Disagreements over what to eat for dinner, especially when ordering takeout, are a common occurrence among siblings worldwide. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and vocabulary to navigate these familiar arguments, covering how to express preferences, disagree, suggest compromises, and understand related cultural nuances when discussing takeout choices with family in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 오늘 저녁 뭐 시킬까?
Pronunciation: o-neul jeo-nyeok mwo si-kil-kka?
Meaning: What should we order for dinner tonight? (A common way to start the discussion)
Expressing Preferences
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Expression: 나 피자 먹고 싶어.
Pronunciation: na pi-ja meok-go si-peo.
Meaning: I want to eat pizza. (Informal) -
Expression: 치킨 시키자.
Pronunciation: chi-kin si-ki-ja.
Meaning: Let’s order chicken. (Informal suggestion) -
Expression: 나는 떡볶이가 당겨.
Pronunciation: na-neun tteok-bok-ki-ga dang-gyeo.
Meaning: I’m craving tteokbokki. (Informal) -
Expression: 중국 음식 어때?
Pronunciation: jung-guk eum-sik eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about Chinese food? (Informal) -
Expression: 족발 먹을래?
Pronunciation: jok-bal meo-geul-lae?
Meaning: Do you want to eat Jokbal (pig’s trotters)? (Informal) -
Expression: 난 아무거나 괜찮아.
Pronunciation: nan a-mu-geo-na gwaen-chan-a.
Meaning: Anything is fine with me. (Informal) -
Expression: 김밥이랑 라면 먹자.
Pronunciation: gim-ba-bi-rang ra-myeon meok-ja.
Meaning: Let’s eat gimbap and ramen. (Informal) -
Expression: 오늘은 내가 고를게.
Pronunciation: o-neu-reun nae-ga go-reul-ge.
Meaning: I’ll choose today. (Informal) -
Expression: 매운 거 먹고 싶다.
Pronunciation: mae-un geo meok-go sip-da.
Meaning: I want to eat something spicy. (Informal) -
Expression: 햄버거 시키면 안 돼?
Pronunciation: haem-beo-geo si-ki-myeon an dwae?
Meaning: Can’t we order hamburgers? (Informal)
Disagreeing and Arguing
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Expression: 난 그거 싫어.
Pronunciation: nan geu-geo sil-eo.
Meaning: I don’t like that. (Informal) -
Expression: 또 그거야? 지겹다.
Pronunciation: tto geu-geo-ya? ji-gyeop-da.
Meaning: That again? I’m sick of it. (Informal) -
Expression: 왜 맨날 너 먹고 싶은 것만 먹어?
Pronunciation: wae maen-nal neo meok-go si-peun geon-man meo-geo?
Meaning: Why do we always eat only what you want? (Informal) -
Expression: 이번엔 내 차례야.
Pronunciation: i-beo-nen nae cha-rye-ya.
Meaning: It’s my turn this time. (Informal) -
Expression: 말도 안 돼!
Pronunciation: mal-do an dwae!
Meaning: No way! / That’s ridiculous! (Informal) -
Expression: 네가 양보 좀 해.
Pronunciation: ne-ga yang-bo jom hae.
Meaning: You should give in a little. (Informal) -
Expression: 나 그거 안 먹을 거야.
Pronunciation: na geu-geo an meo-geul geo-ya.
Meaning: I’m not going to eat that. (Informal) -
Expression: 어제도 네가 골랐잖아!
Pronunciation: eo-je-do ne-ga gol-lat-jan-a!
Meaning: You chose yesterday too! (Informal) -
Expression: 고집 좀 그만 부려.
Pronunciation: go-jip jom geu-man bu-ryeo.
Meaning: Stop being so stubborn. (Informal) -
Expression: 됐어, 그럼 나 안 먹어!
Pronunciation: dwaet-sseo, geu-reom na an meo-geo!
Meaning: Fine, then I won’t eat! (Informal, childish) -
Expression: 맨날 싸우지 좀 말자.
Pronunciation: maen-nal ssa-u-ji jom mal-ja.
Meaning: Let’s not fight every time. (Informal)
Suggesting Compromises
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Expression: 그럼 다른 거 시킬까?
Pronunciation: geu-reom da-reun geo si-kil-kka?
Meaning: Then should we order something else? (Informal) -
Expression: 반반 시키는 건 어때?
Pronunciation: ban-ban si-ki-neun geon eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about ordering half and half? (e.g., half fried, half seasoned chicken) (Informal) -
Expression: 가위바위보로 정하자.
Pronunciation: ga-wi-ba-wi-bo-ro jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors. (Informal) -
Expression: 엄마한테 물어보자.
Pronunciation: eom-ma-han-te mul-eo-bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s ask Mom. (Informal) -
Expression: 다음엔 네가 먹고 싶은 거 시킬게.
Pronunciation: da-eu-men ne-ga meok-go si-peun geo si-kil-ge.
Meaning: I’ll order what you want next time. (Informal promise) -
Expression: 둘 다 시키면 안 될까?
Pronunciation: dul da si-ki-myeon an doel-kka?
Meaning: Can’t we just order both? (Informal) -
Expression: 좋아, 그럼 이번엔 네 말 들을게.
Pronunciation: jo-a, geu-reom i-beo-nen ne mal deu-reul-ge.
Meaning: Okay, fine, I’ll listen to you this time. (Informal concession) -
Expression: 그럼 중간 지점에서 타협하자.
Pronunciation: geu-reom jung-gan ji-jeom-e-seo ta-hyeop-ha-ja.
Meaning: Then let’s compromise somewhere in the middle. (Informal) -
Expression: 이 식당에서 다른 메뉴는 어때?
Pronunciation: i sik-dang-e-seo da-reun me-nyu-neun eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about a different menu item from this restaurant? (Informal) -
Expression: 네가 고른 거랑 내가 고른 거 하나씩 시키자.
Pronunciation: ne-ga go-reun geo-rang nae-ga go-reun geo ha-na-ssik si-ki-ja.
Meaning: Let’s order one thing you chose and one thing I chose. (Informal)
Korean Culture Notes
Delivery Culture (배달 문화 – bae-dal mun-hwa): South Korea has an incredibly developed food delivery culture. You can get almost anything delivered quickly, often 24/7, which makes ordering takeout (배달 음식 – bae-dal eum-sik) a very frequent occurrence in many households. This frequency naturally leads to more discussions (and potential arguments!) about what to order.
Sibling Dynamics and Speech Levels: Siblings in Korea typically use informal language (반말 – ban-mal) with each other, especially if they are close in age. Arguments can therefore sound quite direct or even blunt compared to conversations using formal speech. The older sibling often has a slight edge in authority, but younger siblings definitely voice their opinions, especially over food!
Food is Serious Business: Food plays a central role in Korean social life and family interactions. Deciding what to eat together is important, and personal preferences are often strongly held. Arguments about food choices reflect this cultural significance.
Common Takeout Choices: Popular delivery options that frequently cause debates include 치킨 (chi-kin – fried chicken), 피자 (pi-ja – pizza), 족발/보쌈 (jok-bal/bo-ssam – pig’s trotters/boiled pork wraps), 떡볶이 (tteok-bok-ki – spicy rice cakes), and 중국 음식 (jung-guk eum-sik – Korean-style Chinese food like jjajangmyeon or tangsuyuk).
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two siblings, an older sister (A) and a younger brother (B), are trying to decide what takeout to order for dinner.
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Expression: A: 야, 배고프다. 저녁 뭐 시킬까?
Pronunciation: ya, bae-go-peu-da. jeo-nyeok mwo si-kil-kka?
Meaning: Hey, I’m hungry. What should we order for dinner? -
Expression: B: 나 치킨! 무조건 치킨이지!
Pronunciation: na chi-kin! mu-jo-kkeon chi-ki-ni-ji!
Meaning: Me, chicken! It has to be chicken! -
Expression: A: 아, 또 치킨이야? 어제도 먹었잖아. 난 피자 먹고 싶은데.
Pronunciation: a, tto chi-ki-ni-ya? eo-je-do meo-geot-jan-a. nan pi-ja meok-go si-peun-de.
Meaning: Ugh, chicken again? We ate it yesterday too. I want to eat pizza. -
Expression: B: 피자 느끼해서 싫어. 치킨이 최고야! 양념 반 후라이드 반 시키자.
Pronunciation: pi-ja neu-kki-hae-seo sil-eo. chi-ki-ni choe-go-ya! yang-nyeom ban hu-ra-i-deu ban si-ki-ja.
Meaning: I don’t like pizza, it’s too greasy. Chicken is the best! Let’s order half seasoned, half fried. -
Expression: A: 싫어! 맨날 너 먹고 싶은 것만 시키잖아. 오늘은 내가 고를 거야, 피자 시켜!
Pronunciation: sil-eo! maen-nal neo meok-go si-peun geon-man si-ki-jan-a. o-neu-reun nae-ga go-reul geo-ya, pi-ja si-kyeo!
Meaning: No! We always order what you want. I’m choosing today, order pizza! -
Expression: B: 아 왜 그래 진짜! 그럼 가위바위보 하자!
Pronunciation: a wae geu-rae jin-jja! geu-reom ga-wi-ba-wi-bo ha-ja!
Meaning: Ah, why are you being like this! Then let’s play rock-paper-scissors! -
Expression: A: 됐어! 그냥 엄마한테 뭐 먹을지 물어보자.
Pronunciation: dwaet-sseo! geu-nyang eom-ma-han-te mwo meo-geul-ji mul-eo-bo-ja.
Meaning: Forget it! Let’s just ask Mom what to eat. -
Expression: B: 치… 알았어.
Pronunciation: chi… ar-at-sseo.
Meaning: Tch… Okay, fine.
Practice Tips
Practicing these phrases is key to sounding natural! Try role-playing this exact scenario with a friend or language partner~ Take turns being the sibling who wants pizza versus the one who wants chicken, or choose other popular Korean takeout foods! Listen for similar arguments in Korean dramas or variety shows – you’ll be surprised how often food choices come up! Don’t be afraid to use the informal 반말 (ban-mal) if you’re practicing with someone you’re close to, just like real siblings would! Fighting (over food)! 😉
