The phrase 책을 펴세요 means “Open the book.” It is often used in classrooms when instructing students to start reading or referring to a specific section.
Teacher directing students in class:
선생님: 책을 펴세요! 45쪽을 보세요.
Teacher: Open your book! Look at page 45.
Giving instructions in a study session:
책을 펴고 첫 번째 문장을 읽어 보세요.
Open the book and read the first sentence.
At the beginning of a lesson:
오늘 수업을 시작합니다. 책을 펴세요!
We are starting today’s lesson. Open your books!
“척척 맞다” (cheokcheok matda) in Korean means that things fit together perfectly, work smoothly, or proceed in an orderly manner. It often describes situations where elements align well or function harmoniously.
Here are some examples:
지수와 나는 손발이 척척 맞아 빨리 일을 끝낼 수 있었다.
(Jisuwa naneun sonbari chakchak maja ppalli ireul kkeutnael su isseotda.)
→ “Jisoo and I worked in sync and finished the task quickly.”
우리 팀은 계획대로 척척 맞아 들어가고 있다.
(Uri timeun gyehoekdaero chakchak maja deureogago itda.)
→ “Our team is smoothly following the plan.”
Same meaning as 착착 맞다!
The adjective means slowly, unhurriedly.
It’s often used when telling someone to take their time, not rush, or do something carefully.
천천히 걸으세요. → Please walk slowly.
밥은 천천히 먹어야 건강에 좋아요. → It’s good for your health to eat slowly.
천천히 말해 주세요. → Please speak slowly. (Often used by learners of Korean!)
결정은 천천히 해도 돼요. → You can make the decision slowly (take your time).
천천히 해, 괜찮아. → Do it slowly, it’s okay. (Encouraging someone not to rush)
천천히 isn’t just about speed — it also conveys patience, care, and relaxation.
It’s commonly used in everyday speech to reassure someone or to emphasize carefulness.
While 천천히 literally means “slowly,” Koreans also use it figuratively to mean “take it easy” or “don’t rush life.”
천천히 해도 늦지 않아. → Even if you do it slowly, it’s not too late. (Encouragement to avoid rushing decisions)
천천히 가는 게 더 빨라. → Going slowly is actually faster. (Proverb-like saying: careful, steady work avoids mistakes and saves time)
천천히 가도 결국 도착한다. → Even if you go slowly, you’ll arrive eventually. (Life lesson: persistence matters more than speed)
천천히 즐겨. → Enjoy it slowly. (Encouragement to savor experiences, not rush through them)
In Korean culture, 천천히 often carries a warm, reassuring tone. It’s not just about speed — it’s about patience, care, and mindfulness. So when someone says “천천히 해,” they’re not criticizing you for being slow; they’re telling you it’s okay to relax and not pressure yourself.
“천천히 말씀해 주세요” (cheon-cheon-hi mal-sseum-hae ju-se-yo) means “Please speak slowly.” It is a polite way to ask someone to slow down when speaking, especially if you are having trouble understanding them.
한국어가 서툴러서 천천히 말씀해 주세요. (han-gug-eo-ga seo-tul-leo-seo cheon-cheon-hi mal-sseum-hae ju-se-yo.) – I’m not fluent in Korean, so please speak slowly.
너무 빨리 말해서 이해하기 어려워요. 천천히 말씀해 주세요. (neo-mu ppal-li mal-hae-seo i-hae-ha-gi eo-ryeo-wo-yo. cheon-cheon-hi mal-sseum-hae ju-se-yo.) – You’re speaking too fast, so it’s hard to understand. Please speak more slowly.
제가 듣기 어려우니까 천천히 말씀해 주실 수 있나요? (je-ga deut-gi eo-ryeo-u-ni-kka cheon-cheon-hi mal-sseum-hae ju-sil su it-na-yo?) – I’m having trouble hearing, could you please speak slowly?
초조하다 (cho-jo-ha-da) means “to be nervous” or “to feel anxious.” It describes a state of uneasiness, restlessness, or impatience, especially when waiting for something or facing an uncertain situation.
시험 결과를 기다리는 동안 초조했어요. (si-heom gyeol-gwa-reul gi-da-ri-neun dong-an cho-jo-haess-eo-yo.) – I was nervous while waiting for the exam results.
면접 전에 너무 초조해서 잠을 못 잤어요. (myeon-jeop jeon-e neo-mu cho-jo-hae-seo jam-eul mot jat-eo-yo.) – I was so anxious before the interview that I couldn’t sleep.
아직 답장을 못 받아서 초조해요. (a-jik dap-jang-eul mot ba-da-seo cho-jo-hae-yo.) – I’m nervous because I haven’t received a reply yet.
초조한 마음을 진정하세요. (cho-jo-han ma-eum-eul jin-jeong-ha-se-yo.) – Calm your nervous feelings.
중요한 발표를 앞두고 초조한 기분이 들어요. (jung-yo-han bal-pyo-reul ap-du-go cho-jo-han gi-bun-i deu-reo-yo.) – I feel anxious before an important presentation.
The polite conjugation is 초조해요 (cho-jo-hae-yo). It’s commonly used to describe moments of unease or anticipation.
큰 소리로 읽으세요 means “Read aloud” or “Read loudly.” It is often used when instructing someone to read with a clear, audible voice.
Teacher giving instructions in class:
선생님: 큰 소리로 읽으세요!
Teacher: Read loudly! (Encouraging students to read out loud.)
During language learning practice:
이 문장을 큰 소리로 읽으세요.
Read this sentence aloud.
Giving a speech or presentation:
발표할 때 큰 소리로 읽으세요.
When giving a presentation, read loudly.
태도 (態度) means “attitude”, “manner.”
It describes how someone behaves, their posture, or their mental stance toward something.It can be positive (good attitude) or negative (bad attitude), depending on context.
그의 태도가 정말 친절했어요. → His attitude was really kind.
시험에 임하는 태도가 중요하다. → Your attitude toward the exam is important.
그는 무례한 태도로 대답했다. → He answered with a rude attitude.
태도를 바꾸면 결과도 달라질 수 있다. → If you change your attitude, the results can change too.
일에 대한 태도가 성패를 좌우한다. → Your attitude toward work determines success or failure.
태도를 고치다 → to correct one’s attitude
Example:
학생은 선생님의 지적을 받고 태도를 고쳤다. The student corrected his attitude after the teacher’s advice.
태도를 취하다 → to take on an attitude / stance
Example:
그는 방어적인 태도를 취했다. He took a defensive attitude.
태도를 바꾸다 → to change one’s attitude
Example:
그녀는 새로운 환경에서 태도를 바꿨다. She changed her attitude in the new environment.
태도가 불량하다 → to have a bad attitude
Example:
그 학생은 태도가 불량해서 주의를 받았다. The student was warned for having a bad attitude.
태도 불문 (formal/idiomatic) → regardless of attitude / without regard to stance
Example:
태도 불문하고 모두에게 기회가 주어진다. Everyone is given a chance regardless of their attitude.
피곤하다 (pi-gon-ha-da) means “to be tired” or “to be fatigued.” It describes physical or mental exhaustion after working, studying, or doing strenuous activities.
오늘 너무 피곤해요. (o-neul neo-mu pi-gon-hae-yo.) – I’m really tired today.
일을 많이 해서 피곤해요. (il-eul ma-ni hae-seo pi-gon-hae-yo.) – I’m tired because I worked a lot.
잠을 못 자서 피곤해요. (jam-eul mot ja-seo pi-gon-hae-yo.) – I’m tired because I couldn’t sleep.
피곤할 때는 쉬는 게 좋아요. (pi-gon-hal ttae-neun swi-neun ge jo-a-yo.) – When you’re tired, resting is good.
여행을 많이 해서 몸이 피곤해요. (yeo-haeng-eul ma-ni hae-seo mom-i pi-gon-hae-yo.) – My body is tired because I traveled a lot.
The polite conjugation is 피곤해요 (pi-gon-hae-yo).
“한국어로 뭐예요?” (hangug-eo-ro mwo-ye-yo?) means “What is it in Korean?” or “How do you say it in Korean?” It is commonly used when asking for the Korean translation of a word or phrase.
‘love’는 한국어로 뭐예요? (‘love’neun hangug-eo-ro mwo-ye-yo?) – What is “love” in Korean? → 사랑 (sa-rang)
이것을 한국어로 뭐라고 해요? (i-geos-eul hangug-eo-ro mwo-ra-go hae-yo?) – How do you say this in Korean?
‘thank you’는 한국어로 뭐예요? (‘thank you’neun hangug-eo-ro mwo-ye-yo?) – What is “thank you” in Korean? → 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) / 고마워요 (go-ma-weo-yo)
행복하다 (haeng-bok-ha-da) means “to be happy” or “to be joyful.” It describes a deep sense of happiness and contentment.
나는 정말 행복해요. (na-neun jeong-mal haeng-bok-hae-yo.) – I am really happy.
행복한 순간을 소중히 여겨야 해요. (haeng-bok-han sun-gan-eul so-jung-hi yeo-gyeo-ya hae-yo.) – You should cherish happy moments.
가족과 함께 있을 때 가장 행복해요. (ga-jok-gwa ham-kke it-eul ttae ga-jang haeng-bok-hae-yo.) – I am happiest when I am with my family.
행복하게 살고 싶어요. (haeng-bok-ha-ge sal-go sip-eo-yo.) – I want to live happily.
꿈을 이루면 정말 행복할 거예요. (kkum-eul i-ru-myeon jeong-mal haeng-bok-hal geo-ye-yo.) – If I achieve my dreams, I will be truly happy.
The word 행복하다 is often conjugated to 행복해요 (haeng-bok-hae-yo) in polite speech.
The opposite of 행복하다 is 불행하다, which means “to be unhappy.”