Sharing stories about weekend adventures is common among friends, and sometimes those adventures don’t go as planned. This guide covers essential Korean phrases and expressions for joking with a friend about their less-than-successful fishing trip last weekend, turning a potentially disappointing experience into a moment of shared laughter.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 낚시 완전 망했어.
Pronunciation: nak-ssi wan-jeon mang-hae-sseo.
Meaning: The fishing trip was a total failure. (A common, slightly dramatic way to say it went badly)
Describing the Bad Trip
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Expression: 한 마리도 못 잡았어.
Pronunciation: han ma-ri-do mot ja-ba-sseo.
Meaning: I couldn’t catch even one fish. -
Expression: 입질도 없었어.
Pronunciation: ip-jil-do eop-seo-sseo.
Meaning: There weren’t even any bites. -
Expression: 완전 꽝 쳤어.
Pronunciation: wan-jeon kkwang chyeo-sseo.
Meaning: I totally drew a blank / got nothing. (꽝 is the sound/idea of getting nothing) -
Expression: 날씨가 너무 안 좋았어.
Pronunciation: nal-ssi-ga neo-mu an jo-a-sseo.
Meaning: The weather was really bad. -
Expression: 비가 너무 많이 왔어.
Pronunciation: bi-ga neo-mu ma-ni wa-sseo.
Meaning: It rained too much. -
Expression: 바람이 너무 심하게 불었어.
Pronunciation: ba-ram-i neo-mu sim-ha-ge bu-reo-sseo.
Meaning: The wind blew too hard. -
Expression: 미끼만 다 잃어버렸어.
Pronunciation: mi-kki-man da i-reo-beo-ryeo-sseo.
Meaning: I just lost all the bait. -
Expression: 시간만 낭비했어.
Pronunciation: si-gan-man nang-bi-hae-sseo.
Meaning: I just wasted my time. -
Expression: 괜히 갔어.
Pronunciation: gwaen-hi ga-sseo.
Meaning: I went for nothing / I shouldn’t have gone. -
Expression: 그냥 드라이브만 하고 왔어.
Pronunciation: geu-nyang deu-ra-i-beu-man ha-go wa-sseo.
Meaning: I basically just went for a drive. -
Expression: 물고기 구경도 못 했어.
Pronunciation: mul-kko-gi gu-gyeong-do mot hae-sseo.
Meaning: I couldn’t even see any fish.
Joking and Teasing Phrases
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Expression: 그래서, 몇 마리 잡았는데?
Pronunciation: geu-rae-seo, myeot ma-ri ja-ban-neun-de?
Meaning: So, how many did you catch? (Asked teasingly, expecting zero) -
Expression: 낚시하러 간 거 맞아?
Pronunciation: nak-ssi-ha-reo gan geo ma-ja?
Meaning: Did you really go fishing? (Implying they did something else or just failed) -
Expression: 물고기 구경만 하고 왔네!
Pronunciation: mul-kko-gi gu-gyeong-man ha-go wan-ne!
Meaning: You just went fish-watching, huh! -
Expression: 어부 다 됐네! (반어법)
Pronunciation: eo-bu da dwaen-ne! (ban-eo-beop)
Meaning: You’ve become a master fisherman! (Sarcastic) -
Expression: 다음엔 어망이라도 가져가.
Pronunciation: da-eum-en eo-mang-i-ra-do ga-jyeo-ga.
Meaning: Next time, at least take a fishing net. (Implying they can’t catch with a rod) -
Expression: 낚싯대 던지는 연습만 했지?
Pronunciation: nak-ssit-dae deon-ji-neun yeon-seum-man haet-jji?
Meaning: You just practiced casting the fishing rod, right? -
Expression: 꽝 치는 게 전문이네.
Pronunciation: kkwang chi-neun ge jeon-mun-i-ne.
Meaning: You specialize in catching nothing, huh. -
Expression: 낚시 말고 다른 걸 했어야지.
Pronunciation: nak-ssi mal-go da-reun geol hae-sseo-ya-ji.
Meaning: You should have done something other than fishing. -
Expression: 손맛은 봤어?
Pronunciation: son-mat-eun bwa-sseo?
Meaning: Did you even feel the ‘hand taste’? (The feeling of a fish biting/fighting on the line) -
Expression: 차라리 시장 가서 사 먹지 그랬어.
Pronunciation: cha-ra-ri si-jang ga-seo sa meok-jji geu-rae-sseo.
Meaning: You might as well have gone to the market and bought some fish to eat. -
Expression: 낚시터 사장님이랑 친구 먹고 왔겠네.
Pronunciation: nak-ssi-teo sa-jang-nim-i-rang chin-gu meok-kko wat-gen-ne.
Meaning: You probably just made friends with the fishing spot owner. (Implying they spent time chatting instead of fishing)
Reacting to the Jokes
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Expression: 아, 말도 마.
Pronunciation: a, mal-do ma.
Meaning: Ah, don’t even talk about it. / Tell me about it. -
Expression: 놀리지 마.
Pronunciation: nol-li-ji ma.
Meaning: Don’t tease me. (Said playfully) -
Expression: 웃프다 진짜.
Pronunciation: ut-peu-da jin-jja.
Meaning: It’s funny but sad, really. (웃프다 is a slang combining 웃기다 ‘funny’ and 슬프다 ‘sad’) -
Expression: 인정. 완전 망했어.
Pronunciation: in-jeong. wan-jeon mang-hae-sseo.
Meaning: I admit it. It was a total failure. -
Expression: 다음엔 너도 같이 가자.
Pronunciation: da-eum-en neo-do ga-chi ga-ja.
Meaning: Next time, let’s go together. (Playfully challenging the teaser) -
Expression: 그래, 실컷 웃어라.
Pronunciation: geu-rae, sil-keot u-seo-ra.
Meaning: Yeah, go ahead and laugh all you want. -
Expression: 나도 어이가 없어서 웃음만 나와.
Pronunciation: na-do eo-i-ga eop-seo-seo u-seum-man na-wa.
Meaning: It was so absurd, I can only laugh too. -
Expression: 낚시는 원래 기다림의 미학이야.
Pronunciation: nak-ssi-neun wol-lae gi-da-rim-ui mi-hak-i-ya.
Meaning: Fishing is originally the art of waiting. (A humorous excuse) -
Expression: 경험이 중요하지!
Pronunciation: gyeong-heom-i jung-yo-ha-ji!
Meaning: The experience is what’s important! (Another excuse) -
Expression: 핑계 같지만 날씨 탓이야.
Pronunciation: ping-gye gat-jji-man nal-ssi ta-si-ya.
Meaning: It sounds like an excuse, but it was the weather’s fault. -
Expression: 다음에 복수한다.
Pronunciation: da-eum-e bok-su-han-da.
Meaning: I’ll get my revenge next time. (Meaning they’ll catch fish next time)
Cultural Tips
Teasing among close friends is a common way to show affection and build rapport in Korea. Don’t be afraid to engage in lighthearted banter, especially about shared experiences or minor failures like a bad fishing trip.
Self-deprecating humor is often appreciated. Being able to laugh at your own misfortunes, like admitting the fishing trip was a complete failure (완전 망했어 – wan-jeon mang-hae-sseo), can make interactions more comfortable and humorous.
Using playful exaggeration or sarcasm, like saying “You’ve become a master fisherman!” (어부 다 됐네! – eo-bu da dwaen-ne!) when someone caught nothing, is a typical joking style. Understanding the context and tone is crucial to distinguish teasing from genuine criticism.
Sharing food or drinks often accompanies these kinds of friendly chats. If your friend had a bad trip, maybe offering to buy them a meal while joking about it can soften the teasing and reinforce the friendship.
Be mindful of the relationship. While close friends can tease each other quite directly, similar jokes might be inappropriate with acquaintances or seniors. Adjust your level of humor accordingly.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Friend A runs into Friend B, who went fishing over the weekend.
Roles:
* A: The friend asking about the trip and teasing.
* B: The friend who went on the unsuccessful fishing trip.
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Expression: A: 어, 민준아! 주말 잘 보냈어? 낚시 갔다며?
Pronunciation: eo, min-jun-a! ju-mal jal bo-nae-sseo? nak-ssi gat-tta-myeo?
Meaning: A: Oh, Minjun! Did you have a good weekend? I heard you went fishing? -
Expression: B: 아, 지수야. 응, 갔다 왔는데… 아휴, 말도 마.
Pronunciation: a, ji-su-ya. eung, gat-tta wan-neun-de… a-hyu, mal-do ma.
Meaning: B: Ah, Jisu. Yeah, I went… Phew, don’t even ask. -
Expression: A: 왜? 고기 많이 못 잡았어? 그래서, 몇 마리 잡았는데?
Pronunciation: wae? go-gi ma-ni mot ja-ba-sseo? geu-rae-seo, myeot ma-ri ja-ban-neun-de?
Meaning: A: Why? Didn’t catch many fish? So, how many did you catch? (Teasing tone) -
Expression: B: (쓴웃음 지으며) 한 마리도 못 잡았어. 완전 꽝 쳤다니까.
Pronunciation: (sseun-u-seum ji-eu-myeo) han ma-ri-do mot ja-ba-sseo. wan-jeon kkwang chyeot-tta-ni-kka.
Meaning: B: (With a bitter smile) Couldn’t catch even one. I told you, I totally drew a blank. -
Expression: A: 진짜? 낚시하러 간 거 맞아? 물고기 구경만 하고 왔네!
Pronunciation: jin-jja? nak-ssi-ha-reo gan geo ma-ja? mul-kko-gi gu-gyeong-man ha-go wan-ne!
Meaning: A: Really? Did you actually go fishing? You just went fish-watching, huh! -
Expression: B: 놀리지 마라. 진짜 입질도 없더라니까. 시간만 낭비했어.
Pronunciation: nol-li-ji ma-ra. jin-jja ip-jil-do eop-deo-ra-ni-kka. si-gan-man nang-bi-hae-sseo.
Meaning: B: Stop teasing. Seriously, there weren’t even any bites. Just wasted my time. -
Expression: A: ㅋㅋㅋ 다음엔 어망이라도 가져가. 그게 더 빠르겠다.
Pronunciation: keu-keu-keu da-eum-en eo-mang-i-ra-do ga-jyeo-ga. geu-ge deo ppa-reu-get-tta.
Meaning: A: Hahaha! Next time, at least take a fishing net. That would be faster. -
Expression: B: 그래, 실컷 웃어라. 웃프다 진짜. 다음에 너도 같이 가자!
Pronunciation: geu-rae, sil-keot u-seo-ra. ut-peu-da jin-jja. da-eum-e neo-do ga-chi ga-ja!
Meaning: B: Yeah, laugh all you want. It’s funny but sad, really. Next time, let’s go together!
Practice Tips
Try using these phrases when chatting with Korean friends about weekend activities! If someone mentions a trip that didn’t go well, you can playfully use some teasing expressions~ Remember to keep the tone light and friendly!
Practice the reactions too! If you have a story about something that failed, try telling it using phrases like 완전 망했어 (wan-jeon mang-hae-sseo) or 꽝 쳤어 (kkwang chyeo-sseo) and react playfully if your friends tease you.
Listening to how Koreans joke with each other in dramas or variety shows can also be helpful. Pay attention to their tone and the situations where they use teasing humor. Good luck, and have fun practicing!~
