Disagreements between siblings are common, especially when it comes to making decisions like planning a family outing. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and vocabulary to express the typical arguments and negotiations that happen when siblings fight over who gets to plan the next family trip. You’ll learn how to claim responsibility, disagree, suggest compromises, and understand some cultural context surrounding these interactions.
Table Of Content
Core Conflict Phrase
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Expression: 이번 가족 여행은 내가 계획할 거야!
Pronunciation: i-beon ga-jok yeo-haeng-eun nae-ga gye-hoek-hal geo-ya!
Meaning: I’m going to plan this family trip! (Informal, assertive)
Phrases for Claiming Responsibility
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Expression: 이번엔 내 차례야.
Pronunciation: i-beon-en nae cha-rye-ya.
Meaning: It’s my turn this time. -
Expression: 내가 할게.
Pronunciation: nae-ga hal-ge.
Meaning: I’ll do it. -
Expression: 내가 계획하고 싶어.
Pronunciation: nae-ga gye-hoek-ha-go sip-eo.
Meaning: I want to plan it. -
Expression: 지난번엔 네가 했잖아.
Pronunciation: ji-nan-beon-en ne-ga haet-jan-a.
Meaning: You did it last time. -
Expression: 나한테 맡겨줘.
Pronunciation: na-han-te mat-gyeo-jwo.
Meaning: Leave it to me. / Entrust it to me. -
Expression: 내가 더 잘 알아.
Pronunciation: nae-ga deo jal ar-a.
Meaning: I know better. -
Expression: 내가 좋은 생각 있어.
Pronunciation: nae-ga jo-eun saeng-gak is-seo.
Meaning: I have a good idea. -
Expression: 이번 여행은 내가 책임질게.
Pronunciation: i-beon yeo-haeng-eun nae-ga chaek-im-jil-ge.
Meaning: I’ll take responsibility for this trip. -
Expression: 나도 계획 세울 수 있어.
Pronunciation: na-do gye-hoek se-ul su is-seo.
Meaning: I can make plans too. -
Expression: 내가 먼저 말했어.
Pronunciation: nae-ga meon-jeo mal-haes-seo.
Meaning: I said it first.
Phrases for Disagreeing or Complaining
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Expression: 왜 네가 정해?
Pronunciation: wae ne-ga jeong-hae?
Meaning: Why do you get to decide? -
Expression: 말도 안 돼.
Pronunciation: mal-do an dwae.
Meaning: That doesn’t make sense. / No way. -
Expression: 네가 계획하면 재미없어.
Pronunciation: ne-ga gye-hoek-ha-myeon jae-mi-eop-seo.
Meaning: It’s boring when you plan it. -
Expression: 항상 네 마음대로 하잖아.
Pronunciation: hang-sang ne ma-eum-dae-ro ha-jan-a.
Meaning: You always do whatever you want. -
Expression: 나도 의견이 있어.
Pronunciation: na-do ui-gyeon-i is-seo.
Meaning: I have opinions too. -
Expression: 그건 불공평해.
Pronunciation: geu-geon bul-gong-pyeong-hae.
Meaning: That’s unfair. -
Expression: 네 계획은 항상 똑같아.
Pronunciation: ne gye-hoek-eun hang-sang ttok-gat-a.
Meaning: Your plans are always the same. -
Expression: 내 말 좀 들어봐!
Pronunciation: nae mal jom deur-eo-bwa!
Meaning: Listen to me! -
Expression: 너랑 같이 계획 안 할래.
Pronunciation: neo-rang ga-chi gye-hoek an hal-lae.
Meaning: I don’t want to plan with you. -
Expression: 맨날 너만 해.
Pronunciation: maen-nal neo-man hae.
Meaning: It’s always you who does it.
Phrases for Suggesting Alternatives or Compromises
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Expression: 같이 계획하는 건 어때?
Pronunciation: ga-chi gye-hoek-ha-neun geon eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about we plan it together? -
Expression: 반반씩 정하자.
Pronunciation: ban-ban-ssik jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s decide half and half. -
Expression: 네가 장소 정하고, 내가 활동 정할게.
Pronunciation: ne-ga jang-so jeong-ha-go, nae-ga hwal-dong jeong-hal-ge.
Meaning: You decide the place, and I’ll decide the activities. -
Expression: 가위바위보로 정하자.
Pronunciation: ga-wi-ba-wi-bo-ro jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors. -
Expression: 서로 아이디어를 내보자.
Pronunciation: seo-ro a-i-di-eo-reul nae-bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s both suggest ideas. -
Expression: 다음번엔 네가 해.
Pronunciation: da-eum-beon-en ne-ga hae.
Meaning: You can do it next time. -
Expression: 우리 둘 다 만족할 만한 계획을 세우자.
Pronunciation: u-ri dul da man-jok-hal man-han gye-hoek-eul se-u-ja.
Meaning: Let’s make a plan that satisfies both of us. -
Expression: 싸우지 말고 타협하자.
Pronunciation: ssa-u-ji mal-go ta-hyeop-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s not fight and compromise. -
Expression: 각자 가고 싶은 곳 하나씩 정할까?
Pronunciation: gak-ja ga-go sip-eun got ha-na-ssik jeong-hal-kka?
Meaning: Should we each pick one place we want to go? -
Expression: 일단 서로 원하는 걸 말해보자.
Pronunciation: il-dan seo-ro won-ha-neun geol mal-hae-bo-ja.
Meaning: First, let’s say what we each want.
Phrases for Involving Parents
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Expression: 엄마한테 물어보자.
Pronunciation: eom-ma-han-te mur-eo-bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s ask Mom. -
Expression: 아빠가 정해주시면 안 돼요?
Pronunciation: a-ppa-ga jeong-hae-ju-si-myeon an dwae-yo?
Meaning: Can’t Dad decide for us? (Polite) -
Expression: 엄마, 얘가 자꾸 자기 마음대로 하려고 해요!
Pronunciation: eom-ma, yae-ga ja-kku ja-gi ma-eum-dae-ro ha-ryeo-go hae-yo!
Meaning: Mom, he/she keeps trying to do whatever they want! -
Expression: 아빠, 누가 계획할지 정해주세요.
Pronunciation: a-ppa, nu-ga gye-hoek-hal-ji jeong-hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Dad, please decide who will plan it. -
Expression: 부모님 의견은 어떠세요?
Pronunciation: bu-mo-nim ui-gyeon-eun eo-tteo-se-yo?
Meaning: What is your opinion, Mom and Dad? (Polite) -
Expression: 이것 좀 해결해주세요!
Pronunciation: i-geot jom hae-gyeol-hae-ju-se-yo!
Meaning: Please resolve this! -
Expression: 누가 더 계획을 잘 세울 것 같아요?
Pronunciation: nu-ga deo gye-hoek-eul jal se-ul geot gat-a-yo?
Meaning: Who do you think would make better plans? (Asking parents) -
Expression: 쟤 말 듣지 마세요.
Pronunciation: jyae mal deut-ji ma-se-yo.
Meaning: Don’t listen to him/her. (Informal, to parents about sibling) -
Expression: 공평하게 결정해주세요.
Pronunciation: gong-pyeong-ha-ge gyeol-jeong-hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please decide fairly. -
Expression: 우리 싸우는 것 좀 말려주세요.
Pronunciation: u-ri ssa-u-neun geot jom mal-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please stop us from fighting.
Cultural Notes on Family Dynamics
In Korean families, age hierarchy often plays a role in sibling relationships. The older sibling (형/오빠 – hyeong/oppa for younger males/females respectively, 누나/언니 – nuna/eonni for younger males/females respectively) might feel entitled to take the lead or make decisions, while the younger sibling (동생 – dong-saeng) might push back or seek fairness.
Family outings (가족 나들이 – ga-jok na-deu-ri or 가족 여행 – ga-jok yeo-haeng) are considered important bonding times. Disputes over planning might stem from a genuine desire to contribute to a successful family event, not just simple rivalry.
While direct confrontation happens, sometimes siblings might express disagreement indirectly or appeal to parents to mediate, reflecting a cultural preference for maintaining harmony, even amidst conflict.
Using informal language (반말 – ban-mal) is typical between siblings, regardless of age difference, especially in casual settings like arguing at home. However, the level of formality can vary between families.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two siblings, Ji-hoon (older brother) and Soo-min (younger sister), are arguing about who gets to plan the upcoming weekend family outing.
Roles: A = Ji-hoon (Older Brother), B = Soo-min (Younger Sister)
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Expression: A: 이번 주말 가족 나들이는 내가 계획할 거야. 좋은 생각 있거든.
Pronunciation: i-beon ju-mal ga-jok na-deu-ri-neun nae-ga gye-hoek-hal geo-ya. jo-eun saeng-gak it-geo-deun.
Meaning: I’m going to plan this weekend’s family outing. I have a good idea. -
Expression: B: 뭐? 왜 오빠가 정해? 지난번에도 오빠가 했잖아. 이번엔 내 차례야!
Pronunciation: mwo? wae o-ppa-ga jeong-hae? ji-nan-beon-e-do o-ppa-ga haet-jan-a. i-beon-en nae cha-rye-ya!
Meaning: What? Why do you get to decide? You did it last time too. It’s my turn this time! -
Expression: A: 네가 하면 맨날 똑같은 데 가잖아. 재미없어.
Pronunciation: ne-ga ha-myeon maen-nal ttok-gat-eun de ga-jan-a. jae-mi-eop-seo.
Meaning: When you do it, we always go to the same places. It’s boring. -
Expression: B: 말도 안 돼! 오빠 계획은 항상 너무 피곤하다고! 이번엔 내가 할래. 나한테 맡겨줘.
Pronunciation: mal-do an dwae! o-ppa gye-hoek-eun hang-sang neo-mu pi-gon-ha-da-go! i-beon-en nae-ga hal-lae. na-han-te mat-gyeo-jwo.
Meaning: No way! Your plans are always too tiring! I’ll do it this time. Leave it to me. -
Expression: A: 싫어. 내가 먼저 말했어.
Pronunciation: sir-eo. nae-ga meon-jeo mal-haes-seo.
Meaning: No. I said it first. -
Expression: B: 아, 진짜! 그럼 같이 계획하는 건 어때? 아니면 엄마한테 물어보자!
Pronunciation: a, jin-jja! geu-reom ga-chi gye-hoek-ha-neun geon eo-ttae? a-ni-myeon eom-ma-han-te mur-eo-bo-ja!
Meaning: Ah, seriously! Then how about we plan it together? Or let’s ask Mom! -
Expression: A: 하… 알았어. 같이 하자 그럼. 대신 내 아이디어 꼭 넣어야 해.
Pronunciation: ha… ar-at-sseo. ga-chi ha-ja geu-reom. dae-sin nae a-i-di-eo kkok neoeo-ya hae.
Meaning: Hah… Okay. Let’s do it together then. But we definitely have to include my idea.
Practice Tips
Understanding these phrases is just the first step! Try practicing them with a friend or language partner, perhaps role-playing a similar sibling argument~. Pay attention to the nuances between claiming responsibility and complaining. Listen to how siblings interact in Korean dramas or variety shows to get a feel for the natural flow and intonation! Remember, context is key, especially the age difference and family dynamics. Fighting (linguistically)! 😉
