Learn all about Korean culture while you learn the language! The two go together hand in hand; culture influences language and vice versa so it’s key to learn if you want to really understand Korean.
All of these terms can be translated as worry in Korean, but their meanings have different nuances. When do you use which one? I’ll run through them quickly, so let’s get into it!
Humans of Seoul is a blog I have been following before I started studying seriously! They focus on interviewing Koreans of all ages about various topics with both original Korean and English translations.
This is a perfect light resource to develop your reading skills. With a full range of ages, that means everyone can find a conversation to their depth or vocabulary level to practice with. Also, the range of topics means there will definitely be something to interest you and give you a perspective on Korean life and the people living there! From sports, books, hobbies, school, romance, work, parenting, childhood, health, and much more.
A while ago, I went through all the different types of 방 or rooms in Korean and mentioned wanting to go more in-depth on Korean bathhouses; well, today is the day! A lot of 찜질방 are 24/7, with floor heating, sleeping rooms, sauna areas, full body scrubs, and much more to help you fully relax.
In Korean, sometimes yes means no? Korea has a little quirk different from English when it comes to answering questions. The basics of it is that in Korean you answer the statement and not the intention- I’ll break it down now!
South Korean Rooms are more than just a PC 방 and 노래방! From entertainment to relaxation, they have a lot of options to hang out with friends or spend some quiet time alone.
Whether you’re worried you will offend or want to impress people, learning Korean etiquette and the dos and don’ts is important! Because of Korea’s unique culture, they have its own etiquette rules and guidelines.
Tea is a classic drink with a long history, and Korea is no exception. Today I’ll dive a bit into the drink with vocab for the different kinds of tea in Korean, Korea’s culture and history with tea, some Sino-Korean, and more.
Jeju’s Haenyeo (해녀; lit. sea women (海女)) are specialized female divers who earn their livelihood by diving without breathing equipment for abalone, conch, oysters, sea urchins, and more. And have been mastering the practice for multiple generations!
Back in 2023, I did an overview of the Korean Lunar New Year, going through how it is celebrated, key New Year dishes, the difference between Chinese and Korean New Year, and more. Today I want to delve a bit deeper and get more into the customs and zodiacs, and certain things. Koreans still enjoy the January 1st New Year, but it’s more similar to the one over here, without any big family connection.
Today I want to get into Korean dialects! South Korea while being small in size, is quite big in population and history of culture to build their own dialectal variences. I’ll cover the major dialects, where they are from, any notes about them, the pronunciation differences, and then some interesting slang or expressions!