Talk To Me In Korean Blog

TTMIK Team

The Korean Skill You Can’t Learn from a Textbook: “Nunchi”

The Korean Skill You Can’t Learn from a Textbook: “Nunchi”

안녕하세요! Hyunwoo here. I’ve spent the last 20 years teaching Korean to millions of students worldwide. But there is one vital skill that no textbook, app, or vocabulary list can fully capture. In Korea, we call this Nunchi (눈치). If you’ve ever watched a K-Drama, you might have

Got 1 Hour? That’s Enough Time to Learn Hangeul

Got 1 Hour? That’s Enough Time to Learn Hangeul

How to Learn to Read and Write in Korean Hangeul (Even If You’re a Total Beginner!) Even if you don’t know anything about the Korean language and haven’t taken any lessons before, you can learn how to read and write every letter in the Korean language quite

Could Korean Honorifics (존댓말) disappear in Korea someday?

Could Korean Honorifics (존댓말) disappear in Korea someday?

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Could 존댓말 disappear in Korea? Have you ever hesitated right before speaking Korean to a stranger, a coworker, or a staff member? * “Is 해요체 polite enough here?” * “Should I switch to 합니다체?” * “My friend says their office uses 평어. Does that mean 존댓말 is disappearing?” If you’ve asked “Could

5 Horse-Themed Korean Expressions

5 Horse-Themed Korean Expressions

According to the Korean horoscope, 2026 is the Year of the Red Horse. And I can't think of a better time to learn Korean expressions with 말! 🐎 In this post, we’re going to explore a fun mix of proverbs, idioms, and even memes that include 말 from

Why Do Koreans Attend So Many Weddings and Funerals?

Why Do Koreans Attend So Many Weddings and Funerals?

안녕하세요! Hyunwoo here. Whenever I tell my non-Korean friends how often I attend weddings or funerals in Korea, their reaction is almost always the same. They look genuinely shocked. On average, I attend 15 to 20 weddings a year. In just the last two months, I’ve also been to

5 Food-Related Korean Proverbs You’ll Hear Every Day

5 Food-Related Korean Proverbs You’ll Hear Every Day

If you are learning Korean, you will inevitably come across some proverbs, known as 속담 [sokdam]. They are an integral part of learning the Korean language. So, why not learn some proverbs while also learning a little about Korean foods? 1. 누워서 떡 먹기 [nuwoseo tteok meokki] * 눕다 [nup-tta] = to

Why Do Koreans Always Ask 'Did You Eat?'

Why Do Koreans Always Ask 'Did You Eat?'

"Did You Eat?" Eating is important. Anyone can hardly deny that. After all, you’ve got to eat to survive, right? But in Korea, asking “밥 먹었어?” (Did you eat?) is much more than checking if someone had a meal. 🥄 Why Do Koreans Ask "Did You Eat?