Sharing music and joking with friends is common, and sometimes that includes poking fun at a less-than-stellar workout playlist you might have created. This guide covers essential Korean phrases and cultural context for playfully discussing a terrible workout playlist with a friend, focusing on lighthearted teasing and reactions.
Table Of Content
Core Joke Expression
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Expression: 내 운동 플레이리스트 진짜 최악이지?
Pronunciation: nae un-dong peul-le-i-ri-seu-teu jin-jja choe-ak-i-ji?
Meaning: My workout playlist is really the worst, right? (Used self-deprecatingly or to invite playful criticism)
Describing the Bad Playlist
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Expression: 이 플레이리스트 완전 엉망이야.
Pronunciation: i peul-le-i-ri-seu-teu wan-jeon eong-mang-i-ya.
Meaning: This playlist is a complete mess. -
Expression: 노래 선곡 센스가 없어.
Pronunciation: no-rae seon-gok sen-seu-ga eop-seo.
Meaning: I have no taste in song selection. -
Expression: 운동할 때 들으면 힘 빠지는 노래만 있어.
Pronunciation: un-dong-hal ttae deu-reu-myeon him ppa-ji-neun no-rae-man i-sseo.
Meaning: It only has songs that drain your energy when you work out. -
Expression: 이걸 듣고 어떻게 운동하라는 건지 모르겠어.
Pronunciation: i-geol deut-go eo-tteo-ke un-dong-ha-ra-neun geon-ji mo-reu-ge-sseo.
Meaning: I don’t know how anyone is supposed to work out listening to this. -
Expression: 분위기랑 전혀 안 맞아.
Pronunciation: bun-wi-gi-rang jeon-hyeo an ma-ja.
Meaning: It doesn’t fit the vibe at all. -
Expression: 내가 왜 이런 노래들을 넣었지?
Pronunciation: nae-ga wae i-reon no-rae-deu-reul neo-eot-ji?
Meaning: Why did I even put these songs in? -
Expression: 플레이리스트가 너무 구려.
Pronunciation: peul-le-i-ri-seu-teu-ga neo-mu gu-ryeo.
Meaning: The playlist is so lame/bad. (Casual slang) -
Expression: 음악 취향이 좀 독특해. (비꼬는 투로)
Pronunciation: eu-mak chwi-hyang-i jom dok-teuk-hae. (bi-kko-neun tu-ro)
Meaning: My music taste is a bit… unique. (Said sarcastically) -
Expression: 이거 듣고 운동하면 부상당할지도 몰라.
Pronunciation: i-geo deut-go un-dong-ha-myeon bu-sang-dang-hal-ji-do mol-la.
Meaning: You might get injured if you work out listening to this. (Exaggerated joke) -
Expression: 다음엔 절대 내가 플레이리스트 안 만들 거야.
Pronunciation: da-eum-en jeol-dae nae-ga peul-le-i-ri-seu-teu an man-deul geo-ya.
Meaning: I’m definitely not making the playlist next time. -
Expression: 이 노래들 조합이 이상해.
Pronunciation: i no-rae-deul jo-hap-i i-sang-hae.
Meaning: The combination of these songs is weird.
Reacting to the Friend’s Joke
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Expression: 응, 솔직히 좀 그렇네.
Pronunciation: eung, sol-jik-hi jom geu-reon-ne.
Meaning: Yeah, honestly, it’s a bit like that. (Agreeing gently) -
Expression: 하하, 인정! 다음엔 내가 만들어 줄게.
Pronunciation: ha-ha, in-jeong! da-eum-en nae-ga man-deu-reo jul-ge.
Meaning: Haha, I admit it! I’ll make it for you next time. -
Expression: 에이, 그래도 몇 곡은 괜찮아.
Pronunciation: e-i, geu-rae-do myeot gok-eun gwaen-cha-na.
Meaning: Aw, come on, a few songs are okay though. (Playful disagreement) -
Expression: 듣다가 웃음 터졌어.
Pronunciation: deut-da-ga u-seum teo-jeo-sseo.
Meaning: I burst out laughing while listening. -
Expression: 너의 숨겨진 취향인가?
Pronunciation: neo-ui sum-gyeo-jin chwi-hyang-in-ga?
Meaning: Is this your hidden taste? (Teasing) -
Expression: 이걸로 어떻게 운동했어? 대단하다!
Pronunciation: i-geol-lo eo-tteo-ke un-dong-hae-sseo? dae-dan-ha-da!
Meaning: How did you even work out with this? That’s amazing! (Sarcastic praise) -
Expression: 괜찮아, 다음엔 더 잘 만들면 되지.
Pronunciation: gwaen-cha-na, da-eum-en deo jal man-deul-myeon doe-ji.
Meaning: It’s okay, you can just make a better one next time. -
Expression: 플레이리스트 공유 좀 해봐. 얼마나 최악인지 들어보게.
Pronunciation: peul-le-i-ri-seu-teu gong-yu jom hae-bwa. eol-ma-na choe-ak-in-ji deu-reo-bo-ge.
Meaning: Share the playlist. Let me hear just how bad it is. (Playfully curious) -
Expression: 이건 운동용이 아니라 벌칙용 아니야?
Pronunciation: i-geon un-dong-yong-i a-ni-ra beol-chik-yong a-ni-ya?
Meaning: Isn’t this for punishment, not for working out? (Joking) -
Expression: 네 덕분에 새로운 장르를 알게 됐어. (비꼬는 투로)
Pronunciation: ne deok-bun-e sae-ro-un jang-neu-reul al-ge dwae-sseo. (bi-kko-neun tu-ro)
Meaning: Thanks to you, I discovered a new genre. (Sarcastic) -
Expression: 차라리 조용한 게 낫겠다.
Pronunciation: cha-ra-ri jo-yong-han ge nat-get-da.
Meaning: It would be better if it were just quiet.
Related Vocabulary: Workout and Music
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Expression: 운동하다
Pronunciation: un-dong-ha-da
Meaning: To exercise, to work out -
Expression: 헬스장
Pronunciation: hel-seu-jang
Meaning: Gym -
Expression: 플레이리스트
Pronunciation: peul-le-i-ri-seu-teu
Meaning: Playlist -
Expression: 음악
Pronunciation: eu-mak
Meaning: Music -
Expression: 노래
Pronunciation: no-rae
Meaning: Song -
Expression: 선곡
Pronunciation: seon-gok
Meaning: Song selection -
Expression: 취향
Pronunciation: chwi-hyang
Meaning: Taste, preference -
Expression: 장르
Pronunciation: jang-neu
Meaning: Genre -
Expression: 신나는 노래
Pronunciation: sin-na-neun no-rae
Meaning: Exciting/upbeat song -
Expression: 조용한 노래
Pronunciation: jo-yong-han no-rae
Meaning: Quiet/calm song -
Expression: 리듬
Pronunciation: ri-deum
Meaning: Rhythm -
Expression: 템포
Pronunciation: tem-po
Meaning: Tempo
Korean Culture Notes
Self-Deprecating Humor: It’s common in Korean culture, especially among close friends, to use self-deprecating humor. Pointing out your own “bad” playlist can be a way to initiate lighthearted banter and show you don’t take yourself too seriously.
Playful Teasing (Jangnan): Friends often engage in playful teasing (장난 – jang-nan). Criticizing a friend’s playlist, especially after they’ve already joked about it themselves, usually falls into this category. The key is to keep the tone light and avoid genuinely harsh criticism.
Importance of “Nunchi”: When joking, having good “nunchi” (눈치) – the ability to read the room and understand social cues – is important. Ensure your friend is actually joking and receptive to playful criticism before piling on.
Sharing Music Culture: Sharing music recommendations and playlists is a common way friends connect in Korea. Workout playlists are often shared, making them a relatable topic for conversation and jokes.
Using Slang: Words like 구리다 (gu-ri-da – to be lame/bad) are casual slang often used between close friends. Be mindful of the context and relationship before using such terms.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun and Sora are cooling down after a workout session at the gym, during which they listened to a playlist Minjun made.
Characters:
- A: Minjun (Made the playlist)
- B: Sora (Listened to the playlist)
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Expression: A: 아… 오늘 내 플레이리스트 진짜 최악이지 않았어? 솔직히 말해봐.
Pronunciation: a… o-neul nae peul-le-i-ri-seu-teu jin-jja choe-ak-i-ji a-na-sseo? sol-jik-hi mal-hae-bwa.
Meaning: Ah… wasn’t my playlist today really the worst? Be honest. -
Expression: B: 하하, 뭘 새삼스럽게. 듣다가 힘 다 빠졌어. 특히 그 발라드는 뭐였어?
Pronunciation: ha-ha, mwol sae-sam-seu-reop-ge. deut-da-ga him da ppa-jyeo-sseo. teu-ki geu bal-la-deu-neun mwo-yeo-sseo?
Meaning: Haha, what’s new? I lost all my energy listening to it. Especially, what was with that ballad? -
Expression: A: 인정! 내가 왜 그걸 넣었는지 모르겠어. 운동 분위기랑 완전 안 맞았지?
Pronunciation: in-jeong! nae-ga wae geu-geol neo-eot-neun-ji mo-reu-ge-sseo. un-dong bun-wi-gi-rang wan-jeon an ma-jat-ji?
Meaning: I admit it! I don’t know why I put that in. It totally didn’t match the workout vibe, right? -
Expression: B: 응, 완전. 다음엔 그냥 내 플레이리스트 쓰자. 아니면 내가 만들어 줄게.
Pronunciation: eung, wan-jeon. da-eum-en geu-nyang nae peul-le-i-ri-seu-teu sseu-ja. a-ni-myeon nae-ga man-deu-reo jul-ge.
Meaning: Yeah, totally. Let’s just use my playlist next time. Or I can make one for you. -
Expression: A: 제발 그래줘. 내 선곡 센스는 믿을 게 못 돼.
Pronunciation: je-bal geu-rae-jwo. nae seon-gok sen-seu-neun mi-deul ge mot dwae.
Meaning: Please do. My song selection sense can’t be trusted. -
Expression: B: 알았어. 대신 다음 커피는 네가 사는 거다! 이 플레이리스트 때문에 힘들었으니까.
Pronunciation: a-ra-sseo. dae-sin da-eum keo-pi-neun ne-ga sa-neun geo-da! i peul-le-i-ri-seu-teu ttae-mun-e him-deu-reo-sseu-ni-kka.
Meaning: Okay. But you’re buying coffee next time! Because I suffered through this playlist.
Practice Tips
Practice makes perfect, especially with conversational Korean~! Try using these phrases when talking about music with your Korean-speaking friends. You could even make your own (intentionally?) bad playlist and use it as a conversation starter! Listen to how friends joke with each other in Korean dramas or variety shows to get a better feel for the tone and timing. Remember, the goal is lighthearted fun, so keep the mood cheerful and pay attention to your friend’s reactions (nunchi!). Good luck, and have fun joking around!~
