싱글벙글 (sing-geul-beong-geul) – all smiles You would typically use 싱글벙글 with 웃다 so that it places emphasis that the person (subject) is extremely happy. Examples: 아저시는 복권 당첨되서 돈을 벌고 은행으로 싱글벙글 웃었어. The uncle struck lottery and went to the bank…
이럴 수가 (i-reol su-ga) – unbelievable/impossible There are many ways of interpretting this phrase but it’s more or less used to explain how shocking and surprising something is. It is more often than not used as a reaction phrase, so…
우스갯소리 (woo-seu-gae-sso-ri)- joke/gag This phrase is quite similar to 농담 and 장난 in terms of meaning. You would use 우스갯소리 more often in writing or in sentences. 농담 is usually used as a follow-up response after someone reacts to your…
그제서야 (geu-je-seo-ya)/그제야 (geu-je-ya)/그때서야 (geu-ddae-seo-ya) – at last/finally (at that/this time) All of the above have more or less the same meaning and you would typically insert them in the middle of a sentence. You can use this phrase to describe…
털어놓다 (teo-reo-no-ta) – confess/reveal/disclose/pour out one’s heart; lay out/lay bare You can use it to express how someone confesses his/her affection towards another person. You can also use it to express how someone explains and describes a plan. Examples: 내가…
타의 추종을 불허하다 (ta-e chu-jong-eul boo-reo-ha-da) – to be unbeatable/unrivalled; out of the league Let’s first break down the phrase into individual words. 타 = others 추종 = follow/keep up 불허하다 = disallowed/disapproved Therefore, you can look at 타의 추종을 불허하다…
여러모로 (yeo-reo-mo-ro) – in many different/various ways This is quite a straightforward phrase to describe a subject. 여러모로 can be used in both positive and negative situations. Examples: 우리 선생님은 정말 착해서 어떤 문제가 있는지도 여러모로 도울 거라고 생각해. Our teacher…
기획력과 추진력을 갖춘 사람 (gi-hwik-nyeok-gwa chu-jil-lyeo-geul gat-chun sa-ram) – a person with initiative and drive Let’s first break down the phrase down into its words. 기획 = plan/schedule/design (a plan/schedule) 기획력 = planning capability, which can also mean to have…
~것 같다 (~geot gat-da) – seems like/I guess You would usually use ~것 같다 when you are expressing your thoughts, especially when you are unsure of the facts. When you are quite certain about what you are claiming/expressing, you would…
~을/ㄹ까 봐 (~eul/eul-gga bwa) – I’m afraid (this would happen) You would almost always hear this in Korean conversations, be it in daily life, text messages or dramas. Usually, ~을/ㄹ까 봐 will be followed by some other action or statement. For…
