20 Must-Know Korean Expressions Used in Korean Drama, Netflix K-Dramasitename%

Being able to communicate in the local language will bring your travel experience as well as K-drama experience to another world. Whether you are just passing through or knowing a just little bit can go a long way.

Since South Korea was a homogenous and monolingual country for a long time, not everyone speaks English with ease. But, recently, Korean drama has become phenomena and there is an increasing number of people who want to learn Korean.

With this article, you make communication less of a struggle and more of a survival tool.

Also if you have ever found yourself lost in the K-drama, this article also shows you the way to immerse yourself in the K-drama by learning some of the most generally used Korean expressions.

From sincere affirmations of love to dramatic competition, these expressions are sure to add a touch of authenticity to your K-drama experience.

Now, let’s get started with the basic survival Korean. I bet you can read aloud Korean within a day.

Introduction to Han-Guel : Korean Alphabet

The Korean alphabet is called Han-geul, and there are 24 basic letters and digraphs in Han-geul.

Digraph : a pair of characters used to make one sound.

Of the letters, 14 are consonants and five of them are doubled to for the five tense consonants.

When it comes to vowels, there are 10 basic letters. 11 additional letters can be created by combining certain basic letters to make a total of 21 vowels. Of the vowels, eight are single pure vowels, also known as monophthongs, and 13 are diphthongs, or two vowel sounds joined into one syllable which creates one sound.

When saying a monophthong, you are producing one pure vowel with no tongue movement.
When saying a diphthong, you are producing one sound by saying two vowels. So, your tongue and mouth move quickly from one letter to another to create a single sound.

Consonants: ㄱ(g/k), ㄴ(n), ㄷ(d/t), ㄹ(r/l), ㅁ(m), ㅂ(b/p), ㅅ(s), ㅇ(ng), ㅈ(j), ㅊ(ch), ㅋ(k), ㅌ(t), ㅍ(p), ㅎ(h).
Vowels: ㅏ(a), ㅑ(ya), ㅓ(eo), ㅕ(yeo), ㅗ(o), ㅛ(yo), ㅜ(u), ㅠ(yu), ㅡ(eu), ㅣ(i).

Syllable Blocks

Each Korean syllable is written in a way that forms a block-like shape, with each letter inside the block forming a sound/syllable.

For example let’s take a look “한국”(Korea). Here we see two syllable blocks. “한” and “국”

“한” : There is a beginning consonant “ㅎ”, middle vowel “ㅏ” and optional final consonant “ㄴ”. So,ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ = han
“국” : There is a beginning consonant “ㄱ”, middle vowel “ㅜ” and optional final consonant “ㄱ”. Therefore ㄱ +ㅜ+ㄱ=Gook
Make sure that a block must contain a minimum of two letters, which means it Must contain, 1 consonant and 1 vowel.

So if you memorize the sound of consonants and vowels you can easily read Han -Geul aloud.

Each Hangul character represents a single sound, making Korean pronunciation relatively straightforward.
Consonants and vowels are combined to form syllabic blocks, with one consonant and one vowel in each block.
Vowel placement within the block determines its sound. Vowels placed to the left or top of the block have an initial sound, while those placed to the right or bottom have a final sound.

Two of the most common ways to write consonant and vowel combinations in Korean are horizontally and vertically. Let’s have a look “나” “무”. “나무(Na Moo)” is a tree in Korean anyway.

“나” : ‘ㄴ’ is a consonant and ‘ㅏ’ is a vowel. And this letter is a horizontal combination of consonant and vowel.

“무” : ‘ㅁ’ is a consonant and ‘ㅜ’ is a vowel. And this letter is a vertical combination of consonant and vowel.

And just by adding a final consonant, the blocks are modified.

For example “한강(Han Kang)” is Han River in Korean. In a letter “한” you can see a consonant ‘ㅎ’ , a vowel ‘ㅏ’ and a final consonant ‘ㄴ’, which makes a sound of “Han”. And in a letter “강” you can see a consonant ‘ㄱ’, a vowel ‘ㅏ’ and a final consonant ‘o’. And it makes a sound of “Kang”.

But there are also syllables which have two final consonants, such as “닭”, “앉”, “없”.

In all the syllable blocks, the letters are either compressed or stretched to keep the size relatively the same as the other letters.

Since the “minimum two letter” rule exists and one letter has to be a consonant and the other has to be a vowel, what can you do when a vowel needs to be written in its own syllable block? Just add the consonant ‘ㅇ’ (ng) in front of or on top of the vowel. When reading a vowel, such as ‘이’, the ‘ㅇ’ makes no sound and you just pronounce the ‘ㅏ'(a).

And make sure that vowels cannot under any circumstances be written by themselves.

How Sentences are Structured in Korean

Korean sentence structure is very different from that of English. Basic Korean sentence structure is Subject-Object-Verb.

The subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something. For example, in a sentence”당신은 예뻐요”(You are pretty), ‘당신(you)’ is the subject of the sentence.

Marking Particles

Particles in Korean are words that mark the role of a noun or pronoun and can only be used with nouns or pronouns. There are some several types of particles in Korean that have specific roles, including marking the object of a verb, marking the subject of a sentence, marking location, marking time and so on.

Here are some of the examples of the marking particles.

In the sentence “당신은 예뻐요”(You are pretty), subject marking particle ‘이’ is added to the end of a subject to designate it as the subject of the sentence.

‘이’ is used for words ending in a consonant, while ‘가’ is used for words ending in a vowel.

In a sentence “강아지가 귀엽다”(The puppy is cute), you can see a subject ‘강아지'(a puppy) and a subject marking particle ‘가’ is added to the end of the subject. Because ‘강아지’ ends in a vowel ‘ㅣ’.

In a similar way , 은/는 serve as a topic marking particle. They are also added to the end of the subject a sentence, followed by a predicate, and designate the main idea or topic.

‘은’ is used for words ending in a consonant, as in the sentence “당신은 예뻐요.”( You are pretty) While ‘는’ is used for words ending in a vowel as in the sentence “저는 학생입니다.”(I am a student)

But 을/를 serves as an object marking particle. They are added to the end of a subject to mark the object of the sentence. And they are followed by an action verb.

‘을’ is used for words ending in a consonant as in the sentence “문을 열어요”( Open the door). (While ‘를’ is used for words ending in a vowel as in the sentence “나를 봐요(Look at me)”.

Authentic Korean Expressions in K-Drama

1. 안녕하세요?( Annyeonghaseyo?)

Start your Korean drama trip on the right bottom with this simple greeting. Whether you are meeting a new friend or hitting into a handsome foreigner,” 안녕하세요?” is the perfect way to break the ice. Used in” C rash Landing on You.”

2. 미안해요.( Mianhaeyo.)

No K-drama is complete without its fair share of misconstructions and miscommunications. Be set to utter a sincere” 미안해요” as characters navigate the rocky terrain of love and fellowship. Used in” Descendants of the Sun”(태양의 후예)

3. 감사합니다.( Gamsahamnida.)

From small acts of kindness to grand gestures of love, expressing gratefulness is a basic aspect of Korean culture. Show your appreciation with a sincere” 감사합니다” and watch as hearts melt before your eyes. Used in” Goblin“(도깨비).

4. 사랑해요.( Saranghaeyo.)

Ah, the three little words that make K- drama suckers’ hearts flutter. Whether rumored in a moment of passion or declared bravely in the pouring rain,” 사랑해요” is the ultimate expression of love in Korean dramatizations. Used in “My Love from the Star“.(별에서 온 그대)

5. 뭐라고요?( Mworagoyo?)

In the fast-paced world of Korean dramatizations, dialogue canvases by at lightning speed. Do not get left behind –make sure to catch every word with a quick” 뭐라고요?” when effects start to get hotted. Used in “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”(사이코지만 괜찮아)

6. 어떻게요?( Eotteokkeyo?)

When secrets are revealed and plot twists pullulate, it’s important to keep up with the drama. Stay one step ahead of the game with a puzzled” 어떻게요?” as characters grapple with shocking exposures. Used in” Secret Garden”

7. 잘 가요.( Jal gayo.)

As important as we detest to say it, all good effects must come to an end – indeed our favorite K- dramatizations. Shot farewell to cherished characters with a bittersweet” 잘 가요” and cherish the recollections ever. Used in” Reply 1988″ (응답하라 1988)

8. 어디에요?( Eodieyo?)

Lost in a bustling megacity or trapped in a sprawling manse, characters in K- dramatizations frequently find themselves in precarious situations. Stay connected with a upset” 어디에요?” as you follow their thrilling adventures. Used in” Heirs at law”

9. 어떻게 됐어요?( Eotteoke dwaesseoyo?)

Drama, riddle, and suspension –K- dramatizations have it all. When the plot thickens and pressures run grandly, demand answers with an critical” 어떻게 됐어요?” and brace yourself for the unanticipated. Used in” Signal” (시그널)

10. 이럴 수가!( Ireol suga!)

From shocking plot twists to heart- wrenching backstabbings, K- dramatizations are known for keeping observers on the edge of their seats. Express your unbelief with an incredulous” 이럴 수가!” as the drama unfolds before your eyes. Used in” The World of the Married”

11. 이제 그만해!( Ije geumanhae!)

When tempers flare and feelings run grandly, pressures frequently reach a boiling point in Korean dramatizations. Take charge of the situation with a fostering” 이제 그만해!” and restore peace to the chaos. Used in” Kill Me, Heal Me”(킬미 힐미)

12. 정말요?( Jeongmal yo?)

In a world where nothing is as it seems, trust is a precious commodity. Seek consolation with a skeptical” 정말요?” as characters navigate the murky waters of dishonesty and treason. Used in” Hotel Del Luna”(호텔 델 루나)

13. 걱정 마세요.( Geokjeong maseyo.)

When the weight of the world feels like it’s bearing down on your shoulders, find solace in the comforting words of a loved one “걱정 마세요.” In the world of K-dramatizations, hope springs eternal, and anything is possible. Used in “When the Camellia Blooms” (동백꽃 필 무렵)

14. 다시 한 번 말해주세요.( Dasi han beon malhaejuseyo.)

Do not be hesitate to ask for clarity with a gentle” 다시 한 번 말해주세요, If you find yourself craving for a alternate chance at understanding. “Used in” My ID is Gangnam Beauty”

15. 괜찮아요.( Gwaenchanayo.)

In moments of query and mistrustfulness, find strength in the simple consolation of” 괜찮아요.” No matter how dire the situation may feel, flash back that there’s always hope for a brighter hereafter. Used in “Strong Woman Kang Nam- soon” (힘쎈 여자 강남순)

16. 어떻게 해야 해요?( Eotteohge haeya haeyo?)

When faced with insolvable choices and dispiriting challenges, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Seek guidance with a dolorous” 어떻게 해야 해요?” and trust that the answers will reveal themselves in time. Used in “Itaewon Class” (이태원 클래쓰)

17. 빨리 와요!( Ppalri wayo!)

In times of extremity and peril, every alternate counts. Rally the colors with an critical “빨리 와요!” and spring into action as you race against the timepiece to save the day. Used in” Voice” (보이스)

18. 이렇게 되면 안 되잖아요.( Ireohge doemyeon an doejanhayo.)

When dreams are shattered and expedients are dashed, it’s natural to feel a sense of unbelief. Cry out in despair with a hopeless” 이렇게 되면 안 되잖아요” as you come to terms with the harsh realities of life. Used in” Sky Castle”(스카이 케슬)

19. 내 말 들어주세요.( Nae mal deureojuseyo.)

In a world where voices frequently go unheard, find strength in the power of your own words. Assert yourself with an establishment “내 말 들어주세요” and make your voice heard above the noise of chaos and confusion. Used in “Doctor Stranger”

20. 제발 좀 도와주세요!( Jebal jom dowajuseyo!)

When the chips are down and all stopgap seems lost, do not be hysterical to reach out for help. Swallow your pride and maintain for backing with a hopeless “제발 좀 도와주세요!” and trust that help will come when you need it most. Used in “Foreigner”