Planning an adventurous spelunking trip involves making choices, especially when deciding which cave to explore. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and vocabulary for discussing options, expressing preferences, and describing cave features when debating exploration plans with a partner or friend. Learn how to navigate these conversations effectively in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 어떤 동굴에 들어갈까요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon dong-gul-e deu-reo-gal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Which cave should we go into? (Used when asking for an opinion or initiating a discussion about choosing a cave)
Basic Discussion Phrases
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Expression: 어느 동굴이 더 좋아요?
Pronunciation: eo-neu dong-gul-i deo jo-a-yo?
Meaning: Which cave is better? -
Expression: 이 동굴은 어때요?
Pronunciation: i dong-gul-eun eo-ttae-yo?
Meaning: How about this cave? -
Expression: 저는 A 동굴이 더 끌려요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun ei dong-gul-i deo kkeul-lyeo-yo.
Meaning: I’m more drawn to Cave A. -
Expression: B 동굴은 너무 어려울 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: bi dong-gul-eun neo-mu eo-ryeo-ul geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think Cave B might be too difficult. -
Expression: 어떤 점이 마음에 들어요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon jeom-i ma-eum-e deu-reo-yo?
Meaning: What point do you like about it? -
Expression: 두 동굴 다 장단점이 있네요.
Pronunciation: du dong-gul da jang-dan-jeom-i it-ne-yo.
Meaning: Both caves have their pros and cons. -
Expression: 결정하기 어렵네요.
Pronunciation: gyeol-jeong-ha-gi eo-ryeom-ne-yo.
Meaning: It’s hard to decide. -
Expression: 탐험 시간을 확인해 봤어요?
Pronunciation: tam-heom si-gan-eul hwa-gin-hae bwa-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Did you check the exploration time? -
Expression: 안전 장비는 필수예요.
Pronunciation: an-jeon jang-bi-neun pil-su-ye-yo.
Meaning: Safety equipment is essential. -
Expression: 가이드가 필요할까요?
Pronunciation: ga-i-deu-ga pil-yo-hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Will we need a guide? -
Expression: 우리 수준에 맞는 동굴을 골라야 해요.
Pronunciation: u-ri su-jun-e mat-neun dong-gul-eul gol-la-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: We need to choose a cave that matches our level. -
Expression: 사진 보니까 정말 멋있어요.
Pronunciation: sa-jin bo-ni-kka jeong-mal meo-si-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Looking at the photos, it’s really cool.
Describing Cave Features
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Expression: 이 동굴은 입구가 좁아요.
Pronunciation: i dong-gul-eun ip-gu-ga jo-ba-yo.
Meaning: This cave has a narrow entrance. -
Expression: 내부가 아주 넓어요.
Pronunciation: nae-bu-ga a-ju neol-beo-yo.
Meaning: The inside is very wide/spacious. -
Expression: 동굴이 꽤 깊어요.
Pronunciation: dong-gul-i kkwae gi-peo-yo.
Meaning: The cave is quite deep. -
Expression: 종유석과 석순이 많아요.
Pronunciation: jong-yu-seok-gwa seok-sun-i ma-na-yo.
Meaning: There are many stalactites and stalagmites. -
Expression: 지하 호수가 있다고 들었어요.
Pronunciation: ji-ha ho-su-ga it-da-go deu-reo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I heard there’s an underground lake. -
Expression: 길이 미끄러울 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: gil-i mi-kkeu-reo-ul su i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: The path might be slippery. -
Expression: 어두워서 손전등이 꼭 필요해요.
Pronunciation: eo-du-wo-seo son-jeon-deung-i kkok pil-yo-hae-yo.
Meaning: It’s dark, so a flashlight is absolutely necessary. -
Expression: 특이한 암석 형태가 보여요.
Pronunciation: teu-gi-han am-seok hyeong-tae-ga bo-yeo-yo.
Meaning: You can see unique rock formations. -
Expression: 탐험 코스가 잘 되어 있어요?
Pronunciation: tam-heom ko-seu-ga jal doe-eo i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Is the exploration course well-developed? -
Expression: 박쥐가 살 수도 있어요.
Pronunciation: bak-jwi-ga sal su-do i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Bats might live there. -
Expression: 천장이 낮은 구간이 있어요.
Pronunciation: cheon-jang-i na-jeun gu-gan-i i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: There are sections with low ceilings. -
Expression: 물이 흐르는 소리가 들려요.
Pronunciation: mul-i heu-reu-neun so-ri-ga deul-lyeo-yo.
Meaning: I can hear the sound of flowing water.
Expressing Opinions and Concerns
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Expression: 저는 좀 더 쉬운 코스를 원해요.
Pronunciation: jeo-neun jom deo swi-un ko-seu-reul won-hae-yo.
Meaning: I want a slightly easier course. -
Expression: 모험적인 코스가 더 재미있을 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: mo-heom-jeo-gin ko-seu-ga deo jae-mi-i-sseul geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think the adventurous course would be more fun. -
Expression: 안전이 가장 중요하다고 생각해요.
Pronunciation: an-jeon-i ga-jang jung-yo-ha-da-go saeng-ga-kae-yo.
Meaning: I think safety is the most important thing. -
Expression: 혹시 위험하지는 않을까요?
Pronunciation: hok-si wi-heom-ha-ji-neun a-neul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Could it possibly be dangerous? -
Expression: 준비를 철저히 하면 괜찮을 거예요.
Pronunciation: jun-bi-reul cheol-jeo-hi ha-myeon gwaen-cha-neul geo-ye-yo.
Meaning: If we prepare thoroughly, it should be okay. -
Expression: 너무 기대돼요!
Pronunciation: neo-mu gi-dae-dwae-yo!
Meaning: I’m really looking forward to it! -
Expression: 조금 걱정되기도 해요.
Pronunciation: jo-geum geok-jeong-doe-gi-do hae-yo.
Meaning: I’m also a little worried. -
Expression: 당신 생각은 어때요?
Pronunciation: dang-sin saeng-ga-geun eo-ttae-yo?
Meaning: What do you think? -
Expression: 그럼 B 동굴로 결정할까요?
Pronunciation: geu-reom bi dong-gul-lo gyeol-jeong-hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Then, shall we decide on Cave B? -
Expression: 다시 한번 생각해 봐요.
Pronunciation: da-si han-beon saeng-ga-kae bwa-yo.
Meaning: Let’s think about it again. -
Expression: 이 동굴이 더 인기가 많대요.
Pronunciation: i dong-gul-i deo in-gi-ga man-tae-yo.
Meaning: They say this cave is more popular. -
Expression: 후기를 찾아보는 게 좋겠어요.
Pronunciation: hu-gi-reul cha-ja-bo-neun ge jo-ke-sseo-yo.
Meaning: It would be good to look for reviews.
Cultural Tips
When planning cave exploration (동굴 탐험 – dong-gul tam-heom) in Korea, safety is paramount. Many accessible caves have designated trails and guides, but venturing into less developed ones requires proper equipment and experience. Always check weather conditions beforehand, as rain can quickly make caves dangerous.
Korea has several famous limestone caves designated as natural monuments, such as Hwanseongul (환선굴) and Gosu Cave (고수동굴). These often have well-maintained paths, lighting, and informational displays, making them suitable for tourists and families. Researching the specific features and difficulty level of a cave online using terms like 동굴 정보 (dong-gul jeong-bo – cave information) is recommended.
Adventure sports like spelunking are becoming more popular, but always respect the natural environment. Avoid touching formations like stalactites (종유석 – jong-yu-seok) and stalagmites (석순 – seok-sun), as oils from skin can damage them. Pack out everything you pack in, following the principle of leaving no trace.
If exploring with a group or partner, clear communication about comfort levels and concerns is important. Koreans often value group harmony, so expressing worries politely using phrases like 조금 걱정돼요 (jo-geum geok-jeong-dwae-yo – I’m a little worried) is common when discussing potentially risky activities.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A couple, Min-jun (A) and Ji-hye (B), are looking at brochures for two nearby caves, ‘Dragon Cave’ (용굴 – Yonggul) and ‘Crystal Cave’ (수정굴 – Sujeonggul), planning a weekend spelunking trip.
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Expression: A: 지혜야, 주말에 갈 동굴 정해야지. 용굴이랑 수정굴 중에 어떤 동굴에 들어갈까요?
Pronunciation: Ji-hye-ya, ju-mal-e gal dong-gul jeong-hae-ya-ji. Yong-gul-i-rang Su-jeong-gul jung-e eo-tteon dong-gul-e deu-reo-gal-kka-yo?
Meaning: Ji-hye, we need to decide on the cave for the weekend. Between Dragon Cave and Crystal Cave, which one should we go into? -
Expression: B: 음… 용굴은 사진 보니까 좀 험난해 보이는데. 수정굴은 어때요? 종유석이 아주 예쁘대요.
Pronunciation: eum… Yong-gul-eun sa-jin bo-ni-kka jom heom-nan-hae bo-i-neun-de. Su-jeong-gul-eun eo-ttae-yo? jong-yu-seo-gi a-ju ye-ppeu-dae-yo.
Meaning: Hmm… Looking at the photos, Dragon Cave seems a bit rough. How about Crystal Cave? They say the stalactites are very pretty. -
Expression: A: 수정굴도 좋지만, 용굴이 더 모험적이고 재미있을 것 같아요! 탐험 시간이 더 길기도 하고요.
Pronunciation: Su-jeong-gul-do jo-chi-man, Yong-gul-i deo mo-heom-jeo-gi-go jae-mi-i-sseul geot ga-ta-yo! tam-heom si-gan-i deo gil-gi-do ha-go-yo.
Meaning: Crystal Cave is nice too, but I think Dragon Cave would be more adventurous and fun! The exploration time is longer too. -
Expression: B: 그래도 안전이 중요하잖아요. 용굴은 입구가 좁고 길이 미끄럽다고 써 있어요. 조금 걱정되기도 해요.
Pronunciation: geu-rae-do an-jeon-i jung-yo-ha-ja-na-yo. Yong-gul-eun ip-gu-ga jop-go gil-i mi-kkeu-reop-da-go sseo i-sseo-yo. jo-geum geok-jeong-doe-gi-do hae-yo.
Meaning: But safety is important, isn’t it? It says Dragon Cave has a narrow entrance and the path is slippery. I’m also a little worried. -
Expression: A: 우리가 장비 잘 챙기고 조심하면 괜찮을 거예요. 가이드도 신청할 수 있고요. 정말 멋진 경험이 될 텐데!
Pronunciation: u-ri-ga jang-bi jal chaeng-gi-go jo-sim-ha-myeon gwaen-cha-neul geo-ye-yo. ga-i-deu-do sin-cheong-hal su it-go-yo. jeong-mal meot-jin gyeong-heom-i doel ten-de!
Meaning: If we pack our gear well and are careful, it’ll be okay. We can also request a guide. It would be a really cool experience! -
Expression: B: 음… 그럼 용굴 후기를 좀 더 찾아보고 결정하는 게 좋겠어요. 안전 정보도 다시 확인하고요.
Pronunciation: eum… geu-reom Yong-gul hu-gi-reul jom deo cha-ja-bo-go gyeol-jeong-ha-neun ge jo-ke-sseo-yo. an-jeon jeong-bo-do da-si hwa-gin-ha-go-yo.
Meaning: Hmm… Then it would be best to look for more reviews of Dragon Cave before deciding. And check the safety information again. -
Expression: A: 알겠어요. 같이 찾아보고 최종 결정해요! 어느 쪽이든 재미있을 거예요!
Pronunciation: al-ge-sseo-yo. ga-chi cha-ja-bo-go choe-jong gyeol-jeong-hae-yo! eo-neu jjo-gi-deun jae-mi-i-sseul geo-ye-yo!
Meaning: Okay. Let’s look together and make the final decision! Either way will be fun!
Practice Tips
Practice makes perfect, especially when discussing plans and opinions! Try role-playing this scenario with a study partner, taking turns arguing for different caves~ You can also look up pictures or videos of famous Korean caves online and practice describing them using the vocabulary learned today. Imagine explaining the pros and cons of each cave to someone else in Korean. Don’t be afraid to express your preferences and concerns using phrases like 저는 …이 더 좋아요 (jeo-neun …i deo jo-a-yo – I like … better) or …은/는 좀 걱정돼요 (…eun/neun jom geok-jeong-dwae-yo – I’m a bit worried about…). Keep practicing, and you’ll be able to discuss your adventure plans confidently! 파이팅! (pa-i-ting! – Fighting!/You can do it!)
