Dialogue

Vocabulary

Learn New Words FAST with this Lesson’s Vocab Review List

Get this lesson’s key vocab, their translations and pronunciations. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.

Or sign up using Facebook
Already a Member?

Lesson Notes

Unlock In-Depth Explanations & Exclusive Takeaways with Printable Lesson Notes

Unlock Lesson Notes and Transcripts for every single lesson. Sign Up for a Free Lifetime Account and Get 7 Days of Premium Access.

Or sign up using Facebook
Already a Member?

Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Becky: Hello and welcome to Culture Class: Korean Superstitions and Beliefs. Lesson 5 A Shoe Gift and Stepping in Feces. I'm Becky and I'm joined by Jaehwi.
Jaehwi: 안녕하세요. (annyeonghaseyo) Hi, I'm Jaehwi.
THE TWO SUPERSTITIONS
Becky: In this lesson we will talk about two common superstitions in South Korea. The first superstition is about bad luck. What's the superstition called in Korean?
Jaehwi: 신발 선물, (sinbal seonmul).
Becky: Which literally means "shoes as a gift." Jaehwi, can you repeat the Korean phrase again?
Jaehwi: [slow] 신발 선물 [normal] 신발 선물
Becky: In Korea, it's believed that giving shoes to your girlfriend or boyfriend will make him or her run away.
Jaehwi: It's because they can use the shoes to leave you.
Becky: For that reason, Korean people don't give shoes as a gift to their loved one.
Jaehwi: Take them out to a nice dinner instead.
Becky: So Jae, if I want to break up with a Korean guy, I should buy him shoes?
Jaehwi: Um, maybe just talk to him instead.
Becky: The second superstition is about good luck. What's the superstition called in Korean?
Jaehwi: 똥 밞기, (ttong balkki).
Becky: Which literally means "stepping in feces." Let’s hear it in Korean again.
Jaehwi: [slow] 똥 밞기 [normal] 똥 밞기
Becky: When I step in poop, it usually ruins my day and my shoes. But apparently in Korea, this is a good thing.
Jaehwi: Right. In Korea, it's believed that if you step in poop, it will bring you luck.
Becky: It's because manure was valuable in agricultural societies.
Jaehwi: So, still to this day, feces symbolizes money and luck.
Becky: Ok, so if my Korean boyfriend steps in something, he’ll have good luck, but I shouldn’t buy him new shoes or he’ll run away.
Jaehwi: You got it!

Outro

Becky: There you have it - two Korean superstitions! Are they similar to any of your country’s superstitions? Let us know in the comments!
Jaehwi: 안녕히 계세요. (annyeonghi gyeseyo)

Comments

Hide