Korean phrases that I use everyday

I use Korean to my baby, Yuri, so that she can grow speaking 2 languages, English and Korean. I use some Korean words to my husband since it sounds cute in Korean or just easier that way. These are the Korean phrases and sentences that I use daily basis.

1. 사랑해 (Saranghae)

사랑해 means 'I love you.' However, we don't put either 'I' or 'you.' In Korean Language, you hardly use 'I' as a subject. When I am talking and say a verb, everyone thinks that the subject of the verb is me. For example, if I say 피곤해(be tired), that means 나 피곤해(I am tired). So, If I say 사랑해(love), that means 'I love.' If I look at you and I say 사랑해, then that mean I love you. You hardly put 'you' like 너 사랑해 or 너를(널) 사랑해. You might hear this(널 사랑해) a lot in a song or a poem since they need to specify who I love.

2. 우리 귀염둥이 (woori quiyumdungi)

우리 means 'our,' and 귀염둥이 is a cutie. If I need to translate 우리 귀염둥이 to English, it might be 'my cutie pie.' The interesting thing in Korean is we use 우리(we, us, our) rather than 나(I, me) or 내 (my). I refer my mom  to 우리 엄마(our mom), my house to 우리 집(our house), my family to 우리 가족(our family), my school to 우리 학교(our school), my baby to 우리 아기(our baby). Even if I am the only daughter, I will call my mom 우리엄마. We never say 내 엄마, 내 집, 내 가족, 내 학교, 내 아기 when I am referring them in a conversation with someone. Sometimes, you might need to emphasize that this house is 'my house' not 'your house.' Then, you can use 이건 내집이야.

3. 배고파? (Baegopa?)

배고파 means hungry. You can use 나 배고파 as a statement like I am hungry. If you put a question mark(?), you are asking someone if he/she is hungry. 배고파? means 'Are you hungry?' even though there is no 'are you' here. You can say 너 배고파?, too. You can apply this rule to all of other verbs. 나  요리해 means I am cooking/ I cook. 너 요리해? means are you cooking?/Do you cook? 나 피아노 쳐. means I am playing the piano/ I play the piano. 너 피아노 쳐? means are you playing the piano?/ Do you play the piano?

4. 고마워 (Komawuh)

고마워 means Thank you. A lot of people know that thank you is 감사합니다(Kamsahamnida). This 감사합니다 is a high form. You use it to an older person or somebody that you don't know well. You use 고마워 to your friends, someone who is younger than you, someone who you feel very comfortable with. It is a lower form and we call it 반말(Banmal). You only use Banmal to a older person only when he or she tells you to do so.

5. 이리와봐 (Iriwabua)

이리와봐 means 'come here and see' but sometimes people use it even though there is nothing to see. It is like 'come and see what will happen.'

6. 자자 (jaja)

자자 means 'let's sleep'. Even though you are not sleeping with the person that you are saying this to, you say 자자. I say this to Yuri so that she knows that it is a bed time. You can use this when you are sleeping with the person you are saying it to. 공부하자 can be used as 'Let's study together.' or 'Why don't you study?'

7. 미안해요(mianhaeyo)

This is 'I am sorry.' I use this to Yuri when she cries. Lately, she hates me not being around her. She wants me to be quite close to her all the time. Being a mom is not easy. lol.

8. 안아줘 (Annajuh)

You can use this to your girlfriend or boyfriend. This is a very sweet and cute phrase. It means 'give me a hug. Hold me.' You will not use this to just your friend. Koreans usually don't hug each other.

I made the video of me saying these words. Check it out for the right pronunciation! :)