Very Useful Korean Phrases

Bad travelers. We all know them. "Can I get a hot dog?" in a thick accent at a Parisian cafe. (Okay I've never witnessed that but it seems to illustrate the point.)

I am not one of them, so before coming to Korea I purchased Teach Yourself Korean with the hopes of studying a bit before I landed (and more after I did). Previously I used Teach Yourself Portuguese before a trip to Brazil and was quite pleased.

Teach Yourself Korean has yet, at unit 9 and 7 months of study, to teach me to ask "Where is the bathroom?" ("Hwachangshil odieyo?") I learned that phrase on my own, without the use of the mini-dictionary in the back of it, because bathroom (or any synonym for it) is NOT IN the mini dictionary.

However, I have learned the following:
"Wonsungi-nun p'iryo opseoyo." ("I don't need a monkey.")
"Sashil, sul-i yak-poda teo choayo." ("The fact is, booze is better than medicine.")
"Shikkureowoyo." ("Shut up!" Literally, "It's noisy.")
"Oje bam kieok opseoyo." ("I don't remember last night.")
"Che changnyeok-un cheonggi myeondogi-rul sasseosseosseoyo." ("We bought him an electric shaver last year.")

Armed with these phrases I can create more complicated and useful expressions such as:
"Oje bam-un cheonggi wonsungi-rul sasseosseosseoyo." ("We bought him an electric monkey last night.")
"Kieok-un p'iryo opseoyo." ("I don't need to remember.")

and

"Sashil, shikkureowoyo." ("Really, you need to shut up." Lit., "The fact is, it's noisy.")

At this point I should interject that Teach Yourself Korean, in its introduction, proudly proclaims that it is not another "traveler's Korean" or a Korean treatise. Rather, it (and I am paraphrasing from memory): "Will seek to teach you how to speak Korean the way Koreans really speak Korean." My experience has been that booze is a favored activity and topic of conversation. However, none of my intoxicated evenings have led to monkey-buying or mid-blackout electric shaving. They have, however, all involved a need for a restroom.

Taeguk Il-Chang

Hello and welcome to my Korean blog.

About me: I am 27, American, and have been in Korea for a whopping six months (as of the time of this writing, July 2009). I briefly practiced law in the states and decided to come over and teach some English to gain perspective and travel a bit.

About Korea: I'm in Wonju, in Gangwon province, about 90 minutes east of Seoul by bus. It's a small, peaceful town by Korean standards (300,000) with lots of hills

Why I am blogging: First, I learned a lot about Korea (culture, language, and business) from blogs out there from other expats; now that I know a little about Korea I'd like to share. Second, my family and friends can know what I'm up to by reading this and it means I won't have to type as meany emails or upload the same picture multiple times to add a personalized message. (Obviously, I'll forego the personalized message.)

Besides, if Sex and the City has it right, then many torrid affairs and independent wealth will inevitably follow.

My five-year plan: Ask anyone who's interviewed me, I don't have one.

What the name means: Taeguk Il-Chang ("Korean first - chapter") is the first WTF (World Taekwondo Federation, not "What the .. ") form. I wanted a Korean name but not something too snappy or vacuous, so this came to mind.

Hope you enjoy.