Understanding your fortune through Saju (사주), the traditional Korean practice of analyzing one’s destiny based on birth date and time, is a unique cultural experience. This guide provides the essential Korean phrases you need to navigate the process of getting a Saju reading, from making an appointment to understanding the fortune teller’s insights.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 사주 풀이 받다
Pronunciation: sa-ju pul-i bat-da
Meaning: To get a Saju reading (literally: to receive a Saju interpretation)
Booking and Initial Questions
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Expression: 사주 풀이 예약하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: sa-ju pul-i ye-yak-ha-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to book a Saju reading. -
Expression: 예약 가능한 시간이 언제예요?
Pronunciation: ye-yak ga-neung-han si-gan-i eon-je-ye-yo?
Meaning: When is the available time for booking? -
Expression: 사주 보는 데 얼마예요?
Pronunciation: sa-ju bo-neun de eol-ma-ye-yo?
Meaning: How much does it cost to get a Saju reading? -
Expression: 상담 시간은 얼마나 걸려요?
Pronunciation: sang-dam si-gan-eun eol-ma-na geol-lyeo-yo?
Meaning: How long does the consultation take? -
Expression: 생년월일시가 필요해요?
Pronunciation: saeng-nyeon-wol-il-si-ga pil-yo-hae-yo?
Meaning: Do you need my date and time of birth? -
Expression: 제 생년월일시는 [년]년 [월]월 [일]일 [시]시입니다.
Pronunciation: je saeng-nyeon-wol-il-si-neun [nyeon]nyeon [wol]wol [il]il [si]si-im-ni-da.
Meaning: My date and time of birth is [Year], [Month], [Day], [Hour]. (Replace bracketed parts with numbers) -
Expression: 태어난 시간을 정확히 몰라요.
Pronunciation: tae-eo-nan si-gan-eul jeong-hwak-hi mol-la-yo.
Meaning: I don’t know my exact birth time. -
Expression: 음력인가요, 양력인가요?
Pronunciation: eum-nyeok-in-ga-yo, yang-nyeok-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is it lunar calendar or solar calendar? -
Expression: 여기에서 사주 볼 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-e-seo sa-ju bol su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I get a Saju reading here? -
Expression: 어떤 정보를 드려야 하나요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon jeong-bo-reul deu-ryeo-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: What information do I need to provide?
During the Reading
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Expression: 제 전반적인 운세가 궁금해요.
Pronunciation: je jeon-ban-jeok-in un-se-ga gung-geum-hae-yo.
Meaning: I’m curious about my overall fortune. -
Expression: 직업운은 어때요?
Pronunciation: jik-eop-un-eun eo-ttae-yo?
Meaning: How is my career luck? -
Expression: 연애운/결혼운에 대해 알고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: yeon-ae-un/gyeol-hon-un-e dae-hae al-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to know about my love life/marriage luck. -
Expression: 재물운은 어떤가요?
Pronunciation: jae-mul-un-eun eo-tteon-ga-yo?
Meaning: How is my financial luck? -
Expression: 건강운은 괜찮을까요?
Pronunciation: geon-gang-un-eun gwaen-chan-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Will my health luck be okay? -
Expression: 올해 특별히 조심해야 할 것이 있나요?
Pronunciation: ol-hae teuk-byeol-hi jo-sim-hae-ya hal geos-i it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is there anything I should be particularly careful about this year? -
Expression: 그게 무슨 뜻인가요?
Pronunciation: geu-ge mu-seun tteut-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What does that mean? -
Expression: 좀 더 자세히 설명해 주실 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: jom deo ja-se-hi seol-myeong-hae ju-sil su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Could you explain that in more detail? -
Expression: 언제쯤 운이 좋아질까요?
Pronunciation: eon-je-jjeum un-i jo-a-jil-kka-yo?
Meaning: Around when will my luck improve? -
Expression: 제 성격에 대해서도 알 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: je seong-gyeok-e dae-hae-seo-do al su it-na-yo?
Meaning: Can you also tell me about my personality? -
Expression: 가족 관계는 어떨까요?
Pronunciation: ga-jok gwan-gye-neun eo-tteol-kka-yo?
Meaning: How will my family relationships be?
Understanding the Results
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Expression: 좋은 점과 나쁜 점을 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: jo-eun jeom-gwa na-ppeun jeom-eul al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me the good points and bad points. -
Expression: 앞으로 어떻게 하는 것이 좋을까요?
Pronunciation: ap-eu-ro eo-tteo-ke ha-neun geos-i jo-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: What would be good for me to do in the future? -
Expression: 조언 감사합니다.
Pronunciation: jo-eon gam-sa-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Thank you for the advice. -
Expression: 결과가 흥미롭네요.
Pronunciation: gyeol-gwa-ga heung-mi-rop-ne-yo.
Meaning: The results are interesting. -
Expression: 잘 알겠습니다.
Pronunciation: jal al-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I understand well. -
Expression: 피해야 할 색깔이나 숫자가 있나요?
Pronunciation: pi-hae-ya hal saek-kkal-i-na sut-ja-ga it-na-yo?
Meaning: Are there any colors or numbers I should avoid? -
Expression: 저에게 도움이 되는 것은 무엇인가요?
Pronunciation: jeo-e-ge do-um-i doe-neun geos-eun mu-eos-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What things would be helpful for me? -
Expression: 이 결과를 어떻게 받아들여야 할까요?
Pronunciation: i gyeol-gwa-reul eo-tteo-ke bad-a-deul-yeo-ya hal-kka-yo?
Meaning: How should I interpret these results? -
Expression: 미래에 대해 희망을 가져도 될까요?
Pronunciation: mi-rae-e dae-hae hui-mang-eul ga-jyeo-do doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can I be hopeful about the future? -
Expression: 참고하겠습니다.
Pronunciation: cham-go-ha-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will keep it in mind / I’ll use it as a reference.
Korean Culture Notes
What is Saju?: Saju Palja (사주팔자) literally means the “Four Pillars and Eight Characters” derived from the year, month, day, and hour of one’s birth according to the lunar calendar. It’s a complex system rooted in traditional East Asian cosmology, analyzing the balance of Yin/Yang and the Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) present at birth to interpret personality, fortune, and compatibility.
Importance of Birth Time: While the birth date is crucial, the exact birth hour (시, si) significantly refines the reading. If you don’t know your exact birth time, the reader might use a broader interpretation or ask clarifying questions about your life events to estimate it.
Common Practice: Getting a Saju reading is quite common in Korea, especially during transitional periods like the New Year, before marriage, starting a new job, or when facing difficulties. It’s viewed by many not as absolute destiny, but as a way to understand potential strengths, weaknesses, and upcoming challenges or opportunities, offering guidance rather than fixed predictions.
Types of Readers: You can find Saju readers (역술인, yeoksulin or 철학관, cheolhakgwan – ‘philosophy house’) in various settings, from traditional shops often found in older neighborhoods or near temples, to modern cafes and even online platforms. Fees and styles can vary greatly.
Saju and Compatibility (궁합): Saju is frequently used to check marital compatibility (궁합, gunghap) between potential partners, analyzing how their respective energies and elements interact.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun visits a Saju reader’s office (철학관) for the first time.
Roles: A: Minjun (Customer), B: Saju Reader (역술인)
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Expression: A: 안녕하세요, 사주 풀이 좀 받고 싶은데요. 예약해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: A: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, sa-ju pul-i jom bat-go sip-eun-de-yo. ye-yak-hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: A: Hello, I’d like to get a Saju reading. Do I need an appointment? -
Expression: B: 네, 보통 예약하시는데 지금은 잠시 시간이 괜찮습니다. 성함과 생년월일시를 알려주시겠어요? 양력 기준입니다.
Pronunciation: B: ne, bo-tong ye-yak-ha-si-neun-de ji-geum-eun jam-si si-gan-i gwaen-chan-seum-ni-da. seong-ham-gwa saeng-nyeon-wol-il-si-reul al-lyeo-ju-si-get-seo-yo? yang-nyeok gi-jun-im-ni-da.
Meaning: B: Yes, usually people make appointments, but I have some time now. Could you tell me your name and date/time of birth? Based on the solar calendar. -
Expression: A: 저는 김민준이고, 1995년 3월 10일 오전 7시 30분입니다.
Pronunciation: A: jeo-neun gim-min-jun-i-go, cheon-gu-baek-gu-sip-o-nyeon sam-wol sip-il o-jeon il-gop-si sam-sip-bun-im-ni-da.
Meaning: A: I’m Kim Minjun, born March 10th, 1995, at 7:30 AM. -
Expression: B: (잠시 계산 후) 네, 민준 씨 사주를 보니… 전반적으로 강한 기운을 가지고 태어나셨네요. 특히 올해는 변화가 많은 해가 될 것 같습니다. 어떤 점이 가장 궁금하신가요?
Pronunciation: B: (jam-si gye-san hu) ne, min-jun ssi sa-ju-reul bo-ni… jeon-ban-jeok-eu-ro gang-han gi-un-eul ga-ji-go tae-eo-na-syeon-ne-yo. teuk-hi ol-hae-neun byeon-hwa-ga ma-neun hae-ga doel geot gat-seum-ni-da. eo-tteon jeom-i ga-jang gung-geum-ha-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: B: (After calculating for a moment) Yes, looking at your Saju, Minjun… you were born with strong overall energy. This year especially seems like it will be a year of many changes. What are you most curious about? -
Expression: A: 요즘 직장을 옮길까 고민 중인데, 직업운이 어떤지 알고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: A: yo-jeum jik-jang-eul om-gil-kka go-min jung-in-de, jik-eop-un-i eo-tteon-ji al-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: A: I’m currently thinking about changing jobs, so I’d like to know about my career luck. -
Expression: B: 직업 변동수가 보이네요. 가을쯤 좋은 기회가 올 수 있습니다. 다만, 신중하게 결정해야 합니다. 재물운은 꾸준히 노력하면 좋아질 운입니다.
Pronunciation: B: jik-eop byeon-dong-su-ga bo-i-ne-yo. ga-eul-jjeum jo-eun gi-hoe-ga ol su it-seum-ni-da. da-man, sin-jung-ha-ge gyeol-jeong-hae-ya ham-ni-da. jae-mul-un-eun kku-jun-hi no-ryeok-ha-myeon jo-a-jil un-im-ni-da.
Meaning: B: I see signs of a job change. A good opportunity might come around autumn. However, you must decide carefully. Your financial luck is such that it will improve with steady effort. -
Expression: A: 그렇군요. 조언 감사합니다. 참고해서 잘 결정해 볼게요.
Pronunciation: A: geu-reo-kun-yo. jo-eon gam-sa-ham-ni-da. cham-go-hae-seo jal gyeol-jeong-hae bol-ge-yo.
Meaning: A: I see. Thank you for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind and make a good decision.
Practice Tips
Getting a Saju reading can be a fascinating cultural dive! Try practicing these phrases by yourself first~ Maybe listen to how Koreans talk about Saju in dramas or variety shows. Remember your birth date and time (생년월일시, saeng-nyeon-wol-il-si) in Korean format! Don’t be afraid to ask questions like “그게 무슨 뜻인가요?” (What does that mean?) if you don’t understand something during a real reading. Good luck exploring this interesting aspect of Korean culture!
