Navigating family discussions, especially disagreements between siblings, requires specific vocabulary. This guide focuses on Korean expressions commonly used when siblings argue about choosing a board game, covering phrases for making suggestions, disagreeing, and reaching a compromise. Understanding these phrases can help you follow or even participate in lively family interactions in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 내가 고를 차례야 (informal)
Pronunciation: nae-ga go-reul cha-rye-ya
Meaning: It’s my turn to choose. (This is a very common phrase when arguing about turns.)
Making Suggestions
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Expression: 우리 보드게임 할까?
Pronunciation: u-ri bo-deu-ge-im hal-kka?
Meaning: Should we play a board game? -
Expression: 뭐 하고 싶어?
Pronunciation: mwo ha-go sip-eo?
Meaning: What do you want to play/do? -
Expression: 이 게임 어때?
Pronunciation: i ge-im eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about this game? -
Expression: 이거 하자!
Pronunciation: i-geo ha-ja!
Meaning: Let’s play this one! -
Expression: 저번에 했던 거 또 할까?
Pronunciation: jeo-beon-e haet-deon geo tto hal-kka?
Meaning: Should we play the one we played last time again? -
Expression: 새로운 게임 해보자.
Pronunciation: sae-ro-un ge-im hae-bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s try a new game. -
Expression: 이게 제일 재밌어 보여.
Pronunciation: i-ge je-il jae-mi-sseo bo-yeo.
Meaning: This one looks the most fun. -
Expression: 나는 이거 하고 싶은데.
Pronunciation: na-neun i-geo ha-go sip-eun-de.
Meaning: I want to play this one, though. -
Expression: 오늘은 이걸로 정하자.
Pronunciation: o-neu-reun i-geol-lo jeong-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s decide on this one for today. -
Expression: 다 같이 할 수 있는 거 없어?
Pronunciation: da ga-chi hal su it-neun geo eop-seo?
Meaning: Isn’t there something we can all play together?
Disagreeing and Arguing
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Expression: 싫어, 그거 재미없어.
Pronunciation: sil-eo, geu-geo jae-mi-eop-seo.
Meaning: No, that one’s not fun. -
Expression: 그거 너무 어려워.
Pronunciation: geu-geo neo-mu eo-ryeo-wo.
Meaning: That one is too difficult. -
Expression: 맨날 그것만 하잖아.
Pronunciation: maen-nal geu-geon-man ha-jan-a.
Meaning: We always play only that one. -
Expression: 이번엔 내 차례야!
Pronunciation: i-beon-en nae cha-rye-ya!
Meaning: It’s my turn this time! -
Expression: 지난번에 네가 골랐잖아.
Pronunciation: ji-nan-beon-e ne-ga gol-lat-jan-a.
Meaning: You chose last time. -
Expression: 왜 너만 골라?
Pronunciation: wae neo-man gol-la?
Meaning: Why do only you get to choose? -
Expression: 이건 불공평해!
Pronunciation: i-geon bul-gong-pyeong-hae!
Meaning: This is unfair! -
Expression: 내 말 좀 들어봐!
Pronunciation: nae mal jom deu-reo-bwa!
Meaning: Listen to me! -
Expression: 네 마음대로 하지 마.
Pronunciation: ne ma-eum-dae-ro ha-ji ma.
Meaning: Don’t just do whatever you want. -
Expression: 나 그거 하기 싫다고 했잖아.
Pronunciation: na geu-geo ha-gi sil-da-go haet-jan-a.
Meaning: I told you I don’t want to play that. -
Expression: 다른 거 하면 안 돼?
Pronunciation: da-reun geo ha-myeon an dwae?
Meaning: Can’t we play something else?
Compromising and Deciding
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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: 번갈아 가면서 고르자.
Pronunciation: beon-gal-a ga-myeon-seo go-reu-ja.
Meaning: Let’s take turns choosing. -
Expression: 이번엔 네가 하고 다음엔 내가 할게.
Pronunciation: i-beon-en ne-ga ha-go da-eum-en nae-ga hal-ge.
Meaning: You choose this time, and I’ll choose next time. -
Expression: 이걸로 타협하자.
Pronunciation: i-geol-lo ta-hyeop-ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s compromise with this one. -
Expression: 둘 다 괜찮은 걸로 하자.
Pronunciation: dul da gwaen-chan-eun geol-lo ha-ja.
Meaning: Let’s choose something we both agree on. -
Expression: 엄마/아빠한테 물어볼까?
Pronunciation: eom-ma/a-ppa-han-te mul-eo-bol-kka?
Meaning: Should we ask Mom/Dad? -
Expression: 알았어, 그럼 그거 하자.
Pronunciation: al-a-sseo, geu-reom geu-geo ha-ja.
Meaning: Okay, fine, let’s play that one then. -
Expression: 대신 다음번엔 무조건 내 차례야.
Pronunciation: dae-sin da-eum-beon-en mu-jo-kkeon nae cha-rye-ya.
Meaning: But next time, it’s definitely my turn. -
Expression: 시간 정해놓고 할까?
Pronunciation: si-gan jeong-hae-no-ko hal-kka?
Meaning: Should we set a time limit? (Can be a compromise if one game is longer). -
Expression: 좋아, 결정했어!
Pronunciation: jo-a, gyeol-jeong-hae-sseo!
Meaning: Okay, it’s decided!
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding sibling interactions in Korea involves recognizing certain cultural aspects. Hierarchy based on age is significant, even between siblings. Older siblings (형/hyeong, 오빠/oppa for males; 누나/nuna, 언니/eonni for females) often have a sense of responsibility and authority, while younger siblings (동생/dongsaeng) are expected to show respect, though playful arguments are common.
Board games (보드게임/bo-deu-ge-im) and other family activities are popular ways for families to spend time together. While arguments like the one described are universal, the way compromises are reached might sometimes reflect the age hierarchy, with the older sibling potentially having more sway, or parents stepping in to mediate.
Direct confrontation can sometimes be avoided in favor of maintaining harmony (화목/hwa-mok). However, within the close confines of family, especially between siblings, expressions can be more direct and emotional than in public settings. Using informal language (반말/ban-mal) is standard between siblings close in age.
Fairness (공평성/gong-pyeong-seong) is often brought up in sibling disputes. Using methods like rock-paper-scissors (가위바위보/ga-wi-ba-wi-bo) to decide things is extremely common in Korea for all ages, seen as a fair and quick way to resolve minor disagreements.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Siblings Ji-hoon (older brother) and Soo-min (younger sister) are trying to pick a board game to play.
Roles: A = Ji-hoon (지훈), B = Soo-min (수민)
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Expression: A: 수민아, 보드게임 하자! 뭐 할까?
Pronunciation: su-min-a, bo-deu-ge-im ha-ja! mwo hal-kka?
Meaning: Soo-min, let’s play a board game! What should we play? -
Expression: B: 좋아! 음… 저번에 산 새로운 게임 하자!
Pronunciation: jo-a! eum… jeo-beon-e san sae-ro-un ge-im ha-ja!
Meaning: Okay! Hmm… Let’s play the new game we bought last time! -
Expression: A: 아, 그거? 그거 너무 복잡해. 그냥 하던 거 하자.
Pronunciation: a, geu-geo? geu-geo neo-mu bok-jap-hae. geu-nyang ha-deon geo ha-ja.
Meaning: Ah, that one? It’s too complicated. Let’s just play one we know. -
Expression: B: 싫어! 맨날 오빠가 하고 싶은 것만 하잖아! 이번엔 내가 고를 차례야.
Pronunciation: sil-eo! maen-nal o-ppa-ga ha-go sip-eun geon-man ha-jan-a! i-beon-en nae-ga go-reul cha-rye-ya.
Meaning: No! You always just play what you want! It’s my turn to choose this time. -
Expression: A: 무슨 소리야, 지난번에도 네가 골랐잖아!
Pronunciation: mu-seun so-ri-ya, ji-nan-beon-e-do ne-ga gol-lat-jan-a!
Meaning: What are you talking about? You chose last time too! -
Expression: B: 아니거든! 오빠가 골랐거든! 이건 불공평해!
Pronunciation: a-ni-geo-deun! o-ppa-ga gol-lat-geo-deun! i-geon bul-gong-pyeong-hae!
Meaning: No, I didn’t! You chose! This is unfair! -
Expression: A: 아 진짜… 알았어, 알았어. 그럼 가위바위보 하자. 이긴 사람이 고르는 거다.
Pronunciation: a jin-jja… ar-a-sseo, ar-a-sseo. geu-reom ga-wi-ba-wi-bo ha-ja. i-gin sa-ram-i go-reu-neun geo-da.
Meaning: Ah, seriously… Okay, okay. Then let’s play rock-paper-scissors. The winner gets to choose. -
Expression: B: 좋아! 가위바위보!
Pronunciation: jo-a! ga-wi-ba-wi-bo!
Meaning: Okay! Rock-paper-scissors!
Practice Tips
Sibling squabbles are universal, making these phrases quite useful! Try role-playing this scenario with a friend or language partner~ Imagine you really want to play a specific game and practice making your case using the suggestion and argument phrases.
Pay attention to the nuances between phrases like “내 차례야” (It’s my turn) and “지난번에 네가 골랐잖아” (You chose last time). Listen to how native speakers, maybe in dramas or variety shows, handle similar playful conflicts. You can even try using “가위바위보” next time you need to make a small decision with friends!
Remember, these informal phrases are best used with close friends or family, especially siblings. Practice them often, and you’ll be ready to playfully argue your case for the next game night! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/You can do it!)
