Learning Korean Through K-Pops: Hong Gildong, The Hero! (By: Popo)

Ciaattt…!!!!! Ciaattt…!!!!!

Dear Readers…

Do you know what was I doing now? I was practicing my martial skills to guide you learning Korean. I am sure all of you know that Korean martial arts are famous. We will learn Korean from someone with great martial art skill today. “Hong Gildong, the Hero!”

“Hong Gildong, the Hero!” was a popular show based on a very old piece of Korean literature, but interpreted in a modern way. Hong Gildong would punish evil government officials, and help the common people by stealing from the rich like Robin Hood.

 In a period when a bad king was ruling, Hong Gildong had been living a life without hope. But he became a good thief to change the world. He became friends with Heo Inok

 and Lee Changhwi. 

The elements of love and friendship add more fun to the story.

The story of Hong Gildong is famous old story familiar to all Koreans. The word “Kwoedo (괘도)” in the original title means “lively thief”. It shows Hong Gildong is a kind thief who likes to play around.

Let’s we learn the expression today by looking to the scene.

In order to save Heo Inok, a friend who helps him, Hong Gildong jumps into the river. He barely saves her, 

but what will the two people do after getting wet?

When Hong Gildong tries to leave the country, Heo Inok hopes that the weather will turn bad.

Hong Gildong and Heo Inok had fallen into the water. They’re in trouble because the water is cold in the winter.

Let’s find out what to say in a situation like this.

Hong Gildong asks Heo Inok if she isn’t cold?

When the temperature is low, if your body feels cold, you can say “Chuptta (춥다)”.

The formal version of “Chuptta (춥다)” is “Chupsseumnida (춥솝니다)”.

Nalsiga chuptta. (날씨가 춥다) = The weather is cold.

Gyeoureun chupsseumnida. (겨울은 춥습니다) = The cold winter.

That’s what you can say.

When you want to tell the other people that it’s cold, you can say “Chuwo (추위)”. “Chuwo (추위)”.

To adult, you can say “Chuwoyo”. (추위요)

When Hong Gildong asks “An chumnya (안춤냐)?” to his friend, Heo Inok answers “An chuwo (안 추위)”.

If you’re cold, you can answer by saying “Chuwo (추위)”.

If you’re not cold just simply say “An chuwo (안 추위)”.

“Chuwo?” (추위?)

“Geurae, chuwo”. (그래, 추위)

“Ani, an chuwo”. (아니, 추위)

You can answer either way.

“Chupsseumnikka?” (춥습니가?)

“Ne, chupsseumnida”. (네, 춥습니다)

“Aniyo, an chupsseumnida”. (아니요, 안 춥습니다)

You can answer either way.

The opposite of “Chuptta (춥다)” is “Deoptta (덥다)”. “Deoptta (덥다)” has opposite meaning of “Chuptta (춥다)”. When the temperature is high, or if your body feels hot, you can say “Deoptta (덥다)” or “Deopsseumnida (덥습니다)”.

Let’ say Hong Gildong asked this.

“Deouni?” (더오니?)

“Geurae, deowo”. (그래, 더위)

“Ani, an deowo”. (아니, 안 더위)

You can answer either way.

“Deopsseumnikka?” (덥습니가?)

“Ne, deopsseumnida”. (네, 덥습니다)

“Aniyo, an deopsseumnida”. (아니요, 안 덥습니다)

You can answer either way.

In the opposite case, you can simply just add “An (안)”.

Readers, how many seasons are there in Korea?

There are four seasons in Korea. Korea is known for its four distinct seasons.

First, “Bom (봄)” is spring when flower bloom.

The hot summer, “Yeoreum (여름)”.

The cooling fall, “Gaeul (가을)”.

And the cold winter, “Gyeoul (겨을)”.

How can we express the various weather conditions of the four seasons?

If rain or snow falls from the sky, you use the verb “Onda (온다)”.

Nuni onda. 눈이 온다 = The snow comes.

Biga onda. 비가 온다 = It’s raining.

“Onda (온다)” means that something is moving towards me. Since snow and rain are coming down towards me, you can use the verb “Onda (온다)”

Nuni an onda. 누니 안 온다 = The snow isn’t coming.

Biga an onda. 비가 안 온다 = It’s not raining.

But there is one expression that is different. For winds, we use the verb “Bunda (분다)” instead of “Onda (온다)”.

Barami bunda. (바람이 분다) = The wind blows.

Because winds can blow from different directions, the verb “Bunda (분다)” is used.

Barami mani bunda. (바람이 만이 분다) = Only the wind blows.  

As all the actors who appeared on this drama became famous, it attracted even more attention.

Sung Youri is a singer-turned-actress who was recognized for her acting through “Hong Gildong, the Hero!”.

Kang Jihwan who played Hong Gildong appeared in many comedy films.

There is one famous star we cannot leave out from the series. It’s Jang Keunseuk. 

He’s being loved as the top hallyu star. He’s now touring the world after forming a band. I hope you can look forward to his music.

After watching the famous scenes from “Hong Gildong, the Hero!” and knowing the news about stars, it’s already time to go. Shall we re view the Korean expressions we learned today?

The seasons in Korea include “Bom (봄)”, “Yeoreum (여름)”, “Gaeul (가을)”, and “Gyeoul (겨을)”. There are four seasons.

In gyeoul, the weather is chuptta. (춥다)

In yeoreum, the weather is deoptta. (덥다)

In gyeoul, nuni onda. (누니 온다)

In yeoreum, biga an onda. (비가 안 온다)

In gaeul, barami mani bunda. (바람이 만이 분다)

Why don’t you try using the expressions that you learned with your friends? You’ll find out the words in your memory very soon. Promise me. 

Let’s meet again next time. Annyeong!!!!

(cr: DeugeundeugeunHangukeo KBS World)