Sibling interactions often involve disagreements, especially when deciding on shared activities like games. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and vocabulary for expressing arguments between siblings over who gets to choose the next family card game, helping you understand and participate in these common family scenarios.
Table Of Content
Core Concept: Arguing Over Choice
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Expression: 다음 게임 고르는 걸로 싸우다
Pronunciation: da-eum ge-im go-reu-neun geol-lo ssa-u-da
Meaning: To argue about picking the next game
Basic Argument Phrases
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Expression: 내 차례야!
Pronunciation: nae cha-rye-ya!
Meaning: It’s my turn! -
Expression: 네가 지난번에 골랐잖아!
Pronunciation: ne-ga ji-nan-beon-e gol-lat-jan-a!
Meaning: You picked last time! -
Expression: 불공평해!
Pronunciation: bul-gong-pyeong-hae!
Meaning: It’s unfair! -
Expression: 왜 맨날 너만 골라?
Pronunciation: wae maen-nal neo-man gol-la?
Meaning: Why do you always get to pick? -
Expression: 이번엔 내가 고를 거야.
Pronunciation: i-beon-en nae-ga go-reul geo-ya.
Meaning: I’m going to choose this time. -
Expression: 말도 안 돼!
Pronunciation: mal-do an dwae!
Meaning: That doesn’t make sense! / No way! -
Expression: 나도 하고 싶은 게임이 있어.
Pronunciation: na-do ha-go sip-eun ge-im-i it-sseo.
Meaning: There’s a game I want to play too. -
Expression: 양보 좀 해!
Pronunciation: yang-bo jom hae!
Meaning: Give in a little! / Compromise! -
Expression: 맨날 똑같은 것만 하잖아.
Pronunciation: maen-nal ttok-gat-eun geot-man ha-jan-a.
Meaning: We always play the same thing. -
Expression: 내 말 좀 들어봐!
Pronunciation: nae mal jom deur-eo-bwa!
Meaning: Listen to me! -
Expression: 흥! 나 안 해!
Pronunciation: heung! na an hae!
Meaning: Hmph! I’m not playing! -
Expression: 정정당당하게 하자.
Pronunciation: jeong-jeong-dang-dang-ha-ge ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s be fair.
Phrases for Choosing the Game
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Expression: 무슨 카드 게임 할까?
Pronunciation: mu-seun ka-deu ge-im hal-kka?
Meaning: What card game should we play? -
Expression: 내가 게임 고를게.
Pronunciation: nae-ga ge-im go-reul-ge.
Meaning: I’ll pick the game. -
Expression: 이번엔 내가 고를 차례야.
Pronunciation: i-beon-en nae-ga go-reul cha-rye-ya.
Meaning: It’s my turn to pick this time. -
Expression: 이 게임 하자!
Pronunciation: i ge-im ha-ja!
Meaning: Let’s play this game! -
Expression: 다른 게임 하고 싶어.
Pronunciation: da-reun ge-im ha-go sip-eo.
Meaning: I want to play a different game. -
Expression: 그 게임은 재미없어.
Pronunciation: geu ge-im-eun jae-mi-eop-sseo.
Meaning: That game isn’t fun. -
Expression: 저번에 했던 거 말고 새로운 거 하자.
Pronunciation: jeo-beon-e haet-deon geo mal-go sae-ro-un geo ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play something new, not the one we played last time. -
Expression: 가위바위보로 정하자!
Pronunciation: ga-wi-ba-wi-bo-ro jeong-ha-ja!
Meaning: Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors! -
Expression: 네가 고르는 건 항상 지루해.
Pronunciation: ne-ga go-reu-neun geon hang-sang ji-ru-hae.
Meaning: The games you pick are always boring. -
Expression: 내가 이기면 내가 고른다?
Pronunciation: nae-ga i-gi-myeon nae-ga go-reun-da?
Meaning: If I win (e.g., rock-paper-scissors), I pick, okay? -
Expression: 어떤 게임 하고 싶은데?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon ge-im ha-go sip-eun-de?
Meaning: What game do you want to play then? -
Expression: 그럼 번갈아 가면서 고르자.
Pronunciation: geu-reom beon-gal-a ga-myeon-seo go-reu-ja.
Meaning: Then let’s take turns picking.
Suggesting and Compromising
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Expression: 이거 어때?
Pronunciation: i-geo eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about this one? -
Expression: 그럼 이건 어때?
Pronunciation: geu-reom i-geon eo-ttae?
Meaning: Then how about this one? -
Expression: 둘 다 좋아하는 게임 하자.
Pronunciation: dul da jo-a-ha-neun ge-im ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play a game we both like. -
Expression: 이번엔 네가 고르고 다음엔 내가 고를게.
Pronunciation: i-beon-en ne-ga go-reu-go da-eum-en nae-ga go-reul-ge.
Meaning: You pick this time, and I’ll pick next time. -
Expression: 좋아, 그럼 그걸로 하자.
Pronunciation: jo-a, geu-reom geu-geol-lo ha-ja.
Meaning: Okay, let’s play that then. -
Expression: 알았어, 네 말대로 할게.
Pronunciation: ar-at-sseo, ne mal-dae-ro hal-ge.
Meaning: Okay, I’ll do as you say. -
Expression: 싸우지 말고 그냥 정하자.
Pronunciation: ssa-u-ji mal-go geu-nyang jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s just decide without fighting. -
Expression: 이 게임 먼저 하고 다음에 네가 고른 거 하자.
Pronunciation: i ge-im meon-jeo ha-go da-eum-e ne-ga go-reun geo ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play this game first, and then play the one you picked next. -
Expression: 공평하게 순서를 정하자.
Pronunciation: gong-pyeong-ha-ge sun-seo-reul jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s decide the order fairly. -
Expression: 엄마/아빠한테 골라달라고 할까?
Pronunciation: eom-ma/a-ppa-han-te gol-la-dal-la-go hal-kka?
Meaning: Should we ask Mom/Dad to pick? -
Expression: 타협하자.
Pronunciation: ta-hyeop-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s compromise. -
Expression: 그럼 중간 지점을 찾자.
Pronunciation: geu-reom jung-gan ji-jeom-eul chat-ja.
Meaning: Then let’s find a middle ground.
Korean Culture Notes
Sibling dynamics in Korea often involve clear hierarchies based on age, although modern families are becoming more egalitarian. Older siblings (형/오빠/누나/언니 – hyeong/o-ppa/nu-na/eon-ni) might traditionally expect some deference, but playful arguments like these are very common.
Using 가위바위보 (ga-wi-ba-wi-bo – rock-paper-scissors) is an extremely common and accepted way to resolve minor disputes fairly, even among adults sometimes.
Direct confrontation can be less common in some Korean social contexts, but within the family, especially between siblings, expressing opinions and disagreements more openly, like in these examples, is normal.
Card games (카드 게임 – ka-deu ge-im) and board games (보드 게임 – bo-deu ge-im) are popular family activities, making scenarios like this quite relatable in Korean households.
Using informal language endings like -야 (-ya), -잖아 (-jan-a), or -자 (-ja) is typical when siblings talk amongst themselves, reflecting closeness and casualness.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two siblings, Ji-hoon (older brother) and Su-min (younger sister), finished a card game and are deciding what to play next.
Roles:
A: Su-min (Younger Sister)
B: Ji-hoon (Older Brother)
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Expression: A: 자, 다음 카드 게임은 내가 고를 차례야!
Pronunciation: ja, da-eum ka-deu ge-im-eun nae-ga go-reul cha-rye-ya!
Meaning: Okay, it’s my turn to pick the next card game! -
Expression: B: 뭐? 아니야, 방금 게임 네가 골랐잖아. 이번엔 내 차례지.
Pronunciation: mwo? a-ni-ya, bang-geum ge-im ne-ga gol-lat-jan-a. i-beon-en nae cha-rye-ji.
Meaning: What? No, you picked the last game. It’s my turn this time. -
Expression: A: 아니거든! 오빠가 골랐어! 왜 맨날 오빠만 골라? 불공평해!
Pronunciation: a-ni-geo-deun! o-ppa-ga gol-lat-sseo! wae maen-nal o-ppa-man gol-la? bul-gong-pyeong-hae!
Meaning: No, you didn’t! Oppa (older brother) picked! Why do you always get to pick? It’s unfair! -
Expression: B: 내가 언제? 기억도 못 하면서 우기지 마. 이번엔 내가 할 거야. ‘원카드’ 하자.
Pronunciation: nae-ga eon-je? gi-eok-do mot ha-myeon-seo u-gi-ji ma. i-beon-en nae-ga hal geo-ya. ‘won-ka-deu’ ha-ja.
Meaning: When did I? Don’t insist when you don’t even remember. I’m picking this time. Let’s play ‘One Card’. -
Expression: A: 싫어! 원카드 지겨워! 맨날 똑같은 것만 하잖아. 나는 ‘훌라’ 하고 싶어!
Pronunciation: sir-eo! won-ka-deu ji-gyeo-wo! maen-nal ttok-gat-eun geot-man ha-jan-a. na-neun ‘hul-la’ ha-go sip-eo!
Meaning: No! I’m sick of One Card! We always play the same thing. I want to play ‘Hoola’! -
Expression: B: 훌라는 너무 오래 걸리잖아. 그럼 가위바위보로 정하자! 이기면 내가 고른다?
Pronunciation: hul-la-neun neo-mu o-rae geol-li-jan-a. geu-reom ga-wi-ba-wi-bo-ro jeong-ha-ja! i-gi-myeon nae-ga go-reun-da?
Meaning: Hoola takes too long. Then let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors! If I win, I pick, okay? -
Expression: A: 좋아! 대신 내가 이기면 무조건 훌라 하는 거야!
Pronunciation: jo-a! dae-sin nae-ga i-gi-myeon mu-jo-kkeon hul-la ha-neun geo-ya!
Meaning: Fine! But if I win, we absolutely play Hoola! -
Expression: B: 알았어, 알았어. 자, 가위바위보!
Pronunciation: ar-at-sseo, ar-at-sseo. ja, ga-wi-ba-wi-bo!
Meaning: Okay, okay. Ready, rock-paper-scissors!
Practice Tips
Understanding these phrases helps grasp natural Korean conversations within a family setting! Try practicing these lines with a friend or language partner, maybe even acting out the scenario~ Remember, the informal endings are key for sounding natural between siblings!
Pay attention to the intonation used in arguments – often faster and slightly higher pitched. Listen to Korean dramas or reality shows featuring families to hear these expressions used in context. Don’t be afraid to use 가위바위보 (ga-wi-ba-wi-bo) to settle small disagreements yourself – it’s a fun cultural practice too!
