Korean for Dummies (3 page)

Korean films ........................................................................................130

Korean noraebang ..............................................................................132

Bar-and club-hopping .......................................................................134

Giving and Receiving Invitations................................................................135

Getting something started ................................................................135

Inviting your friends to your house .................................................136

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Chapter 8: Enjoying Yourself: Recreation and Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . .139

Naming Your Hobbies ..................................................................................139

Exploring Nature ..........................................................................................142

Admiring and discovering the landscape........................................144

Korean seasons...................................................................................145

Talking about the Arts .................................................................................147

Playing Sports and Gaming .........................................................................148

Playing games .....................................................................................148

Gaming at a Korean PC bang.............................................................148

Chapter 9: Making Connections: Phone, Mail, Fax, and Internet . . .151

Phoning Made Easy......................................................................................151

Finding a phone .................................................................................152

Making the call....................................................................................152

Asking for someone............................................................................155

Leaving a message..............................................................................157

Buying stamps ....................................................................................160

Asking for special services................................................................160

Sending a Fax ................................................................................................161

Looking for an Internet Connection...........................................................161

Chapter 10: At the Office and Around the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165

Getting Down to Work..................................................................................166

Finding things at the office................................................................166

Using computers ................................................................................169

Finding people at the office...............................................................170

Asking for directions..........................................................................171

Attending Meetings ......................................................................................173

Making introductions.........................................................................173

Speaking up in a meeting...................................................................173

Making the Rounds: Business Dinners ......................................................174

Drinking politely .................................................................................175

Declining drinks..................................................................................176

Making Yourself at Home ............................................................................176

The place where you live...................................................................176

The smallest room..............................................................................177

Visting Koreans at Home .............................................................................178

Taking the tour....................................................................................178

Chilling out ..........................................................................................179

Eating and drinking ............................................................................181

Staying over ........................................................................................184

Cleaning up..........................................................................................186

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Part III: Korean on the Go ..........................................189

Chapter 11: Money, Money, Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191

Knowing Korean Currency ..........................................................................191

Changing Currency ......................................................................................192

Working the ATM ..........................................................................................196

Paying for Your Purchases ..........................................................................197

Using cash ...........................................................................................197

Using plastic........................................................................................199

Using personal checks .......................................................................201

Chapter 12: Asking Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203

Asking for Directions ...................................................................................203

Finding your way with “where?”.......................................................204

Specifying which direction................................................................207

Specifying distance ...........................................................................209

Giving Directions..........................................................................................210

Referring to locations on the street .................................................210

Providing actions with directions ....................................................210

Making directions flow.......................................................................211

Chapter 13: Staying at a Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215

Sorting Out the Accommodation Options ................................................215

Traditional hotels ...............................................................................216

Motels ..................................................................................................216

Korean motels and B&Bs...................................................................217

Hostels .................................................................................................217

Saunas and public baths ...................................................................217

Finding Accommodations ...........................................................................218

Making Reservations ...................................................................................220

Asking for details................................................................................223

Checking out the room ......................................................................224

Complaining 101 ...........................................................................................226

Broken machinery ..............................................................................226

Noisy neighbors..................................................................................227

Other problems ..................................................................................228

Checking Out ................................................................................................228

Chapter 14: Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .233

Getting Around at the Airport ....................................................................233

Making it past the checkin counter.................................................234

Getting past Immigration and Customs...........................................238

Leaving the airport.............................................................................238

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Getting Around Town...................................................................................239

Hailing a cab........................................................................................239

Taking a bus ........................................................................................240

Riding the subway ..............................................................................240

Getting on the train ............................................................................244

Chapter 15: Planning a Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .247

Picking a Good Time for Travel ..................................................................247

Checking out the seasons..................................................................247

Naming months and counting days .................................................248

Korean holidays..................................................................................252

Naming off the years ..........................................................................254

Specifying dates and times................................................................255

Choosing Your Destination .........................................................................256

Packing for Your Trip...................................................................................259

Getting the Help of a Travel Agency ..........................................................259

Chapter 16: Handling an Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .263

Shouting for Help ........................................................................................263

Calling the Police..........................................................................................264

Reporting an accident to the police.................................................264

Finding the lost and found ................................................................266

Getting Medical Help ...................................................................................267

Finding a doctor .................................................................................267

Describing what ails you ...................................................................269

Discussing your medical history......................................................272

Making a diagnosis .............................................................................272

Following the prescription ................................................................273

Getting Legal Help ........................................................................................274

Part IV: The Part of Tens ............................................277

Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Get a Quick Handle on Korean . . . . . . . . . .279

Find Koreans (or Other Korean Speakers) Near You...............................279

Use Korean Language Tapes, CDs, and Other Multimedia Resources....280

Visit Korean Restaurants and Bars ............................................................280

Sing Korean Songs........................................................................................280

Watch Korean Movies ..................................................................................280

Watch Korean Drama ...................................................................................281

Surf the Net for Korean Web Sites..............................................................281

Look Up Words in a Korean Dictionary .....................................................281

Make Korean Word and Phrase Lists.........................................................282

Go to Korea! ..................................................................................................282

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Chapter 18: Ten Things to Avoid Doing in Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .283

Bragging or Accepting Compliments .........................................................283

Making Someone Lose Face in Public........................................................284

Sitting or Eating Before the Seniors in the Group ....................................284

Calling Your Boss or Teachers by Their First Names ..............................285

Saying “Ssi” After Your Own Name ............................................................285

Walking into a House with Your Shoes on.................................................285

Crossing Your Legs When You Sit ..............................................................286

Kissing in Public ...........................................................................................287