Last week I introduced Korean 속어 (slang) & 구어 표현 (colloquial expressions) to you. In the second post of the series, you will be able to explore the usage of some of them while you enjoy 3 popular Korean TV shows.

Do you remember the following expression from my last post?

♦대박나다 : to be very awesome or shockingly successful

ex) 정말 송혜교한테 사인 받았어? 대박이다!

                (Did you really get an autograph from Hye Kyo Song? You hit the jackpot!)

The following Korean dialogue script is from an entertainment TV show, 진짜 사나이 (Real Men)- #12 Episode 30. This humorous show is about Korean celebrities experiencing military life as real soldiers. In Korea, military service is mandatory for all men, so this show will give you a good insight of the Korean military culture. Please play this episode from 0:57 seconds point and pay attention to the word, 대박이다.

[저녁 메뉴는 스파케티 (Dinner menu is spaghetti)]

[군대에서 스파게티라… 상상도 못한 조합! (Spaghetti in the Navy Chow Hall)…unexpected!]

[제일 먼저 배식받으러 온 수로 (Soo-ro, the first one who came to receive food)]

우와~ (Woo Wa~)

행복해. (I am happy.)

대박이다, 진짜 (Awesome, really)

말도 안된다, 진짜 (It is unbelievable, really.)

형식: 대박이다, 진짜… (Hyung-sik: Awesome, really)

 

How about this expression from my last post?

♦어제 필름이 끊겼어: I blacked out yesterday (from drinking).

ex) 어제 소주를 너무 많이 마셔서 필름이 끊겼어.

               (I drank too much Soju yesterday and blacked out.)

The following Korean dialogue script is from 월계수 양복점 신사들 (The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop) Episode 5, and each lines are matched with subtitles. Please play this episode from 22 minutes and 21 seconds point and pay attention to, 선녀 (Sun-Nyeo): 아, 내가 술만 마시면 필름이 끊어지거든 (Ah, when I drink, I black out.).

선녀 (Sun-Nyeo): 누가? 내가? (Who? Me?)

동숙 (Dong-Sook): 참 신기하네. (How weird.)

몇 시간 전에 일어난 일을 (How could you forget all about)

어쩜 감쪽같이 잊어버릴 수가 있을까? (what happened just a few  hours ago?)

선녀 (Sun-Nyeo): 아, 내가 술만 마시면 필름이 끊어지거든 (Ah, when I drink, I black out.)

그래서 잘 안마시는데 (So I hardly ever drink…)…

    Here is an extra slang word that is used quiet often.

♦멘붕: it is a combination of the words 멘탈 (mental) and 붕괴 (breakdown). It refers to a state of a person’s mental condition. You can use this word when you are shocked or freaked out because things become absurd or when you are under a lot of stress/pressure.

ex) This is from a text message.

     I am in a 멘붕 condition kk I can’t even be mad k

     (I will) see you in school ~^^

The following is a very demanding Korean TV show, 복면가왕 (King of Masked Singer) in which each singer wears a mask to hide his or her true identity and compete against each other. This show frequently puts all cast members and audiences in a state of멘붕 (mental breakdown) when the real identity of the singer is revealed. This clip is one of the best twists that put everyone in a멘붕 condition. This particular one doesn’t have English subtitles because I want you to pay attention to the situation, concentrating on the singer’s voice and facial expressions of the cast members.

The second clip will reveal the identity of this singer.

* Hint- 남성/남자 means a man in English.

When the singer’s mask comes off, the cast and the audience discover a man mimicking a woman’s voice in a woman’s dress, a famous soccer players’ hidden singing skill, and so on; the identities of the singers are unpredictable. This show is filled with fun and twists to surprise people’s expectations.

I hope the above article gives you a true feeling of Korean slang and colloquial expressions and helps to improve your fluency in informal Korean speech.

감사합니다! (Thank you!)