Exploring historical sites in Korea often comes with fascinating legends and sometimes spooky tales. This guide provides essential Korean phrases for tourists wanting to ask their guide about ghost stories or local legends associated with places like old forts or palaces. Learn how to inquire about these intriguing narratives and understand the guide’s explanations.
Table Of Content
Core Phrase
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Expression: 귀신 이야기
Pronunciation: gwi-sin i-ya-gi
Meaning: Ghost story (lit. ghost talk/story)
Asking About the Legend
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Expression: 이 요새에 얽힌 귀신 이야기가 있나요?
Pronunciation: i yo-sae-e eol-kin gwi-sin i-ya-gi-ga it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there a ghost story related to this fort? -
Expression: 여기 전설 같은 거 있어요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi jeon-seol ga-teun geo i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Are there any legends or similar things here? -
Expression: 귀신 이야기를 좀 해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: gwi-sin i-ya-gi-reul jom hae ju-sil su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Could you please tell me a ghost story? -
Expression: 이 장소에 대한 무서운 이야기가 있습니까?
Pronunciation: i jang-so-e dae-han mu-seo-un i-ya-gi-ga it-seum-ni-kka?
Meaning: Is there a scary story about this place? -
Expression: 어떤 종류의 귀신 이야기가 전해져 내려오나요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon jong-nyu-ui gwi-sin i-ya-gi-ga jeon-hae-jyeo nae-ryeo-o-na-yo?
Meaning: What kind of ghost stories are passed down? -
Expression: 그 이야기는 언제부터 시작되었나요?
Pronunciation: geu i-ya-gi-neun eon-je-bu-teo si-jak-doe-eot-na-yo?
Meaning: When did that story begin? -
Expression: 여기서 귀신을 본 사람이 있대요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo gwi-sin-eul bon sa-ram-i it-dae-yo?
Meaning: Have people reportedly seen a ghost here? -
Expression: 이 전설은 사실인가요?
Pronunciation: i jeon-seol-eun sa-sil-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is this legend true? -
Expression: 더 자세히 이야기해 주세요.
Pronunciation: deo ja-se-hi i-ya-gi-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me more details. -
Expression: 관련된 역사적 사건이 있나요?
Pronunciation: gwan-lyeon-doen yeok-sa-jeok sa-kkeon-i it-na-yo?
Meaning: Are there any related historical events?
Understanding the Guide’s Explanation
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Expression: 아, 그렇군요.
Pronunciation: a, geu-reo-kun-yo.
Meaning: Oh, I see. / Oh, is that so? -
Expression: 정말 흥미롭네요.
Pronunciation: jeong-mal heung-mi-rom-ne-yo.
Meaning: That’s really interesting. -
Expression: 이해했어요.
Pronunciation: i-hae-hae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I understand. / I got it. -
Expression: 죄송하지만, 다시 한번 설명해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: joe-song-ha-ji-man, da-si han-beon seol-myeong-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: I’m sorry, but could you explain that again? -
Expression: 그 단어는 무슨 뜻인가요?
Pronunciation: geu dan-eo-neun mu-seun tteu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: What does that word mean? -
Expression: 조금 더 천천히 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: jo-geum deo cheon-cheon-hi mal-sseum-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Could you please speak a little more slowly? -
Expression: 그래서 어떻게 되었나요?
Pronunciation: geu-rae-seo eo-tteo-ke doe-eot-na-yo?
Meaning: So, what happened then? -
Expression: 그 이야기가 아직도 회자되나요?
Pronunciation: geu i-ya-gi-ga a-jik-do hoe-ja-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: Is that story still talked about? -
Expression: 믿기 어렵네요.
Pronunciation: mit-gi eo-ryeom-ne-yo.
Meaning: It’s hard to believe. -
Expression: 그 귀신은 왜 나타난다고 하나요?
Pronunciation: geu gwi-sin-eun wae na-ta-nan-da-go ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Why do they say the ghost appears?
Expressing Feelings and Reactions
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Expression: 와, 무섭네요!
Pronunciation: wa, mu-seom-ne-yo!
Meaning: Wow, that’s scary! -
Expression: 좀 으스스한데요.
Pronunciation: jom eu-seu-seu-han-de-yo.
Meaning: It feels a bit creepy. -
Expression: 소름 돋았어요.
Pronunciation: so-reum do-da-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I got goosebumps. -
Expression: 정말 슬픈 이야기네요.
Pronunciation: jeong-mal seul-peun i-ya-gi-ne-yo.
Meaning: That’s a really sad story. -
Expression: 믿을 수가 없어요.
Pronunciation: mi-deul su-ga eop-seo-yo.
Meaning: I can’t believe it. -
Expression: 너무 신기해요.
Pronunciation: neo-mu sin-gi-hae-yo.
Meaning: It’s so fascinating / amazing. -
Expression: 밤에는 여기 오기 무서울 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: bam-e-neun yeo-gi o-gi mu-seo-ul geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think it would be scary to come here at night. -
Expression: 그런 이야기가 있을 줄 몰랐어요.
Pronunciation: geu-reon i-ya-gi-ga i-sseul jul mol-la-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I didn’t know there was such a story. -
Expression: 인상 깊었어요.
Pronunciation: in-sang gi-peo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: It was impressive / memorable. -
Expression: 기분이 묘하네요.
Pronunciation: gi-bun-i myo-ha-ne-yo.
Meaning: I feel strange / weird.
Cultural Insights on Korean Ghost Stories
Understanding Korean ghost stories (귀신 이야기 – gwi-sin i-ya-gi) involves more than just the narrative. Often, these tales are deeply connected to Korean history and cultural concepts like 한 (han), a complex emotion representing unresolved grief, resentment, or sorrow. Many ghosts in Korean folklore are believed to be spirits unable to move on due to injustices suffered in life.
Historical sites like old fortresses (요새 – yo-sae or 성곽 – seong-gwak), palaces (궁궐 – gung-gwol), and abandoned places are common settings for ghost stories. These locations often have turbulent histories involving battles, betrayals, or tragedies, making them fertile ground for legends about lingering spirits.
Korean ghost stories aren’t just for scares; they often serve as cautionary tales or ways to remember historical events and figures, albeit through a supernatural lens. Asking about these stories can provide a unique perspective on the local culture and history of a place.
When discussing ghost stories, Koreans might use terms like 원혼 (won-hon), meaning a vengeful spirit, or refer to specific types of ghosts like the 처녀귀신 (cheo-nyeo-gwi-sin), a virgin ghost often depicted with long black hair and a white hanbok, symbolizing unresolved sorrow.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A tourist (A) is touring an old Korean fortress with a local guide (B).
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Expression: A: 가이드님, 혹시 이 요새에 얽힌 귀신 이야기가 있나요?
Pronunciation: ga-i-deu-nim, hok-si i yo-sae-e eol-kin gwi-sin i-ya-gi-ga it-na-yo?
Meaning: A: Guide, is there perhaps a ghost story related to this fort? -
Expression: B: 네, 아주 유명한 이야기가 하나 전해져 내려옵니다. 들어보시겠어요?
Pronunciation: ne, a-ju yu-myeong-han i-ya-gi-ga ha-na jeon-hae-jyeo nae-ryeo-om-ni-da. deu-reo-bo-si-ge-sseo-yo?
Meaning: B: Yes, there is one very famous story passed down. Would you like to hear it? -
Expression: A: 네! 꼭 듣고 싶어요. 어떤 이야기인가요?
Pronunciation: ne! kkok deut-go si-peo-yo. eo-tteon i-ya-gi-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: A: Yes! I definitely want to hear it. What kind of story is it? -
Expression: B: 옛날에 억울하게 죽은 한 장군의 영혼이 밤마다 이 성벽 주위를 떠돈다는 전설입니다.
Pronunciation: yen-nal-e eok-ul-ha-ge ju-geun han jang-gun-ui yeong-hon-i bam-ma-da i seong-byeok ju-wi-reul tteo-don-da-neun jeon-seol-im-ni-da.
Meaning: B: It’s a legend about the spirit of a general who died unjustly long ago, said to wander around these fortress walls every night. -
Expression: A: 와, 정말요? 좀 으스스한데요. 그 장군은 왜 억울하게 죽었나요?
Pronunciation: wa, jeong-mal-lyo? jom eu-seu-seu-han-de-yo. geu jang-gun-eun wae eok-ul-ha-ge ju-geo-na-yo?
Meaning: A: Wow, really? That’s a bit creepy. Why did the general die unjustly? -
Expression: B: 모함을 받아 반역자로 몰렸다고 합니다. 그래서 그의 한이 깊어 귀신이 되었다고들 하죠.
Pronunciation: mo-ham-eul ba-da ban-yeok-ja-ro mol-lyeot-da-go ham-ni-da. geu-rae-seo geu-ui han-i gi-peo gwi-sin-i doe-eot-da-go-deul ha-jyo.
Meaning: B: They say he was falsely accused and branded a traitor. That’s why his ‘han’ (deep sorrow/resentment) was so profound that he became a ghost, people say. -
Expression: A: 아, 그렇군요… 정말 슬픈 이야기네요. 여기서 귀신을 본 사람이 있대요?
Pronunciation: a, geu-reo-kun-yo… jeong-mal seul-peun i-ya-gi-ne-yo. yeo-gi-seo gwi-sin-eul bon sa-ram-i it-dae-yo?
Meaning: A: Oh, I see… That’s a really sad story. Have people reportedly seen the ghost here? -
Expression: B: 글쎄요, 소문은 무성하지만 실제로 봤다는 사람은 드물죠. 그래도 밤에는 여기 오기 무섭다는 사람들이 많아요.
Pronunciation: geul-sse-yo, so-mun-eun mu-seong-ha-ji-man sil-je-ro bwat-da-neun sa-ram-eun deu-mul-jyo. geu-rae-do bam-e-neun yeo-gi o-gi mu-seop-da-neun sa-ram-deul-i ma-na-yo.
Meaning: B: Well, rumors abound, but people who claim to have actually seen it are rare. Still, many people say it’s scary to come here at night.
Practice Tips
Learning these phrases is just the start! Try using them when you visit historical sites in Korea~ You might be surprised by the fascinating local legends you uncover! Watching Korean historical dramas or horror movies featuring ghosts (귀신 – gwi-sin) can also help you get used to the vocabulary and common themes. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; guides often appreciate tourists showing interest in local folklore. Practice makes perfect, so keep reviewing and try forming your own questions about legends you might hear! Good luck!
