Sibling interactions often involve negotiation, especially over shared items like a coveted gaming chair. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and cultural insights for navigating these common household discussions, helping you understand and participate in typical sibling banter and compromise in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Negotiation Phrase
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Expression: 오늘 밤 누가 게이밍 의자 쓸지 정하자.
Pronunciation: o-neul bam nu-ga ge-i-ming ui-ja sseul-ji jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s decide who will use the gaming chair tonight.
Making Your Case
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Expression: 오늘 밤엔 내가 써야 돼.
Pronunciation: o-neul bam-en nae-ga sseo-ya dwae.
Meaning: I have to use it tonight. -
Expression: 나 진짜 중요한 게임 약속 있어.
Pronunciation: na jin-jja jung-yo-han ge-im yak-sok i-sseo.
Meaning: I have a really important game appointment/session planned. -
Expression: 어제 네가 썼잖아.
Pronunciation: eo-je ne-ga sseot-jan-a.
Meaning: You used it yesterday. -
Expression: 이번 주 내내 네가 쓴 것 같은데?
Pronunciation: i-beon ju nae-nae ne-ga sseun geot ga-teun-de?
Meaning: I think you’ve used it all week? -
Expression: 나 이거 쓰려고 기다렸어.
Pronunciation: na i-geo sseu-ryeo-go gi-da-ryeo-sseo.
Meaning: I’ve been waiting to use this. -
Expression: 딱 한 시간만 쓸게.
Pronunciation: ttak han si-gan-man sseul-ge.
Meaning: I’ll only use it for just one hour. -
Expression: 내 차례야.
Pronunciation: nae cha-rye-ya.
Meaning: It’s my turn. -
Expression: 이거 없으면 게임 못 해.
Pronunciation: i-geo eop-seu-myeon ge-im mot hae.
Meaning: I can’t play the game without this. -
Expression: 먼저 맡았어!
Pronunciation: meon-jeo mat-a-sseo!
Meaning: I claimed it first! / Dibs! -
Expression: 너 맨날 쓰잖아!
Pronunciation: neo maen-nal sseu-jan-a!
Meaning: You use it every day!
Suggesting Alternatives and Compromises
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Expression: 가위바위보 하자.
Pronunciation: ga-wi-ba-wi-bo ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play rock-paper-scissors. -
Expression: 시간 정해서 번갈아 쓸까?
Pronunciation: si-gan jeong-hae-seo beon-gal-a sseul-kka?
Meaning: Should we set times and take turns? -
Expression: 네가 먼저 쓰고 나중에 내가 쓸게.
Pronunciation: ne-ga meon-jeo sseu-go na-jung-e nae-ga sseul-ge.
Meaning: You use it first, and I’ll use it later. -
Expression: 내일은 너 써.
Pronunciation: nae-il-eun neo sseo.
Meaning: You use it tomorrow. -
Expression: 같이 게임할래? 그럼 번갈아 쓰자.
Pronunciation: ga-chi ge-im-hal-lae? geu-reom beon-gal-a sseu-ja.
Meaning: Want to play together? Then let’s take turns. -
Expression: 내가 10시까지만 쓰고 너 줄게.
Pronunciation: nae-ga yeol-si-kka-ji-man sseu-go neo jul-ge.
Meaning: I’ll just use it until 10 o’clock and then give it to you. -
Expression: 동전 던지기 할까?
Pronunciation: dong-jeon deon-ji-gi hal-kka?
Meaning: Should we flip a coin? -
Expression: 그럼 내가 먼저 1시간 쓰고, 네가 다음 1시간 써.
Pronunciation: geu-reom nae-ga meon-jeo han-si-gan sseu-go, ne-ga da-eum han-si-gan sseo.
Meaning: Okay, then I’ll use it for an hour first, and you use it for the next hour. -
Expression: 공평하게 나누자.
Pronunciation: gong-pyeong-ha-ge na-nu-ja.
Meaning: Let’s share it fairly. -
Expression: 다른 의자 쓰면 안 돼?
Pronunciation: da-reun ui-ja sseu-myeon an dwae?
Meaning: Can’t you use a different chair?
Responding to Requests
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Expression: 알았어, 너 먼저 써.
Pronunciation: ar-a-sseo, neo meon-jeo sseo.
Meaning: Okay, you use it first. -
Expression: 안 돼, 내가 먼저 쓸 거야.
Pronunciation: an dwae, nae-ga meon-jeo sseul geo-ya.
Meaning: No way, I’m going to use it first. -
Expression: 싫어. 내가 쓸 건데.
Pronunciation: sir-eo. nae-ga sseul geon-de.
Meaning: I don’t want to. I’m going to use it. -
Expression: 흥! 치사해.
Pronunciation: heung! chi-sa-hae.
Meaning: Hmph! That’s cheap/unfair. -
Expression: 진짜? 약속 지켜.
Pronunciation: jin-jja? yak-sok ji-kyeo.
Meaning: Really? Keep your promise. -
Expression: 말도 안 돼.
Pronunciation: mal-do an dwae.
Meaning: That doesn’t make sense / No way. -
Expression: 생각 좀 해볼게.
Pronunciation: saeng-gak jom hae-bol-ge.
Meaning: Let me think about it. -
Expression: 그래, 좋아.
Pronunciation: geu-rae, jo-a.
Meaning: Okay, sounds good. -
Expression: 어쩔 수 없지.
Pronunciation: eo-jjeol su eop-ji.
Meaning: Can’t be helped / Fine, whatever. -
Expression: 나도 쓰고 싶단 말이야.
Pronunciation: na-do sseu-go sip-dan mar-i-ya.
Meaning: I want to use it too!
Expressing Annoyance or Frustration
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Expression: 아, 진짜 짜증나!
Pronunciation: a, jin-jja jja-jeung-na!
Meaning: Ah, seriously annoying! -
Expression: 왜 맨날 너만 써?
Pronunciation: wae maen-nal neo-man sseo?
Meaning: Why do you always use it? -
Expression: 이건 불공평해!
Pronunciation: i-geon bul-gong-pyeong-hae!
Meaning: This is unfair! -
Expression: 너 진짜 이기적이다.
Pronunciation: neo jin-jja i-gi-jeog-i-da.
Meaning: You’re really selfish. -
Expression: 내 말 좀 들어봐!
Pronunciation: nae mal jom deur-eo-bwa!
Meaning: Listen to me! -
Expression: 됐어, 너 다 써!
Pronunciation: dwae-sseo, neo da sseo!
Meaning: Forget it, you use it all! (Said sarcastically/angrily) -
Expression: 나 화났어.
Pronunciation: na hwa-na-sseo.
Meaning: I’m angry. -
Expression: 맨날 네 마음대로야.
Pronunciation: maen-nal ne ma-eum-dae-ro-ya.
Meaning: It’s always your way. -
Expression: 비켜!
Pronunciation: bi-kyeo!
Meaning: Move! / Get out of the way! -
Expression: 나랑 말 섞지 마.
Pronunciation: na-rang mal seok-ji ma.
Meaning: Don’t talk to me. (Expressing anger)
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding sibling interactions in Korea involves recognizing certain cultural norms. Firstly, age hierarchy often plays a role, though it’s becoming less strict among younger generations. An older sibling (형/오빠 – hyeong/oppa for males, 누나/언니 – nuna/eonni for females) might traditionally expect some deference, but playful negotiation is common.
Secondly, siblings almost always use informal language (반말 – banmal) with each other, regardless of age difference, unless the gap is very large or the relationship is formal for some reason. The phrases used in this guide reflect this informal speech level.
Thirdly, direct confrontation might be avoided in favor of indirect negotiation, playful complaining, or appealing to fairness (공평하게 – gong-pyeong-ha-ge). Methods like rock-paper-scissors (가위바위보 – ga-wi-ba-wi-bo) are very common ways to settle minor disputes.
Finally, while arguments happen, resolving them quickly and maintaining harmony is generally valued. Sharing and compromise, even after some bickering, are expected outcomes in many families.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: An older brother (A) and his younger sister (B) both want to use the single gaming chair in their house tonight.
Characters:
- A: Older Brother (오빠 – Oppa)
- B: Younger Sister (여동생 – Yeodongsaeng)
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Expression: A: 야, 오늘 밤에 이 의자 내가 쓴다.
Pronunciation: ya, o-neul bam-e i ui-ja nae-ga sseun-da.
Meaning: Hey, I’m using this chair tonight. -
Expression: B: 뭐? 안 돼! 내가 쓰려고 했는데! 어제도 오빠가 썼잖아!
Pronunciation: mwo? an dwae! nae-ga sseu-ryeo-go haet-neun-de! eo-je-do o-ppa-ga sseot-jan-a!
Meaning: What? No way! I was planning to use it! You used it yesterday too! -
Expression: A: 어제는 잠깐 썼지. 오늘은 친구들이랑 약속 있단 말이야.
Pronunciation: eo-je-neun jam-kkan sseot-ji. o-neul-eun chin-gu-deur-i-rang yak-sok it-dan mar-i-ya.
Meaning: I only used it for a little while yesterday. Today I have plans with friends. -
Expression: B: 나도 오늘 꼭 해야 하는 퀘스트 있단 말이야! 공평하게 가위바위보 하자!
Pronunciation: na-do o-neul kkok hae-ya ha-neun kwe-seu-teu it-dan mar-i-ya! gong-pyeong-ha-ge ga-wi-ba-wi-bo ha-ja!
Meaning: I have a quest I absolutely have to do today too! Let’s play rock-paper-scissors to be fair! -
Expression: A: 하… 귀찮게. 알았어, 하자. 지면 1시간만 쓰고 비켜줘야 돼.
Pronunciation: ha… gwi-chan-ke. ar-a-sseo, ha-ja. ji-myeon han-si-gan-man sseu-go bi-kyeo-jwo-ya dwae.
Meaning: Ugh… what a pain. Okay, let’s do it. If you lose, you only use it for an hour and then give it up. -
Expression: B: 좋아! 가위! 바위! 보!
Pronunciation: jo-a! ga-wi! ba-wi! bo!
Meaning: Okay! Rock! Paper! Scissors! -
Expression: A: 아싸! 내가 이겼다! 오늘 밤은 내 차지다!
Pronunciation: a-ssa! nae-ga i-gyeot-da! o-neul bam-eun nae cha-ji-da!
Meaning: Yes! I won! Tonight it’s mine! -
Expression: B: 흥! 치사해! 내일은 무조건 내가 쓸 거야!
Pronunciation: heung! chi-sa-hae! nae-il-eun mu-jo-kkeon nae-ga sseul geo-ya!
Meaning: Hmph! Unfair! Tomorrow I’m definitely using it!
Practice Tips
Now you have a good set of phrases for those inevitable sibling negotiations~! Try practicing these expressions out loud. If you have siblings or friends learning Korean with you, try role-playing the gaming chair scenario! Pay attention to the informal endings like -야 (-ya), -자 (-ja), -어/아 (-eo/a) which are common in casual speech between close relations.
Listen to Korean dramas or variety shows featuring families or siblings – you’ll hear these kinds of negotiations often! The more you expose yourself to natural conversations, the better you’ll get at using these phrases yourself. Good luck, and may the best negotiator win the chair! 😉
