Learn essential Korean vocabulary for leisure activities
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| 체스 (cheseu) |
| 트럼프 카드 (teureompeu kadeu) |
| 독서 (dokseo) |
| What do these words mean? Stick around. |
| In this quick lesson, you’ll learn Korean hobby-related words. |
| Before we start, did you know that Korea has its own traditional board game? Do you know what it’s called? |
| Keep watching for the answer at the end. |
| 취미 (chwimi) |
| "hobby" |
| [SLOW] 취미 (chwimi) |
| 취미 (chwimi) |
| In Korea, people often ask “취미가 뭐예요?” when meeting someone new. It’s a common small-talk question. |
| And many people join hobby classes after work, like cooking or language lessons. Having a productive hobby is often seen as self-improvement, not just fun. |
| Steve discusses hobbies with Jack during a coffee break. |
| Steve: 저는 여가 시간에 책을 읽는 걸 좋아해요. 독서가 제가 제일 좋아하는 취미예요. (Jeoneun yeoga sigane chaegeul ilgneun geol joahaeyo. Dokseoga jega jeil joahaneun chwimiyeyo.) |
| Jack: 좋네요. 어떤 종류의 책을 좋아하나요? (Jonneyo. Eotteon jongnyuui chaegeul joahanayo?) |
| 체스 (cheseu) |
| "chess" |
| [SLOW] 체스 (cheseu) |
| 체스 (cheseu) |
| Chess isn’t as popular as the Korean board game 바둑 (Go). |
| Strategy games including chess are respected, but 바둑 has deeper cultural roots. |
| Steve talks to Oscar about his mother. |
| Steve: 저희 어머니는 체스를 가르치세요. (Jeohui eomeonineun cheseureul gareuchiseyo.) |
| Oscar: 대단하네요. 체스 둘 줄 아는 것도 좋은 기술이에요. (Daedanhaneyo. Cheseu dul jul aneun geotdo joeun gisurieyo.) |
| 트럼프 카드 (teureompeu kadeu) |
| "playing cards" |
| [SLOW] 트럼프 카드 (teureompeu kadeu) |
| 트럼프 카드 (teureompeu kadeu) |
| Card games are common when you try to kill time on a trip with friends. |
| But be careful when playing cards because older generations often associate cards with gambling culture, which has a negative image in Korea. |
| Susan accidentally drops a deck of cards, and Lina helps her. |
| Susan: 아이고, 미안해요. 트럼프 카드 줍는 것 좀 도와주시겠어요? (Aigo, mianhaeyo. Teureompeu kadeu jumneun geot jom dowajusigesseoyo?) |
| Lina: 그럼요. (Geureomyo.) |
| 독서 (dokseo) |
| "reading" |
| [SLOW] 독서 (dokseo) |
| 독서 (dokseo) |
| In Korea, the commuting time to school or work can often mean tens of minutes or even hours in public transport. This is why people carry books or e-readers on the subway and bus. |
| Seul-gi and Tom discuss their favorite pastimes at a cafe. |
| Seul-gi: 독서는 마음을 편안하게 해 줘요. (Dokseoneun maeumeul pyeonanhage hae jwoyo.) |
| Tom: 맞아요. 좋은 책 만한게 없죠. (Majayo. Joeun chaengman hange eop jyo.) |
| 노래방 (noraebang) |
| "karaoke" |
| [SLOW] 노래방 (noraebang) |
| 노래방 (noraebang) |
| Karaoke is one of the MOST popular pastime activities in Korea. |
| People often go to karaoke after dinner or work gatherings. |
| Not only do we have normal karaoke places, but we also have 코인노래방(coin noraebang) or in short 코노 (kono). |
| 코인노래방(coin noraebsng) is usually way cheaper than a normal 노래방(noraebang) and you can only sing 1~3 songs in one go. |
| Lina and Seul-gi chat about what to do on the weekend. |
| Lina: 이번 주말에 뭐 할까요? (Ibeon jumare mwo halkkayo?) |
| Seul-gi: 저는 노래방을 정말 좋아해요. 우리 노래방 가요! (Jeoneun noraebangeul jeongmal joahaeyo. Uri noraebang gayo!) |
| 그림 (geurim) |
| "drawing" |
| [SLOW] 그림 (geurim) |
| 그림 (geurim) |
| When you are a student in Korea, you often go to a cram school or prep school after classes for after school activities. |
| Even I went to one when I was young. And yes, it was an art class so I was drawing a lot after school! |
| Jack asks about Steve's hobbies. |
| Jack: 취미가 뭔가요? (Chwimiga mwongayo?) |
| Steve: 풍경 그림 그리는 걸 좋아해요. (Punggyeong geurim geurineun geol joahaeyo.) |
| 요리 (yori) |
| "cooking" |
| [SLOW] 요리 (yori) |
| 요리 (yori) |
| In recent years, cooking has become a popular hobby in Korea. And I don’t mean only cooking by yourself but watching other people cook and learning about new recipes! |
| There are many cooking shows in Korea and people love watching them. |
| Seul-gi and Susan discuss hobbies at a coffee shop. |
| Seul-gi: 저는 새로운 취미를 찾고 있어요. (Jeoneun saeroun chwimireul chatgo isseoyo.) |
| Susan: 요리는 어때요? 요리는 제 취미 중 하나예요. (Yorineun eottaeyo? Yorineun je chwimi jung hanayeyo. ) |
| 컴퓨터 게임 (keompyuteo geim) |
| "computer game" |
| [SLOW] 컴퓨터 게임 (keompyuteo geim) |
| 컴퓨터 게임 (keompyuteo geim) |
| Gaming is HUGE in Korea, especially online games. |
| There are PC cafés or PC방(PCbang) in Korean everywhere you go and they are common places to go with friends. |
| Pro gamers are treated like celebrities so no wonder lots of kids choose pro gamer as their future dream job! |
| Ha-jun asks Tom about the previous evening. |
| Ha-jun: 어제저녁에 뭐 했어요? (Eojejeonyeoge mwo haesseoyo?) |
| Tom: 어젯밤에 컴퓨터 게임을 했어요. (Eojetbame keompyuteo geimeul haesseoyo.) |
| 낚시 (naksi) |
| "fishing" |
| [SLOW] 낚시 (naksi) |
| 낚시 (naksi) |
| Fishing is a popular weekend hobby, especially among older men. |
| It’s seen as peaceful and a way to escape city life. |
| Tom discusses hobbies with Oscar. |
| Tom: 저는 새로운 취미를 찾고 있어요. (Jeoneun saeroun chwimireul chatgo isseoyo.) |
| Oscar: 낚시를 해봐요. 낚시는 마음을 편안하게 해주는 취미예요. (Naksireul haebwayo. Naksineun maeumeul pyeonanhage haejuneun chwimiyeyo.) |
| Let's review. |
| You'll see the words in English and your job is to say the words in Korean. |
| Ready? |
| Do you remember how to say "hobby"? |
| 취미 (chwimi) |
| 취미 (chwimi) |
| And how to say "chess"? |
| 체스 (cheseu) |
| 체스 (cheseu) |
| How about "playing cards"? |
| 트럼프 카드 (teureompeu kadeu) |
| 트럼프 카드 (teureompeu kadeu) |
| Do you remember how to say "reading"? |
| 독서 (dokseo) |
| 독서 (dokseo) |
| And how to say "karaoke"? |
| 노래방 (noraebang) |
| 노래방 (noraebang) |
| Let's try "drawing"! |
| 그림 (geurim) |
| 그림 (geurim) |
| What about "cooking"? |
| 요리 (yori) |
| 요리 (yori) |
| Now, let's see if you remember how to say "computer game"! |
| 컴퓨터 게임 (keompyuteo geim) |
| 컴퓨터 게임 (keompyuteo geim) |
| Last one! What about "fishing"? |
| 낚시 (naksi) |
| 낚시 (naksi) |
| Did you know that Korea has its own traditional board game? Do you know what it’s called? |
| It’s called 장기 (janggi), or "Korean chess." This game is similar to chess, with two players moving pieces on a grid to capture the opponent’s king. Korean people love it for its deep strategy and unique rules! |
| Thanks for watching! Don't forget to practice these new words and phrases, and see you next time! |
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