Discussing safety rules, like wearing a helmet, often involves negotiation between parents and children. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and cultural context for navigating conversations about wearing a helmet before activities like skating or biking, helping you communicate effectively while ensuring safety.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
-
Expression: 헬멧 써야지.
Pronunciation: hel-met sseo-ya-ji.
Meaning: You have to wear your helmet. (Implies it’s a rule or expectation)
Parent’s Phrases for Encouraging Helmet Use
-
Expression: 스케이트 타기 전에 헬멧부터 쓰자.
Pronunciation: seu-ke-i-teu ta-gi jeon-e hel-met-bu-teo sseu-ja.
Meaning: Let’s put on your helmet before skating. -
Expression: 안전을 위해서 꼭 써야 해.
Pronunciation: ahn-jeon-eul wi-hae-seo kkok sseo-ya hae.
Meaning: You must wear it for safety. -
Expression: 헬멧 안 쓰면 다칠 수도 있어.
Pronunciation: hel-met ahn sseu-myeon da-chil su-do i-sseo.
Meaning: You could get hurt if you don’t wear a helmet. -
Expression: 머리를 보호해야지.
Pronunciation: meo-ri-reul bo-ho-hae-ya-ji.
Meaning: You need to protect your head. -
Expression: 헬멧 쓰는 거 규칙이야.
Pronunciation: hel-met sseu-neun geo gyu-chi-gi-ya.
Meaning: Wearing a helmet is the rule. -
Expression: 헬멧 안 쓰면 스케이트 못 타.
Pronunciation: hel-met ahn sseu-myeon seu-ke-i-teu mot ta.
Meaning: If you don’t wear a helmet, you can’t skate. -
Expression: 멋진 헬멧이잖아, 잘 어울려.
Pronunciation: meot-jin hel-me-shi-ja-na, jal eo-ul-lyeo.
Meaning: It’s a cool helmet, it looks good on you. -
Expression: 엄마/아빠 말 들어야지.
Pronunciation: eom-ma/a-ppa mal deu-reo-ya-ji.
Meaning: You should listen to Mom/Dad. -
Expression: 헬멧 쓰면 더 재미있게 탈 수 있어. 걱정 없이!
Pronunciation: hel-met sseu-myeon deo jae-mi-it-ge tal su i-sseo. geok-jeong eop-shi!
Meaning: If you wear a helmet, you can skate more enjoyably. Without worry! -
Expression: 넘어져도 괜찮으려면 헬멧이 필요해.
Pronunciation: neo-meo-jyeo-do gwaen-cha-neu-ryeo-myeon hel-me-shi pi-ryo-hae.
Meaning: You need a helmet so you’ll be okay even if you fall. -
Expression: 자, 헬멧 씌워줄게.
Pronunciation: ja, hel-met ssui-weo-jul-ge.
Meaning: Here, I’ll put the helmet on for you.
Child’s Possible Responses and Complaints
-
Expression: 헬멧 쓰기 싫어요.
Pronunciation: hel-met sseu-gi shi-reo-yo.
Meaning: I don’t want to wear a helmet. -
Expression: 너무 답답해요.
Pronunciation: neo-mu dap-da-pae-yo.
Meaning: It’s too stuffy/uncomfortable. -
Expression: 머리가 아파요.
Pronunciation: meo-ri-ga a-pa-yo.
Meaning: My head hurts (when wearing it). -
Expression: 친구들은 아무도 안 써요.
Pronunciation: chin-gu-deu-reun a-mu-do ahn sseo-yo.
Meaning: None of my friends wear one. -
Expression: 안 넘어져요. 괜찮아요.
Pronunciation: ahn neo-meo-jyeo-yo. gwaen-cha-na-yo.
Meaning: I won’t fall. It’s okay. -
Expression: 조금만 타고 벗으면 안 돼요?
Pronunciation: jo-geum-man ta-go beo-seu-myeon ahn dwae-yo?
Meaning: Can’t I skate just a little and then take it off? -
Expression: 헬멧 쓰면 모양이 이상해요.
Pronunciation: hel-met sseu-myeon mo-yang-i i-sang-hae-yo.
Meaning: It looks weird when I wear a helmet. -
Expression: 오늘은 그냥 안 쓰면 안 돼요?
Pronunciation: o-neu-reun geu-nyang ahn sseu-myeon ahn dwae-yo?
Meaning: Can’t I just not wear it today? -
Expression: 네, 알겠어요. 쓸게요.
Pronunciation: ne, al-ge-sseo-yo. sseul-ge-yo.
Meaning: Yes, I understand. I’ll wear it. -
Expression: 진짜 써야 돼요?
Pronunciation: jin-jja sseo-ya dwae-yo?
Meaning: Do I really have to wear it? -
Expression: 더워요.
Pronunciation: deo-weo-yo.
Meaning: It’s hot.
Phrases for Negotiation and Compromise
-
Expression: 헬멧 쓰면 30분 더 타게 해줄게.
Pronunciation: hel-met sseu-myeon sam-ship-bun deo ta-ge hae-jul-ge.
Meaning: If you wear the helmet, I’ll let you skate for 30 more minutes. -
Expression: 이번 한 번만 약속 지키자. 응?
Pronunciation: i-beon han beon-man yak-sok ji-ki-ja. eung?
Meaning: Let’s just keep the promise this one time. Okay? -
Expression: 헬멧 안 쓰면 바로 집에 가는 거야.
Pronunciation: hel-met ahn sseu-myeon ba-ro ji-be ga-neun geo-ya.
Meaning: If you don’t wear the helmet, we’re going straight home. -
Expression: 헬멧 쓰는 대신, 끝나고 아이스크림 사줄게.
Pronunciation: hel-met sseu-neun dae-shin, kkeun-na-go a-i-seu-keu-rim sa-jul-ge.
Meaning: In return for wearing the helmet, I’ll buy you ice cream afterwards. -
Expression: 힘든 거 알지만, 그래도 안전이 먼저야.
Pronunciation: him-deun geo al-ji-man, geu-rae-do ahn-jeon-i meon-jeo-ya.
Meaning: I know it’s uncomfortable, but safety comes first. -
Expression: 다른 친구들이 안 써도 우리는 써야 해.
Pronunciation: da-reun chin-gu-deu-ri ahn sseo-do u-ri-neun sseo-ya hae.
Meaning: Even if other friends don’t wear it, we have to. -
Expression: 조금만 참아보자. 금방 익숙해질 거야.
Pronunciation: jo-geum-man cha-ma-bo-ja. geum-bang ik-su-kae-jil geo-ya.
Meaning: Let’s just bear it for a little while. You’ll get used to it quickly. -
Expression: 헬멧 쓰기로 약속했잖아.
Pronunciation: hel-met sseu-gi-ro yak-so-kaet-ja-na.
Meaning: We promised you’d wear the helmet, remember? -
Expression: 좋아, 그럼 헬멧 쓰면 공원에서 10분 더 놀자.
Pronunciation: jo-a, geu-reom hel-met sseu-myeon gong-weon-e-seo ship-bun deo nol-ja.
Meaning: Okay, then if you wear the helmet, let’s play at the park for 10 more minutes. -
Expression: 이것만 지키면 돼. 어려운 거 아니잖아.
Pronunciation: i-geon-man ji-ki-myeon dwae. eo-ryeo-un geo a-ni-ja-na.
Meaning: You just have to follow this one rule. It’s not that difficult.
Korean Culture Notes
Emphasis on Safety (안전 제일 – an-jeon je-il): Safety is highly valued in Korean culture, especially concerning children. Parents often emphasize safety rules like wearing helmets, reflecting the common phrase 안전 제일 (ahn-jeon je-il), meaning “Safety First.”
Direct Communication Style: While negotiations happen, Korean parents might sometimes use a more direct approach when it comes to safety rules, stating expectations clearly (e.g., 헬멧 써야지 – hel-met sseo-ya-ji). This directness is generally understood as caring rather than harsh.
Importance of Promises (약속 – yak-sok): Reminding a child of a promise (약속 – yak-sok) is a common tactic in parenting and negotiation. Keeping promises is considered an important value.
Social Awareness: Children might compare themselves to peers (친구들은 안 써요 – chin-gu-deu-reun ahn sseo-yo), reflecting a common social awareness. Parents often counter this by emphasizing individual responsibility or family rules.
Use of Incentives: Offering small rewards or compromises, like extra playtime or a treat (아이스크림 사줄게 – a-i-seu-keu-rim sa-jul-ge), is a frequent negotiation strategy used by parents globally, including in Korea.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A parent (A) is trying to get their child (B) to wear a helmet before going skateboarding at the park.
Characters:
A: Parent (엄마 – eom-ma / 아빠 – a-ppa)
B: Child (아이 – a-i)
-
Expression: A: 자, 스케이트 타러 가기 전에 헬멧 쓰자.
Pronunciation: ja, seu-ke-i-teu ta-reo ga-gi jeon-e hel-met sseu-ja.
Meaning: Okay, let’s put on your helmet before we go skating. -
Expression: B: 아, 싫어요! 헬멧 답답해요. 안 쓸래요.
Pronunciation: a, shi-reo-yo! hel-met dap-da-pae-yo. ahn sseul-lae-yo.
Meaning: Ah, I don’t want to! The helmet is uncomfortable. I’m not going to wear it. -
Expression: A: 안 돼. 안전을 위해서 꼭 써야 해. 머리 다치면 어떡해.
Pronunciation: ahn dwae. ahn-jeon-eul wi-hae-seo kkok sseo-ya hae. meo-ri da-chi-myeon eo-tteo-kae.
Meaning: No way. You must wear it for safety. What if you hurt your head? -
Expression: B: 괜찮아요. 저 안 넘어져요. 친구들도 안 써요.
Pronunciation: gwaen-cha-na-yo. jeo ahn neo-meo-jyeo-yo. chin-gu-deul-do ahn sseo-yo.
Meaning: It’s okay. I don’t fall down. My friends don’t wear them either. -
Expression: A: 다른 친구들이 안 써도 우리는 써야 하는 거야. 헬멧 안 쓰면 스케이트 못 타. 약속했잖아.
Pronunciation: da-reun chin-gu-deu-ri ahn sseo-do u-ri-neun sseo-ya ha-neun geo-ya. hel-met ahn sseu-myeon seu-ke-i-teu mot ta. yak-so-kaet-ja-na.
Meaning: Even if other friends don’t wear them, we have to. If you don’t wear the helmet, you can’t skate. We promised. -
Expression: B: 으… 그럼 조금만 쓰고 벗으면 안 돼요? 딱 10분만요.
Pronunciation: eu… geu-reom jo-geum-man sseu-go beo-seu-myeon ahn dwae-yo? ttak ship-bun-man-yo.
Meaning: Ugh… Then can’t I wear it just for a little bit and then take it off? Just for 10 minutes. -
Expression: A: 안 돼. 타는 동안에는 계속 쓰고 있어야 해. 대신, 헬멧 잘 쓰고 있으면 집에 갈 때 아이스크림 사줄게. 어때?
Pronunciation: ahn dwae. ta-neun dong-an-e-neun gye-sok sseu-go i-sseo-ya hae. dae-shin, hel-met jal sseu-go i-sseu-myeon ji-be gal ttae a-i-seu-keu-rim sa-jul-ge. eo-ttae?
Meaning: No. You have to keep wearing it while you’re skating. Instead, if you wear the helmet properly, I’ll buy you ice cream when we go home. How about that? -
Expression: B: 진짜요? 아이스크림이요? 알겠어요. 그럼 쓸게요!
Pronunciation: jin-jja-yo? a-i-seu-keu-rim-i-yo? al-ge-sseo-yo. geu-reom sseul-ge-yo!
Meaning: Really? Ice cream? Okay. Then I’ll wear it!
Practice Tips
Practicing these phrases can make real-life safety conversations much smoother! Try role-playing this scenario with a friend or family member~ You can take turns being the parent and the child. Pay attention to the intonation used in negotiation – parents often sound firm but kind, while children might sound pleading or reluctant. Listen to how Koreans handle similar situations in dramas or reality shows for more context. Remember, consistent practice is key to sounding natural! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – You can do it!)
