Korean for English speakers Sports · Lesson 4

Playing a table tennis

Skills in Korean — 탁구 잘 쳐요? (Are you good at table tennis?) — with 잘 for skill.

Conversation

  1. Kyle Kyle

    미라 씨, 탁구 잘 쳐요?

    Mira ssi, takgu jal chyeoyo?

    Ms. Meera, are you good at table tennis?

    Tip: <탁구> = table tennis <잘> = well <쳐요> = verb "to play" (in present tense) [Note] This verb is used for some ball games like golf, badminton, etc. or for some instruments like guitar, piano, etc.

  2. Meera Meera

    그럼요. 학교에서 탁구 동아리를 해요.

    Geureomyo. Hakgyoeseo takgu dongarireul haeyo.

    Sure. I do a table tennis club at school.

    Tip: <그럼요> = formal way to say "Sure"/"Of course" <학교> = school <동아리> = club (in school) <N을/를 해요> = verb "to do N" (in present tense) [Note] Particles 을/를 are used to mark the object of the sentence. It is chosen according to the syllable before. If it finishes by a vowel (ㅣ of 동아리), we use -를. If by a final consonant, we use -을.

  3. Kyle Kyle

    오~ 그럼 저랑 같이 탁구 할까요?

    O~ Geureom jeorang gachi takgu halkkayo?

    Oh, then would you like to play table tennis with me?

    Tip: <N(이)랑> = with N <같이> = together <할까요> = verb "to do" (in suggestion conjugation)

  4. Meera Meera

    좋아요. 근데 저 진짜 잘해요. 각오하세요.

    Joayo. Geunde jeo jinjja jalhaeyo. Gagohaseyo.

    Great. But I'm really good at it. Prepare yourself.

    Tip: <좋아요> = formal way to say "Great!" <근데> = but, by the way (abbreviation of 그런데) <진짜> = really <잘해요> = to do well <각오하세요> = formal way to say "Get ready", "Prepare yourself", "Be prepared"

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'good at X' in Korean?

잘 + verb. 잘 해요 = 'I'm good at it'. 노래를 잘 해요 = 'I'm good at singing'.

What is 탁구?

'Table tennis / ping pong'. 탁구를 치다 = 'to play table tennis'.

What does 동아리 mean?

'Club (school/university)'. 탁구 동아리 = 'table tennis club'. Major part of Korean student life.

Test yourself

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

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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