🎥 Introduction

Premiering simultaneously on tvN and Netflix in August 2021, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a drama adaptation of the 2004 Korean movie Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Pohang, with its open village landscapes and blue seas, the show brought audiences a healthy dose of romance and feel-good energy, thanks to the charming chemistry between Shin Min-ah and Kim Seon-ho.

This post will highlight a brief yet hilarious scene from Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. The moment occurs when Hye-jin’s (played by Shin Min-ah) parents visit their daughter’s house, meet Du-sik (played by Kim Seon-ho), and bid farewells. In this scene, Hye-jin’s father humorously scolds Du-sik for speaking informally, creating a laugh-out-loud moment for viewers.

title-Hometown-Cha-Cha-Cha-Short-Clip:-Exploring-the-Humor-and-Heart-Behind-Korean-Language-Nuances

 

🎥 Shorts Video

[Source] YouTube, @1daydrama


🎥 Meet the Characters

Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho): A multi-talented and kind-hearted handyman in Gongjin, known for helping the townspeople with various jobs while harboring a painful past.

Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a): A confident and skilled dentist who moves to Gongjin and gradually embraces the warmth of the small town and its people.

Yoon Tae-hwa (Seo Sang-won)Hye-jin’s father. A quiet and serious person with a calm and reserved demeanor.

Lee Myeong-sin (Woo Mi-hwa)Hyejin's new mother. It is a broken, party, and cheerful personality.


🎥 Dialogue

Lee Myung-shin: 덕분에 즐거웠어요고마워요.”
“You made my day. Thank you.”

Hong Du-sik: 아이 그럼 다행이고.”

“Ah, then that’s a relief.” 

Hong Du-sik: 옷에 묻은 커피 얼룩은 베이킹 소다로 지우거나 아니면 식초에 주방세제 섞거나 그 탄산수로 이렇게 문지르면 지워져.”

“Coffee stains on clothes can be removed using baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap, or just rubbing them with sparkling water, like this.”

Lee Myung-shin: 아으 살림 솜씨가 나보다 낫네요.” (laughs)

“Ah, your housekeeping skills are better than mine.”

Yoon Hye-jin: 운전 조심하세요.”

"Drive safely."

Yoon Tae-hwa: 어어 그래.”

“Uh, yes.”

Hong Du-sik: 그 가다가 졸리시면 갓길에 차 세워안 그러면 큰 일 나셔.”

“If you get sleepy on the way, pull over on the shoulder. Otherwise, it’ll be dangerous.”

Yoon Tae-hwa: 자네 이쪽으로 좀 와보게.”

“Come over here for a moment.”

Hong Du-sik: 왜 그러셔 또 쑥쓰럽게.”

“Me? Why are you making me feel shy?”

Yoon Tae-hwa: 좀 더 가까이.”

“Come a little closer.”

Hong Du-sik: 아 왜 그러셔.”

"Why are you doing this?"

Hong Du-sik아 나 귓속말 간지러운데.”

“Ah, whispers tickle me.”

Yoon Tae-hwa너 왜 자꾸 나한테 반말하냐?”

“Why do you keep speaking informally to me?”

Hong Du-sik아 그게 그 내 철학인데친근하고 좋잖아.”

“Ah, well, it’s just my philosophy. It feels friendly and nice, you know?”

Yoon Tae-hwa너나 좋지 이 새끼야간다.”

“It’s only nice for you, you punk. I’m leaving.”

Yoon Hye-jin아 네 아빠조심히 들어가세요.”

“Ah, Dad! Get home safely.”

Yoon Hye-jin아빠가 뭐라셔?”

“What did Dad say?”

Hong Du-sik?”

“Huh?”

Yoon Hye-jin아빠가 뭐라고 하셨는데.”

“What exactly did Dad say?”

Lee Myung-shin당신그 친구 마음에 들었지?”

“Didn’t you like him?”

Yoon Tae-hwa가다가 차 막히면휴게소 들러서 군것질 좀 하고 갈까달달한 거 좋아하잖아.”

“Hmm? If there’s traffic on the way, should we stop at a rest area and grab some snacks? You like sweet things, right?”

Lee Myung-shin됐어난 이미 있어.”

“No, I’m good. I already have some.”

Yoon Tae-hwa?”

“Huh?”



🎥 Translation and Explanation 

Lee Myung-shin: 덕분에 즐거웠어요. 고마워요.”
“You made my day. Thank you.”

l  덕분에 즐거웠어요.”: A polite phrase to thank someone for having an enjoyable time together.

 

Hong Du-sik: 아이 그럼 다행이고.”

“Ah, then that’s a relief.”

 

l  아이: An interjection expressing joy or excitement.

 

l  그럼 다행이고: Casually means, 그러면 다행이다. 그리고 (Then that’s good, and…)

 

Hong Du-sik: 옷에 묻은 커피 얼룩은 베이킹 소다로 지우거나 아니면 식초에 주방세제 섞거나 그 탄산수로 이렇게 문지르면 지워져.”

“Coffee stains on clothes can be removed using baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap, or just rubbing them with sparkling water, like this.”

 

l  “~거나 아니면: "Or, either."

 

l  : A demonstrative pronoun referring to sparkling water; it can be omitted.

 

l  식초에 주방세제 섞거나: "Mixing vinegar with dish soap"

 

Lee Myung-shin: 아으 살림 솜씨가 나보다 낫네요.” (laughs)

“Ah, your housekeeping skills are better than mine.”

 

l  “~보다 낫네요: A polite expression meaning “~보다 낫다.” (better than ~) Despite Du-sik using informal speech, Hye-jin’s mother maintains a formal tone, which is uncommon in such interactions.

 

Yoon Hye-jin: 운전 조심하세요.”
"Drive safely."

 

Yoon Tae-hwa: 어어 그래.”
“Uh, yes.”

 

Hong Du-sik: 그 가다가 졸리시면 갓길에 차 세워. 안 그러면 큰 일 나셔.”

“If you get sleepy on the way, pull over on the shoulder. Otherwise, it’ll be dangerous.”

 

l  졸리시면: An honorific form of 졸리면 (if you feel sleepy).

 

l  나셔: An honorific form of 난다,” with the ending “~,” used in a friendly yet respectful manner.


📌 Du-sik’s tone combines honorifics (졸리시면 and 나셔) with informal speech (세워), reflecting his casual and approachable nature.

 

Yoon Tae-hwa: 자네 이쪽으로 좀 와보게.”
“Come over here for a moment.”

 

l  자네: A second-person pronoun used respectfully for friends or subordinates.

 

l  : Softens the tone of a request or command.

 

l  와보게: An imperative ending with “~,” often used among equals or slightly superior individuals.

 

Hong Du-sik: ? 왜 그러셔 또 쑥쓰럽게.”

“Me? Why are you making me feel shy?”

 

l  그러셔: "그리하다그리하시다 is the honorific form of 그리하다그러시다 is the shortened form of 그리하시다그러시다 + sentence-ending suffix “~그러셔"

This is similar to the use of 나셔 above.

 

Yoon Tae-hwa: 좀 더 가까이.”
“Come a little closer.”

 

l  : A shortened form of 조금,” meaning "a little."

 

Hong Du-sik: 아 왜 그러셔.”
"Why are you doing this?"

 

Hong Du-sik: 아 나 귓속말 간지러운데.”
“Ah, whispers tickle me.”


 

Yoon Tae-hwa: 너 왜 자꾸 나한테 반말하냐?”
“Why do you keep speaking informally to me?”

 

Hong Du-sik: 아 그게 그 내 철학인데, 친근하고 좋잖아.”
“Ah, well, it’s just my philosophy. It feels friendly and nice, you know?”

 

l  좋잖아: 좋다 + 잖아,” where "~잖아" indicates reasoning or justification, often used to emphasize a fact or express surprise over an unexpected situation.

 

Yoon Tae-hwa: 너나 좋지 이 새끼야. 간다.”
“It’s only nice for you, you punk. I’m leaving.”

 

l  새끼: (Colloquial) A term used to insult someone informally and crudely.

 

Yoon Hye-jin: 아 네 아빠! 조심히 들어가세요.”
“Ah, Dad! Get home safely.”

 

l  들어가세요: The honorific form of 들어가다,” meaning "to go inside."

 

l  The phrase 조심히 들어가세요 is a polite way of wishing someone a safe return home, with 집까지 (to your home) often omitted.

Yoon Hye-jin: 아빠가 뭐라셔?”
“What did Dad say?”

 

l  뭐라셔: "무엇이라고 하셔" is the shortened honorific form. "뭐라셔" → "뭐라고 하셔" → "무엇이라고 하셔" (In casual speech, it would be "뭐래" → "뭐라고 해" → "무엇이라고 해").

 

Hong Du-sik: ?”
“Huh?”

 

Yoon Hye-jin: 아빠가 뭐라고 하셨는데.”
“What exactly did Dad say?”

 

l  뭐라고 하셨는데: Similar to 뭐라고 하셔,” but this phrasing seeks clarification, emphasizing the need to revisit what was said for better understanding.

 

Lee Myung-shin: 당신, 그 친구 마음에 들었지?”
“Didn’t you like him?”

 

l  당신: An honorific second-person pronoun used between spouses.

 

l  마음에 들다: This phrase implies that something has entered one’s heart and settled, creating a feeling of satisfaction.

 

Yoon Tae-hwa: ? 가다가 차 막히면, 휴게소 들러서 군것질 좀 하고 갈까? 달달한 거 좋아하잖아.”
“Hmm? If there’s traffic on the way, should we stop at a rest area and grab some snacks? You like sweet things, right?”

 

l  군것질: Eating snacks or light food outside regular meals.

 

l  달달한 거: A colloquial way of saying “sweet things,” with 달달하다 being a dialectal variation of 달다 (sweet). "" is the colloquial form of '.' When the particle '' is attached, it changes to '' in form.

 

Lee Myung-shin: 됐어. 난 이미 있어.”
“No, I’m good. I already have some.”

 

l  됐어: A casual way of saying something is enough or satisfactory, derived from 되다with the ending “~.”

 

Yoon Tae-hwa: ?”
“Huh?”

 

🎥 Conclusion

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is more than just a romantic comedy—it’s a heartwarming exploration of relationships, communication, and the cultural nuances of language in Korea. Through the clever use of formal and informal speech, the drama masterfully portrays the dynamics between its characters, creating moments as humorous as they are relatable. This dialogue adds depth to the characters by contrasting their speech levels, showcasing humor, warmth, and everyday interactions in a Korean context.