Discover the fun and cultural significance of traditional Korean games. This guide introduces essential vocabulary and phrases to help you understand, learn, and participate in these enjoyable activities, often experienced during holidays or at cultural events in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
This is the fundamental term used when referring to traditional Korean games.
- Expression: 한국 전통 게임 (Hanguk jeontong geim)
Pronunciation: han-guk jeon-tong ge-im
Meaning: Korean traditional game(s)
Common Traditional Game Names
Here are the names of some popular traditional Korean games you might encounter.
- Expression: 윷놀이 (Yutnori)
Pronunciation: yut-no-ri
Meaning: A traditional board game played with four sticks (yut). - Expression: 제기차기 (Jegichagi)
Pronunciation: je-gi-cha-gi
Meaning: A game involving kicking a shuttlecock-like object (jegi) to keep it airborne. - Expression: 투호 (Tuho)
Pronunciation: tu-ho
Meaning: A game where players attempt to throw arrows into a narrow-necked pot. - Expression: 씨름 (Ssireum)
Pronunciation: ssi-reum
Meaning: Traditional Korean wrestling. - Expression: 널뛰기 (Neolttwigi)
Pronunciation: neol-ttwi-gi
Meaning: A game similar to seesawing, where players jump on opposite ends of a long board (neol). - Expression: 강강술래 (Ganggangsullae)
Pronunciation: gang-gang-sul-lae
Meaning: A traditional circle dance and singing game performed by women under the full moon. - Expression: 팽이치기 (Paeng-ichigi)
Pronunciation: paeng-i-chi-gi
Meaning: Top-spinning game. - Expression: 연날리기 (Yeonnalligi)
Pronunciation: yeon-nal-li-gi
Meaning: Kite flying. - Expression: 비석치기 (Biseokchigi)
Pronunciation: bi-seok-chi-gi
Meaning: A game involving hitting standing stones (biseok) with another stone. - Expression: 공기놀이 (Gongginori)
Pronunciation: gong-gi-no-ri
Meaning: A children’s game played with five small pebbles or plastic pieces (gonggi), similar to jacks. - Expression: 딱지치기 (Ttakjichigi)
Pronunciation: ttak-ji-chi-gi
Meaning: A game played with folded paper tiles (ttakji), where players try to flip their opponent’s tile. - Expression: 고누 (Gonu)
Pronunciation: go-nu
Meaning: A category of traditional Korean abstract strategy board games.
Phrases for Learning and Asking About Games
Use these phrases when you want to learn how to play or ask questions about a specific game.
- Expression: 이 게임 이름이 뭐예요? (I geim ireumi mwoyeyo?)
Pronunciation: i ge-im i-reu-mi mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What is the name of this game? - Expression: 이 게임은 어떻게 하는 거예요? (I geimeun eotteoke haneun geoyeyo?)
Pronunciation: i ge-i-meun eo-tteo-ke ha-neun geo-ye-yo?
Meaning: How do you play this game? - Expression: 규칙을 설명해 주세요. (Gyuchigeul seolmyeonghae juseyo.)
Pronunciation: gyu-chi-geul seol-myeong-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please explain the rules. - Expression: 같이 해봐도 될까요? (Gachi haebwado doelkkayo?)
Pronunciation: ga-chi hae-bwa-do doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can I try playing together? - Expression: 한국 전통 게임을 배우고 싶어요. (Hanguk jeontong geimeul baeugo sipeoyo.)
Pronunciation: han-guk jeon-tong ge-i-meul bae-u-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want to learn Korean traditional games. - Expression: 이 게임은 처음 해봐요. (I geimeun cheoeum haebwayo.)
Pronunciation: i ge-i-meun cheo-eum hae-bwa-yo.
Meaning: This is my first time playing this game. - Expression: 시범을 보여주실 수 있나요? (Sibeomeul boyeojusil su innayo?)
Pronunciation: si-beo-meul bo-yeo-ju-sil su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Can you show me a demonstration? - Expression: 뭐가 필요해요? (Mwoga piryohaeyo?)
Pronunciation: mwo-ga pi-ryo-hae-yo?
Meaning: What do I need (to play)? - Expression: 어디서 배울 수 있어요? (Eodiseo baeul su isseoyo?)
Pronunciation: eo-di-seo bae-ul su is-seo-yo?
Meaning: Where can I learn this? - Expression: 생각보다 어렵네요. (Saenggakboda eoryeomneyo.)
Pronunciation: saeng-gak-bo-da eo-ryeom-ne-yo.
Meaning: It’s harder than I thought. - Expression: 재미있어 보여요! (Jaemiisseo boyeoyo!)
Pronunciation: jae-mi-is-seo bo-yeo-yo!
Meaning: It looks fun! - Expression: 저도 참여해도 돼요? (Jeodo chamyeohaedo dwaeyo?)
Pronunciation: jeo-do cha-myeo-hae-do dwae-yo?
Meaning: Can I join in too?
Expressions Used During Gameplay
These are common expressions you might hear or use while actively playing a traditional Korean game.
- Expression: 제 차례예요. (Je charyeyeyo.)
Pronunciation: je cha-rye-ye-yo.
Meaning: It’s my turn. - Expression: 다음은 누구 차례예요? (Daeumeun nugu charyeyeyo?)
Pronunciation: da-eu-meun nu-gu cha-rye-ye-yo?
Meaning: Whose turn is it next? - Expression: 잘 던지세요! (Jal deonjiseyo!)
Pronunciation: jal deon-ji-se-yo!
Meaning: Throw it well! (e.g., in Tuho, Yutnori) - Expression: 잘 차세요! (Jal chaseyo!)
Pronunciation: jal cha-se-yo!
Meaning: Kick it well! (e.g., in Jegichagi) - Expression: 아깝다! (Akkapda!)
Pronunciation: a-kkap-da!
Meaning: Almost! / So close! / What a pity! - Expression: 이겼다! (Igyeotda!)
Pronunciation: i-gyeot-da!
Meaning: I won! / (We) won! - Expression: 졌다! (Jyeotda!)
Pronunciation: jyeot-da!
Meaning: I lost! / (We) lost! - Expression: 힘내세요! (Himnaeseyo!)
Pronunciation: him-nae-se-yo!
Meaning: Cheer up! / Do your best! / Go for it! - Expression: 와, 잘하시네요! (Wa, jalhasineyo!)
Pronunciation: wa, jal-ha-si-ne-yo!
Meaning: Wow, you’re really good! - Expression: 다시 한번 해봐요. (Dasi hanbeon haebwayo.)
Pronunciation: da-si han-beon hae-bwa-yo.
Meaning: Let’s try again. / Let’s play again. - Expression: 점수가 어떻게 돼요? (Jeomsuga eotteoke dwaeyo?)
Pronunciation: jeom-su-ga eo-tteo-ke dwae-yo?
Meaning: What’s the score? - Expression: 비겼어요. (Bigyeosseoyo.)
Pronunciation: bi-gyeot-seo-yo.
Meaning: It’s a tie. / We drew.
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding the cultural context enhances the experience of learning traditional games.
- Holiday Traditions: Many traditional games like Yutnori and Neolttwigi are strongly associated with major holidays such as Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Harvest Festival), often played outdoors with family and neighbors.
- Community Spirit: Korean traditional games often emphasize group participation and community bonding rather than solely individual competition. Games like Ganggangsullae are inherently communal.
- Simplicity and Nature: Many games utilize simple, natural materials like sticks (Yutnori), stones (Gongginori, Biseokchigi), or paper (Ttakjichigi), reflecting a connection to nature and resourcefulness.
- Historical Roots: Some games have historical origins or symbolism. For instance, Ssireum has ancient roots in Korean history, and Tuho was enjoyed by the aristocracy in the past.
- Regional Variations: While there are standard ways to play, don’t be surprised to find slight variations in rules or gameplay depending on the region or even the specific family playing the game.
Real Conversation Example
This conversation illustrates how you might ask about and decide to learn a traditional game.
Situation: Sarah, a foreigner learning Korean, is visiting a Korean Folk Village with her Korean friend, Minjun, during Chuseok. They see people playing Yutnori.
Roles:
* A: Sarah (Learner)
* B: Minjun (Korean Friend)
- Expression: A: 민준 씨, 저 사람들은 지금 뭐 하고 있어요? 저 게임 이름이 뭐예요? (Minjun ssi, jeo saramdeureun jigeum mwo hago isseoyo? Jeo geim ireumi mwoyeyo?)
Pronunciation: min-jun ssi, jeo sa-ram-deu-reun ji-geum mwo ha-go is-seo-yo? jeo ge-im i-reu-mi mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: Minjun, what are those people doing now? What’s the name of that game? - Expression: B: 아, 저거 윷놀이예요. 한국의 대표적인 전통 게임 중 하나죠. 설날이나 추석에 많이 해요. (A, jeogeo Yutnoriyeyo. Hangugui daepyjeogin jeontong geim jung hanajyo. Seollalina Chuseoge mani haeyo.)
Pronunciation: a, jeo-geo yut-no-ri-ye-yo. han-gu-gui dae-pyo-jeo-gin jeon-tong ge-im jung ha-na-jyo. seol-la-ri-na chu-seo-ge ma-ni hae-yo.
Meaning: Ah, that’s Yutnori. It’s one of Korea’s representative traditional games. We play it a lot on Seollal or Chuseok. - Expression: A: 윷놀이요? 재미있어 보여요! 어떻게 하는 거예요? (Yutnoriyo? Jaemiisseo boyeoyo! Eotteoke haneun geoyeyo?)
Pronunciation: yut-no-ri-yo? jae-mi-is-seo bo-yeo-yo! eo-tteo-ke ha-neun geo-ye-yo?
Meaning: Yutnori? It looks fun! How do you play it? - Expression: B: 네 개의 윷가락을 던져서 나온 결과에 따라 말을 움직이는 게임이에요. 규칙이 아주 어렵지는 않아요. (Ne gaeui yutgarageul deonjyeoseo naon gyeolgwae ttara mareul umjigineun geimieyo. Gyuchigi aju eoryeopjineun anayo.)
Pronunciation: ne ge-ui yut-ga-ra-geul deon-jyeo-seo na-on gyeol-gwa-e tta-ra ma-reul um-ji-gi-neun ge-im-i-e-yo. gyu-chi-gi a-ju eo-ryeop-ji-neun a-na-yo.
Meaning: It’s a game where you move pieces (horses) according to the result of throwing four yut sticks. The rules aren’t too difficult. - Expression: A: 와, 저도 한번 해보고 싶어요! 같이 해봐도 될까요? (Wa, jeodo hanbeon haebogo sipeoyo! Gachi haebwado doelkkayo?)
Pronunciation: wa, jeo-do han-beon hae-bo-go si-peo-yo! ga-chi hae-bwa-do doel-kka-yo?
Meaning: Wow, I want to try it too! Can we try playing together? - Expression: B: 그럼요! 저기 가서 같이 해봐요. 제가 설명해 줄게요. (Geureomyo! Jeogi gaseo gachi haebwayo. Jega seolmyeonghae julgeyo.)
Pronunciation: geu-reom-yo! jeo-gi ga-seo ga-chi hae-bwa-yo. je-ga seol-myeong-hae jul-ge-yo.
Meaning: Of course! Let’s go over there and play together. I’ll explain it to you.
Practice Tips
Learning about traditional games is great, but playing them is even better! Try visiting Korean Folk Villages (민속촌 – Minsokchon) or cultural centers, especially during holidays, as they often have game stations set up~ If you have Korean friends, ask them to teach you their favorite traditional game! You can also find videos online showing how to play. Don’t be afraid to join in if you see others playing – it’s a fantastic way to practice Korean and experience the culture firsthand! 화이팅! (Hwaiting! – You can do it!)
