Here is another attempt of mine to cope with my complete lack of language learning motivation, Playstation-generation attention span and need for something new every couple of hours. And the new method is- trying to find as many rude things in the language as I can… Not a method that many schools advocate, but I think they might be missing out on a real motivator with teenage classes!

As with My Lonely Planet Is Full of Eels, all the sentences below come straight out of the Lonely Planet Korean phrasebook but it is no reflection on this rather useful publication that I found the things below amusing and so learnt them easier that way:

han-gugesonun igol ottok’e haeyo? = How do you do this in your country?

hajinun ank’o pogiman halkkeyo = I don’t mind watching, but I’d prefer not to participate

yoja uisarul ch’ajassumyon hanundeyo? = I’d like to see a female doctor

(chonun) uihakul kongbu haeyo = I am studying medicine

(chonun) kanhosa ieyo = I am a nurse

(chonun) songsaengnim = I am a teacher

kugon che goshi anindeyo = That’s not mine

mappolsu issoyo? = Can I taste it?

mullyossoyo = I’ve been bitten

mwo haseyo? = What are you doing?

tangshinun kup’aeyo = Are you in a hurry?

tangshinun musowoyo? = Are you afraid?

igoshi maume turoyo? = Do you like it here?

naeriryogo hanundeyo = I want to get off

igot poseyo = Look at this!

arumdamneyo? = Beautiful, isn’t it?

che mannainun … sarieyo = My actual age is…

a! ap’ayo = Ouch! That hurts

harue myoppon ijo? = How many times a day?

kyesok kajuseyo = please continue

ch’onch’onhi kajuseyo = please slow down

tangshine sajin chom tchigodo doelkkayo? = Can I take a photo of you?

pulkanung haeyo = It’s not possible

chunbi dwaessoyo? = Are you ready?

choesong hamnida urinara-esonun kurok’e haji ank’odunyo = I’m sorry, it is not the custom in my country

igose iksukaji anayo = I’m not accustomed to this

hanbon haebolkkeyo = I’ll give it a go

chon chal mot’aeyo = I don’t do it well

dokparo kaseyo = straight ahead

wentchoguro/ oruntchoguro kaseyo = To the left/ right

… dwi-e = behind

yogie = here

…ape = in front of…