Learn
What Koreans actually say, and why. A few minutes each.
Drama talk
- How to say "I love you" in Korean (사랑해, saranghae) — and what Koreans really say사랑해, 사랑해요 or 사랑합니다? Pick the right level for a partner, a parent or a crowd of fans, plus the small phrases Koreans use more often than the big one.4 min read
- What is Konglish? English-looking Korean words that mean something else화이팅, 핸드폰, 노트북, 서비스 and more. Korean words made from English that have a different meaning, and how to say them.5 min read
- 15 Korean phrases you hear in every K-drama, explained괜찮아, 어떡해, 됐어 and 12 more short phrases from almost every episode. What they mean, when to say them, and their polite forms.5 min read
- What does 아이고 (aigo) mean? The Korean "aigoo" explained아이고 (aigoo) can show tiredness, sympathy, effort or surprise. How to understand it, plus 어머, 헐, 에이, 아싸 and other Korean exclamations.4 min read
- What does 밥 먹었어 (bap meogeosseo) mean? It's not about lunch밥 먹었어 means "Did you eat?", but people use it like "How are you?" How to answer it, plus the polite forms for older people.4 min read
K-pop
- K-pop fandom words — what 최애 (choeae), 입덕 and 컴백 meanThe Korean words K-pop fans use every day, from 최애 to 포카. What they mean, how to use them, and the one word fans take seriously.5 min read
- 오빠 (oppa), 형, 언니, 누나 — who calls whom what in KoreanThe four Korean words for an older sibling depend on your gender and theirs. One simple table, how friends use them, and what to say when you are not sure.5 min read
- What does 애교 (aegyo) mean? Korean cuteness, explained애교 is acting cute on purpose, with a sweet voice, cute words and faces, or a finger heart. Where it comes from, when it works, and when it feels awkward.4 min read
- What does 대박 (daebak) mean? The Korean "wow" explained대박 can mean "awesome," "no way" or "oh no." One word with three feelings. How Koreans use it, and when you should not.4 min read
- What does "saja" (사자) mean? The Korean words hiding in KPop Demon HuntersSaja Boys, honmoon, gat, the tiger and the magpie. A short, spoiler-light word list for fans of the Netflix film, with what each word means in real Korean.5 min read
Food
- Kimchi types and 김장 (gimjang) — the Korean kimchi-making seasonCabbage kimchi, radish kimchi, water kimchi and more. What each type is, what kimjang season means, why UNESCO listed it, and words to describe kimchi.5 min read
- How to eat Korean BBQ — 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal), 쌈 and orderingPork belly, pork neck or beef ribs? How to order by the serving, grill at your table, make a lettuce wrap (ssam), and what to eat after the meat.5 min read
- Korean food names explained — what 비빔밥 (bibimbap) and 불고기 really meanMost Korean dish names are made from small parts like 밥 (rice), 고기 (meat) and 면 (noodles). Learn them, and you can read much of the menu.5 min read
- Korean restaurant phrases — how to order, get refills and payCall the staff with 저기요, ask for more 반찬, pay separately, take food home. The Korean phrases you need at a restaurant, and what staff will say.5 min read
Holidays & manners
- What is 추석 (Chuseok)? Korean Thanksgiving explainedChuseok is Korea's autumn harvest holiday on lunar August 15. Learn the 2026 and 2027 dates, songpyeon, family rituals and what to say.5 min read
- Do you tip in Korea? The short answer is no — here's whyTipping is not a Korean custom. What to do at restaurants, taxis, hotels and cafés, why some hotels add 10 percent, and why tip jars made people angry.3 min read
- How to bow in Korea — 인사 (insa), 큰절 (keunjeol) and 안녕히 가세요How to bow and greet in Korea: the small nod, the everyday bow, the deep 큰절, the two goodbyes 안녕히 가세요 and 안녕히 계세요, and the two-hand handshake.4 min read
- Hello in Korean (안녕하세요, annyeonghaseyo) — and why Koreans say "hello" when they leave안녕 means peace. That one idea explains 안녕하세요, the casual 안녕, the formal 안녕하십니까, and the two different goodbyes for the person who leaves and the person who stays.4 min read
- Korean age explained — 만 나이 (man nai) and the 2023 lawSince June 28, 2023, Korean law uses your real age from your birthday. But you still hear "Korean age" and "year age". Here is how each one works.5 min read
- Korean birthday traditions — 미역국 (miyeokguk), 돌잔치 and how to say happy birthdayWhy Koreans eat seaweed soup (미역국) on birthdays, what happens at a first birthday 돌잔치, and when to say 생일 축하해 or 생신 축하드립니다.4 min read
- Korean couple days — Pepero Day, White Day, Black Day and 100 daysWhy Koreans give Pepero on November 11, eat black noodles on April 14 and count 100 days of dating. The real couple days, and what to say.4 min read
- Korean drinking etiquette — two hands, turning your head and 건배 (geonbae)Korean drinking etiquette: use two hands with elders, turn your head when you drink, say 건배 or 짠, and say no politely. Plus the legal drinking age.5 min read
- Why is there no 4th floor? Korean superstitions you'll actually seeThe F button in Korean elevators, why you should never write a name in red, the famous "fan death" myth, and the sticky candy for exam day. Small beliefs, explained.4 min read
- Korean table manners — spoons, chopsticks and who eats firstKorean table manners: wait for elders to start, eat rice with a spoon, never stand chopsticks in rice, and keep your bowl on the table.5 min read
- What is 설날 (Seollal)? Korean Lunar New Year explainedSeollal is the Korean Lunar New Year. Learn the 2027 dates, the 세배 bow, New Year money, 떡국 soup and how to say "Happy New Year" in Korean.5 min read
- What does 눈치 (nunchi) mean? Reading the room in Korean눈치 (nunchi) is the skill of sensing what others think and feel. Learn 눈치가 빠르다, 눈치가 없다, 눈치를 보다, and how the 눈치 game works.5 min read
Grammar
- 안 vs 못 (an vs mot): "don't" vs "can't" in Korean안 means "don't" and 못 means "can't". Learn where they go, the 하다 verb rule, the long forms, and why 못 가요 is a kind way to say no.4 min read
- 에 vs 에서 (e vs eseo): "at", "in", "to" and "from" in Korean에 is for being somewhere, going somewhere, and time. 에서 is for doing something in a place. One easy test, plus time words that don't use 에.4 min read
- 을 vs 를 (eul vs reul): the Korean object marker, and when Koreans drop it을 and 를 mark what you eat, watch, buy or like. The spelling rule, verbs that surprise English speakers, and the 좋아요 vs 좋아해요 mistake.5 min read
- 은 vs 는 (eun vs neun): why it's 저는, not 저은은 and 는 are one topic marker with two forms. Choose the right one in two seconds, and learn when Koreans use 이/가 instead.4 min read
- Thank you in Korean (감사합니다, gamsahamnida) — vs 고맙습니다 and 고마워Is 고맙습니다 less polite than 감사합니다? What do you say to a friend, and how do you answer "thank you"? Six short questions, answered with what Korea's language institute says.4 min read
- 이 vs 가 (i vs ga): why it's 제가, not 저가이 and 가 show who or what does the action. The spelling rule, the 제가 and 내가 forms, and why 있어요 always uses 이/가.5 min read
- 씨 (ssi) vs 님 (nim) — how to call people by name in KoreanWhen to say 지민 씨, when to use 님, 선생님 or a job title, why the family name comes first, and how to call a stranger in Korean without sounding rude.5 min read
- Korean numbers — when to use 하나 (hana) and when to use 일 (il)Korean has two sets of numbers. Learn which one to use for time, age, money, dates, phone numbers and counting things, and why 하나 becomes 한.5 min read
- Korean particles cheat sheet: 도 (do), 만 (man), 한테 (hante) and more도, 의, 한테, 부터, 까지, (으)로, 하고 and 만 on one page. What each one means, how its form changes, and the 이에요 vs 예요 rule.5 min read
- How to speak politely in Korean: 요, 습니다 and 반말 (banmal)The three Korean speech levels you need, who gets which one, and the everyday phrases that change between them.5 min read
Hangul
- Why isn't Korean read as spelled? 받침 (batchim) sound rules made easyWhy 감사합니다 sounds like 감사함니다 and 같이 like 가치. Five sound rules, with spelling, real sound and romanization side by side.5 min read
- What is 한글날 (Hangeul Day)? King Sejong and the Korean alphabetHangeul Day on October 9 celebrates the Korean alphabet. Learn how King Sejong made it, why 1443 and 1446 matter, and the simple ideas behind the letter shapes.5 min read
- Korean romanization: why Busan, not Pusan (and what eo and eu mean)How South Korea's official Revised Romanization works, why both Hangeul and Hangul exist, and why names like Kim and Lee do not follow the rules.6 min read
- ㅋㅋ, ㅎㅎ, ㅇㅇ — Korean texting slang explained (what does ㅋㅋ mean?)Why Korean friends text only consonants. Read a real-style group chat line by line and learn ㅋㅋ, ㅎㅎ, ㅇㅇ, ㅇㅋ, ㄱㅅ and ㅠㅠ in two minutes.5 min read