Festivals & Customs

Korean Basic Conversation 3

Chapter 11 Β· Customs, Festivals & Traditions

🎎 Festivals & Customs β€” λͺ…μ ˆκ³Ό 전톡

Korean dramas stop for μ„€λ‚  and 좔석: the whole family gathers, food is prepared, and everyone bows. To explain a custom you need two tools. -μž–μ•„μš” reminds the listener of something they already know ("…as you know"), and noun clauses (-λŠ” 것, -κΈ°) turn a verb into "the act of doing": "eating tteokguk is a tradition". Dialogs have a Hard words note, and a short reading text closes the chapter.

eo = γ…“ (short, open "uh") eu = γ…‘ (unrounded "oo") kk, tt, pp, ss, jj = tense (tight, unaspirated) consonants

β‘  Seollal β€” μ„€λ‚ μ—λŠ” 뭘 ν•΄μš”?

A:μ„€λ‚ μ—λŠ” 보톡 뭘 ν•΄μš”?What do you usually do at Seollal?
B:온 가쑱이 λͺ¨μ—¬μ„œ 떑ꡭ을 λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”. 그리고 μ–΄λ₯Έλ“€κ»˜ μ„Έλ°°λ₯Ό ν•΄μš”.The whole family gathers and we eat tteokguk. And we do sebae to the elders.
A:μ„Έλ°°κ°€ λ­μ˜ˆμš”?What is sebae?
B:μ ˆμ„ ν•˜λ©΄μ„œ "μƒˆν•΄ 볡 많이 λ°›μœΌμ„Έμš”"라고 μΈμ‚¬ν•˜λŠ” κ±°μ˜ˆμš”.It's bowing while greeting them with "Happy New Year".
A:μ„Έλ°°λ₯Ό ν•˜λ©΄ μš©λˆλ„ λ°›μž–μ•„μš”. 어렸을 λ•Œ 그게 제일 μ’‹μ•˜μ–΄μš”.When you do sebae you get pocket money too, as you know. When I was little that was the best part.
Hard words: μ„€λ‚  seol-lal Β· λ–‘κ΅­ tteok-kkuk Β· μ„Έλ°° se-bae Β· 절 jeol Β· 볡 bok Β· 용돈 yong-ttol Β· λ°›μž–μ•„μš” bat-jja-na-yo

β‘‘ Chuseok β€” 좔석 μ€€λΉ„

A:μΆ”μ„μ—λŠ” κ³ ν–₯에 λ‚΄λ €κ°€μ„Έμš”?Do you go down to your hometown at Chuseok?
B:λ„€, ν•΄λ§ˆλ‹€ κ°€μš”. κ³ μ†λ„λ‘œκ°€ λ§‰ν˜€μ„œ μ‹œκ°„μ΄ 였래 κ±Έλ¦¬μ§€λ§Œμš”.Yes, every year. Though the motorway is jammed, so it takes a long time.
A:κ°€λ©΄ 뭘 ν•˜μ„Έμš”?What do you do when you get there?
B:λ‹€ 같이 μ†‘νŽΈμ„ λΉšμ–΄μš”. μ†‘νŽΈ λΉšκΈ°λŠ” 생각보닀 μ–΄λ €μ›Œμš”.We all shape songpyeon together. Shaping songpyeon is harder than you'd think.
A:저도 ν•΄ 보고 μ‹Άμ–΄μš”. λ§Œλ“œλŠ” 것을 ꡬ경해도 λΌμš”?I'd like to try it too. May I watch the making?
Hard words: 좔석 chu-seok Β· κ³ ν–₯에 λ‚΄λ €κ°€μ„Έμš” go-hyang-e nae-ryeo-ga-se-yo Β· ν•΄λ§ˆλ‹€ hae-ma-da Β· κ³ μ†λ„λ‘œ go-sok-do-ro Β· μ†‘νŽΈ song-pyeon Β· λΉšμ–΄μš” bi-jeo-yo Β· ꡬ경해도 gu-gyeong-hae-do

β‘’ Hanbok β€” ν•œλ³΅μ„ μž…μ–΄ λ΄€μ–΄μš”

A:ν•œλ³΅μ„ μž…μ–΄ λ³Έ 적이 μžˆμ–΄μš”?Have you ever worn a hanbok?
B:λ„€, κ²½λ³΅κΆμ—μ„œ 빌렀 μž…μ–΄ λ΄€μ–΄μš”. μ˜ˆμ˜μ§€λ§Œ κ±·κΈ°κ°€ μ’€ λΆˆνŽΈν–ˆμ–΄μš”.Yes, I rented one and wore it at Gyeongbokgung. It was pretty but a bit awkward to walk in.
A:μ„€λ‚ μ΄λ‚˜ κ²°ν˜Όμ‹μ—λŠ” ν•œλ³΅μ„ μž…λŠ” μ‚¬λžŒμ΄ λ§Žμž–μ•„μš”.Lots of people wear hanbok at Seollal or at weddings, as you know.
B:λ§žμ•„μš”. μš”μ¦˜μ€ ν‰μ†Œμ—λ„ μž…λŠ” μ‚¬λžŒμ΄ μžˆλ‹€κ³  ν•΄μš”.True. They say there are people who even wear it in everyday life these days.
A:ν•œλ³΅μ„ μž…κ³  사진 μ°λŠ” 것도 인기가 λ§Žμ•„μš”.Taking photos in hanbok is also very popular.
Hard words: ν•œλ³΅ han-bok Β· 경볡ꢁ gyeong-bok-gung Β· 빌렀 bil-lyeo Β· κ±·κΈ° geot-kki Β· λΆˆνŽΈν–ˆμ–΄μš” bul-pyeon-hae-sseo-yo Β· κ²°ν˜Όμ‹ gyeol-hon-sik Β· ν‰μ†Œ pyeong-so

β‘£ A Wedding Invitation β€” κ²°ν˜Όμ‹μ— μ΄ˆλŒ€λ°›μ•˜μ–΄μš”

A:λ™λ£Œκ°€ κ²°ν˜Όμ‹μ— μ΄ˆλŒ€ν•΄ μ€¬μ–΄μš”. 뭘 μ€€λΉ„ν•΄μ•Ό ν•΄μš”?A colleague invited me to the wedding. What should I prepare?
B:보톡 μΆ•μ˜κΈˆμ„ λ΄‰νˆ¬μ— λ„£μ–΄μ„œ κ°€μš”. κΉ¨λ—ν•œ λˆμ„ λ„£λŠ” 게 μ’‹μ•„μš”.Usually you put gift money in an envelope and take it. It's best to put in clean notes.
A:μ–Όλ§ˆλ₯Ό λ‚΄λŠ” 게 μ’‹μ„κΉŒμš”?How much would be good to give?
B:μΉœν•œ 정도에 따라 λ‹¬λΌμš”. λ™λ£Œν•œν…Œ 직접 λ¬Όμ–΄λ³΄κΈ°λŠ” μ–΄λ €μš°λ‹ˆκΉŒ λ‹€λ₯Έ μ‚¬λžŒν•œν…Œ λ¬Όμ–΄λ³΄μ„Έμš”.It depends on how close you are. It's awkward to ask the colleague directly, so ask someone else.
A:그럼 μ˜·μ€ μ–΄λ–»κ²Œ μž…μ–΄μ•Ό ν•΄μš”?And how should I dress?
B:κΉ”λ”ν•œ 옷이면 λΌμš”. λ„ˆλ¬΄ 흰색은 ν”Όν•˜λŠ” 게 μ’‹κ² μ–΄μš”.Neat clothes will do. It's better to avoid all-white.
Hard words: μ΄ˆλŒ€ν•΄ cho-dae-hae Β· μΆ•μ˜κΈˆ chu-gui-geum Β· λ΄‰νˆ¬ bong-tu Β· κΉ¨λ—ν•œ kkae-kkeu-tan Β· 정도에 따라 jeong-do-e tta-ra Β· κΉ”λ”ν•œ kkal-kkeum-han Β· ν”Όν•˜λŠ” pi-ha-neun

β‘€ Family Traditions β€” μ œμ‚¬μ™€ μ°¨λ‘€

A:할아버지 μ œμ‚¬μ—λŠ” 온 가쑱이 λͺ¨μ΄μž–μ•„μš”?The whole family gathers for Grandfather's memorial rite, doesn't it?
B:λ„€, μŒμ‹μ„ 차리고 μ ˆμ„ ν•΄μš”. μ€€λΉ„ν•˜λŠ” 것이 νž˜λ“€μ§€λ§Œ μ€‘μš”ν•œ μΌμ΄μ—μš”.Yes, we lay out food and bow. Preparing it is hard but it's an important thing.
A:μš”μ¦˜μ€ κ°„λ‹¨ν•˜κ²Œ ν•˜λŠ” 집도 λ§Žλ‹€κ³  λ“€μ—ˆμ–΄μš”.I've heard that many families do it simply these days.
B:λ§žμ•„μš”. μ§‘λ§ˆλ‹€ λ‹¬λΌμš”. 우리 집은 전톡을 μ§€ν‚€λŠ” 것을 μ€‘μš”ν•˜κ²Œ μƒκ°ν•΄μš”.True. It differs from house to house. Our family thinks keeping tradition is important.
A:μ €λŠ” λ‹€λ₯Έ λ‚˜λΌμ˜ 전톡을 λ°°μš°λŠ” 것이 정말 μž¬λ―Έμžˆμ–΄μš”.I find learning about other countries' traditions really interesting.
Hard words: μ œμ‚¬ je-sa Β· 차리고 cha-ri-go Β· κ°„λ‹¨ν•˜κ²Œ gan-dan-ha-ge Β· μ§‘λ§ˆλ‹€ jim-ma-da Β· μ§€ν‚€λŠ” ji-ki-neun Β· 전톡 jeon-tong Β· λ“€μ—ˆμ–΄μš” deu-reo-sseo-yo

β‘₯ Two Friends (casual) β€” 이번 λͺ…μ ˆ μ–΄λ•Œ?

A:이번 좔석에 κ³ ν–₯ κ°€? μ°¨ λ§‰νžˆμž–μ•„.Are you going home for Chuseok? The traffic's terrible, you know.
B:응, κ°€μ•Ό ν•΄. μ—„λ§ˆκ°€ ν•΄ μ£ΌλŠ” μŒμ‹ λ¨ΉλŠ” 게 제일 μ’‹κ±°λ“ .Yeah, I have to go. Eating what Mum cooks is the best, you see.
A:λΆ€λŸ½λ‹€. λ‚˜λŠ” 일해야 λΌμ„œ λͺ» κ°€.I'm jealous. I have to work, so I can't go.
B:그럼 μ†‘νŽΈ μ’€ κ°–λ‹€ μ€„κ²Œ. 우리 μ—„λ§ˆ μ†‘νŽΈ μ§„μ§œ λ§›μžˆμž–μ•„.Then I'll bring you some songpyeon. My mum's songpyeon is really delicious, you know.
A:정말? κ³ λ§ˆμ›Œ! κΈ°λ‹€λ¦΄κ²Œ.Really? Thanks! I'll be waiting.
Hard words: λͺ…μ ˆ myeong-jeol Β· λ§‰νžˆμž–μ•„ ma-ki-ja-na Β· κ°€μ•Ό ν•΄ ga-ya hae Β· λ¨ΉλŠ” 게 meong-neun ge Β· κ°–λ‹€ μ€„κ²Œ gat-tta jul-ge Β· λ§›μžˆμž–μ•„ ma-sit-jja-na

πŸ—οΈ Key Phrases β€” μ€‘μš”ν•œ ν‘œν˜„

SituationPoliteCasual
Happy New Year!μƒˆν•΄ 볡 많이 λ°›μœΌμ„Έμš”!μƒˆν•΄ 볡 많이 λ°›μ•„!
Happy Chuseok!즐거운 좔석 λ³΄λ‚΄μ„Έμš”!즐거운 좔석 보내!
Congratulations (on the wedding).결혼 μΆ•ν•˜λ“œλ¦½λ‹ˆλ‹€.결혼 μΆ•ν•˜ν•΄.
What do people usually do?보톡 μ–΄λ–»κ²Œ ν•΄μš”?보톡 μ–΄λ–»κ²Œ ν•΄?
It differs from family to family.μ§‘λ§ˆλ‹€ λ‹¬λΌμš”.μ§‘λ§ˆλ‹€ 달라.
It's a tradition.μ „ν†΅μ΄μ—μš”.전톡이야.

πŸ”€ Three Verbs for Customs β€” 동사

VerbEveryday polite (-μš”)Formal (-γ…‚λ‹ˆλ‹€)Casual
to gather (λͺ¨μ΄λ‹€)λͺ¨μ—¬μš”λͺ¨μž…λ‹ˆλ‹€λͺ¨μ—¬
to make (λ§Œλ“€λ‹€)λ§Œλ“€μ–΄μš”λ§Œλ“­λ‹ˆλ‹€λ§Œλ“€μ–΄
to keep; to protect (지킀닀)μ§€μΌœμš”μ§€ν‚΅λ‹ˆλ‹€μ§€μΌœ

🧱 Two Tools for Explaining Customs

1. "…as you know" β€” -μž–μ•„μš”

Add -μž–μ•„μš” to a stem (verb or adjective) to remind the listener of something they already know or can see: μ„€λ‚ μ—λŠ” 떑ꡭ을 λ¨Ήμž–μ•„μš” ("at Seollal we eat tteokguk, as you know"). For the past, use -μ•˜/μ—ˆμž–μ•„μš” (μ–΄μ œ λ§ν–ˆμž–μ•„μš”, "I told you yesterday"), and after a noun, (이)μž–μ•„μš” (였늘 λͺ…μ ˆμ΄μž–μ•„μš”). It comes from -지 μ•Šμ•„μš”? ("isn't it?"). The casual form is -μž–μ•„. Two cautions: it can sound like "don't you know?" when you are annoyed, so be careful with elders, and if the listener does not know the fact, use -κ±°λ“ μš” (Chapter 7) instead.

2. Verbs as nouns β€” -λŠ” 것 and -κΈ°

A noun clause turns a whole action into a noun. The common way is -λŠ” 것 (present), -(으)γ„΄ 것 (past) and -(으)γ„Ή 것 (future): 전톡을 μ§€ν‚€λŠ” 것은 μ€‘μš”ν•΄μš” ("keeping tradition is important"), μ†‘νŽΈμ„ λ§Œλ“œλŠ” 것을 κ΅¬κ²½ν•΄μš” ("I watch the making of songpyeon"). In speech 것이 becomes 게 and 것을 becomes κ±Έ, which you met in Chapters 9 and 1: λ¨ΉλŠ” 게, λ¨ΉλŠ” κ±Έ. The shorter -κΈ° makes a noun too, and goes with a fixed set of expressions: κ±·κΈ°κ°€ λΆˆνŽΈν•΄μš” ("walking is uncomfortable"), 보기 μ’‹μ•„μš” ("it looks nice"), λ§ν•˜κΈ° μ–΄λ €μ›Œμš” ("it's hard to say"), μ†‘νŽΈ 빚기 ("shaping songpyeon").

FormUseExample
-λŠ” 것"doing" (an action in general)ν•œλ³΅μ„ μž…λŠ” 것을 μ’‹μ•„ν•΄μš”. I like wearing hanbok.
-(으)γ„΄ 것"what was done"μ–΄μ œ λ³Έ 것이 μž¬λ―Έμžˆμ—ˆμ–΄μš”. What I saw yesterday was fun.
-κΈ°with μ’‹λ‹€ / 쉽닀 / μ–΄λ ΅λ‹€ / λΆˆνŽΈν•˜λ‹€μ΄ μ‹ λ°œμ€ κ±·κΈ° νŽΈν•΄μš”. These shoes are comfortable to walk in.
-μž–μ•„μš”"as you know"λͺ…μ ˆμ—λŠ” 길이 λ§‰νžˆμž–μ•„μš”. The roads jam at festivals, you know.

πŸ“– Reading β€” 읽기: ν•œκ΅­μ˜ 두 큰 λͺ…μ ˆ

ν•œκ΅­μ˜ 두 큰 λͺ…μ ˆ ν•œκ΅­μ—λŠ” 두 개의 큰 λͺ…μ ˆμ΄ μžˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. ν•˜λ‚˜λŠ” 섀날이고 λ‹€λ₯Έ ν•˜λ‚˜λŠ” μΆ”μ„μž…λ‹ˆλ‹€. μ„€λ‚ μ—λŠ” 가쑱이 λͺ¨μ—¬μ„œ 떑ꡭ을 λ¨Ήκ³  μ–΄λ₯Έλ“€κ»˜ μ„Έλ°°λ₯Ό ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. 아이듀은 μ„Έλ°°λ₯Ό ν•˜κ³  μš©λˆμ„ λ°›μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. μΆ”μ„μ—λŠ” 가쑱이 ν•¨κ»˜ μ†‘νŽΈμ„ λ§Œλ“€κ³  μ‘°μƒκ»˜ κ°μ‚¬ν•˜λŠ” 인사λ₯Ό ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. 두 λͺ…μ ˆ λͺ¨λ‘ 가쑱이 λͺ¨μ΄λŠ” 것이 κ°€μž₯ μ€‘μš”ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. κ·Έλž˜μ„œ λͺ…μ ˆμ—λŠ” λ§Žμ€ μ‚¬λžŒμ΄ κ³ ν–₯에 λ‚΄λ €κ°€κ³ , κ³ μ†λ„λ‘œκ°€ 많이 λ§‰νž™λ‹ˆλ‹€. μš”μ¦˜μ€ κ°„λ‹¨ν•˜κ²Œ λ³΄λ‚΄λŠ” 집도 λ§Žμ§€λ§Œ, 전톡을 μ§€ν‚€λŠ” 것을 μ€‘μš”ν•˜κ²Œ μƒκ°ν•˜λŠ” 가쑱도 μžˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.
Word list: 쑰상 (ancestors) Β· λͺ¨λ‘ (all; both) Β· κ°€μž₯ (most) Β· 보내닀 (to spend (time))

True or false? (맞으면 O, 틀리면 X)

1. ν•œκ΅­μ—λŠ” 큰 λͺ…μ ˆμ΄ 두 개 μžˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.
2. μ„€λ‚ μ—λŠ” μ†‘νŽΈμ„ λ§Œλ“­λ‹ˆλ‹€.
3. 아이듀은 μ„Έλ°°λ₯Ό ν•˜κ³  μš©λˆμ„ λ°›μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.
4. μš”μ¦˜μ€ λͺ¨λ“  가쑱이 전톡을 λ˜‘κ°™μ΄ μ§€ν‚΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.

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1. O Β· 2. X (at Seollal families eat tteokguk; songpyeon is made at Chuseok) Β· 3. O Β· 4. X (many families keep it simple, others keep tradition closely)

πŸ“– Vocabulary β€” μ–΄νœ˜

#KoreanSay itEnglishType
1λͺ…μ ˆmyeong-jeoltraditional holidaynoun
2μ„€λ‚ seol-lalLunar New Year's Daynoun
3좔석chu-seokHarvest festivalnoun
4λ–‘κ΅­tteok-kkukrice-cake soupnoun
5μ†‘νŽΈsong-pyeonhalf-moon rice cakenoun
6ν•œλ³΅han-boktraditional Korean dressnoun
7μ„Έλ°°se-baeNew Year bow to eldersnoun
8용돈yong-ttolpocket moneynoun
9전톡jeon-tongtraditionnoun
10μ œμ‚¬je-saancestral memorial ritenoun
11κ²°ν˜Όμ‹gyeol-hon-sikwedding ceremonynoun
12μΆ•μ˜κΈˆchu-gui-geumwedding gift moneynoun
13λͺ¨μ΄λ‹€mo-i-dato gatherverb
14지킀닀ji-ki-dato keep; to protectverb
15차리닀cha-ri-dato lay out (food)verb
16μ΄ˆλŒ€ν•˜λ‹€cho-dae-ha-dato inviteverb
17λΉšλ‹€bit-ttato shape (dumplings, rice cakes)verb
18λ§‰νžˆλ‹€ma-ki-dato be blocked; jammedverb
19λΆˆνŽΈν•˜λ‹€bul-pyeon-ha-dato be uncomfortable; inconvenientadj
20ν•΄λ§ˆλ‹€hae-ma-daevery yearadverb
Seollal and Chuseok (from the sources) Guides describe Seollal as the Lunar New Year holiday, with ancestral rites on the first morning (μ°¨λ‘€), the formal kneeling bow μ„Έλ°° to elders, who give μ„Έλ±ƒλˆ (gift money, traditionally in a small silk pouch), and λ–‘κ΅­, which is said to add a year to your age. Hanbok is traditionally worn for the sebae. Chuseok is the harvest festival, with a morning μ°¨λ‘€ and fresh harvest offerings, and μ†‘νŽΈ as its defining food: half-moon rice cakes filled with sesame, chestnut, red bean or honey, steamed on pine needles and often shaped by the whole family the night before. Customs vary widely between families, and many now keep them simple.
Weddings and Memorial Rites (general knowledge, unverified here) The search did not cover wedding gift money, so treat these as general knowledge. Guests commonly bring μΆ•μ˜κΈˆ in an envelope, and the amount depends on closeness, so ask a friend rather than guess; there is no single correct figure. Guests usually dress neatly and avoid wearing all white. μ œμ‚¬ is a family memorial rite for an ancestor, with food laid out and bows, and some families have stopped or simplified it. The children's first-birthday party λŒμž”μΉ˜ is also a major family event, but its customs were not covered by the search, so ask a Korean friend before you attend one.
As Heard in Dramas β€” λ“œλΌλ§ˆμ—μ„œ Holiday episodes show the family kitchen: μ „ λΆ€μΉ˜λŠ” κ±° λ„μ™€μ€˜ ("help me fry the pancakes"), arguments about λͺ…μ ˆ 슀트레슀 (holiday stress), and a grandparent saying μ˜¬ν•΄λ„ κ±΄κ°•ν•˜κ²Œ μ§€λ‚΄μž ("let's stay healthy this year too"). Younger relatives dread μ–Έμ œ κ²°ν˜Όν•΄? ("when will you get married?"), a famous holiday question.
Grammar Pointer The explaining ending -κ±°λ“ μš” (Chapter 7) gives new information, while -μž–μ•„μš” reminds the listener of something they already know. The short noun forms 게 and κ±Έ appeared in Chapter 9 (-λŠ” 게 μ’‹κ² μ–΄μš”) and Chapter 1; here you see the full noun clause behind them. Reported speech -λ‹€κ³  ν•΄μš” (Chapter 8) is used in dialog 3 and 5 (μž…λŠ” μ‚¬λžŒμ΄ μžˆλ‹€κ³  ν•΄μš”, λ§Žλ‹€κ³  λ“€μ—ˆμ–΄μš”).

✍️ Try It Yourself β€” μ—°μŠ΅

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

1. Say "At Seollal we eat tteokguk, as you know."

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μ„€λ‚ μ—λŠ” 떑ꡭ을 λ¨Ήμž–μ•„μš”.

2. Say "Keeping tradition is important."

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전톡을 μ§€ν‚€λŠ” 것은 μ€‘μš”ν•΄μš”.

3. Say "Walking in hanbok is uncomfortable."

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ν•œλ³΅μ„ μž…κ³  κ±·κΈ°κ°€ λΆˆνŽΈν•΄μš”.

4. Say "The roads are jammed at Chuseok, you know."

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μΆ”μ„μ—λŠ” 길이 λ§‰νžˆμž–μ•„μš”.

5. Say "It differs from family to family."

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μ§‘λ§ˆλ‹€ λ‹¬λΌμš”.

6. Tell a friend casually "Eating what Mum makes is the best, you see."

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μ—„λ§ˆκ°€ ν•΄ μ£ΌλŠ” μŒμ‹ λ¨ΉλŠ” 게 제일 μ’‹κ±°λ“ .