Korean stories starting in GANADA Hongdae
EP.04 이거 뭐예요?
For someone visiting Korea for the first time, a restaurant menu can feel like a little adventure.
You may see pictures, but the names can be difficult,
and there are often many dishes you don't know anything about.
At times like this, there is one very useful Korean phrase.
At first, you can simply point at a menu item and carefully ask,
“이거 뭐예요?” (What is this?)
Then, the staff will kindly explain it to you.
“이거 김치찌개예요. This is kimchi jjigae.”
“돼지고기와 김치가 들어가요. It’s made with pork and kimchi. It’s a little spicy.”
At first, you may not understand every word.
And that’s perfectly okay.
What matters is that you asked a question and started a conversation in Korean.
When you discover a drink you've never seen before at a café,
When you want to know about a dish at a restaurant,
Even when you see something unfamiliar while walking down the street, “이거 뭐예요?” (What is this?)
One very simple expression can become a key to discovering new things in Korea.
And once you become a little more comfortable, you can add a few more questions.
“매워요?” (Is it spicy?)
“맛있어요?” (Is it delicious?)
“추천해주세요.” (Please recommend something.)
As these short sentences gradually connect,
one day, you may suddenly find yourself having a conversation in Korean.
🌿 Today's Hongdae Mission
🎯 Today's Hongdae Mission
This week, challenge yourself in Hongdae!
① Go into a restaurant or café.
② Choose a menu item you're curious about and point at it.
③ Ask, “이거 뭐예요?” (What is this?)
And if you're feeling brave, take it one step further!
“매워요?” (Is it spicy?)
“달아요??” (Is it sweet?)
“맛있어요?” (Is it delicious?)
“추천해주세요.” (Please recommend something.)
Finally, choose a menu item you like and try ordering:
“이거 주세요!” (I’ll have this, please!)
You don't have to speak perfectly.
It's okay to make a few mistakes.
What matters is using the Korean you've learned in real life.
At GANADA Korean Language Academy,
we hope that the Korean you learn in the classroom becomes a living language that you can use outside the classroom, too.
In a café in Hongdae, at a restaurant, or in a small conversation with someone you meet while walking down the street,
a simple phrase like “이거 뭐예요?”
can be the beginning of a new experience.
Take the sentence you learned today and try it out on the streets of Hongdae.
The moment you start using Korean,
the unfamiliar streets of Seoul can gradually become more interesting and exciting.
So, what Korean phrase will you try using in Hongdae next time?