Today, classrooms are no longer the only or even best place to learn a new language like Korean. More and more people are finding that they can easily learn a language just about anywhere they have a few minutes of spare time, including their daily commute to work. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American spends over 50 minutes a day commuting to and from work, or over 300 hours a year.
Rethinking Your Daily Commute to Work
But rather than simply sitting in traffic and wasting the time, you can instead use your daily commute to literally learn Korean in just a few short months! KoreanClass101 has developed specialized learning tools that you can use on your commute to work (and home again) to master the language in your spare time. Keep reading to learn how to get your free audiobook to use on your next commute so you can see for yourself how easy it is to transform “dead time” into realizing your dream of learning a new language!
But before we look at how to transform your commute home into a mini-classroom, let’s take a closer look at 4 reasons why traditional classroom settings just aren’t the best option for most people in today’s fast-paced world.
Difficulty Getting to and From Class
Learning on Someone Else’s Schedule
Very Expensive and May Cost $1,000’s to Complete
Can Take Years to Finally Complete Classes and Learn the Language
The simple truth is that traditional classroom instruction is simply not a viable option for most people in today’s very fast-paced, time-starved world. Now let’s examine how you can learn a language faster, more easily, and at far less expense than traditional classes—all during your commute to work and back home again!
3 Reasons Your Daily Commute Can Help You Master a Language
1. The Average Commute Time is More than 300 Hours Per Year
Between the commute to work and getting back home again, over 6 hours a week is completely wasted and not helping you reach any goals or objectives. But thanks to online language learning platforms with audiobooks and other resources that you can access during your commute, you can easily transform wasted time into tangible progress towards learning a new language. With over 300 hours available annually, your daily commute could provide you with enough time to literally master a new language each and every year!
2. Increase Your Earning Potential While Commuting to Work
How would you like to transform all those spare commuting hours each week into more money for a new car, house, or even a dream vacation? According to research, someone making $30,000 per year can boost their annual income by $600 or more per year by learning a second language. Added up over the course of a lifetime, you can boost your total earnings by $70,000 or more while achieving your dream of learning a new language during your daily commute!
How? From work-at-home translation jobs to working overseas, there are many ways to leverage your second language into more money in your bank account! So instead of wasting your precious time, you can make your commute more productive and profitable and the more languages you learn, the higher your income potential.
3. Repetition is Key to Mastering a New Language
Not sure if it’s practical to learn another language while commuting to and from work each day? Well not only is it possible—learning in your car on the way to and from work each day can actually help you learn and master Korean or any language much faster! The simple truth is that repetition is absolutely vital to truly internalizing and mastering any language. So, if you listen to audiobooks or even audio lessons on your commute to work and then repeat the same lesson on your commute home, the information is more likely to be “locked-in” to your long-term memory!
5 Ways KoreanClass101 Makes It Easy to Learn a Language On Your Commute
KoreanClass101 has been helping people just like yourself learn and master Korean in the comfort of their home, during their daily commute, or any place they have a few minutes of spare time. Here are five features provided by KoreanClass101 that make it easy to learn a new language while commuting to and from work:
1. The Largest Collection of Audio Lessons on Planet by Native Speaking Instructors
Every single week, KoreanClass101 creates new audio lessons by native speaking instructors. All lessons are short, to the point, and guaranteed to improve your mastery of Korean.
2. Word of the Day
Simply exposing yourself to new information and vocabulary terms helps increase your fluency and mastery of Korean. So every single day, KoreanClass101 adds a new Word of the Day for you to learn and memorize during your commute.
3. Daily Dose Mini-Lessons
Have a short commute to work but still want to make progress towards learning and mastering Korean? Not a problem! Our Daily Dose Mini-Lessons are 1-minute or less and designed to improve your grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
4. All Content Available on a Convenient Mobile App
You don’t need a PC or tablet to learn Korean during your daily commute. At KoreanClass101, all of our lessons, tools, and resources are available 24/7 via our Mobile App. That means you can access all of our audio lessons and other tools during your commute to work or any time you have a few spare moments!
5. Audiobooks and Other Supplemental Resources
In addition to the world’s largest online collection of HD audio lessons, KoreanClass101 has also created several audiobooks to enhance your understanding and make it more convenient than ever to learn a language during your commute!
Conclusion
The average commute time of most Americans is over 300 hours each year and it’s the perfect opportunity to learn and master a new language. In fact, you can use the “dead time” during your daily commute to learn a new language and potentially boost your lifetime earnings by up to $70,000 or more! Whatever your motivation, KoreanClass101 has the tools and resources necessary to help you learn a new language each year during your commute to and from work. Act now and we’ll even provide you with a free audiobook to try out on your next commute!
When it comes to learning a new language, “hello” is the first word you learn. As the majority of language learners will agree, you’ll come to realize how many different ways there are to say hello in other languages, although you’re already using various greetings in your own language.
Today, KoreanClass101 is going to introduce you to eighteen Korean greetings, both informal and formal. Let’s go through them one-by-one, so that you know exactly when to use these greetings next time you chat with your Korean friends. We hope you get the most from this Korean greetings guide!
1. How to Say Hello in Korean: 4 Must-Know Greetings
These four common Korean greetings are used often in South Korea and you may already know some of them, but let’s go through them one-by-one to review anyway. If you’re an absolute beginner, it’s okay. These aren’t difficult to memorize.
1- 안녕 (Annyeong) — “Hello” (Informal)
안녕 (Annyeong) is a casual and friendly Korean greeting used among friends and people of the same age who know each other. You can also say Annyeong to people who are younger than you. It’s similar in meaning to “What’s up?” or “Hey” in English, and it’s a gender-neutral greeting. Remember that this casual greeting cannot be used to greet people of a higher status—such as a teacher or a boss—or to the strangers that you meet everyday.
Annyeonghaseyo is a formal Korean greeting used for everyday conversations, and can be used in the majority of situations. This greeting is used to greet any strangers that you meet such as a cashier at the supermarket as well as people who are older than you, such as older family members.
When you meet someone of the same age, you’ll need to greet them formally to show some respect. If you’re not sure whether to say hello in a formal or informal way, Annyeonghaseyo is safe to say.
Example: (A is a cashier and B is a buyer)
※ Click on a word for pronunciation
A: 안녕하세요, 봉투필요하십니까?
A: Annyeonghaseyo, bongtu piryohasimnikka?
A: “Hello, would you like to have a plastic bag?”
3- 안녕하십니까 (Annyeonghasimnikka) — “Hello” (Formal, showing great respect)
안녕하십니까 (Annyeonghasimnikka) isn’t commonly used on a daily basis. However, if you work in Korea, you’ll notice that people use this formal greeting everyday. This formal Korean greeting is commonly used in a business setting.
Also, people who are serving in the military in Korea use this formal greeting every day, as they must use formal language.
Example: (A visits B’s office and they meet for the first time)
※ Click on a word for pronunciation
A: 안녕하십니까, 처음 뵙겠습니다. 마케팅 팀장 존이라고 합니다.
A: Annyeonghasimnikka, Cheoeum Boepgetseumnida. Maketing Timjang Jonirago Hamnida.
A: “How do you do, I’m John, the manager of Marketing team.”
B: 반갑습니다. 세일즈팀 팀장 이민호라고 합니다.
B: Bangapseumnida. Seiljeutim Timjang Iminhorago Hamnida.
B: “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Lee Minho, the manager of Sales team.”
4- 안뇽 (Annyong); 하이 (Hai) — “Hello” (Slang words)
There are many ways to greet a friend in Korean while in South Korea, and this includes slang words, such as Annyong and Hai. 안뇽 (Annyong) is a slang word used to greet someone casually, and is usually used by women since it sounds feminine. 하이 (Hai), direct translation being “Hello” in English, is also a casual way to greet a friend.
You’ll hear these two greetings a lot in South Korea. In addition, Koreans also use other slang words such as 하이룽 (Hairung), 방가방가 (Banggabangga), and many more. Please note that you don’t need to memorize all the slang words to say hello in Korean. KoreanClass101 has a lesson that covers Korean slang words, so feel free to check it out.
Example: (A returns home from a trip and greets B who is her close friend)
※ Click on a word for pronunciation
A: 안뇽, 나 왔어.
A: Annyong, Na Wasseo.
A: “Hey, I’m home.”
B: 하이, 잘 갔다 왔어?
B: Hai, Jal gatda Wasseo?
B: “Hi, did you have fun?”
2. Meeting Someone for the First Time
When you meet someone for the first time, you need to be able to use appropriate Korean greeting phrases. You can definitely use one of the four must-know greetings mentioned above to greet someone depending on the age of the person you’re talking to, and the situation you’re in. Let’s learn what you can say after using these basic greetings to continue a conversation with this person.
This is another way to say, “Nice to meet you,” in Korean, and the direct translation is “I am meeting you for the first time.” Remember that there’s no informal phrase for 처음 뵙겠습니다. (cheoeum boepgetseumnida.); this phrase is usually used to greet elders or for a more formal setting.
If you meet a person who’s older than you or who you met in a business setting, use this phrase instead of 처음 뵙겠습니다. (cheoeum boepgetseumnida.). Usually, (저는)000입니다 follows this phrase.
Example:
A: 처음 뵙겠습니다. 박소연입니다.
A: cheoeum boepgetseumnida. baksoyeonimnida.
A: “Nice to meet you. I’m Park Soyeon.”
3- 잘 부탁해 (jal butakae) (Informal); 잘 부탁드립니다. (jal butakdeurimnida) (Formal)
Many Korean learners become bewildered when they hear this phrase, because it sounds like the speaker is putting some pressure on the listener. This is because the literal translation is “Please take good care of me (or implied person).” However, this phrase actually has a slightly different meaning than what it first seems to mean.
The classical example of when to use this Korean greeting would be when a new employee starts his new job. On his first day, he closes his self-introduction with 잘 부탁드립니다. (jal butakdeurimnida). This doesn’t mean, “It’s my first day, so please take good care of me.” On the contrary, this is generally a way of saying, “I look forward to working with you,” or “I will do my best,” to his employees. Essentially, it’s an informal way to say 잘 부탁해 (jal butakae).
Example: (A and B are starting their jobs today)
A: 안녕하세요, 오늘부터 일하게 된 제이슨이라고 합니다. 잘 부탁드립니다.
A: annyeonghaseyo, oneulbuteo ilhage doen jeiseunirago hamnida. Jal butakdeurimnida.
A: “Hello, this is my first day at work and I am Jason. I am looking forward to working with you.”
B: 안녕하세요, 오늘부터 아르바이트 시작하게 된 브라이언이라고 합니다. 잘 부탁드립니다.
B: annyeonghaseyo, oneulbuteo areubaiteu sijakage doen beuraieonirago hamnida. Jal butakdeurimnida.
B: “Hello, this is my first day for my part-time job and I am Brian. I look forward to working with you.”
4- 저는 ~에서 온 A이라고 합니다.
In English, this is “I am A, from ~.” This Korean greeting phrase is commonly used to greet someone for the first time and when introducing yourself. Examples are written below.
Example:
A: 안녕하세요, 저는 미국에서 온 앨리스라고 합니다. 잘 부탁드립니다. (Formal)
A: annyeonghaseyo, jeoneun migugeseo on aelliseurago hamnida. Jal butakdeurimnida.
A: “Hello, my name is Alice, from America. I look forward to working with you.”
B: 안녕, 나는 서울대학교에서 온 김나영이라고 해. 잘 부탁해. (Informal)
B: annyeong, naneunseouldaehakgyoeseo on gimnayeongirago hae. Jalbutakae.
B: “Hi, I am Kim Nayoung, from Seoul University. I look forward to studying with you.”
There are many ways to say, “My name is…” in Korean including:
(저의 이름은) A입니다. (Formal)
(jeoui ireumeun) A imnida.
(나의 이름은) A(이)라고 해 (Informal)
(naui ireumeun) A(i)rago hae
A(이)야 (Informal) A(i)ya
In spoken language, we usually skip 나의 이름은/저의 이름은. This is the same as discarding “My name is” when introducing yourself in English.
3. How to Say “How Are You?” in Korean
There is a number of ways to say “How are you?” in Korean and each phrase has a slightly different meaning, so let’s go through them one-by-one and learn an appropriate situation to say each of these Korean greetings.
1- How are You Doing?
잘 지냈어? (jal jinaesseo?) (Informal)
잘 지내셨어요? (jal jinaesyeosseoyo?) (Formal)
This is the most-used “How are you?” phrase in Korea. It’s a simple and casual greeting and is a great way to start a conversation. Usually Koreans say 안녕 (Annyeong) or 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo), followed by 잘 지냈어? (jal jinaesseo?) or 잘 지내셨어요? (jal jinaesyeosseoyo?), so try to memorize it as a full sentence.
Example: (A and B are friends and A is younger than B)
A: 안녕하세요, 잘 지내셨어요? (Formal)
A: annyeonghaseyo, jal jinaesyeosseoyo?
A: “Hello, how are you doing?”
B: 어, 안녕. (진짜 오랜만이다.) 잘 지냈어?
B: eo, annyeong. (jinjja oraenmanida.) jal jinaesseo?
B: “Ah, hey. (Long time, no see.) How are you?”
2- What are You Doing These Days?
뭐하고 지내? (mwohago jinae?) (Informal)
어떻게 지내세요? (eotteoke jinaeseyo?) (Formal)
These phrases are used if you haven’t met with someone in a few days or more. If you’re curious to know what the person has been up to lately, use this phrase. Often they’ll talk about a current activity they’re doing, such as a new hobby or a project that the person has been working on at work lately.
Example: (A and B are friends; C and D are colleagues)
A: 요즘 뭐하고 지내?
A: Yojeum mwohago jinae?
A: “What are you doing these days?”
B: 나? 나야 뭐 항상 똑같지뭐.
B: Na? Naya mwo hangsang ttokgatjimwo.
B: “Me? It’s always the same.”
—
C: 요즘 어떻게 지내세요?
C: yojeum eotteoke jinaeseyo?
C: “What are you doing these days?”
D: 최근에 새로 시작한 마케팅 캠페인 때문에 정신이 없어요.
D: choegeune saero sijakan maketing kaempein ttaemune jeongsini eopseoyo.
D: “I have been really busy since I’ve just started working on a marketing campaign.”
3- What Have You Been Up To?
뭐하고 지냈어? (mwohago jinaesseo?) (Informal)
어떻게 지내셨어요? (eotteoke jinaesyeosseoyo?) (Formal)
Use these phrases if you haven’t seen someone for a long time (e.g. one year or more), and want to know everything about what that person has been up to. It’s a great Korean greeting phrase to use to catch up with someone.
Example:
A: 뭐하고 지냈어?
A: mwohago jinaesseo?
A: “What have you been up to?”
B: 음.. 사실 남자친구랑 헤어져서 맨날 집에서 시간 보내고 있어.
B: eum… sasil namjachingurang heeojyeoseo maennal jibeseo sigan bonaego isseo.
B: “Hmm… Actually I broke up with my ex-boyfriend so I have been just staying home.”
4- Long Time, No See
진짜 오랜만이다. (jinjja oraenmanida.) (Informal)
정말 오랜만이에요. (jeongmal oraenmanieyo.) (Formal)
Use this Korean phrase when you meet someone whom you haven’t met with for a long time and want to express how excited you are to meet them again.
Example: (A and B are friends; C and D are colleagues)
A: 우와, 진짜 오랜만이다.
A: uwa, jinjja oraenmanida.
A: “Wow, long time no see.”
B: 하하, 정말 반갑다야.
B: haha, jeongmal bangapdaya.
B: “Haha, it’s really nice to meet you again.”
—
C: 진짜 오랜만이에요. 잘 지내셨어요?
C: jinjja oraenmanieyo. Jal jinaesyeosseoyo?
C: “It’s been awhile, how are you doing?”
D: 응, 그럼. 잘 지내고 있지.
D: eung, geureom. Jal jinaego itji.
D: “Yes I am doing well.”
4. How to Say “Good morning” in Korean
1- Good Morning
좋은 아침이에요. (joeun achimieyo) (Formal)
좋은 아침 (joeun achim) (Informal)
굿모닝 (gunmoning) (Informal and casual greeting)
Example:
A: 좋은 아침!
A: joeun achim!
A: “Good morning!”
B: 굿모닝, 잘잤어?
B: gunmoning, jaljasseo?
B: “Good morning, did you sleep well?”
2- Did You Sleep Well?
안녕히 주무셨어요? (annyeonghi jumusyeosseoyo?) (Formal)
잘 잤어? (jal jasseo?) (Informal)
Example:
할머니, 안녕히 주무셨어요? (Formal) halmeoni, annyeonghi jumusyeosseoyo?
“Grandmother, did you sleep well?”
소연아 잘 잤어? (Informal) soyeona jal jasseo?
“Did you sleep well, Soyeon?”
5. How to Say “Good Night” in Korean
1- Have a Good Sleep
안녕히 주무세요. (annyeonghi jumuseyo.) (Formal)
잘자 (jalja) (Informal)
안녕히 주무세요. (annyeonghi jumuseyo.) is a formal greeting to say “Good night” in Korean. Also, remember that bowing is very important in Korea. The appropriate way to say good night to the elders is to bow and say the greeting.
On the other hand, when you say good night to your friend, you don’t need to bow. Instead, you can just wave your hand or nod once at your friend. The gesture of nodding is a very common body language greeting among friends in Korea; just think of it as a casual way of bowing.
Example:
A: 너무 피곤해서 자야할 것 같습니다. 안녕히 주무세요. (Bow)
A: neomu pigonhaeseo jayahal geot gatseumnida. annyeonghi jumuseyo.
A: “I am exhausted, I think I should go to bed. Good night.”
굿나잇 (gunnait) (Informal and casual friendly greeting)
굿밤 (gutbam) (Slang)
Simple English phrases are commonly used among younger people. Also, 굿밤 (gutbam) is a slang word that’s also used commonly by younger people as well.
6. How to Greet on the Phone
1- 여보세요. (yeoboseyo.)
This Korean greeting is to say “hello” when answering the phone. You’ll hear this all the time when you call someone on the phone. However, in a business setting, people usually address the name of the company, then the name. 여보세요. (yeoboseyo.) is rarely used in a business setting.
여보세요. (yeoboseyo.) also has another meaning; it’s used when you’re trying to get the attention of someone. However, it does portray a negative connotation, so try not to use this unless you want to initiate an argument.
Example: (A and B are friends; D is calling his friend and his mother, C, picked up the phone)
A: 여보세요.
A: yeoboseyo.
A: “Hello.”
B: 뭐해?
B: mwohae?
B: “What are you up to?”
—
C: 여보세요.
C: yeoboseyo.
C: “Hello.”
D: 안녕하세요, 지연이 친구인데요, 지연이 바꿔주실 수 있으세요?
D: annyeonghaseyo, jiyeoni chinguindeyo, jiyeoni bakkwojusil su isseuseyo?
D: “Hello, I’m a friend of Jiyeon, could you please put me through to Jiyeon?”
This Korean greeting phrase for answering the phone is usually used right after 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo) or 여보세요. (yeoboseyo.). It’s commonly used in a business setting. If you want to sound formal, you can say, 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo), ~때문에 연락 드렸습니다. (~ttaemune yeollak deuryeotseumnida.).
Also, you can use this phrase in any formal situation. If you want to sound less formal and more friendly with a casual phrase—let’s say you’re calling your friend—there’s an informal Korean phrase to use, which is ~때문에 전화했어. (~ttaemune jeonhwahaesseo). Note that you can only use a noun in front of ~때문에 (~ttaemune).
Example:
안녕하세요, 광고비 결제 때문에 연락드렸습니다. annyeonghaseyo, gwanggobi gyeolje ttaemune yeollakdeuryeotseumnida.
“Hello, I am calling you because of the advertising fee.”
7. A Little Something Extra…
1- How to Say Hello in Korean Sign Language
Sign language is a visual language that uses hand shapes, gestures, and body language to communicate with deaf people. For an additional fun way to learn the Korean language, this video demonstrates the Korean sign language way of saying “Hello” and “Nice to meet you.”
2- North Korean Dialect: How to Say Hello
South and North Korea speak the same language, but as time went on by, the language also evolved. Many words are spoken differently and with a different flow between the two Koreas. For those of you who are interested to know how to say hello in North Korean, it’s 동무들 반갑습니다. (Dongmudeul bangapseumnida.).
8. Let’s Test Your Korean Greeting Skills!
Let’s test your Korean greeting skills. We’ve prepared three questions for you. Try to solve each question with the knowledge you’ve gained from this Korean greetings guide.
Question 1:
You’re at a department store, trying to buy nice furniture. A staff member approaches and greets you. How would you respond?
스태프: 손님, 안녕하십니까, 무엇을 도와드릴까요? seutaepeu: sonnim, annyeonghasimnikka, mueoseul dowadeurilkkayo? Staff: Hello, how may I help you?
You: _____________, 가구를 보고 있어요.
You: _____________, gagureul bogo isseoyo.
You: “ _____________, I am looking for a furniture.”
A. 안녕 (annyeong)
B. 하이룽 (hairung)
C. 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)
D. 여보세요 (yeoboseyo)
Question 2:
You’re a marketing manager. You’ve received an important email from KoreanClass101 and want to ask a few questions after reading it.
김유진: 네, 코리안클래스101의 김유진입니다. Kim Yujin:ne, koriankeullaeseu101ui gimyujinimnida. Kim Yujin: “This is Kim Yujin, from KoreanClass101.”
You: _________________________________.
A. 여보세요, 저 수지인데요, 지민이 바꿔주시면 안될까요?
(yeoboseyo, jeo sujiindeyo, jimini bakkwojusimyeon andoelkkayo?)
B. 안녕하세요, 금일 보내주신 이메일을 읽고 연락 드렸습니다.
(annyeonghaseyo, geumil bonaejusin imeireul ilgo yeollak deuryeotseumnida.)
C. 동무들 반갑습니다.
(dongmudeul bangapseumnida.)
D. 어, 나야 이메일 읽고 연락했어.
(eo, naya imeil ilgo yeollakaesseo.)
Question 3:
You ran into an old friend that you haven’t seen for more than ten years.
A: 어머, 진짜 오랜만이다. 잘 지냈어?
A: eomeo, jinjja oraenmanida. Jal jinaesseo?
A: “Oh my goodness, long time no see. What have you been up to?”
B: ________________, 응 나야 잘 지냈지.
B: ________________, eung naya jal jinaetji.
B: “________________, yea I’ve been great.”
A. 정말 오랜만입니다.
(jeongmal oraenmanimnida.)
B. 잘 주무셨어요?
(jal jumusyeosseoyo?)
C. 진짜 오랜만이다.
(jinjja oraenmanida.)
Answers:
C
B
C
9. How KoreanClass101 Can Help You with Korean
We hope you found this article very educational. KoreanClass101 has many free lessons for you to improve your Korean. If you want to learn how to say not only hello, but also goodbye at your workplace, we have a lesson for you, so feel free to check it out.
If you want to review how to say hello with a native Korean speaker, we have a lesson called 10 Ways to Say Hello as well. Also feel free to use Korean Resources on our website to study Korean at your own pace. Good luck with studying Korean. Now get out there and start putting your newfound Korean greeting knowledge to good use!
Most everyone is familiar with this day, as it is celebrated nearly everywhere the world. Yet, when exactly is April Fools’ Day? And where did April Fools come from? April Fools’ Day is observed on April 1st every year. This day of jokes and pranks is believed to have stemmed from the 16th-century calendar change in France, when New Year’s Day was moved from April 1 to January 1. This action was taken due to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.
However, a few people were resistant to the calendar change, so they continued to observe New Year’s Day on April 1st, rather than the new date. They were referred to as the “April Fools”, and others started playing mocking tricks on them. This custom endured, and is practiced to this day around the world!
1. Top One Million Words You Need to Know for April Fools’ Day
Do you want to know how to say April Fools’ Day in Korean? Well, there are millions of ways and words, but here are the top one million Korean words you really need to know! Simply click this link. Here are some of them you will find useful:
funny – 웃기는 – uggineun
joke – 농담하다 – nongdamhada
lie – 거짓말 – gyeojinmal
surprise – 놀라다 – nollada
sneaky – 몰래 – mollae
prankster – 장난꾸러기 – jangnankkureogi
prank – 장난 – jangnan
play a joke – 장난을 치다 – jangnaneul chida
humor – 유머 – yumeo
fool – 바보 – babo
deceptive – 속이는 – sogineun
April 1st – 4월 1일 – sawol iril
2. Korean Phrases You Can Use on April Fools’ Day
Don’t limit yourself to practical jokes – use these April Fools’ phrases in Korean to prank your favorite Korean friend or colleague!
I learned Korean in 1 month.
나는 1 달 만에 한국어를 배웠어.
Naneun han dal mane hangugeoreul baewoseo.
All classes for today got canceled.
오늘 모든 수업이 취소됐어.
Oneul modeun sueobi chwisodwaeseo.
I’m sorry, but I’ve just broken your favorite pair of glasses.
미안한데 나 방금 네가 가장 좋아하는 안경을 부러뜨렸어.
Mianhande na banggeum nega gajang joahaneun angyeongeul bureotteuryeoseo.
Someone has just hit your car.
어떤 사람이 방금 네 차를 쳤어.
Eotteon sarami banggeum ne chareul chyeoseo.
I’m getting married.
나 결혼해.
Na gyeolhonhae.
You won a free ticket.
공짜 티켓에 당첨되셨습니다.
Gongjja tikese dangcheomdoesyeotseumnida.
I saw your car being towed.
네 차가 견인되는 걸 봤어.
Ne chaga gyeonindoeneun geol bwaseo.
They’re giving away free gift cards in front of the building.
Choose your victims carefully, though; the idea is to get them to laugh with you, not to hurt their feelings or humiliate them in front of others. Be extra careful if you choose to play a prank on your boss – you don’t want to antagonize them with an inappropriate joke.
3. Some of the Coolest April Fools’ Pranks To Play on Anybody
Right, now that you know the top million April Fools’ words in Korean, let’s look at some super pranks and tricks to play on friends, colleagues and family. Some April Fools ideas never grow old, while new ones are born every year.
Never joke in such a way that it hurts anyone, or humiliates them badly in front of others – the idea is for everybody to laugh and enjoy the fun! Respect is still key, no matter what day of the year it is.
1- Infestation
This trick is so simple, yet so creepy, it’s almost unbelievable. Take black paper, cut out the silhouette of a giant cockroach, a spider or another insect, and stick it inside the lampshade of a table lamp. When the lamp is switched on, it will look like a monstrous insect is sitting inside the lampshade. Or, get a whole lot of realistic-looking plastic insects, and spread them over a colleague’s desk and chair, or, at home, over the kids’ beds etc. Creep-factor: stellar.
2- Which One Doesn’t Fit?
Put the photo of a celebrity or a notorious politician in a frame, and take it to work on April Fools’ Day. Hang the photo on the staff picture wall, and wait. You’ll be surprised how long it can take for people to notice that one picture doesn’t fit.
3- Something Weird in the Restroom
At work, replace the air freshener in the restroom with something noxious like insect killer, oven cleaner or your own odious mixture in a spray bottle. Be sure to cover the bottle’s body so no one suspects a swap.
Or paint a bar of soap with clear nail polish, and leave it at the hand wash basin. It will not lather.
Or, if your workplace’s restroom has partitioned toilets with short doors, arrange jeans or trousers and shoes on all but one of the toilet covers, so it looks like every stall is occupied. Now wait for complaints, and see how long it takes for someone to figure out the April Fools’ Day prank. You’ll probably wish you had a camera inside the restroom. But, unless you don’t mind getting fired, don’t put your own recording device in there!
4- Call Me Funny
Prepare and print out a few posters with the following instructions: Lion Roar Challenge! Call this number – 123-456-7890 – and leave your best lion’s roar as voicemail! Best roarer will be announced April 10 in the cafeteria. Prize: $100. (Lion’s roar is just an example; you can use any animal call, or even a movie character’s unique sound, such as Chewbacca from Star Wars. The weirder, the funnier. Obviously!) Put the posters up in the office where most of the staff is likely to see them. Now wait for the owner of the number to visit you with murderous intent. Have a conciliatory gift ready that’s not a prank.
5- Minty Cookies
This is another simple but hugely effective prank – simply separate iced cookies, scrape off the icing, and replace it with toothpaste. Serve during lunch or tea break at work, or put in your family’s lunch boxes. Be sure to take photos of your victim’s faces when they first bite into your April Fools’ cookies.
6- Wild Shopping
At your local grocer, place a realistic-looking plastic snake or spider among the fresh vegetables. Now wait around the corner for the first yell.
7- The Oldest Trick in the Book
Don’t forget probably the oldest, yet very effective April Fools’ joke in the book – smearing hand cream or Vaseline on a door handle that most staff, family or friends are likely to use. Yuck to the max!
8- Sneeze On Me
Another golden oldie is also gross, yet harmless and utterly satisfying as a prank. Fill a small spray bottle that you can easily conceal with water. Walk past a friend, colleague or one of your kids, and fake a sneeze while simultaneously spraying them with a bit of water. Expect to be called a totally disgusting person. Add a drop of lovely smelling essential oil to the water for extra confusion.
9- Word Play Repairs
Put a fresh leek in the hand wash basin at home or work, and then tell your housemates or colleagues this: “There’s a huge leak in the restroom/bathroom basin, it’s really serious. Please can someone go have a look?!” Expect exasperation and smiles all around. Note that this prank is only likely to work where people understand English well.
10- Scary Face
Print out a very scary face on an A4 sheet of paper, and place it in a colleague’s, or one of your kid’s drawers, so it’s the first thing they see when they open the drawer. You may not be very popular for a while.
11- Wake Up To Madness
Put foamy shaving cream, or real whipped cream on your hand, and wake your kid up by tickling their nose with it. As long as they get the joke, this could be a wonderful and fun way to start April Fools’ Day.
12- Computer Prank
This one’s fabulous, if you have a bit of time to fiddle with a colleague, friend or your kid’s computer. It is most effective on a computer where most of the icons they use are on the desktop background itself (as opposed to on the bottom task bar).
Take and save a screenshot of their desktop with the icons. Set this screenshot as their background image. Now delete all the working icons. When they return to their computer, wait for the curses when no amount of clicking on the icons works.
13- Monster Under the Cup
This one will also work well anywhere people meet. Take a paper cup, and write the following on it in black pen: “Danger! Don’t lift, big spider underneath.” Place it upside-down on prominent flat surface, such as a kitchen counter, a colleague’s desk or a restaurant table. Expect some truly interesting responses.
14- Prank Door
Write in large letters on a large and noticeable piece of paper: PUSH. Tape this notice on a door that should be pulled to open, and watch the hilarious struggle of those clever souls who actually read signs.
4. How Can KoreanClass101 Make Your April Fools’ Day Special?
If you happen to visit Korea, or if you work for any Korean company, knowing the above Korean prankster phrases can really lighten up your day. Showing you have a sense of humor can go a long way to cement good relationships in any situation. These phrases are at your disposal for free, as well as are these 100 core Korean words, which you will learn how to pronounce perfectly.
Also, don’t stop at learning April Fools’ phrases in Korean – bone up your Korean language skills with these FREE key phrases. Yes, KoreanClass101 doesn’t joke when it comes to effective, fun and easy learning.
Now, as a bonus, test our super-learning technology, and learn the Top 1000 most useful phrases in Korean below! But that’s not all. Read on to learn how you can be eligible for large enrollment discounts at KoreanClass101.
5. Top 1000 Most Useful Phrases in Korean – testing new technology
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Note: This technology is in beta-phase of development, and we invite your input for fine-tuning.
To participate: Watch the video for instructions, and leave a comment to rate it. Your comment will make you eligible for large enrollment-fee discounts. To watch the video, please click the play button.
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