Korean Glossary

KOREAN LANGUAGE used in Seasons in the Kingdom

This list is complied from the Korean words used in Seasons in the Kingdom. Spelling of the words have several variations, but I tried to be consistent with one form. If you feel there is an error please let me know. Thanks.

Doing the Laundry, early 20th Century

aboji    father

adul    son

aigo chukketta    I could just die, a phrase used often and under any circumstance to indicate a feeling of exasperation, mild or extreme

ajosshi    uncle or general form when speaking to unknown male of seeming older age, sounding more like odi schee

ajuma    common reference when addressing an older woman, stemming from the more respectful word for aunt, Komo

ajumoni    aunt, of polite reference to older woman

amu ssulmo omnun saram    good for nothing

anee moegu jahgi    no eat, or more appropriately in this context, no oral sex

ane (or) cho    wife

annyonghaseyo    hi or hello, and how are you?

annyong hashimnikka    hello, or more politely, how are you

annyonghi kaseyo    goodbye

annyonghi kashipsio    goodbye

annyonghi chumushipsio    good night

ano shipal     fuck off

appa    dad

anee     no

aniyo    no

anyo or animnidda     no politely

Arirang     Rolling Hills, popular folk song

bindaeddeok     mung bean pancake

bulgoegi    marinated barbeque beef

cagogee     dog meat

can’chaa’naa    can do it - a bastardization of English and Korean

chalmorugesumnida    I do not understand

chang (pot)    variety of ceramic pot in all sizes

Changduk-gung    Changduk Palace

Changmi    rose (changmi)

changnyo    prostitute

chang pots    generic clay storage pots, from very large to small, large ones used for storing kimchi

chal saenggin    you’re handsome

chebal    please

che irumun Lee imnida       My name is Lee

cheogori    traditional hanbok coat, waist length for men compared to a woman’s hanbok jacket that just covers the breasts, both are tied in the same fashion across the chest.

cheso    vegetable

chesonghamnida    excuse me

chijum     now

chima    large skirt of the hanbok

chingu    friend

chooe’aa    good

choahajiansumnida    I don’t like it

choahamnida     I like it

chomdo chonchonhi    please go slower

chom towajuseyo     please help me

chogi    there

chokum    a little (of something)

chonchonhi    go slower

Chongah     familiar name for Chong

chohon     ceremonial wailing after a death

chonmane malsumimnida    You are welcome

chosuminidda    OK

chosumnida     good

choun     good

chulssang    carrying the coffin to the grave site

Chungguk     Chinese

chungmae    match made relationship

chuwoyo    I’m cold

ddokparo ka-jusaego     go straight ahead

doltaegari     stupid, a big fucking stone head, a moron, a piece of shit, a dumb ass.

dongchong    detachable paper collars worn on the jacket of the hanbok

esso    have or something is here, like VD esso

eungh    similar to nye, an affirmative response, or like yeah in English but usually 

sounding like a groan rather than a spoken word. Casual and informal response between Koreans

haemultang    a noodle soup filled with pieces of pork, beef; octopus mixed with seasoning and red peppers.

halmoni     grandmother

ham    the box containing the wedding gifts

hanboks     a full white dress with a short gray blue jacket tied with a ribbon

Hanguk     Korean

haraboji    grandfather

huchu    pepper

hwajangshil    toliet

hwajangshili odie Isumnika    where is the toilet

hyang     funerary incense

ibul    sleeping quilt

idywaa    come, also used as idywaah

igangju     pear and ginger wine

igosun olmaimnika?    how much does this cost?

igosul sagesumnida?    what is this?

injong    to have compassion

jjajang    black bean paste (Fenkl)

jja-jja-jang chang chang    song of the men who used to collect the excrement from a houses outhouse, before western pumping.

juseyo    please

kaesaikiya    you son of a bitch

kalbi    short ribs

kamja    potato

kamsa    thanks

kamsahada    thank you

kamasahamnida    thank you (polite)

kapshida    let’s go

kesansorul chusipsio    please bring the bill

kimch’i     type of Korean food, generally made with cabbage as a base and seasoned with different spices and red peppers

kimjang    Winter kimch’i

kimpap     rice, egg, spinach and other vegetables rolled in seaweed, then cut into sections

kisaeng    sometimes translated as "skilled women," and skilled in literature, music, and the arts, 

she held company with the elite and had to have the skills to entertain them.

kkakdugi kimchee    turnip kimchee

kyeyak tonggo    contract for cohabitation

kkojo    get out or go away

kkumdingy     charcoal man, also used to describe black Americans as it means black skin

kogi    meat

komapssumnida    thank you (polite)

Komo    aunt, on father’s side, used here as the name for Songhi’s Aunt

kongnyo     virgin

kudul    they

kujokuro sumnida    so, so

kumanhae    enough

kut     Shamanistic ritual to rid a house of evil spirits

kwaenchanayo, haeboseyo    go on, do it please (encouraging or pleading)

kyobae    bow, or to bow

kyorhon piroyon     wedding reception hall

maedup     the knot where the norigae is tied to the dress

maepsumnidda    it’s spicey hot

mae-un-tang     seafood soup

magam    closed

makkolli     Korean wine, vile tasting stuff

manaso pankapsumnida    nice to meet you

mandu    a steamed dumpling

mani    a lot (of something)

maru     wooden floor that served as exterior porch of the room

mekju    beer

mianhae    I am sorry - apologizing

mianhamnida    I am sorry - said politely

miguk    American

minam    handsome

mi shimi pet pojida     your mother has a bald pussy

modu    all (of something)

moegu    eat, or have something to eat

mogyoktang    bathhouse

mogyok    bathe

moja     black hat worn during the wedding by the male

myot or mo    what

moolah     I do not know, slang version of mollasseo

mudang     shaman

mul    water

momchcuda    stop

mul    water

myondo    shave

myondohaha    to have a shave

myongdang     selection of the burial site

na    I

naeryojuseyo    let me off here.

na kayaman hamnida    I must go

namja    man

nam-pyon    husband

narang gachi yogi isseo     stay here with me.

no    you (singular form) formal is tangshindul

norigae     a hanbok decoration, tied to the skirt or the ribbon on the jacket, at the Maedup

nye     yes, also be ne or eungh for intimate discussions, which sounds like a groan more than a word.

nye, Annyong hashimnikka?     Answer to greeting.

nye, amnida    Yes, I know

nugu    who

nuna    older sister (as spoken by young male in family)

odi    where

Oma    shortened form for mother, term used here as a name for the village woman who helps Songhi

omoni    mother, respectful

omagee    mother, intimate

onje    when

onni     older sister (female)

oppa     older brother

opsumnida    without, there is none available

opsshi    gone

opsshi saragada    go without

opsso    casual form of saying gone or without something

ottooke chinaesseyo    how’ve you been?

paduk    Korean board game of Japanese origin

paega kopumnida    I’m full

paji    traditional male pants that early on were more tight legged, but baggier to suit working in the fields in a squatting position or sitting on the floor at home

panchan    side dishes

pang    bread

pap    cooked rice

Piwon     Secret Garden

pujok    small straw figure, a talisman used by a shaman

Pom    Springtime

ppalli    quickly, as in do it quickly

ppalli chinagada    quickly speed by, as in a car quickly speeding by

ppalli hada    speed up, go faster

ppalli hae!    be quick about it! As in a command

ppalli kada    speed

ppang    bread

puok    kitchen

sangdanghi    very pretty

sanjin    picture

sanjini chal pannun    photogenic

sanjin jjigo    take my picture

saranghae    I love you

sewojuseyo     stop here

shille huamnida    excuse me

shilsumnida    bad

siksa doemnikka    Are you still serving meals?

skoshi    Japanese word for a little or few, also spelled sukoshi

sokogi    beef

sogum    salt

soju    liquor made from potatoes

Songhaah    familiar form of Songhi, or Songhee

sudosa     monk

sugo hashyosumnidda    thank you very much, beyond expectation

Taegu                Daegu is the new Romanized version

Taejon                Daejon is the new Romanized version

taerye    the Great Ritual of the matrimonial ceremony, binding the two families together.

taksan    Japanese word for a lot or much

tangshin irumun muwoshimnika     what is your name?

tejikogi    pork

Tonhwa-mun     Gate of Mighty Transformation, Changduk Palace

ttong galbo     dirty whore

tulooseyo     please come in

Tungduchon    Dungduchon is the newer Romanized version

turumagi     overcoat, worn by the male

twoenjang guk    a fermented soybean paste soup with clams.

uri    we

wae     why

wae mireo     what’d you push me for?

Won     Korean Currency

yakimandu    a fried dumpling, filled with vegetables and meat, usually pork or beef.

yakonja     fiancé

yang galbo     whore

yang gengju    American Princess

yang saeksi     American Princess, euphemism for prostitute

yeshiktchang    wedding hall

yo    sleeping mattress

yobo    honey or sweetie, as in girlfriend or boyfriend

yoboseyo    hello

yogi    here

yogi isseo    stay here

yogi isseo naeryeo jusaeyo    stop here

yoja    woman

yoja hyongje     sister

yongup jung    open

yom     preparation of the corpse

yonae    Couple finding love without matchmaker

yontan    charcoal pressed charcoal briquettes.

yubu kuksu     noodles with fish cakes in a broth