meaning changed. It often means something free that the shop gives you, like an extra dish or drink. Owners do it to thank regular customers and to bring them back. Tipping is not expected in Korea, so no fee follows. Example: 이거 서비스예요? 감사합니다! (igeo seobiseuyeyo? gamsahamnida!) — "Is this free? Thank you!" A simple thank-you, and coming back again, is the best reply.

Polite (해요체) · warm · Say it to: Said by owners or staff to customers

4Grammar

A guest is leaving your house and you are staying. What do you say?

안녕히 가세요
안녕히 계세요
어서 오세요
잘 먹겠습니다

Answer: 안녕히 가세요

안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) means "Goodbye" to someone who is leaving. Literally, it is "Go in peace." Korean has two goodbyes, and the choice depends on who leaves. If they leave and you stay, say 안녕히 가세요. If you leave and they stay, say 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo), "Stay in peace." If both people leave, both say 안녕히 가세요. Example: 조심히 가세요 (josimhi gaseyo) — "Get home safely." Friends just say 잘 가 (jal ga) or 안녕 (annyeong). 안녕히 계세요 is the guest's line, so it is wrong for you here.

Polite (해요체) · Say it to: Anyone leaving while you stay — guests, customers

Also read: How to bow in Korea — 인사 (insa), 큰절 (keunjeol) and 안녕히 가세요

5Hangul

Using the official Revised Romanization, how is this written?

아빠

abba
appa
appah
apa

Answer: appa

아빠 (appa) means "dad." It is a warm, casual word. The formal word is 아버지 (abeoji), "father." ㅃ is a double consonant, said with tight, strong force. Revised Romanization writes it pp. ㅏ is a, and the first ㅇ has no sound. So 아빠 is appa. "apa" is wrong because it loses the strong double sound. "abba" uses b, but ㅃ is written pp. Example: 아빠, 사랑해요 (appa, saranghaeyo) — "Dad, I love you." For mom, the casual word is 엄마 (eomma), and the formal word is 어머니 (eomeoni).