Archive #31

걱정 마, 데뷔, 만두 — Korean words explained (#31)

November 4, 2026 · Today covered calming a friend, an idol's first start, dumplings and talking about a sibling. You also learned how to write 지하철 in Roman letters.

Want to try it first? The answers are below.Play #31

1Drama talk

You forgot to bring your friend's book. Your friend smiles: '걱정 마.' What does that mean?

걱정 마 [걱쩡 마] (geokjeong ma)

Hurry up
Be careful
I'm angry
Don't worry about it

Answer: Don't worry about it

걱정 마 (geokjeong ma) means "Don't worry about it." 걱정 (geokjeong) means worry. 마 (ma) comes from 말다 (malda), which means "don't" in commands. Friends say it to calm you down when something small goes wrong. It is casual speech, so use it with friends or younger people. With others, say 걱정 마세요 (geokjeong maseyo). Example: 괜찮아, 걱정 마 (gwaenchana, geokjeong ma) — "It's fine, don't worry." It does not mean "Be careful." That is 조심해 (josimhae).

2K-pop

A new group's '데뷔' is next week. What is happening?

데뷔 (debwi)

Their first official release and stage
Their comeback with new music
Their first fan meeting
Their last concert

Answer: Their first official release and stage

데뷔 (debwi) comes from the word "debut." It is an artist's first official start: the first release and the first stage. Most K-pop idols train for years as trainees before this day. That is why many fans celebrate the debut date every year, like a birthday for the group. Example: 이 그룹은 2020년에 데뷔했어요 (i geurubeun icheonisimnyeone debwihaesseoyo) — "This group debuted in 2020." Do not mix it up with 컴백 (keombaek). A comeback is any new release after the debut.

3Food

Your friend orders '만두' at a snack bar. What will arrive?

만두 (mandu)

Seaweed rice rolls
Rice cakes in red sauce
Fried chicken
Korean dumplings

Answer: Korean dumplings

만두 (mandu) means Korean dumplings. The filling is usually meat, tofu, glass noodles and vegetables. Kimchi 만두 is also very popular. You can steam them (찐만두, jjinmandu), fry them (군만두, gunmandu) or boil them in soup. In many families, people sit together and fold 만두 for holidays. Example: 만두 하나 주세요 (mandu hana juseyo) — "One order of dumplings, please." Seaweed rice rolls are a different food called 김밥 (gimbap).

4Grammar

Fill in the blank: 'My younger sibling is a high school student.'

동생___ 고등학생이에요. (dongsaeng___ godeunghaksaengieyo.)

Answer: 은 — 동생은 고등학생이에요.

동생은 고등학생이에요 (dongsaengeun godeunghaksaengieyo) means "My younger sibling is a high school student." 동생 means a younger brother or sister. 은 and 는 are topic particles (small endings that show what you are talking about). Use 은 after a final consonant and 는 after a vowel. 동생 ends in ㅇ, a consonant, so it takes 은. Example: 제 동생은 대학생이에요 (je dongsaengeun daehaksaengieyo) — "My younger sibling is a university student." A common mistake is 동생는. It sounds wrong to Korean ears.

5Hangul

Using the official Revised Romanization, how is this written?

지하철

jihachul
chihacheol
jihacheol
jihacheor

Answer: jihacheol

지하철 (jihacheol) means subway. 지하 means underground, and 철 comes from 철도, railway. In Revised Romanization, ㅓ is always written eo, and a final ㄹ is l. So the answer is jihacheol, not "jihachul." You will see this word on signs at every station. Example: 지하철 타고 가요 (jihacheol tago gayo) — "I'll take the subway." Some old signs use other spellings, but new official signs use this system.