Korean Superstitions 2

4층

[sacheung]

4th floor

4th floor has a meaning of death or misfortune in Korea (as well as in some other Asian countries) so a lot of building doesn’t have 4th floor, or write it down as F floor.

사 [sa]: 4

층 [cheung]: floor

밤에 휘파람 불면 뱀이 나온다

[bame hwiparam bulmyeon bemi naonda]

If you whistle in the night, the snake will come out.

밤 [bam]: night

에 [e]: at, on, in (time marker)

휘파람 [hwiparam]: whistle

불다 [bulda]: to blow

뱀 [bem]: snake

이 [i]: (consonant +) subject marker

나오다 [naoda]: to come out

연인에게 신발을 선물하면 바람난다

[yeoninege sinbareul seonmulhamyeon baramnanda]

If you get shoes as a present for your boyfriend/ girlfriend, he/ she will go away.

연인 [yeonin]: lover

에게 [ege]: to

신발 [sinbal]: shoes

을 [eul]: (consonant +) object marker

선물 [seonmul]: present, gift

바람나다 [baramnada]: to cheat on someone

덕수궁 돌담길을 걸으면 이별한다

[deoksugung doldamgireul georeumyeon ibyeolhanda]

If you walk Deoksugung (one of Korea’s royal palaces) Stonewall Walkway with your boyfriend/ girlfriend, you will break up.

덕수궁 [deoksugung]: Deoksugung, one of Korea’s royal palaces

돌담길 [doldamgil]: stonewall walkway

을 [eul]: (consonant +) object marker

걷다 [geotda]: to walk

이별하다 [ibyeolhada]: to break up

시험 날에는 미역국을 먹으면 안 된다

[siheom nareneun miyeokgugeul meogeumyeon an dwenda]

You shouldn’t eat Korean seaweed soup on a days of important exams.

시험 [siheom]: test, exam

날 [nal]: day

에 [e]: at, on, in (time marker)

는 [neun]: (vowel +) topic marker

미역국 [miyeokguk]: Korean seaweed soup

을 [eul]: (consonant +) object marker

먹다 [meokda]: to eat

안 [an]: not (negation marker)

The best way to learn Korean is to live in Korea. Don’t live there? Don’t worry. Here is the best alternative.

Eggbun promises to be your Korean tutor and conversation partner. Follow our curriculum and chat with Lanny in Korean!