Discussing plans and schedules with children requires specific language, especially when negotiating. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and cultural context for parents needing to arrange or adjust playdate times with their child, fostering cooperation and understanding.
Table Of Content
Core Negotiation Phrase
-
Expression: 우리 시간 정하자
Pronunciation: u-ri si-gan jeong-ha-ja
Meaning: Let’s decide on the time. (A common way to initiate scheduling)
Initiating the Playdate Talk
-
Expression: 이번 주말에 친구랑 놀고 싶어?
Pronunciation: i-beon ju-mal-e chin-gu-rang nol-go si-peo?
Meaning: Do you want to play with your friend this weekend? -
Expression: 누구랑 놀고 싶니?
Pronunciation: nu-gu-rang nol-go sim-ni?
Meaning: Who do you want to play with? -
Expression: 언제 만나는 게 좋을까?
Pronunciation: eon-je man-na-neun ge jo-eul-kka?
Meaning: When would be a good time to meet? -
Expression: 친구 집에 갈래, 우리 집에 초대할래?
Pronunciation: chin-gu jib-e gal-lae, u-ri jib-e cho-dae-hal-lae?
Meaning: Do you want to go to your friend’s house, or invite them to our house? -
Expression: 놀이 약속 잡아야겠다.
Pronunciation: no-ri yak-sok jab-a-ya-get-da.
Meaning: We should schedule a playdate. -
Expression: 친구 엄마한테 연락해 볼게.
Pronunciation: chin-gu eom-ma-han-te yeol-lak-hae bol-kke.
Meaning: I’ll contact your friend’s mom. -
Expression: 먼저 시간이 되는지 물어보자.
Pronunciation: meon-jeo si-gan-i doe-neun-ji mur-eo-bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s ask if they are available first. -
Expression: 우리 스케줄을 확인해 봐야 해.
Pronunciation: u-ri seu-ke-jul-eul hwa-gin-hae bwa-ya hae.
Meaning: We need to check our schedule. -
Expression: 놀이 약속에 대해 이야기 좀 할까?
Pronunciation: no-ri yak-sok-e dae-hae i-ya-gi jom hal-kka?
Meaning: Shall we talk a bit about the playdate?
Suggesting Times and Days
-
Expression: 토요일 오후는 어때?
Pronunciation: to-yo-il o-hu-neun eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about Saturday afternoon? -
Expression: 일요일 오전에 만날까?
Pronunciation: il-yo-il o-jeon-e man-nal-kka?
Meaning: Shall we meet on Sunday morning? -
Expression: 오후 2시 괜찮니?
Pronunciation: o-hu du-si gwaen-chan-ni?
Meaning: Is 2 PM okay? -
Expression: 학교 끝나고 바로 만날까?
Pronunciation: hak-gyo kkeun-na-go ba-ro man-nal-kka?
Meaning: Shall we meet right after school? -
Expression: 금요일 저녁은 시간이 안 될 것 같아.
Pronunciation: geum-yo-il jeo-nyeog-eun si-gan-i an doel geot ga-ta.
Meaning: I don’t think Friday evening will work. -
Expression: 다른 날은 어때?
Pronunciation: da-reun nal-eun eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about another day? -
Expression: 몇 시가 편해?
Pronunciation: myeot si-ga pyeon-hae?
Meaning: What time is convenient for you? -
Expression: 이 날은 학원 가야 해서 안 돼.
Pronunciation: i nal-eun ha-gwon ga-ya hae-seo an dwae.
Meaning: This day won’t work because you have to go to hagwon (private academy). -
Expression: 토요일이랑 일요일 중에 언제가 더 좋아?
Pronunciation: to-yo-il-i-rang il-yo-il jung-e eon-je-ga deo jo-a?
Meaning: Between Saturday and Sunday, when do you prefer? -
Expression: 두 시간 정도 노는 건 어때?
Pronunciation: du si-gan jeong-do no-neun geon eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about playing for about two hours?
Negotiating and Compromising
-
Expression: 그 시간은 좀 어려울 것 같아.
Pronunciation: geu si-gan-eun jom eo-ryeo-ul geot ga-ta.
Meaning: That time seems a bit difficult. -
Expression: 대신 다른 시간을 정해볼까?
Pronunciation: dae-sin da-reun si-gan-eul jeong-hae-bol-kka?
Meaning: Shall we decide on a different time instead? -
Expression: 숙제 먼저 하고 놀면 안 될까?
Pronunciation: suk-je meon-jeo ha-go nol-myeon an doel-kka?
Meaning: Can’t we play after doing homework first? -
Expression: 조금만 더 일찍 만나면 어때?
Pronunciation: jo-geum-man deo il-jjik man-na-myeon eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about meeting a little earlier? -
Expression: 그럼 한 시간만 놀자.
Pronunciation: geu-reom han si-gan-man nol-ja.
Meaning: Then let’s play for just one hour. -
Expression: 네 생각은 어때?
Pronunciation: ne saeng-gag-eun eo-ttae?
Meaning: What do you think? -
Expression: 서로 조금씩 양보하자.
Pronunciation: seo-ro jo-geum-ssik yang-bo-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s compromise a little bit. -
Expression: 이번에는 엄마 말 좀 들어줄래?
Pronunciation: i-beon-e-neun eom-ma mal jom deur-eo-jul-lae?
Meaning: Can you listen to Mom this time? -
Expression: 다음 주에는 네가 원하는 시간에 맞춰줄게.
Pronunciation: da-eum ju-e-neun ne-ga won-ha-neun si-gan-e mat-chwo-jul-kke.
Meaning: Next week, I’ll adjust to the time you want. -
Expression: 이 시간은 어쩔 수 없어.
Pronunciation: i si-gan-eun eo-jjeol su eop-seo.
Meaning: This time is unavoidable / can’t be helped.
Confirming the Plan
-
Expression: 그럼 토요일 오후 3시로 정하자.
Pronunciation: geu-reom to-yo-il o-hu se-si-ro jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Then let’s set it for Saturday at 3 PM. -
Expression: 약속 시간 잊지 마.
Pronunciation: yak-sok si-gan it-ji ma.
Meaning: Don’t forget the appointment time. -
Expression: 친구 엄마한테 다시 확인해 볼게.
Pronunciation: chin-gu eom-ma-han-te da-si hwa-gin-hae bol-kke.
Meaning: I’ll double-check with your friend’s mom. -
Expression: 좋아, 그렇게 하자.
Pronunciation: jo-a, geu-reo-ke ha-ja.
Meaning: Okay, let’s do that. -
Expression: 결정됐네!
Pronunciation: gyeol-jeong-dwaen-ne!
Meaning: It’s decided! -
Expression: 토요일 3시에 우리 집에서 만나기로 했어.
Pronunciation: to-yo-il se-si-e u-ri jib-e-seo man-na-gi-ro haess-eo.
Meaning: We decided to meet at our house at 3 PM on Saturday. -
Expression: 달력에 표시해 놓을게.
Pronunciation: dal-lyeog-e pyo-si-hae no-eul-kke.
Meaning: I’ll mark it on the calendar. -
Expression: 재미있게 놀아!
Pronunciation: jae-mi-it-ge nor-a!
Meaning: Have fun playing! -
Expression: 시간 맞춰서 데리러 갈게.
Pronunciation: si-gan mat-chwo-seo de-ri-reo gal-kke.
Meaning: I’ll come pick you up on time.
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding parent-child dynamics in Korea can be helpful. While negotiation happens, there’s often a cultural expectation for children to respect parents’ decisions, especially regarding schedules influenced by academics (학원 – hagwon – private academy schedules are very common and often prioritized).
Playdates (놀이 약속 – no-ri yak-sok) are common, but scheduling often involves coordinating between parents due to busy schedules, including extracurricular activities.
Direct negotiation might be less common than suggesting alternatives. Parents often guide the decision-making process, framing choices within acceptable boundaries (e.g., “How about Saturday or Sunday?” rather than “When do you want to play?”).
Using softer language like ~ㄹ까? (-lkka? – Shall we…?) or ~는 어때? (-neun eo-ttae? – How about…?) makes suggestions less demanding and more collaborative, even within the parent-child hierarchy.
Confirming plans clearly and sometimes reconfirming closer to the date is standard practice among Korean parents to avoid misunderstandings.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A mother (엄마 – Eomma) is trying to schedule a playdate for her child (아이 – Ai) with their friend Minjun (민준).
Characters:
- A: 엄마 (Eomma – Mother)
- B: 아이 (Ai – Child)
-
Expression: A: 이번 주말에 민준이랑 놀고 싶다고 했지? 언제 시간이 괜찮을까?
Pronunciation: i-beon ju-mal-e min-jun-i-rang nol-go sip-da-go haet-ji? eon-je si-gan-i gwaen-chan-eul-kka?
Meaning: You said you wanted to play with Minjun this weekend, right? When would be a good time? -
Expression: B: 토요일 오전에 놀고 싶어요! 아침 일찍이요!
Pronunciation: to-yo-il o-jeon-e nol-go si-peo-yo! a-chim il-jjig-i-yo!
Meaning: I want to play on Saturday morning! Early in the morning! -
Expression: A: 토요일 오전에는 엄마가 장 보러 가야 해서 어려운데. 오후는 어때? 2시쯤?
Pronunciation: to-yo-il o-jeon-e-neun eom-ma-ga jang bo-reo ga-ya hae-seo eo-ryeo-un-de. o-hu-neun eo-ttae? du-si-jjeum?
Meaning: Saturday morning is difficult because Mom has to go grocery shopping. How about the afternoon? Around 2 PM? -
Expression: B: 싫어요! 오전에 놀고 싶단 말이에요!
Pronunciation: sil-eo-yo! o-jeon-e nol-go sip-dan mar-i-e-yo!
Meaning: No! I mean, I want to play in the morning! -
Expression: A: 음… 그럼 토요일 오후 2시부터 4시까지 놀고, 대신 일요일 오전에 네가 좋아하는 공원에 갈까? 서로 조금씩 양보하자.
Pronunciation: eum… geu-reom to-yo-il o-hu du-si-bu-teo ne-si-kka-ji nol-go, dae-sin il-yo-il o-jeon-e ne-ga jo-a-ha-neun gong-won-e gal-kka? seo-ro jo-geum-ssik yang-bo-ha-ja.
Meaning: Hmm… Then how about playing from 2 PM to 4 PM on Saturday, and instead, we go to your favorite park on Sunday morning? Let’s compromise a little. -
Expression: B: 일요일 오전에 공원 가는 거요? 좋아요! 그럼 토요일 오후에 민준이랑 놀게요.
Pronunciation: il-yo-il o-jeon-e gong-won ga-neun geo-yo? jo-a-yo! geu-reom to-yo-il o-hu-e min-jun-i-rang nol-ge-yo.
Meaning: Going to the park on Sunday morning? Okay! Then I’ll play with Minjun on Saturday afternoon. -
Expression: A: 잘 생각했어. 그럼 토요일 오후 2시로 민준이 엄마한테 연락해 볼게. 결정됐네!
Pronunciation: jal saeng-gak-haess-eo. geu-reom to-yo-il o-hu du-si-ro min-jun-i eom-ma-han-te yeol-lak-hae bol-kke. gyeol-jeong-dwaen-ne!
Meaning: Good thinking. Then I’ll contact Minjun’s mom for 2 PM on Saturday. It’s decided!
Practice Tips
Practice makes perfect, especially when negotiating~! Try role-playing these conversations with family members or language partners. You can pretend to be the parent or the child to understand both perspectives.
Listen to how Korean parents talk to their children in dramas or reality shows – you’ll hear these kinds of negotiations often! Pay attention to the tone and specific phrases used.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match phrases. Start with suggesting a time, respond to objections, offer compromises, and confirm the final plan. Good luck scheduling those fun playdates! 파이팅! (pa-i-ting! – Fighting! / You can do it!)
