Disagreements happen, even during fun outings like picnics. This guide covers essential Korean phrases and vocabulary for a common scenario: a couple arguing because someone forgot to pack the picnic blanket. Learn how to express frustration, place blame, defend yourself, and understand related cultural nuances for handling minor conflicts in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
-
Expression: 돗자리 잊어버렸어?
Pronunciation: dot-jja-ri i-jeo-beo-ryeo-sseo?
Meaning: Did you forget the picnic blanket? (Informal)
Basic Argument Phrases
-
Expression: 이게 뭐야?
Pronunciation: i-ge mwo-ya?
Meaning: What is this? / What’s going on? (Expressing surprise/disbelief) -
Expression: 말도 안 돼.
Pronunciation: mal-do an dwae.
Meaning: No way. / That’s ridiculous. -
Expression: 어떻게 이럴 수가 있어?
Pronunciation: eo-tteo-ke i-reol su-ga i-sseo?
Meaning: How could this happen? -
Expression: 진짜?
Pronunciation: jin-jja?
Meaning: Really? / Seriously? -
Expression: 나 지금 화났어.
Pronunciation: na ji-geum hwa-na-sseo.
Meaning: I’m angry right now. (Informal) -
Expression: 우리 얘기 좀 해.
Pronunciation: u-ri yae-gi jom hae.
Meaning: Let’s talk. (Informal, suggesting a need to discuss an issue) -
Expression: 왜 그랬어?
Pronunciation: wae geu-rae-sseo?
Meaning: Why did you do that? (Informal) -
Expression: 이해할 수가 없어.
Pronunciation: i-hae-hal su-ga eop-seo.
Meaning: I can’t understand. -
Expression: 이제 어떡해?
Pronunciation: i-je eo-tteo-kae?
Meaning: What do we do now? -
Expression: 정말 실망이야.
Pronunciation: jeong-mal sil-mang-i-ya.
Meaning: I’m really disappointed. (Informal)
Blaming Phrases
-
Expression: 네가 챙기기로 했잖아!
Pronunciation: ne-ga chaeng-gi-gi-ro haet-jja-na!
Meaning: You were supposed to pack it! (Informal) -
Expression: 분명히 네 담당이었어.
Pronunciation: bun-myeong-hi ne dam-dang-i-eo-sseo.
Meaning: It was clearly your responsibility. (Informal) -
Expression: 어떻게 돗자리를 잊어버릴 수가 있어?
Pronunciation: eo-tteo-ke dot-jja-ri-reul i-jeo-beo-ril su-ga i-sseo?
Meaning: How could you forget the picnic blanket? -
Expression: 네 잘못이야.
Pronunciation: ne jal-mo-si-ya.
Meaning: It’s your fault. (Informal) -
Expression: 내가 확인하라고 했지?
Pronunciation: nae-ga hwa-gin-ha-ra-go haet-jji?
Meaning: Didn’t I tell you to check? (Informal) -
Expression: 너 때문에 피크닉 망쳤어.
Pronunciation: neo ttae-mu-ne pi-keu-nik mang-chyeo-sseo.
Meaning: You ruined the picnic because of you. (Informal, strong) -
Expression: 항상 이런 식이야.
Pronunciation: hang-sang i-reon si-gi-ya.
Meaning: It’s always like this. (Expressing recurring frustration) -
Expression: 책임감 좀 가져.
Pronunciation: chae-gim-gam jom ga-jyeo.
Meaning: Take some responsibility. (Informal) -
Expression: 깜빡했다는 게 말이 돼?
Pronunciation: kkam-ppa-kaet-tta-neun ge ma-ri dwae?
Meaning: Does it make sense that you just forgot? -
Expression: 내가 마지막으로 너한테 맡겼잖아.
Pronunciation: nae-ga ma-ji-ma-geu-ro neo-han-te mat-gyeot-jja-na.
Meaning: I entrusted it to you last, didn’t I? (Informal)
Defensive Phrases
-
Expression: 내 잘못 아니야!
Pronunciation: nae jal-mot a-ni-ya!
Meaning: It’s not my fault! (Informal) -
Expression: 네가 마지막으로 썼잖아.
Pronunciation: ne-ga ma-ji-ma-geu-ro sseot-jja-na.
Meaning: You used it last! (Informal) -
Expression: 나한테만 그러지 마.
Pronunciation: na-han-te-man geu-reo-ji ma.
Meaning: Don’t just blame me. (Informal) -
Expression: 나도 정신 없었어.
Pronunciation: na-do jeong-sin eop-seo-sseo.
Meaning: I was busy/distracted too. -
Expression: 깜빡했어. 미안해.
Pronunciation: kkam-ppa-kae-sseo. mi-an-hae.
Meaning: I forgot. I’m sorry. (Informal) -
Expression: 일부러 그런 거 아니야.
Pronunciation: il-bu-reo geu-reon geo a-ni-ya.
Meaning: I didn’t do it on purpose. -
Expression: 서로 확인했어야지.
Pronunciation: seo-ro hwa-gin-hae-sseo-ya-ji.
Meaning: We should have checked together. -
Expression: 그렇게 화낼 일이야?
Pronunciation: geu-reo-ke hwa-nael i-ri-ya?
Meaning: Is it something to get that angry about? (Informal) -
Expression: 네가 챙긴다고 했잖아.
Pronunciation: ne-ga chaeng-gin-da-go haet-jja-na.
Meaning: You said you would pack it! (Informal) -
Expression: 사람이 실수할 수도 있지.
Pronunciation: sa-ra-mi sil-su-hal su-do it-jji.
Meaning: People can make mistakes.
Picnic Related Vocabulary
-
Expression: 피크닉
Pronunciation: pi-keu-nik
Meaning: Picnic -
Expression: 소풍
Pronunciation: so-pung
Meaning: Picnic, outing -
Expression: 돗자리
Pronunciation: dot-jja-ri
Meaning: Picnic blanket/mat -
Expression: 도시락
Pronunciation: do-si-rak
Meaning: Packed lunch / Lunchbox -
Expression: 음료수
Pronunciation: eum-nyo-su
Meaning: Drinks / Beverages -
Expression: 과일
Pronunciation: gwa-il
Meaning: Fruit -
Expression: 과자
Pronunciation: gwa-ja
Meaning: Snacks / Chips / Cookies -
Expression: 피크닉 바구니
Pronunciation: pi-keu-nik ba-gu-ni
Meaning: Picnic basket -
Expression: 공원
Pronunciation: gong-won
Meaning: Park -
Expression: 챙기다
Pronunciation: chaeng-gi-da
Meaning: To pack, to take care of, to gather -
Expression: 잊어버리다
Pronunciation: i-jeo-beo-ri-da
Meaning: To forget -
Expression: 깜빡하다
Pronunciation: kkam-ppa-ka-da
Meaning: To forget (momentarily), to slip one’s mind
Korean Culture Notes
Direct confrontation and blaming can be less common or handled differently in Korean culture compared to some Western cultures, especially in public. While couples certainly argue, raising voices or making a scene in public is generally frowned upon.
Using 반말 (ban-mal – informal language), as seen in many examples here, is typical between close couples. However, the level of directness in an argument can vary greatly depending on the couple’s dynamic.
Shifting blame or emphasizing shared responsibility (서로 확인했어야지 – seo-ro hwa-gin-hae-sseo-ya-ji – We should have checked together) can sometimes be a way to de-escalate a conflict rather than directly admitting fault.
Apologizing, even if you don’t feel entirely at fault, can be important for maintaining harmony (미안해 – mi-an-hae – I’m sorry). The focus might be more on resolving the situation quickly rather than determining who was definitively ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.
Picnics (소풍 – so-pung) are very popular in Korea, especially during spring and autumn. Forgetting a key item like the 돗자리 (dot-jja-ri) can genuinely be quite inconvenient and disappointing, making this a relatable argument scenario.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A couple, Minjun and Sora, arrive at the park for a picnic and realize the blanket is missing.
Characters:
- A: Minjun
- B: Sora
-
Expression: A: 자, 다 왔다! 어디에 자리 잡을까? 어? 잠깐만… 돗자리 어디 있어?
Pronunciation: ja, da wat-tta! eo-di-e ja-ri ja-beul-kka? eo? jam-kkan-man… dot-jja-ri eo-di i-sseo?
Meaning: Okay, we’re here! Where should we set up? Huh? Wait a second… where’s the picnic blanket? -
Expression: B: 응? 네가 챙긴 거 아니었어? 나는 도시락이랑 음료수 챙겼는데.
Pronunciation: eung? ne-ga chaeng-gin geo a-ni-eo-sseo? na-neun do-si-ra-gi-rang eum-nyo-su chaeng-gyeot-neun-de.
Meaning: Huh? Didn’t you pack it? I packed the lunchbox and drinks. -
Expression: A: 뭐? 내가? 아니지, 네 담당이었잖아! 지난번에 네가 쓴다고 가져갔었잖아.
Pronunciation: mwo? nae-ga? a-ni-ji, ne dam-dang-i-eot-jja-na! ji-nan-beo-ne ne-ga sseun-da-go ga-jyeo-ga-sseot-jja-na.
Meaning: What? Me? No, it was your responsibility! You took it last time saying you’d use it. -
Expression: B: 그건 그때고! 오늘 피크닉 가자고 한 건 너고, 네가 돗자리 챙긴다고 했잖아!
Pronunciation: geu-geon geu-ttae-go! o-neul pi-keu-nik ga-ja-go han geon neo-go, ne-ga dot-jja-ri chaeng-gin-da-go haet-jja-na!
Meaning: That was then! You were the one who suggested the picnic today, and you said you’d pack the blanket! -
Expression: A: 아… 내가 그랬나? 아 진짜 깜빡했네. 미안해.
Pronunciation: a… nae-ga geu-raen-na? a jin-jja kkam-ppa-kaen-ne. mi-an-hae.
Meaning: Ah… Did I say that? Ah, I really forgot. I’m sorry. -
Expression: B: 휴… 정말. 어떻게 제일 중요한 걸 잊어버려? 이제 어떡해? 그냥 바닥에 앉을 수도 없고.
Pronunciation: hyu… jeong-mal. eo-tteo-ke je-il jung-yo-han geol i-jeo-beo-ryeo? i-je eo-tteo-kae? geu-nyang ba-da-ge an-jeul su-do eop-go.
Meaning: Sigh… Really. How could you forget the most important thing? What do we do now? We can’t just sit on the ground. -
Expression: A: 미안, 미안. 저기 편의점 가서 돗자리 파는지 한번 보자. 없으면 신문지라도 사 오자.
Pronunciation: mi-an, mi-an. jeo-gi pyeo-nui-jeom ga-seo dot-jja-ri pa-neun-ji han-beon bo-ja. eop-seu-myeon sin-mun-ji-ra-do sa o-ja.
Meaning: Sorry, sorry. Let’s go check if they sell blankets at that convenience store over there. If not, let’s at least buy some newspapers. -
Expression: B: 알았어. 다음부터는 꼭 같이 확인하자.
Pronunciation: a-ra-sseo. da-eum-bu-teo-neun kkok ga-chi hwa-gin-ha-ja.
Meaning: Okay. Let’s make sure to check together next time.
Practice Tips
Practicing argument phrases might feel a bit strange, but it’s useful for understanding natural Korean conversations! Try role-playing this scenario with a friend or language partner~ Focus on the intonation – expressing frustration (정말! – jeong-mal!), disbelief (말도 안 돼! – mal-do an dwae!), or defensiveness (내 잘못 아니야! – nae jal-mot a-ni-ya!).
Listen to Korean dramas or reality shows where couples have minor disagreements. Pay attention to the specific words they use and how they express their feelings. You’ll notice these phrases pop up often! Don’t be afraid to use them yourself in practice, but remember the cultural notes about politeness, especially in public settings. Good luck practicing!~
