"I, My, Me, Mine" - Learn Korean Pronouns (KWOW #49)

In our latest KWOW episode, we learned some omnipresent Korean words: I, my, me, and mine. Watch the video below if you haven't already:

Ready or not, it's time for our weekly KWOW exercises. Test out your new skills by seeing if you can spot this episode's vocabulary! Answers are located at end of this blog entry.

Question #1: How many I, my, me, and mine's do you hear in Se7en's "When I Can't Sing"?

Question #2: Where does the third MINE (naegguh/내꺼) appear in Infinite’s “Be Mine”?

Question #3: Are you ready for a challenge? How many Korean AND English variations of I, my, me, and mine's can you spot in 4Minute's "I, My, Me, Mine"?

GRAND FINALE QUESTION #4: How many MY's (NAE/내) can you find in Miss A's "Touch"?

Answer #1: Four times. Let's find them together, shall we?

1. (0:12) 내가 모든걸 잃어도 -- Even if I lose everything
2. (0:16) 내 인기가 떨어져도 -- Even if my popularity drops
3. (0:26) 나라는 이유만으로 -- For the sole reason of me
4. (0:29) 날 계속 사랑해 줄 수 있니 --Do you think you can continue to love me?

Answer #2: The third MINE (naegguh/내꺼) is sung at 2:04.

Answer #3: Whew! Granny Kim says she found 120 Korean and English versions of I, my, me, and mine. How many did you catch?

Answer #4: Write your answer in the comment section below with a fun question to Professor Oh. First *three* people to get the correct answer get a reply from this week’s KWOW host! No question, no reply. Try your best and good luck :)

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How to express PAIN in Korean (KWOW #48)

How do you communicate your physical and emotional pains in Korean? Let KWOW episode 48 teach you a lesson! :)

Think you can recognize APA and APEUDA? Test yourself with these exercises. Answers are located at end of this blog entry.

Question #1: When does the 3rd APA appear in 2AM's "I Made a Mistake"?

Question #2: How many APAs can you find in this excerpt from "200 Pounds Beauty"?

Question #3: Where do you hear the 1st APA in Fly to the Sky's performance of "Even Though My Heart Breaks"? (Trivia: This song is an OST for the Korean drama "Fashion 70s." See the original music video here.)

GRAND FINALE QUESTION #4: How many APAs are sung in 2NE1's "It Hurts" music video?

ANSWERS BELOW. NO PEEKING!

Answer #1: The 3rd APA appears at 2:16 right after two APAs.

Answer #2: Two is the magic number!

Answer #3: Brian Joo sings the first APA at 1:47.

Answer #4: Write your answer in the comment section below with a question to Bongja. First *three* people to get the correct answer get a reply from this week's KWOW host! No question, no reply. Good luck :)

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Korean Honor Titles You Must Know (KWOW#47)

In KWOW #47, we've learned some important social titles: SUNBAE and HOOBAE. These terms are omnipresent in the academic and Korean entertainment worlds. Check out the latest episode if you haven't already:

Shall we do a quick review? The English translation of sunbae is "senior." Sunbae is NOT synonymous with elderly people. The term has nothing to do with age.

Someone is sunbae to you if they…

• attended the same school as you (before you did).
• worked in the same company as you (before you did).

Anyone who entered your academic or work environment before you is sunbae.

Sunbae is informal. The formal version is sunbaenim. Use sunbae only to those you are good friends with. For all other relations it is recommended to use sunbaenim. In most cases it is safer to speak formally. On the other hand, it can be awkward if you speak formally to your same-age friends.

If sunbae means "senior," is there a Korean word for juniors? Yes! "Junior" is hoobae. Keep in mind that sunbae and hoobae do NOT refer to grade levels (i.e. freshman, sophomore, junior, senior). Sunbae and hoobae are titles used beyond the school years. Alumni continue to call their seniors as sunbae long after they've have graduated.

The sunbae culture is taken seriously in Korea. If you don't address your sunbaes correctly, they may be offended.

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Think you understand the sunbae and hoobae system? Let's put your skills to the test! (Answers at end of blog entry)

Question #1: G-Wagon was born in 1988. Taeyin was born in 1984. G-Wagon started working for Galbi Entertainment in 2001. Taeyin entered the same company in 2005. Who's the sunbae?

Question #2: You were an 11th grader at Kimchi High School, but just transferred to Tongdak High. You became friends with Bobby Lee, a 9th grader. Who's the sunbae?

Question #3: Your new 9th grade buddy Bobby Lee transferred to Kimchi High School. An year later you graduated from Tongdak High. Who's the sunbae now?

Question #4: Your grandmother is heading back to school! She was recently accepted at your college, which you graduated from last year. Who's the sunbae?

Question #5: Where do you hear sunbaenim in this video?

ANSWERS BELOW. NO PEEKING!

Answer #1: Even though Taeyin is four years older, G-Wagon is sunbae to Taeyin. Remember, age has nothing to do with someone being your sunbae.

Amswer #2: Regardless of age and grade level, Bobby Lee is sunbae because he attended Tongdak High School before you.

Amswer #3: Bobby Lee is still sunbae to you at Tongdak High School. This is because Bobby attended the school before you did. But guess what? You are sunbae to him at Kimchi High School. How? Because you had attended Kimchi High before Bobby did. You are both sunbaes, but at different schools!

Amswer #4: You are sunbae to your grandma. Once again, age has nothing to do with being a sunbae. It has everything to do with who attended the school first.

Answer #5: Sunbaenim appears at 0:16.

How did you do? Did you get all of them right? Awesome. If not, don't worry. Go watch KWOW #47 again ;)

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