Korean for English speakers School · Lesson 2

Casual conversation without politeness suffix -요

Korean casual speech without -요 — 영어 숙제 했어? (Did you do English homework?) — informal between friends.

Conversation

  1. Meera Meera

    카시안, 영어 숙제 했어?

    Kasian, yeongeo sukje haesseo?

    Cassian, did you do your English homework?

    Tip: <영어> = English (language) <숙제> = homework <했어> = verb "to do" (in past tense & casual suffix -어 without 요)

  2. Cassian Cassian

    응, 당연하지!

    Eung, dangyeonhaji!

    Yes, of course!

    Tip: <응> = casual way to say "Yes" <당연하지> = informal way to say "Of course!"

  3. Meera Meera

    나는 못 했어.

    Naneun mot haesseo.

    I couldn't do it.

    Tip: <나> = "I" (subject in an informal conversation <=> 저) <못 했어> = verb "couldn't do" (in past tense & casual suffix -어)

  4. Cassian Cassian

    아, 정말?

    A, jeongmal?

    Ah, really?

    Tip: <정말> = really

  5. Cassian Cassian

    어? 저기 예니퍼 선생님 오신다!

    Eo? Jeogi yenipeo seonsaengnim osinda!

    Oh! There comes Ms. Yennifer!

    Tip: <저기 N 오신다> = expression to say "There comes N" in a polite way for the person coming <선생님> = professor

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What is casual Korean speech?

Drop -요 ending: 했어요 → 했어. Use between close friends, family, or younger people. Inappropriate with strangers/elders.

Common casual forms?

잘 지내? (how are you?), 뭐 해? (what're you doing?), 어디 있어? (where are you?). Drop -요 for casual.

What is 당연하지!?

'Of course! / obviously!'. Casual confirmation. Formal: 당연합니다.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Korean lessons.

5 quick questions on what you just heard.

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