Family game nights are fun, but choosing the game can sometimes lead to disagreements, especially between siblings. This guide provides essential Korean phrases and expressions for navigating arguments about who gets to pick the game this week, suggesting alternatives, and hopefully reaching a compromise. Learn how to express your preference, argue your case, and resolve the conflict in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 이번 주 게임은 내가 정할 차례야!
Pronunciation: i-beon ju ge-im-eun nae-ga jeong-hal cha-rye-ya!
Meaning: It’s my turn to pick the game this week!
Basic Phrases for Arguing
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Expression: 왜 맨날 너만 정해?
Pronunciation: wae maen-nal neo-man jeong-hae?
Meaning: Why do you always get to decide? -
Expression: 불공평해!
Pronunciation: bul-gong-pyeong-hae!
Meaning: It’s unfair! -
Expression: 지난주에 네가 골랐잖아.
Pronunciation: ji-nan-ju-e ne-ga gol-lat-jan-a.
Meaning: You picked last week. -
Expression: 이번엔 내 차례라고!
Pronunciation: i-beon-en nae cha-rye-ra-go!
Meaning: I told you it’s my turn this time! -
Expression: 내가 먼저 말했어.
Pronunciation: nae-ga meon-jeo mal-haet-seo.
Meaning: I said it first. -
Expression: 그 게임은 재미없어.
Pronunciation: geu ge-im-eun jae-mi-eop-seo.
Meaning: That game isn’t fun. -
Expression: 다른 거 하자.
Pronunciation: da-reun geo ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s do something else. -
Expression: 내 말 좀 들어봐!
Pronunciation: nae mal jom deul-eo-bwa!
Meaning: Listen to me! -
Expression: 너 정말 이기적이다.
Pronunciation: neo jeong-mal i-gi-jeok-i-da.
Meaning: You’re really selfish. -
Expression: 양보 좀 해.
Pronunciation: yang-bo jom hae.
Meaning: Give in a little / Compromise a bit. -
Expression: 맨날 똑같은 것만 하잖아.
Pronunciation: maen-nal ttok-ga-teun geot-man ha-jan-a.
Meaning: We always play the same thing. -
Expression: 내 의견도 중요해.
Pronunciation: nae ui-gyeon-do jung-yo-hae.
Meaning: My opinion matters too.
Phrases for Suggesting Games
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Expression: 우리 보드게임 할까?
Pronunciation: u-ri bo-deu-ge-im hal-kka?
Meaning: Shall we play a board game? -
Expression: 이 게임 새로 나왔는데 해보자.
Pronunciation: i ge-im sae-ro na-wat-neun-de hae-bo-ja.
Meaning: This game just came out, let’s try it. -
Expression: 카드 게임 어때?
Pronunciation: ka-deu ge-im eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about a card game? -
Expression: 다 같이 할 수 있는 게임으로 하자.
Pronunciation: da ga-chi hal su it-neun ge-im-eu-ro ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play a game everyone can play together. -
Expression: 나는 [게임 이름] 하고 싶어.
Pronunciation: na-neun [ge-im i-reum] ha-go sip-eo.
Meaning: I want to play [Game Name]. -
Expression: 이거 진짜 재밌대.
Pronunciation: i-geo jin-jja jae-mit-dae.
Meaning: They say this one is really fun. -
Expression: 오랜만에 [게임 이름] 할까?
Pronunciation: o-raen-man-e [ge-im i-reum] hal-kka?
Meaning: Shall we play [Game Name] for the first time in a while? -
Expression: 너무 어려운 게임 말고 쉬운 거 하자.
Pronunciation: neo-mu eo-ryeo-un ge-im mal-go swi-un geo ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play an easy game, not a very difficult one. -
Expression: 팀 나눠서 하는 게임은 어때?
Pronunciation: tim na-nwo-seo ha-neun ge-im-eun eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about a game where we split into teams? -
Expression: 아빠/엄마도 좋아하실 만한 게임으로 고르자.
Pronunciation: a-ppa/eom-ma-do jo-a-ha-sil man-han ge-im-eu-ro go-reu-ja.
Meaning: Let’s pick a game that Dad/Mom would also like. -
Expression: 짧게 끝나는 게임 하자.
Pronunciation: jjal-ge kkeun-na-neun ge-im ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s play a game that finishes quickly. -
Expression: 네가 추천하는 게임은 뭐야?
Pronunciation: ne-ga chu-cheon-ha-neun ge-im-eun mwo-ya?
Meaning: What game do you recommend?
Phrases for Compromise and Resolution
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Expression: 그럼 가위바위보로 정하자.
Pronunciation: geu-reom ga-wi-ba-wi-bo-ro jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Then let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors. -
Expression: 이번엔 네가 하고 다음 주엔 내가 할게.
Pronunciation: i-beon-en ne-ga ha-go da-eum ju-en nae-ga hal-ge.
Meaning: You do it this time, and I’ll do it next week. -
Expression: 둘 다 하고 싶은 게임 하나씩 번갈아 가면서 하자.
Pronunciation: dul da ha-go sip-eun ge-im ha-na-ssik beon-gal-a ga-myeon-seo ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s take turns playing one game each that we both want to play. -
Expression: 알았어, 네 말대로 하자.
Pronunciation: al-at-seo, ne mal-dae-ro ha-ja.
Meaning: Okay, let’s do as you say. -
Expression: 그럼 중간 지점을 찾자.
Pronunciation: geu-reom jung-gan ji-jeom-eul chat-ja.
Meaning: Then let’s find a middle ground. -
Expression: 싸우지 말고 그냥 아무거나 하자.
Pronunciation: ssa-u-ji mal-go geu-nyang a-mu-geo-na ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s not fight and just play anything. -
Expression: 엄마/아빠한테 정해달라고 할까?
Pronunciation: eom-ma/a-ppa-han-te jeong-hae-dal-la-go hal-kka?
Meaning: Shall we ask Mom/Dad to decide? -
Expression: 미안해, 내가 너무 고집부렸어.
Pronunciation: mi-an-hae, nae-ga neo-mu go-jip-bu-ryeot-seo.
Meaning: Sorry, I was too stubborn. -
Expression: 그래, 그 게임도 재밌겠다.
Pronunciation: geu-rae, geu ge-im-do jae-mit-get-da.
Meaning: Okay, that game looks fun too. -
Expression: 화해하자.
Pronunciation: hwa-hae-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s make up. -
Expression: 30분씩 나눠서 할까?
Pronunciation: sam-sip-bun-ssik na-nwo-seo hal-kka?
Meaning: Shall we split the time and play each for 30 minutes? -
Expression: 결정했어! 이걸로 하자.
Pronunciation: gyeol-jeong-haet-seo! i-geol-lo ha-ja.
Meaning: I’ve decided! Let’s do this one.
Cultural Tips
In Korean families, age hierarchy can sometimes play a role in decisions, even seemingly small ones like choosing a game. Older siblings might feel entitled to choose more often, while younger siblings might be expected to yield, though this is changing in modern families.
Direct confrontation, especially between siblings, is common, but resolving arguments quickly to maintain harmony (화목 – hwa-mok) within the family is also valued. Using phrases for compromise is often encouraged.
Family game nights or similar shared activities are important for bonding. The focus is often on spending quality time together, so the specific game might become secondary to the act of participating as a family.
Using playful methods like 가위바위보 (ga-wi-ba-wi-bo – rock-paper-scissors) to resolve minor disputes is very common and seen as a fair way to make decisions without escalating conflict.
While expressing personal preferences is fine, considering the preferences of other family members, including parents, is often part of the decision-making process for group activities.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two siblings, Minjun (older) and Sora (younger), are trying to decide which game to play for family game night.
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Expression: A (Sora): 오빠, 이번 주 가족 게임은 내가 정할 차례야! 루미큐브 하자.
Pronunciation: o-ppa, i-beon ju ga-jok ge-im-eun nae-ga jeong-hal cha-rye-ya! ru-mi-kyu-beu ha-ja.
Meaning: Oppa, it’s my turn to pick the family game this week! Let’s play Rummikub. -
Expression: B (Minjun): 뭐? 지난주에도 네가 골랐잖아. 이번엔 내가 할 거야. 스플렌더 하자.
Pronunciation: mwo? ji-nan-ju-e-do ne-ga gol-lat-jan-a. i-beon-en nae-ga hal geo-ya. seu-peul-len-deo ha-ja.
Meaning: What? You picked last week too. This time, I’m going to choose. Let’s play Splendor. -
Expression: A (Sora): 아니야! 지난주는 오빠가 골랐어! 불공평해! 맨날 오빠만 정하잖아.
Pronunciation: a-ni-ya! ji-nan-ju-neun o-ppa-ga gol-lat-seo! bul-gong-pyeong-hae! maen-nal o-ppa-man jeong-ha-jan-a.
Meaning: No! You picked last week, Oppa! It’s unfair! You always get to decide. -
Expression: B (Minjun): 스플렌더가 훨씬 재밌다고. 루미큐브는 너무 오래 걸려.
Pronunciation: seu-peul-len-deo-ga hwol-ssin jae-mit-da-go. ru-mi-kyu-beu-neun neo-mu o-rae geol-lyeo.
Meaning: Splendor is way more fun. Rummikub takes too long. -
Expression: A (Sora): 그래도 내 차례야! 그럼 가위바위보로 정하자!
Pronunciation: geu-rae-do nae cha-rye-ya! geu-reom ga-wi-ba-wi-bo-ro jeong-ha-ja!
Meaning: But it’s still my turn! Then let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors! -
Expression: B (Minjun): 하… 알았어. 가위바위보! 지면 다음 주엔 무조건 내가 고른다?
Pronunciation: ha… al-at-seo. ga-wi-ba-wi-bo! ji-myeon da-eum ju-en mu-jo-kkeon nae-ga go-reun-da?
Meaning: Ugh… okay. Rock-paper-scissors! If I lose, I definitely pick next week, okay? -
Expression: A (Sora): 콜! 가위, 바위, 보!
Pronunciation: kol! ga-wi, ba-wi, bo!
Meaning: Deal! Rock, paper, scissors!
Practice Tips
Try role-playing these arguments with a friend or language partner! Take turns being the sibling who wants to pick and the one who thinks it’s unfair~ This is a great way to practice expressing disagreement and suggesting compromises naturally.
Listen to how Korean families or friends interact in dramas or reality shows. Pay attention to how they handle small disagreements like choosing activities. You’ll pick up natural phrasing and intonation!
Don’t be afraid to use the compromise phrases! Learning how to resolve conflict politely is just as important as learning how to argue. Practice suggesting 가위바위보 (ga-wi-ba-wi-bo) or taking turns. Good luck! 화이팅!
