Opinions

Korean Basic Conversation 2

Chapter 11 · Giving Opinions & Preferences

💭 Giving Opinions & Preferences — 의견과 취향

Real conversation is mostly opinions: which film was better, which city you prefer, whether you agree. This chapter gives you the tools to ask for and give an opinion, to compare (A is more than B), to say what is the most something, and to agree or disagree politely, which in Korean means knowing how to soften. It finishes with the vocabulary for talking about shows and films. Dialogs carry a Hard words note, and the tables keep the "Say it" column.

eo = ㅓ (short, open "uh") eu = ㅡ (unrounded "oo") kk, tt, pp, ss, jj = tense (tight, unaspirated) consonants [ ] = how the word is actually said, where it differs from the spelling

① Asking for an Opinion — 어떻게 생각해요?

A: 이 영화 어떻게 생각해요? What do you think of this film?

B: 제 생각에는 정말 재미있는 것 같아요. I think it's really good.

A: 저도 그렇게 생각해요. 특히 음악이 좋았어요. I think so too. The music was especially good.

B: 맞아요. 배우들 연기도 아주 잘했어요. Right. The actors' performances were great too.

Hard words: 어떻게 생각해요 eo-tteo-ke saeng-ga-kae-yo · 제 생각에는 je saeng-ga-ge-neun · 것 같아요 geot ga-ta-yo · 특히 teu-ki · 연기 yeon-gi · 맞아요 ma-ja-yo

② Comparing Cities — 서울이 부산보다 더 커요

A: 서울하고 부산 중에서 어디가 더 좋아요? Between Seoul and Busan, which do you like more?

B: 저는 부산이 서울보다 더 좋아요. 바다가 있고 사람들이 친절해요. I like Busan more than Seoul. It has the sea and the people are friendly.

A: 그런데 서울이 부산보다 더 편해요. 교통이 좋아요. But Seoul is more convenient than Busan. The transport is good.

B: 그건 맞아요. That's true.

Hard words: 중에서 jung-e-seo · 보다 bo-da · 더 deo · 바다 ba-da · 교통 gyo-tong · 그건 geu-geon

③ Preferences — 커피보다 차를 더 좋아해요

A: 커피하고 차 중에서 뭘 더 좋아해요? Between coffee and tea, which do you like more?

B: 저는 커피보다 차를 더 좋아해요. I like tea more than coffee.

A: 왜요? Why?

B: 커피를 마시면 잠이 안 와요. 그런데 아침에는 커피가 제일 좋아요. If I drink coffee I can't sleep. But in the morning coffee is the best.

Hard words: 차 cha · 마시면 ma-si-myeon ("if I drink") · 잠이 안 와요 ja-mi an wa-yo ("I can't sleep") · 제일 je-il

④ Politely Disagreeing — 글쎄요

A: 한국어가 영어보다 어려운 것 같아요. I think Korean is harder than English.

B: 글쎄요. 저는 조금 생각이 달라요. 문법은 어렵지만 발음은 쉬워요. Well. I think a little differently. The grammar is hard, but the pronunciation is easy.

A: 아, 그렇군요! Oh, I see!

B: 그런데 단어는 정말 어려워요. But the vocabulary really is hard.

A: 맞아요! 그건 저도 동의해요. Right! I agree with that.

Hard words: 글쎄요 geul-sse-yo · 달라요 dal-la-yo · 문법 mun-beop · 발음 ba-reum · 그렇군요 geu-reo-kun-yo · 동의해요 dong-ui-hae-yo

⑤ About a Drama — 그 드라마 어땠어요?

A: 어제 그 드라마 봤어요? Did you watch that drama yesterday?

B: 네, 봤어요. 줄거리가 슬퍼요. 제 생각에는 감동적인 것 같아요. Yes. The story is sad. I think it's moving.

A: 저는 별로였어요. 조금 지루했어요. I wasn't keen on it. It was a little boring.

B: 그래요? 결말은 어땠어요? Really? How was the ending?

A: 결말은 괜찮았어요. 그래도 저는 코미디가 더 좋아요. The ending was OK. Still, I prefer comedies.

Hard words: 줄거리 jul-geo-ri · 슬퍼요 seul-peo-yo · 감동적인 gam-dong-jeo-gin · 별로였어요 byeol-lo-yeo-sseo-yo · 지루했어요 ji-ru-hae-sseo-yo · 결말 gyeol-mal · 코미디 ko-mi-di

⑥ Two Friends (casual) — 그건 인정!

A: 치킨이랑 피자 중에 뭐가 더 좋아? Which do you like more, chicken or pizza?

B: 음… 둘 다 좋은데, 치킨이 더 좋아! Hmm… both are good, but chicken is better!

A: 나도! 근데 제일 좋은 건 떡볶이야! Same! But my favourite of all is tteokbokki!

B: 오, 그건 인정! Oh, fair enough, I agree with that!

Hard words: 중에 jung-e · 둘 다 dul da · 근데 geun-de (casual 그런데) · 떡볶이 tteok-bok-ki · 인정 in-jeong

🗝️ Key Phrases — 중요한 표현

Situation	Polite	Casual
What do you think?	어떻게 생각해요? eo-tteo-ke saeng-ga-kae-yo?	어떻게 생각해? eo-tteo-ke saeng-ga-kae?
I think …	제 생각에는 …(ㄴ) 것 같아요. je saeng-ga-ge-neun …(n) geot ga-ta-yo.	내 생각에는 …(ㄴ) 것 같아. nae saeng-ga-ge-neun …(n) geot ga-ta.
Which do you like more?	뭐가 더 좋아요? mwo-ga deo jo-a-yo?	뭐가 더 좋아? mwo-ga deo jo-a?
I agree. / I think so too.	저도 그렇게 생각해요. jeo-do geu-reo-ke saeng-ga-kae-yo.	나도 그렇게 생각해. na-do geu-reo-ke saeng-ga-kae.
Well, I see it a bit differently.	글쎄요. 조금 생각이 달라요. geul-sse-yo. jo-geum saeng-ga-gi dal-la-yo.	글쎄. 나는 좀 달라. geul-sse. na-neun jom dal-la.
That's true.	맞아요. ma-ja-yo.	맞아. / 인정! ma-ja. / in-jeong!

🔤 Three Words for Opinions — 동사

Word	Everyday polite (-요)	Formal (-ㅂ니다)	Casual
to think (생각하다)	생각해요 saeng-ga-kae-yo	생각합니다 saeng-ga-kam-ni-da	생각해 saeng-ga-kae
to be different (다르다)	달라요 dal-la-yo	다릅니다 da-reum-ni-da	달라 dal-la
to be right; to fit (맞다)	맞아요 ma-ja-yo	맞습니다 mat-sseum-ni-da	맞아 ma-ja

다르다 belongs to a small group of "르-irregular" words: before -아/어 the 르 turns into ㄹ라/ㄹ러, so 다르다 → 달라요. The same pattern gives 모르다 → 몰라요 ("I don't know"), 빠르다 → 빨라요 ("fast") and 부르다 → 불러요 (the 노래를 불러요 of Chapter 2). Before a consonant ending, nothing changes: 다릅니다.

🧱 Five Tools for Opinions

1. "I think / it seems" — -(으)ㄴ 것 같아요

Koreans soften opinions with 것 같아요 ("it seems that"). Put the describing word before 것 in the form you learned in Chapter 4 (-ㄴ/-은; -는 for 있다/없다 words), then add 같아요: 재미있는 것 같아요 ("I think it's fun"), 비싼 것 같아요 ("it seems expensive"), 학생인 것 같아요 ("he seems to be a student"). For a present action use -는 것 같아요: 비가 오는 것 같아요 ("it looks like it's raining"). Saying "I think" this way is also humble: even people who are sure often add it to avoid sounding blunt.

Word	…것 같아요	Meaning
좋다	좋은 것 같아요 jo-eun geot ga-ta-yo	it seems good
어렵다	어려운 것 같아요 eo-ryeo-un geot ga-ta-yo	it seems difficult
맛있다	맛있는 것 같아요 ma-sin-neun geot ga-ta-yo	it seems tasty
오다	오는 것 같아요 o-neun geot ga-ta-yo	it seems to be coming

2. Comparing — 보다 더

보다 after a noun means "than", and 더 means "more": 서울이 부산보다 더 커요 ("Seoul is bigger than Busan"). The order can be switched: 부산보다 서울이 더 커요. Add 훨씬 for "much more" and 조금 더 for "a bit more". The question is A하고 B 중에서 뭐가 더 좋아요? ("which do you like more, A or B?"). To say what you prefer: 저는 커피보다 차를 더 좋아해요.

Korean	Say it	Meaning
더 / 덜	deo / deol	more / less
훨씬 더	hwol-ssin deo	much more
비슷해요	bi-seu-tae-yo	it's similar
똑같아요	ttok-ga-ta-yo	it's exactly the same
둘 다	dul da	both

3. The best — 제일 and 가장

Put 제일 (everyday) or 가장 (a little more formal) before the describing word: 이 중에서 제일 맛있어요 ("this is the tastiest of them"), 무슨 계절을 제일 좋아해요? (Chapter 6). The "among" word is 중에서 (casually 중에). If the answer is "none of them", use 별로 + a negative: 별로 안 좋아해요 ("I don't like it much").

4. Agreeing and disagreeing — 동의와 반대

Strength	Korean	Say it	Meaning
strongly agree	완전 맞아요!	wan-jeon ma-ja-yo	totally right!
agree	저도 그렇게 생각해요.	jeo-do geu-reo-ke saeng-ga-kae-yo	I think so too.
acknowledge	아, 그렇군요.	a, geu-reo-kun-yo	Oh, I see.
hesitate	글쎄요.	geul-sse-yo	Well… (not sure)
mild disagreement	조금 생각이 달라요.	jo-geum saeng-ga-gi dal-la-yo	I see it a bit differently.
disagree	그렇지 않아요.	geu-reo-chi a-na-yo	That's not so.
strong disagreement	전혀 아니에요.	jeon-hyeo a-ni-e-yo	Not at all.

The polite pattern is: agree first, then add your difference. 맞아요. 그런데 저는… sounds much gentler than a flat 아니요. The ending -지 않아요 is the written/formal way to say "doesn't": 좋지 않아요.

5. Talking about shows and films — 드라마와 영화

English	Korean	Say it
fun; interesting	재미있어요	jae-mi-i-sseo-yo
boring; not fun	재미없어요 / 지루해요	jae-mi-eop-sseo-yo / ji-ru-hae-yo
moving	감동적이에요	gam-dong-jeo-gi-e-yo
sad	슬퍼요	seul-peo-yo
funny	웃겨요	ut-kkyeo-yo
scary	무서워요	mu-seo-wo-yo
famous	유명해요	yu-myeong-hae-yo
acting	연기	yeon-gi
plot; storyline	줄거리	jul-geo-ri
ending	결말	gyeol-mal

📖 Vocabulary — 어휘

#	Korean	Say it	English	Type
1	생각	saeng-gak	thought; opinion	noun
2	의견	ui-gyeon	opinion; view	noun
3	이유	i-yu	reason	noun
4	문법	mun-beop	grammar	noun
5	발음	ba-reum	pronunciation	noun
6	단어	da-neo	word; vocabulary	noun
7	교통	gyo-tong	transport; traffic	noun
8	줄거리	jul-geo-ri	plot; storyline	noun
9	결말	gyeol-mal	ending	noun
10	연기	yeon-gi	acting; performance	noun
11	더	deo	more	adverb
12	제일	je-il	the most; best	adverb
13	가장	ga-jang	the most (more formal)	adverb
14	훨씬	hwol-ssin	far more; much	adverb
15	별로	byeol-lo	not particularly (with a negative)	adverb
16	둘 다	dul da	both	phrase
17	생각하다	saeng-ga-ka-da	to think	verb
18	다르다	da-reu-da	to be different	adjective
19	맞다	mat-tta	to be right; to fit	verb
20	동의하다	dong-ui-ha-da	to agree	verb

Softening an Opinion Direct disagreement can feel confrontational in Korean, especially with someone older or senior. Good polite habits: begin with 글쎄요 or 맞아요, then use 그런데; add 제 생각에는 and 것 같아요 to your own view; and say 조금 ("a little") before 달라요. A chain like 맞아요. 그런데 제 생각에는 조금 다른 것 같아요 is both honest and polite.

보다: Two Words, One Spelling 보다 is both the verb "to see; to watch" (영화를 봐요) and the comparison particle "than" (영화보다 드라마가 더 좋아요). The particle is attached to the noun with no space and always goes with 더 or a comparison. Context tells them apart: 드라마를 봐요 (I watch a drama) versus 드라마보다 영화가 더 좋아요 (I like films more than dramas).

Opinions on Shows: Taste Words A fan says 취향 저격! ("it hit my taste exactly"). When opinions about something are split, Koreans say 호불호가 갈려요 ("likes and dislikes divide"), a polite way to say a show is controversial. And if a critic says 연기가 아쉬워요 ("the acting left something to be desired"), that is also a gentle way to be negative: 아쉽다 (Chapter 9) again.

As Heard in Dramas — 드라마에서 Friends settle debates with 인정! ("fair enough, I agree") and ㅇㅈ in chat (the same word, Chapter 10 style). A character who disagrees may say 아닌 것 같은데? ("I don't think so…?") using the same 것 같아요 pattern, with a rising tone.

Grammar Pointer The describing-word forms before a noun (-ㄴ/-은/-는) are from Chapter 4, the ㅂ-irregular words (어려운, 쉬워요, 무서워요) from Chapter 6, the past tense (좋았어요, 지루했어요) from Chapter 9, and -(으)면 from Chapter 10. The new 르-irregular group (다르다 → 달라요) is introduced here. Chapter 12 is the last one: when things go wrong.

✍️ Try It Yourself — 연습

Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.

1. Ask "What do you think of this film?"

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이 영화 어떻게 생각해요?

2. Say "I think it's really fun."

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제 생각에는 정말 재미있는 것 같아요.

3. Say "Seoul is bigger than Busan."

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서울이 부산보다 더 커요.

4. Say "I like tea more than coffee."

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저는 커피보다 차를 더 좋아해요.

5. Disagree politely: "Well… I see it a little differently."

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글쎄요. 저는 조금 생각이 달라요.

6. Ask a friend casually, "Which do you like more, chicken or pizza?"

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치킨이랑 피자 중에 뭐가 더 좋아?