Sibling interactions often involve disagreements, and choosing a shared activity like a board game is a common scenario for playful arguments. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and expressions you might hear or use when siblings are deciding, sometimes contentiously, which board game to play next. Understanding these phrases can help you grasp natural, everyday Korean conversations.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 내가 고를 차례야!
Pronunciation: nae-ga go-reul cha-rye-ya!
Meaning: It’s my turn to choose!
Basic Argument Phrases
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Expression: 싫어!
Pronunciation: sil-eo!
Meaning: No! / I don’t want to! -
Expression: 왜?
Pronunciation: wae?
Meaning: Why? -
Expression: 내가 먼저 할 거야.
Pronunciation: nae-ga meon-jeo hal geo-ya.
Meaning: I’ll do it first. / I’ll choose first. -
Expression: 안 돼!
Pronunciation: an dwae!
Meaning: No way! / You can’t! -
Expression: 저리 가!
Pronunciation: jeo-ri ga!
Meaning: Go away! -
Expression: 내 거야!
Pronunciation: nae geo-ya!
Meaning: It’s mine! -
Expression: 네 차례 아니야.
Pronunciation: ne cha-rye a-ni-ya.
Meaning: It’s not your turn. -
Expression: 시끄러워!
Pronunciation: si-kkeu-reo-wo!
Meaning: Be quiet! / You’re noisy! -
Expression: 말도 안 돼.
Pronunciation: mal-do an dwae.
Meaning: That doesn’t make sense. / No way. -
Expression: 진짜 짜증나!
Pronunciation: jin-jja jja-jeung-na!
Meaning: It’s really annoying!
Choosing the Game
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Expression: 무슨 게임 할까?
Pronunciation: mu-seun ge-im hal-kka?
Meaning: What game should we play? -
Expression: 이 게임 하자!
Pronunciation: i ge-im ha-ja!
Meaning: Let’s play this game! -
Expression: 나는 이거 하고 싶어.
Pronunciation: na-neun i-geo ha-go sip-eo.
Meaning: I want to play this one. -
Expression: 저번에 그거 했잖아.
Pronunciation: jeo-beon-e geu-geo haet-jan-a.
Meaning: We played that one last time. -
Expression: 새로운 게임 해보자.
Pronunciation: sae-ro-un ge-im hae-bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s try a new game. -
Expression: 네가 골라봐.
Pronunciation: ne-ga gol-la-bwa.
Meaning: You choose. -
Expression: 이 게임 재미없어.
Pronunciation: i ge-im jae-mi-eop-seo.
Meaning: This game is boring. -
Expression: 다른 거 하자.
Pronunciation: da-reun geo ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play something else. -
Expression: 이게 더 재밌어 보여.
Pronunciation: i-ge deo jae-mi-sseo bo-yeo.
Meaning: This looks more fun. -
Expression: 빨리 정하자.
Pronunciation: ppal-li jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s decide quickly.
Expressing Disagreement and Complaining
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Expression: 그건 불공평해!
Pronunciation: geu-geon bul-gong-pyeong-hae!
Meaning: That’s unfair! -
Expression: 왜 맨날 네가 정해?
Pronunciation: wae maen-nal ne-ga jeong-hae?
Meaning: Why do you always get to decide? -
Expression: 나 그 게임 싫어한다고 했잖아.
Pronunciation: na geu ge-im sil-eo-han-da-go haet-jan-a.
Meaning: I told you I don’t like that game. -
Expression: 이번엔 내 차례야.
Pronunciation: i-beon-en nae cha-rye-ya.
Meaning: It’s my turn this time. -
Expression: 너 정말 이기적이다.
Pronunciation: neo jeong-mal i-gi-jeok-i-da.
Meaning: You’re really selfish. -
Expression: 또 그거야? 지겨워.
Pronunciation: tto geu-geo-ya? ji-gyeo-wo.
Meaning: That again? I’m tired of it. -
Expression: 내 말 좀 들어봐!
Pronunciation: nae mal jom deul-eo-bwa!
Meaning: Listen to me! -
Expression: 너랑 게임 안 해!
Pronunciation: neo-rang ge-im an hae!
Meaning: I’m not playing games with you! -
Expression: 항상 네 마음대로 하잖아.
Pronunciation: hang-sang ne ma-eum-dae-ro ha-jan-a.
Meaning: You always do whatever you want. -
Expression: 이건 너무 어려워/쉬워.
Pronunciation: i-geon neo-mu eo-ryeo-wo/swi-wo.
Meaning: This one is too hard/easy.
Making Suggestions and Compromises
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Expression: 그럼 이건 어때?
Pronunciation: geu-reom i-geon eo-ttae?
Meaning: Then how about this one? -
Expression: 가위바위보로 정하자!
Pronunciation: ga-wi-ba-wi-bo-ro jeong-ha-ja!
Meaning: Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors! -
Expression: 번갈아 가면서 고르자.
Pronunciation: beon-gal-a ga-myeon-seo go-reu-ja.
Meaning: Let’s take turns choosing. -
Expression: 좋아, 이번엔 네가 골라. 대신 다음엔 내가 고를게.
Pronunciation: jo-a, i-beon-en ne-ga gol-la. dae-sin da-eum-en nae-ga go-reul-ge.
Meaning: Okay, you choose this time. But I get to choose next time instead. -
Expression: 둘 다 할 수 있는 게임은 없어?
Pronunciation: dul da hal su it-neun ge-im-eun eop-seo?
Meaning: Isn’t there a game we can both play? / Isn’t there a game we both like? -
Expression: 알았어, 그럼 그거 하자.
Pronunciation: ar-a-sseo, geu-reom geu-geo ha-ja.
Meaning: Okay, let’s play that one then. -
Expression: 먼저 이거 하고, 다음에 네가 원하는 거 하자.
Pronunciation: meon-jeo i-geo ha-go, da-eum-e ne-ga won-ha-neun geo ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play this first, and then play what you want next time. -
Expression: 우리 그냥 동전 던지기 할까?
Pronunciation: u-ri geu-nyang dong-jeon deon-ji-gi hal-kka?
Meaning: Should we just flip a coin? -
Expression: 잠깐만 생각해 보자.
Pronunciation: jam-kkan-man saeng-gak-hae bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s think about it for a moment. -
Expression: 싸우지 말고 정하자.
Pronunciation: ssa-u-ji mal-go jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s decide without fighting.
Korean Culture Notes
Sibling relationships in Korea often reflect age hierarchy, even in casual settings. Older siblings might expect some deference (형/오빠/누나/언니 – hyung/oppa/nuna/eonni are used depending on gender), although arguments like these are common and often use informal language (반말 – ban-mal).
Direct confrontation and expressing desires clearly, as seen in these phrases, are typical in close family relationships. While politeness is valued, siblings often speak more bluntly to each other.
Board games (보드 게임 – bo-deu ge-im) are quite popular in Korea, with many “board game cafes” (보드 게임 카페 – bo-deu ge-im ka-pe) where people can play a wide variety of games. This makes scenarios like choosing a game very relatable.
Using phrases like 가위바위보 (ga-wi-ba-wi-bo – rock-paper-scissors) to settle small disputes is extremely common among people of all ages in Korea.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two siblings, Minjun (older brother) and Sora (younger sister), are trying to pick a board game to play.
Characters:
- A: Minjun (민준)
- B: Sora (소라)
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Expression: A: 소라야, 보드 게임 하자! 뭐 할까?
Pronunciation: so-ra-ya, bo-deu ge-im ha-ja! mwo hal-kka?
Meaning: A: Sora, let’s play a board game! What should we play? -
Expression: B: 좋아! 내가 고를래! 이거 하자!
Pronunciation: jo-a! nae-ga go-reul-lae! i-geo ha-ja!
Meaning: B: Okay! I’ll choose! Let’s play this one! -
Expression: A: 안 돼! 저번에 네가 골랐잖아. 이번엔 내가 고를 차례야.
Pronunciation: an dwae! jeo-beon-e ne-ga gol-lat-jan-a. i-beon-en nae-ga go-reul cha-rye-ya.
Meaning: A: No way! You chose last time. It’s my turn to choose this time. -
Expression: B: 싫어! 오빠는 맨날 재미없는 것만 고르잖아! 이게 더 재밌어 보여.
Pronunciation: sil-eo! o-ppa-neun maen-nal jae-mi-eom-neun geot-man go-reu-jan-a! i-ge deo jae-mi-sseo bo-yeo.
Meaning: B: No! Oppa (older brother), you always pick boring ones! This looks more fun. -
Expression: A: 말도 안 돼. 이게 얼마나 재밌는데! 그럼 가위바위보로 정하자!
Pronunciation: mal-do an dwae. i-ge eol-ma-na jae-min-neun-de! geu-reom ga-wi-ba-wi-bo-ro jeong-ha-ja!
Meaning: A: That’s ridiculous. This one is so much fun! Then let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors! -
Expression: B: 알았어! 내가 이길 거야! 가위바위보!
Pronunciation: ar-a-sseo! nae-ga i-gil geo-ya! ga-wi-ba-wi-bo!
Meaning: B: Okay! I’m going to win! Rock-paper-scissors!
Practice Tips
Try practicing these phrases with a friend or family member! Role-playing a sibling argument can be a fun way to internalize the expressions~ You can even use actual board games as props. Pay attention to the nuances – when would you use a stronger phrase like 싫어! versus a suggestion like 이건 어때? Listen for these types of interactions in Korean dramas or movies featuring families. Keep practicing, and you’ll be able to navigate these common situations more naturally! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/You can do it!)
