Experiencing the electric atmosphere of a live sports game in Korea is a fantastic cultural immersion. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and vocabulary you’ll need to navigate everything from buying tickets to cheering for your favorite team like a local. Master these expressions to fully enjoy the passion of Korean sports spectatorship.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
This is the fundamental phrase for expressing the act of watching a sports game.
- Expression: 스포츠 경기 관람하기 (seupocheu gyeonggi gwallamhagi)
Pronunciation: seu-po-cheu gyeong-gi gwal-lam-ha-gi
Meaning: Watching a sports game (관람하기 means ‘to watch’ or ‘to view’, often used for performances or events)
Buying Tickets and Finding Seats
Here are key phrases for securing your spot at the game.
- Expression: 표 어디서 사요? (pyo eodiseo sayo?)
Pronunciation: pyo eo-di-seo sa-yo?
Meaning: Where can I buy tickets? - Expression: 입장권 두 장 주세요. (ipjanggwon du jang juseyo.)
Pronunciation: ip-jang-gwon du jang ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Two admission tickets, please. - Expression: 온라인으로 예매했어요. (ollaineuro yemaehaesseoyo.)
Pronunciation: ol-la-in-eu-ro ye-mae-haess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I booked tickets online. - Expression: 이 좌석 맞나요? (i jwaseok mannayo?)
Pronunciation: i jwa-seok man-na-yo?
Meaning: Is this the right seat? - Expression: 제 자리가 어디예요? (je jariga eodiyeyo?)
Pronunciation: je ja-ri-ga eo-di-ye-yo?
Meaning: Where is my seat? - Expression: 지정석이에요? 자유석이에요? (jijeongseogiyeyo? jayuseogiyeyo?)
Pronunciation: ji-jeong-seo-gi-ye-yo? ja-yu-seo-gi-ye-yo?
Meaning: Is it an assigned seat? Or free seating? - Expression: 경기 시작 몇 시예요? (gyeonggi sijak myeot siyeyo?)
Pronunciation: gyeong-gi si-jak myeot si-ye-yo?
Meaning: What time does the game start? - Expression: 입장료 얼마예요? (ipjangnyo eolmayeyo?)
Pronunciation: ip-jang-nyo eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much is the entrance fee? - Expression: 매진됐어요? (maejindwaesseoyo?)
Pronunciation: mae-jin-dwaess-eo-yo?
Meaning: Is it sold out? - Expression: 현장 구매 가능한가요? (hyeonjang gumae ganeunghangayo?)
Pronunciation: hyeon-jang gu-mae ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Can I buy tickets here (on-site)? - Expression: 게이트 번호가 뭐예요? (geiteu beonhoga mwoyeyo?)
Pronunciation: ge-i-teu beon-ho-ga mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What is the gate number? - Expression: 제 구역이 어디 쪽이에요? (je guyeogi eodi jjogieyo?)
Pronunciation: je gu-yeo-gi eo-di jjo-gi-e-yo?
Meaning: Which way is my section?
Cheering Expressions
Get ready to shout and support your team with these common cheers.
- Expression: 화이팅! (hwaiting!)
Pronunciation: hwa-i-ting!
Meaning: Fighting! (Used as “Go team!” or “Let’s go!”) - Expression: 잘한다! (jalhanda!)
Pronunciation: jal-han-da!
Meaning: Doing well! / Great job! - Expression: 힘내세요! (himnaeseyo!)
Pronunciation: him-nae-se-yo!
Meaning: Cheer up! / Hang in there! / Keep it up! - Expression: 가자! (gaja!)
Pronunciation: ga-ja!
Meaning: Let’s go! - Expression: 이겨라! (igyeora!)
Pronunciation: i-gyeo-ra!
Meaning: Win! / Let’s win! - Expression: 골! (gol!)
Pronunciation: gol!
Meaning: Goal! - Expression: 박수! (baksu!)
Pronunciation: bak-su!
Meaning: Clap! / Applause! - Expression: [팀 이름] 최고! ([tim ireum] choego!)
Pronunciation: [team name] choe-go!
Meaning: [Team Name] is the best! - Expression: 막아! (maga!)
Pronunciation: ma-ga!
Meaning: Block it! / Defend! - Expression: 안타! (anta!)
Pronunciation: an-ta!
Meaning: Hit! (Used in baseball) - Expression: 홈런! (homneon!)
Pronunciation: hom-neon!
Meaning: Home run! (Used in baseball) - Expression: 아자 아자! (aja aja!)
Pronunciation: a-ja a-ja!
Meaning: Let’s do this! / Come on! (Similar to Fighting!)
During the Game
Use these phrases to comment on the action unfolding.
- Expression: 지금 몇 대 몇이에요? (jigeum myeot dae myeochieyo?)
Pronunciation: ji-geum myeot dae myeo-chi-e-yo?
Meaning: What’s the score now? - Expression: 누가 이기고 있어요? (nuga igigo isseoyo?)
Pronunciation: nu-ga i-gi-go iss-eo-yo?
Meaning: Who is winning? - Expression: 반칙이에요! (banchigieyo!)
Pronunciation: ban-chi-gi-e-yo!
Meaning: That’s a foul! / Penalty! - Expression: 시간 다 됐어요. (sigan da dwaesseoyo.)
Pronunciation: si-gan da dwaess-eo-yo.
Meaning: Time is up. - Expression: 연장전 가나요? (yeonjangjeon ganayo?)
Pronunciation: yeon-jang-jeon ga-na-yo?
Meaning: Is it going into overtime? - Expression: 선수 교체하네요. (seonsu gyochehaneyo.)
Pronunciation: seon-su gyo-che-ha-ne-yo.
Meaning: They’re substituting a player. - Expression: 아깝다! (akkapda!)
Pronunciation: a-kkap-da!
Meaning: So close! / What a shame! - Expression: 심판 뭐해요? (simpan mwohaeyo?)
Pronunciation: sim-pan mwo-hae-yo?
Meaning: What is the referee doing? (Expressing disagreement) - Expression: 작전 타임이에요. (jakjeon taimieyo.)
Pronunciation: jak-jeon ta-im-i-e-yo.
Meaning: It’s a time-out. - Expression: 전반전 끝났어요. (jeonbanjeon kkeutnasseoyo.)
Pronunciation: jeon-ban-jeon kkeut-nass-eo-yo.
Meaning: The first half is over. - Expression: 후반전 시작했어요. (hubanjeon sijakhaesseoyo.)
Pronunciation: hu-ban-jeon si-jak-haess-eo-yo.
Meaning: The second half has started. - Expression: 누가 골 넣었어요? (nuga gol neoeosseoyo?)
Pronunciation: nu-ga gol neo-eoss-eo-yo?
Meaning: Who scored the goal?
Post-Game Talk
Discuss the outcome and highlights after the final whistle.
- Expression: 오늘 경기 어땠어요? (oneul gyeonggi eottaesseoyo?)
Pronunciation: o-neul gyeong-gi eo-ttae-ss-eo-yo?
Meaning: How was the game today? - Expression: 정말 재미있었어요! (jeongmal jaemiisseosseoyo!)
Pronunciation: jeong-mal jae-mi-iss-eoss-eo-yo!
Meaning: It was really fun! - Expression: 우리가 이겼어요! (uriga igyeosseoyo!)
Pronunciation: u-ri-ga i-gyeoss-eo-yo!
Meaning: We won! - Expression: 아쉽게 졌네요. (aswipge jyeonneyo.)
Pronunciation: a-swip-ge jyeonn-ne-yo.
Meaning: Unfortunately, we lost. / It’s a pity we lost. - Expression: 다음 경기는 꼭 이길 거예요. (daeum gyeonggineun kkok igil geoyeyo.)
Pronunciation: da-eum gyeong-gi-neun kkok i-gil geo-ye-yo.
Meaning: We will definitely win the next game. - Expression: 오늘 MVP는 누구일까요? (oneul MVPneun nuguilkkayo?)
Pronunciation: o-neul em-beu-i-pi-neun nu-gu-il-kka-yo?
Meaning: Who do you think today’s MVP is? - Expression: 그 선수 정말 잘하더라고요. (geu seonsu jeongmal jalhadeoragoyo.)
Pronunciation: geu seon-su jeong-mal jal-ha-deo-ra-go-yo.
Meaning: That player was really good. - Expression: 하이라이트 다시 봐야겠어요. (haillaiteu dasi bwayagesseoyo.)
Pronunciation: ha-il-la-i-teu da-si bwa-ya-gess-eo-yo.
Meaning: I should watch the highlights again. - Expression: 치맥하러 갈래요? (chimaekhareo gallae-yo?)
Pronunciation: chi-maek-ha-reo gal-lae-yo?
Meaning: Shall we go for chicken and beer? (A very common post-game activity) - Expression: 너무 흥분했어요! (neomu heungbunhaesseoyo!)
Pronunciation: neo-mu heung-bun-haess-eo-yo!
Meaning: I was so excited! - Expression: 목이 다 쉬었어요. (mogi da swieosseoyo.)
Pronunciation: mo-gi da swi-eoss-eo-yo.
Meaning: My voice is all hoarse (from cheering). - Expression: 다음에도 같이 와요! (daeumedo gachi wayo!)
Pronunciation: da-eum-e-do ga-chi wa-yo!
Meaning: Let’s come together next time too!
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding these cultural points enhances your sports viewing experience.
- Passionate Fandom: Korean fans are known for their organized and passionate cheering, often led by cheerleaders and involving specific chants and songs for teams and players. Don’t be shy to join in!
- “Chi-Maek” Culture (치맥): Enjoying fried chicken (치킨) and beer (맥주) is almost synonymous with watching sports, especially baseball and soccer. Many stadiums allow outside food and drinks, or have vendors selling this popular combination.
- Baseball Dominance: While soccer is also very popular, baseball (야구 – yagu) holds a special place in Korean sports culture, with dedicated fan bases for each KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) team. Games are lively events with lots of entertainment.
- Merchandise: Fans often wear team jerseys, caps, and use unique cheering tools (like plastic thundersticks). Showing support through merchandise is common.
- Respectful Rivalry: While fans are passionate, interactions between opposing fans are generally respectful. The focus is on supporting one’s own team with energy.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two friends, Minjun and Sarah, are at a soccer stadium watching a game.
Roles:
* A: Minjun (Korean friend, enthusiastic fan)
* B: Sarah (Foreign friend, experiencing her first Korean game)
- Expression: A: 와! 오늘 사람 진짜 많다! (wa! oneul saram jinjja manta!)
Pronunciation: wa! o-neul sa-ram jin-jja man-ta!
Meaning: Wow! There are so many people today! - Expression: B: 네, 정말 열기가 대단해요! 지금 몇 대 몇이에요? (ne, jeongmal yeolgiga daedanhaeyo! jigeum myeot dae myeochieyo?)
Pronunciation: ne, jeong-mal yeol-gi-ga dae-dan-hae-yo! ji-geum myeot dae myeo-chi-e-yo?
Meaning: Yes, the atmosphere is really amazing! What’s the score now? - Expression: A: 아직 0대 0이에요. 우리 팀이 좀 더 공격해야 하는데! (ajik yeong dae yeongieyo. uri timi jom deo gonggyeokhaeya haneunde!)
Pronunciation: a-jik yeong dae yeong-i-e-yo. u-ri ti-mi jom deo gong-gyeok-hae-ya ha-neun-de!
Meaning: It’s still 0-0. Our team needs to attack more! - Expression: B: 저 선수 드리블 잘하네요! (jeo seonsu deuribeul jalhaneyo!)
Pronunciation: jeo seon-su deu-ri-beul jal-ha-ne-yo!
Meaning: That player dribbles well! - Expression: A: 맞아요! 김민수 선수예요. 자, 다 같이! 화이팅! (majayo! gim minsu seonsuyeyo. ja, da gachi! hwaiting!)
Pronunciation: ma-ja-yo! gim min-su seon-su-ye-yo. ja, da ga-chi! hwa-i-ting!
Meaning: That’s right! That’s player Kim Min-su. Okay, everyone together! Fighting! - Expression: B: (같이 외치며) 화이팅! 골! 골! (gachi oechimyeo) hwaiting! gol! gol!
Pronunciation: (ga-chi oe-chi-myeo) hwa-i-ting! gol! gol!
Meaning: (Shouting together) Fighting! Goal! Goal! - Expression: A: 아깝다! 거의 들어갈 뻔했는데! (akkapda! geoui deureogal ppeonhaenneunde!)
Pronunciation: a-kkap-da! geo-ui deu-reo-gal ppeon-haenn-neun-de!
Meaning: So close! It almost went in! - Expression: B: 괜찮아요, 아직 시간 많아요! 끝나고 치맥 먹으러 가요? (gwaenchanayo, ajik sigan manayo! kkeutnago chimaek meogeureo gayo?)
Pronunciation: gwaen-cha-na-yo, a-jik si-gan ma-na-yo! kkeut-na-go chi-maek meo-geu-reo ga-yo?
Meaning: It’s okay, there’s still plenty of time! Shall we go for chicken and beer after it’s over? - Expression: A: 좋아요! 이기면 더 맛있겠죠? (joayo! igimyeon deo masitgetjyo?)
Pronunciation: jo-a-yo! i-gi-myeon deo ma-sit-get-jyo?
Meaning: Sounds good! It’ll taste even better if we win, right?
Practice Tips
Now that you have these phrases, try using them! Watch Korean sports broadcasts online and listen for these expressions~ Practice cheering along with the fans! If you get a chance to attend a game in Korea, don’t be afraid to try out the phrases you’ve learned. Even simple cheers like “화이팅!” will help you feel part of the action! Enjoy the game!
