{"id":27558,"date":"2021-11-17T13:14:34","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T18:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.pimsleur.com\/?p=27558"},"modified":"2023-07-18T09:30:48","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T13:30:48","slug":"korean-phrases-in-squid-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pimsleur.com\/blog\/korean-phrases-in-squid-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Nine Korean Phrases You Need to Understand Squid Game"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Learn Korean With Squid Game<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Within a matter of days after its release on Netflix, Squid Game<\/em> has gained international notoriety and acquired a massive fanbase. The worldwide craze has inspired many to take on learning the Korean language and getting to know its illustrious culture. To help you get to know Squid Game <\/em>and Korea as a whole, we\u2019ve put together a list of useful Korean phrases and cultural references that are found within the show!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 Helpful Korean Phrases and Cultural References in Squid Game <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Mianhae – ( \ubbf8\uc548\ud574 )<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Korean phrase \u201cmianhae<\/em>\u201d is used repeatedly throughout Squid Game<\/em>, often when the participants are apologizing to someone they\u2019re close with. That\u2019s because the phrase is used as a casual way to say \u201cI\u2019m sorry\u201d without much formality attached. You can use this phrase with your Korean friends to apologize for something or add the polite suffix \u201cyo\u201d to the end of the phrase if you want to make it sound more polite. Mianhae<\/em> is moreso used for smaller and more casual apologies in Korean; if you\u2019re apologizing more formally, however, you might want to try its more eloquent counterpart, \u201cjoesonghabnida.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Don i eopseo ( \ub3c8\uc774 \uc5c6\uc5b4\uc694<\/em> )<\/em> <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"squid<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A common recurring theme throughout Squid Game<\/em> is the debt that seems to follow the contestants wherever they go, highlighting how difficult life can be for those who are less fortunate or have endured numerous hardships. One phrase you\u2019ll often hear the actors repeating is \u201cdon i eopseo,<\/em>\u201d which translates to \u201cI don\u2019t have money\u201d or, more literally, \u201cthere is no money.\u201d If you ever find yourself being asked for money you don\u2019t have in Korea, you can use this phrase to let everyone know that your wallet is empty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Sajangnim ( \uc0ac\uc7a5\ub2d8 )<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used commonly when interacting with debt collectors or bosses within the series, you\u2019ll probably see the word \u201csajangnim<\/em>\u201d translated to \u201csir\u201d throughout the show; though the subtitles here aren\u2019t exactly incorrect, the actual Korean meaning has a more specific connotation. In Korean, the honorific nim<\/em> denotes respect, signaling that the person you\u2019re talking to is of higher status or older than you are. Nim<\/em> is often paired with the listener\u2019s occupation. In this case, sajang<\/em> translates to \u201cchief of the company\u201d or \u201cCEO\u201d — a respectful way for the game\u2019s participants to communicate with their bosses or higher-ups. However, it can also be used as a respectful term to anyone who is older than the speaker and appears businesslike; in Episode 2, we see Ali use this term for Sangwoo, even though Sangwoo isn\u2019t his boss. You may also hear other words with the polite honorific nim<\/em> attached, showcasing how Korean speakers will often attach the nim <\/em>suffix to an occupation rather than a name.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Hyung –  (\ud615) <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another honorific to add to our list! While sajangnim <\/em>is a formal way of addressing someone older or of higher status, hyung<\/em> is a more casual and intimate honorific used between close male friends with a brotherly connotation. In the context of Squid Game<\/em>, the transition from nim<\/em> to hyung<\/em> denotes the closer proximity of the characters\u2019 relationships to one another, especially between older and younger people. With that being said, it\u2019s usually up to the older member of the pair to decide when this switch is appropriate; Sangwoo is the one who tells Ali to call him hyung<\/em>, not the other way around. This ties heavily into respectful social customs that are maintained between older and younger people in Korean society.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Mugunghwa Kkoci Pieot Seumnida – ( \ubb34\uad81\ud654 \uaf43 \uc774 \ud53c\uc5c8 \uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4 )<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This phrase is infamous among Squid Game <\/em>fans for being the creepy sing-song chant the doll repeats during the first game. Though the phrase is often used by children playing red-light green-light, the words repeated actually have nothing to do with the game they are often associated with. Mugunghwa kkoci pieot seumnida <\/em>translates to \u201cthe hibiscus flower bloomed\u201d in English. Though seemingly unrelated to children\u2019s games and nursery rhymes, the hibiscus is actually South Korea\u2019s national flower, known to represent eternity and immortality — considering the violent eliminations the players face during the red-light green-light scene, this cultural context makes the phrase all the more creepy when you hear it sung over and over!<\/p>\n\n\n\n