Forgetting essential items for a trip can lead to minor disagreements, even for the most prepared couples. This guide covers common Korean phrases used when a couple realizes they’ve forgotten something important, like sunscreen for a beach day, and engage in a bit of lighthearted (or serious) bickering about whose fault it was.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 선크림 안 챙겼어?
Pronunciation: seon-keu-rim an chaeng-gyeoss-eo?
Meaning: You didn’t pack the sunscreen? / Didn’t you pack the sunscreen?
Accusatory Phrases
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Expression: 네가 챙긴다고 했잖아!
Pronunciation: ne-ga chaeng-gin-da-go haet-jan-a!
Meaning: You said you’d pack it! -
Expression: 분명히 네 담당이었는데.
Pronunciation: bun-myeong-hi ne dam-dang-i-eot-neun-de.
Meaning: It was definitely your responsibility. -
Expression: 어떻게 이걸 잊어버릴 수가 있어?
Pronunciation: eo-tteo-ke i-geol ij-eo-beo-ril su-ga iss-eo?
Meaning: How could you forget this? -
Expression: 내가 마지막으로 너한테 확인하라고 했지?
Pronunciation: nae-ga ma-ji-mak-eu-ro neo-han-te hwa-gin-ha-ra-go haet-ji?
Meaning: Didn’t I tell you to check it last? -
Expression: 또 너야? 항상 뭘 잊어버려.
Pronunciation: tto neo-ya? hang-sang mwol ij-eo-beo-ryeo.
Meaning: You again? You always forget something. -
Expression: 이럴 줄 알았어.
Pronunciation: i-reol jul ar-ass-eo.
Meaning: I knew this would happen. -
Expression: 선크림 없으면 어떡해?
Pronunciation: seon-keu-rim eops-eu-myeon eo-tteo-kae?
Meaning: What do we do without sunscreen? -
Expression: 네가 가방 쌌잖아.
Pronunciation: ne-ga ga-bang ssat-jan-a.
Meaning: You packed the bag! -
Expression: 이 중요한 걸 빼먹다니.
Pronunciation: i jung-yo-han geol ppae-meok-da-ni.
Meaning: To forget something this important… -
Expression: 책임감 좀 가져봐.
Pronunciation: chae-gim-gam jom ga-jyeo-bwa.
Meaning: Take some responsibility.
Defensive Phrases
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Expression: 내가 언제? 네가 한다고 했지!
Pronunciation: nae-ga eon-je? ne-ga han-da-go haet-ji!
Meaning: When did I? You said you’d do it! -
Expression: 내 잘못 아니야. 너도 확인했어야지.
Pronunciation: nae jal-mot a-ni-ya. neo-do hwa-gin-haess-eo-ya-ji.
Meaning: It’s not my fault. You should have checked too. -
Expression: 깜빡했어. 미안해.
Pronunciation: kkam-ppa-kaess-eo. mi-an-hae.
Meaning: It slipped my mind. I’m sorry. -
Expression: 나한테만 그러지 마. 같이 준비했잖아.
Pronunciation: na-han-te-man geu-reo-ji ma. ga-chi jun-bi-haet-jan-a.
Meaning: Don’t just blame me. We prepared together. -
Expression: 정신이 없어서 그랬어.
Pronunciation: jeong-sin-i eops-eo-seo geu-raess-eo.
Meaning: I was scatterbrained / wasn’t thinking straight. -
Expression: 네가 마지막에 가방 만졌잖아.
Pronunciation: ne-ga ma-ji-ma-ge ga-bang man-jyeot-jan-a.
Meaning: You touched the bag last! -
Expression: 서로 탓하지 말자.
Pronunciation: seo-ro tat-ha-ji mal-ja.
Meaning: Let’s not blame each other. -
Expression: 그럴 수도 있지. 너무 화내지 마.
Pronunciation: geu-reol su-do it-ji. neo-mu hwa-nae-ji ma.
Meaning: It happens. Don’t get too angry. -
Expression: 다른 건 다 챙겼잖아.
Pronunciation: da-reun geon da chaeng-gyeot-jan-a.
Meaning: I packed everything else, though. -
Expression: 기억이 안 나. 정말 미안.
Pronunciation: gi-eo-gi an na. jeong-mal mi-an.
Meaning: I don’t remember. Really sorry.
Resolution Phrases
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Expression: 알았어, 그만 싸우자.
Pronunciation: ar-ass-eo, geu-man ssa-u-ja.
Meaning: Okay, let’s stop fighting. -
Expression: 지금이라도 사러 갈까?
Pronunciation: ji-geum-i-ra-do sa-reo gal-kka?
Meaning: Should we go buy some now? -
Expression: 근처 편의점에 있을 거야.
Pronunciation: geun-cheo pyeon-ui-jeom-e iss-eul geo-ya.
Meaning: There’s probably some at a nearby convenience store. -
Expression: 미안해, 내가 너무 예민했어.
Pronunciation: mi-an-hae, nae-ga neo-mu ye-min-haess-eo.
Meaning: Sorry, I was too sensitive/overreacted. -
Expression: 내 잘못이야. 내가 사 올게.
Pronunciation: nae jal-mot-i-ya. nae-ga sa ol-ge.
Meaning: It’s my fault. I’ll go buy it. -
Expression: 다음부터는 꼭 같이 확인하자.
Pronunciation: da-eum-bu-teo-neun kkok ga-chi hwa-gin-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s make sure to check together next time. -
Expression: 이미 엎질러진 물이야.
Pronunciation: i-mi eop-jil-leo-jin mur-i-ya.
Meaning: It’s spilled milk (what’s done is done). -
Expression: 기분 풀고 재밌게 놀자.
Pronunciation: gi-bun pul-go jae-mit-ge nol-ja.
Meaning: Let’s cheer up and have fun. -
Expression: 이거 때문에 여행 망치지 말자.
Pronunciation: i-geo ttae-mun-e yeo-haeng mang-chi-ji mal-ja.
Meaning: Let’s not ruin the trip because of this. -
Expression: 괜찮아, 해결 방법이 있을 거야.
Pronunciation: gwaen-chan-a, hae-gyeol bang-beob-i iss-eul geo-ya.
Meaning: It’s okay, there must be a solution.
Related Vocabulary
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Expression: 선크림
Pronunciation: seon-keu-rim
Meaning: Sunscreen -
Expression: 해변 / 바닷가
Pronunciation: hae-byeon / ba-dat-ga
Meaning: Beach -
Expression: 여행
Pronunciation: yeo-haeng
Meaning: Trip, travel -
Expression: 짐 싸다 / 짐 챙기다
Pronunciation: jim ssa-da / jim chaeng-gi-da
Meaning: To pack bags -
Expression: 잊어버리다 / 까먹다
Pronunciation: ij-eo-beo-ri-da / kka-meok-da
Meaning: To forget -
Expression: 싸우다
Pronunciation: ssa-u-da
Meaning: To fight, argue -
Expression: 책임
Pronunciation: chae-gim
Meaning: Responsibility -
Expression: 확인하다
Pronunciation: hwa-gin-ha-da
Meaning: To check, confirm -
Expression: 깜빡하다
Pronunciation: kkam-ppa-ka-da
Meaning: To forget momentarily, slip one’s mind -
Expression: 화내다
Pronunciation: hwa-nae-da
Meaning: To get angry -
Expression: 사과하다
Pronunciation: sa-gwa-ha-da
Meaning: To apologize -
Expression: 편의점
Pronunciation: pyeon-ui-jeom
Meaning: Convenience store
Cultural Tips
Understanding cultural nuances can help navigate disagreements more smoothly. In Korea, direct confrontation, especially in public, might be less common than in some Western cultures. While couples certainly argue, there’s often an emphasis on ‘saving face’ (체면 – che-myeon) for both individuals, even during a dispute.
Expressing blame might sometimes be done indirectly or through rhetorical questions. Resolving the issue quickly and finding a practical solution (like buying forgotten sunscreen nearby) is often preferred over prolonged arguments, especially when on a trip meant for enjoyment.
Apologies, even if one doesn’t feel entirely at fault, can be a way to de-escalate the situation and show consideration for the partner’s feelings. Using phrases like 미안해 (mi-an-hae) can go a long way.
Sun protection is taken quite seriously in Korea due to beauty standards emphasizing fair skin. Forgetting sunscreen might genuinely be seen as a significant oversight, adding a layer of importance to the item itself beyond just preventing sunburn.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A couple, Minjun and Sora, arrive at the beach and start unpacking their bag.
Characters:
- A: Minjun
- B: Sora
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Expression: A: 아, 좋다! 빨리 물에 들어가자! 수건이랑… 어? 소라야, 선크림 어디 있어?
Pronunciation: A: a, jo-ta! ppal-li mur-e deul-eo-ga-ja! su-geon-i-rang… eo? so-ra-ya, seon-keu-rim eo-di iss-eo?
Meaning: A: Ah, this is great! Let’s get in the water quickly! Towels and… huh? Sora, where’s the sunscreen? -
Expression: B: 선크림? 네 가방에 없으면 나도 몰라. 네가 챙긴다고 했잖아.
Pronunciation: B: seon-keu-rim? ne ga-bang-e eops-eu-myeon na-do mol-la. ne-ga chaeng-gin-da-go haet-jan-a.
Meaning: B: Sunscreen? If it’s not in your bag, I don’t know. You said you’d pack it. -
Expression: A: 내가? 아니야, 네 담당이었잖아! 화장품 챙기면서 같이 넣는다고.
Pronunciation: A: nae-ga? a-ni-ya, ne dam-dang-i-eot-jan-a! hwa-jang-pum chaeng-gi-myeon-seo ga-chi neo-neun-da-go.
Meaning: A: Me? No, it was your responsibility! You said you’d put it in while packing your cosmetics. -
Expression: B: 아닌데? 난 분명히 너한테 맡겼는데. 어떻게 이걸 잊어버려?
Pronunciation: B: a-nin-de? nan bun-myeong-hi neo-han-te mat-gyeot-neun-de. eo-tteo-ke i-geol ij-eo-beo-ryeo?
Meaning: B: No? I definitely left it to you. How could you forget this? -
Expression: A: 아 진짜, 서로 탓하지 말자. 깜빡했나 보네. 어떡하지 이제?
Pronunciation: A: a jin-jja, seo-ro tat-ha-ji mal-ja. kkam-ppa-kaen-na bo-ne. eo-tteo-ka-ji i-je?
Meaning: A: Ah seriously, let’s not blame each other. It seems we forgot. What should we do now? -
Expression: B: 휴… 알았어. 미안해, 내가 너무 예민했나 봐. 저기 편의점 보이니까 가서 사 오자.
Pronunciation: B: hyu… ar-ass-eo. mi-an-hae, nae-ga neo-mu ye-min-haen-na bwa. jeo-gi pyeon-ui-jeom bo-i-ni-kka ga-seo sa o-ja.
Meaning: B: Phew… Okay. Sorry, maybe I was too sensitive. I see a convenience store over there, let’s go buy some. -
Expression: A: 그래, 같이 가자. 다음부터는 꼭 같이 확인하는 거야!
Pronunciation: A: geu-rae, ga-chi ga-ja. da-eum-bu-teo-neun kkok ga-chi hwa-gin-ha-neun geo-ya!
Meaning: A: Okay, let’s go together. Next time, we absolutely have to check together!
Practice Tips
Forgetting things happens! Learning how to navigate these small conflicts in Korean is useful~ Try practicing these phrases with a friend or language partner. You can role-play different scenarios, like forgetting tickets, a wallet, or reservation details!
Listen for similar arguments in Korean dramas or movies – they often feature relatable couple squabbles. Pay attention to the tone of voice and which phrases are used when blaming versus defending. Remember, the goal isn’t just to argue, but to resolve the situation! Good luck practicing! Fighting!
