Sibling squabbles are universal, and knowing how to express these common arguments in Korean can make your language skills more natural and relatable. This guide covers essential phrases and vocabulary for navigating a typical fight between siblings over the last item in the fridge, specifically focusing on a soda.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
-
Expression: 마지막 콜라 내 거야!
Pronunciation: ma-ji-mak kol-la nae ggeo-ya!
Meaning: The last soda is mine! (Informal)
Basic Argument Phrases
-
Expression: 이거 누가 마셨어?
Pronunciation: i-geo nu-ga ma-syeot-sseo?
Meaning: Who drank this? (Informal) -
Expression: 냉장고에 콜라 하나 남았었는데.
Pronunciation: naeng-jang-go-e kol-la ha-na nam-at-sseot-neun-de.
Meaning: There was one soda left in the fridge. (Informal) -
Expression: 내 거 건드리지 마!
Pronunciation: nae geo geon-deu-ri-ji ma!
Meaning: Don’t touch my stuff! (Informal) -
Expression: 내가 먼저 찜했어!
Pronunciation: nae-ga meon-jeo jjim-haet-sseo!
Meaning: I called dibs first! (Informal) -
Expression: 왜 내 거 마셔?
Pronunciation: wae nae geo ma-syeo?
Meaning: Why are you drinking mine? (Informal) -
Expression: 이거 내 거 아니야?
Pronunciation: i-geo nae geo a-ni-ya?
Meaning: Isn’t this mine? (Informal) -
Expression: 너 진짜 치사하다!
Pronunciation: neo jin-jja chi-sa-ha-da!
Meaning: You’re so cheap/unfair! (Informal) -
Expression: 비켜 봐!
Pronunciation: bi-kyeo bwa!
Meaning: Move! / Get out of the way! (Informal) -
Expression: 손대지 마!
Pronunciation: son-dae-ji ma!
Meaning: Don’t touch it! (Informal) -
Expression: 내가 아껴둔 건데!
Pronunciation: nae-ga a-kkyeo-dun geon-de!
Meaning: I was saving that! (Informal) -
Expression: 양보 좀 해!
Pronunciation: yang-bo jom hae!
Meaning: Give in a little! / Concede! (Informal) -
Expression: 맨날 너만 마셔!
Pronunciation: maen-nal neo-man ma-syeo!
Meaning: You always drink it all! (Informal)
Accusations and Denials
-
Expression: 네가 마셨지, 솔직히 말해!
Pronunciation: ne-ga ma-syeot-ji, sol-jik-hi mal-hae!
Meaning: You drank it, didn’t you? Tell me honestly! (Informal) -
Expression: 내가 안 마셨어!
Pronunciation: nae-ga an ma-syeot-sseo!
Meaning: I didn’t drink it! (Informal) -
Expression: 거짓말하지 마!
Pronunciation: geo-jit-mal-ha-ji ma!
Meaning: Don’t lie! (Informal) -
Expression: 딱 걸렸어!
Pronunciation: ttak geol-lyeot-sseo!
Meaning: Busted! / Caught you red-handed! (Informal) -
Expression: 나 아니라고 했잖아!
Pronunciation: na a-ni-ra-go haet-jan-a!
Meaning: I told you it wasn’t me! (Informal) -
Expression: 증거 있어?
Pronunciation: jeung-geo it-sseo?
Meaning: Do you have proof? (Informal) -
Expression: 네 입가에 묻었는데?
Pronunciation: ne ip-ga-e mud-eot-neun-de?
Meaning: But there’s some on your mouth? (Informal) -
Expression: 모르는 척 하지 마!
Pronunciation: mo-reu-neun cheok ha-ji ma!
Meaning: Don’t pretend you don’t know! (Informal) -
Expression: 진짜 아니라니까!
Pronunciation: jin-jja a-ni-ra-ni-kka!
Meaning: I’m telling you, it really wasn’t me! (Informal) -
Expression: 누가 봐도 너 같은데.
Pronunciation: nu-ga bwa-do neo gat-eun-de.
Meaning: It obviously looks like you did it. (Informal) -
Expression: 억울해!
Pronunciation: eok-ul-hae!
Meaning: It’s unfair! / I feel wronged! (Informal)
Claiming, Negotiating, and Resolving
-
Expression: 이건 내가 마실 거야.
Pronunciation: i-geon nae-ga ma-sil geo-ya.
Meaning: I’m going to drink this. (Informal) -
Expression: 반반 나누자.
Pronunciation: ban-ban na-nu-ja.
Meaning: Let’s split it half and half. (Informal) -
Expression: 가위바위보 해서 정하자!
Pronunciation: ga-wi-ba-wi-bo hae-seo jeong-ha-ja!
Meaning: Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors! (Informal) -
Expression: 그럼 내가 한 입만 마실게.
Pronunciation: geu-reom nae-ga han ip-man ma-sil-ge.
Meaning: Then I’ll just take one sip. (Informal) -
Expression: 다음에 네 거 안 뺏을게.
Pronunciation: da-eum-e ne geo an ppaet-eul-ge.
Meaning: I won’t take yours next time. (Informal) -
Expression: 엄마한테 이를 거야!
Pronunciation: eom-ma-han-te i-reul geo-ya!
Meaning: I’m going to tell Mom! (Informal) -
Expression: 알았어, 네가 마셔.
Pronunciation: ar-at-sseo, ne-ga ma-syeo.
Meaning: Okay, fine, you drink it. (Informal) -
Expression: 대신 다음에 내가 먼저야.
Pronunciation: dae-sin da-eum-e nae-ga meon-jeo-ya.
Meaning: But next time, I’m first. (Informal) -
Expression: 됐어, 안 마셔!
Pronunciation: dwaet-sseo, an ma-syeo!
Meaning: Forget it, I won’t drink it! (Informal) -
Expression: 새로 사줄게.
Pronunciation: sae-ro sa-jul-ge.
Meaning: I’ll buy you a new one. (Informal) -
Expression: 그럼 같이 마시자.
Pronunciation: geu-reom ga-chi ma-si-ja.
Meaning: Then let’s drink it together. (Informal)
Cultural Tips
Understanding sibling interactions in Korea involves some cultural context. While arguments happen everywhere, hierarchy based on age can sometimes play a role, even between siblings close in age. The older sibling (형/오빠 for younger males, 누나/언니 for younger females) might sometimes expect deference, though this is becoming less rigid.
Sharing is generally encouraged, but personal items or treats saved specifically can still lead to disputes. The concept of ‘dibs’ (찜하다 – jjim-ha-da) is common among children and siblings for claiming items.
Arguments often use informal language (반말 – ban-mal), even if there’s an age gap, especially during heated moments. However, using overly disrespectful language can still lead to intervention by parents.
Resolving conflicts might involve negotiation like splitting items (반반 나누다 – ban-ban na-nu-da) or using games like rock-paper-scissors (가위바위보 – ga-wi-ba-wi-bo) to decide, which is a very common way to settle minor disputes fairly.
Threatening to tell a parent (엄마/아빠한테 이르다 – eom-ma/ap-pa-han-te i-reu-da) is a classic tactic used by younger siblings or when one feels particularly wronged.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two siblings, Minjun (older brother) and Sora (younger sister), discover only one soda left in the fridge.
Characters:
- A: Sora (Younger Sister)
- B: Minjun (Older Brother)
-
Expression: A: 어? 냉장고에 콜라 이거 하나밖에 없네? 내가 마셔야지!
Pronunciation: eo? naeng-jang-go-e kol-la i-geo ha-na-bak-ke eom-ne? nae-ga ma-syeo-ya-ji!
Meaning: Huh? There’s only one soda left in the fridge? I’m gonna drink it! -
Expression: B: 야! 그거 내가 아껴둔 거야! 손대지 마!
Pronunciation: ya! geu-geo nae-ga a-kkyeo-dun geo-ya! son-dae-ji ma!
Meaning: Hey! I was saving that! Don’t touch it! -
Expression: A: 무슨 소리야? 내가 먼저 봤어! 내 거야!
Pronunciation: mu-seun so-ri-ya? nae-ga meon-jeo bwat-sseo! nae ggeo-ya!
Meaning: What are you talking about? I saw it first! It’s mine! -
Expression: B: 거짓말하지 마! 내가 어제 사 와서 넣어둔 거거든?
Pronunciation: geo-jit-mal-ha-ji ma! nae-ga eo-je sa wa-seo neo-eo-dun geo-geo-deun?
Meaning: Don’t lie! I bought it yesterday and put it in there, okay? -
Expression: A: 그래도 지금은 내가 마실 건데! 오빠 맨날 내 거 뺏어 먹잖아!
Pronunciation: geu-rae-do ji-geum-eun nae-ga ma-sil geon-de! o-ppa maen-nal nae geo ppaet-eo meok-jan-a!
Meaning: Even so, I’m going to drink it now! Oppa, you always steal my stuff! -
Expression: B: 치사하게 굴지 마. 그럼 반반 나누든가.
Pronunciation: chi-sa-ha-ge gul-ji ma. geu-reom ban-ban na-nu-deun-ga.
Meaning: Don’t be so cheap/unfair. Then let’s just split it half and half. -
Expression: A: 싫어! 내가 다 마실 거야!
Pronunciation: sil-eo! nae-ga da ma-sil geo-ya!
Meaning: No way! I’m drinking it all! -
Expression: B: 진짜 말 안 듣네. 그럼 가위바위보 하자! 지는 사람 없음!
Pronunciation: jin-jja mal an deut-ne. geu-reom ga-wi-ba-wi-bo ha-ja! ji-neun sa-ram eop-seum!
Meaning: You really don’t listen. Then let’s do rock-paper-scissors! Loser gets nothing! -
Expression: A: 좋아! 가위, 바위, 보!
Pronunciation: jo-a! ga-wi, ba-wi, bo!
Meaning: Okay! Rock, paper, scissors! -
Expression: B: 아싸, 내가 이겼다! 콜라는 내 거!
Pronunciation: a-ssa, nae-ga i-gyeot-da! kol-la-neun nae geo!
Meaning: Yes, I won! The soda is mine! -
Expression: A: 칫, 알았어… 대신 다음에 내가 이기면 두 개 마실 거야!
Pronunciation: chit, ar-at-sseo… dae-sin da-eum-e nae-ga i-gi-myeon du gae ma-sil geo-ya!
Meaning: Tsk, fine… But if I win next time, I’m drinking two!
Practice Tips
Practicing these phrases will help you sound more natural in informal situations! Try role-playing with a friend or language partner~ Imagine you’re siblings and act out the scenario. Pay attention to the intonation used in arguments – it’s often faster and more expressive!
You can also watch Korean dramas or variety shows featuring families or siblings. Listen closely to how they argue over small things like food or possessions. This will give you a better feel for real-life usage. Don’t be afraid to use these phrases playfully, even if you don’t have siblings yourself! Good luck with your practice~!
