Learn Korean with Newly-Announced Couple: Hyun Bin and Son Yejin

To welcome this new year, Dispatch released dating rumor between Hyun Bin and Son Yejin. Both agencies have officially confirmed too. Well, this is not surprising at all. We have shipped them since the airing of Crash Landing on You drama. Hyun Bin and Son Yejin have special chemistry so it leads us to speculations on their relationship. It seems that we see the natural romance, not acting part. Finally, the romance comes to real life. In this Learning Korean section, we will throwback to Crash Landing on You drama, where the romance starts. We will learn some dialogues from Hyun Bin (Ri Jeonghyeok) and Son Yejin (Yoon Seri).

1. Hyun Bin is Ideal Type for Son Yejin

It’s definitely that Hyun Bin’s face is ideal type for Son Yejin, both in Crash Landing on You and in real life. In episode 2, Yoon Seri says to Ri Jeonghyeok 얘기했지 (얼굴) 내 타입이라고 (Yaegihaetji eolgul nae taibirago). 얘기했지 (Yaegihaetji) is past form of 얘기하다 (yaegihada) which means “to say, speak, or tell”. We could translate it to “I told you”. 얼굴 (Eolgul) means face. 내 (Nae) is Korean possessive adjective for “my”. 타입 (Taib) is actually Konglish word for “type” in English. We have discussed about Konglish on previous section (you may click here). Particle (이)라고 has similar function with linking verb or to be. So, the best translation of 얘기했지 (얼굴) 내 타입이라고 (Yaegihaetji eolgul nae taibirago) is “I told you. Your face is my type”.

2. Shocking Strategy that Leads to Romance

In this drama series we can see the distinctive cultures from South and North Korea including crisis handling. Jeonghyeok learns how South Korean solve the problem based on drama (seriously!). Before he takes action, he asks Seri 나만 보시오 (Naman bosio). 나 (Na) is object pronoun for “me” followed by suffix -만 (-man) which means “only”. 나만 (Naman) can be translated to “only me”. 보시오 (Bosio) derives from the base form 보다 (boda). It means “watch, see, look at, or meet”. Perhaps, this verb is rarely used in South Korea nowadays, but it still has the same meaning. So 나만 보시오 (Naman bosio) has equivalent meaning to “Only look at me”. Jeonghyeok asks Seri to look at him only so he could do his shocking strategy (kissing).

3. Attempt to Return (Again)

Jeonghyeok helps Seri to find a way back home. The first attempt failed. They try the second attempt planned by Jeonghyeok. Seri says farewell word to Jeonghyeok 난 보고 싶을 거 같아요 (Nan bogo sipeul geo gatayo). 난 (Nan) is actually a short form of 나는 (naneun). 나 (Na) is subject pronoun for “I” attached to subject particle -는 (-neun). 보고 싶을 (Bogo sipeul) derives from 보고 싶다 (bogo sipda). It could be roughly translated to “want to see or meet”. However, in this context, you can also say it to express that you miss someone. 거 같아요 (Geo gatayo) is originally from 거 같다 (geo gatda) and has various meanings. It can be used to express equality (same) or similarity (like, alike, likely). In some cases, it could be translated to “seem”. In this context, we may also say “I think”. So, the best translation of the whole meaning is “I think I will miss you”.

4. Hyun Bin Apologizes to Son Yejin

Let’s learn North Korean way to apologize. Its structure and pattern are basically similar to South Korean. However, it’s a little bit different in suffix or particle. Jeonghyeok says to Seri 늦어서 미안하오 (Neujeoseo mianhao). 늦어서 (Neujeoseo) derives from 늦다 (neutda) that means “late”. This verb is followed by postpositional particle -서 (-seo) to express a reason. Its particle indicates that preceding verb/ word is the reason for following action verb. 미안하오 (Mianhao) is North Korean term for apology or feeling sorry. It has the same meaning with 미안해요 (mianhaeyo) in South Korean. So, the translation of 늦어서 미안하오 (Neujeoseo mianhao) is “I am sorry for being late”.

5. Son Yejin Saved Hyun Bin

Seri unconsciously has saved Jeonghyeok through her gift. He finds crime evidence inside the fancy watch. Then Jeonghyeok says 당신도 모르는 사이에 날 살렸군 (Dangsindo moreuneun saie nal sallyeotgun). 당신 (Dangsin) is subject pronoun for “you”. This term is not only used in negative tone but also the way to address between couples. Particle -도 (-do) means “also or too”. 모르는 (Moreuneun) derives from 모르다 (moreuda) which means “unaware, unconscious, or do not know”. 사이에 (Saie) lexically means between/ among. However, in this context, we may translate it to “while”. 날 (Nal) is short version of 나를 (nareul). 나 (Na) is object pronoun for “me” followed by object particle -를 (-reul). 살렸군 (Sallyeotgun) basically derives from 살리다 (sallida) which means “to save”. So, the best translation of 당신도 모르는 사이에 날 살렸군 (Dangsindo moreuneun saie nal sallyeotgun) is “You has saved me too while you don’t know”.