Learning Korean Expressions from the Witty K-Drama Shorts ‘Dakgangjeong’

🎥 Introduction

This post will introduce a clip from the Netflix Original K-drama ‘닭강정’ (Dakgangjeong, Sweet and Crispy Chicken).
The scene sets up a comedic interaction between a married couple who have yet to consummate their marriage—thanks to the husband's laid-back attitude—and a female servant who accidentally makes an inappropriate comment. Despite being set in the Joseon Dynasty and featuring an upper-class household, the dialogue is hilariously modern in tone.

 

🎥 Shorts Video

[Source] YouTube, @Story-Jin

 

🎥 Dialogue

부인: “서방님, 낮이든 밤이든 좋으니 저랑 좀 노십시다. 방에서, 응?”

Wife: "Darling, day or night, it doesn’t matter. Let’s spend some time together… in the room, yes?"

한량: “이게 좋아”

Lazy Husband: "This is good."

부인: “옷차림도 좀 편하게 하시고, 서로 간에 …”

Wife: "Why don’t you dress more comfortably? And between the two of us…"

한량: (웃음소리)

Lazy Husband: (chuckles)

부인: “내가 싫으면 첩년의 몸을 써서라도 후손은 봐야 할 것 아니오.”

Wife: "If you don’t want me, at least use a concubine’s body to ensure we have heirs!"

여자 종: “대감 어른 계십니다요. 참으십시오. 아가씨!”

Female Servant: "The master is right here. Please restrain yourself, miss!”

부인: “이년도 나보고 아가씨라고 하네?”

Wife: "This girl is still calling me ‘miss’?"

부인: “나를 잠정적 처녀 취급하는 거야?”

Wife: "Are you treating me like I’m some kind of provisional virgin?"

부인: “내가 머리에 비녀 꽂은 지가 언제인데?”

Wife: "How long has it been since I pinned this hairpiece on my head?"

부인: “나 이거 왜 있어? 과부야? 과부는 남편 뒈지기 전에 해 본 적이라도 있을 걸?”

Wife: "Why do I even have this? Am I a widow? At least widows have experienced something before their husbands die."

부인: “그래 나 처녀다.”

Wife: "Fine, I’m a virgin."

여자 종: “죽을 죄를 졌습니다. 아가씨! 어머 씨발”

Female Servant: "I’ve committed an unforgivable sin, miss! Oh my… shit."

부인: “개 같은 년! 네년 서방 오늘 고자 되는 날이다. 너 이리로 와”

Wife: "You wretched girl! Your husband is going to be castrated today. Get over here!"

한량: “방으로 좀 드시게.”

Lazy Husband: "Please, go into the room."

부인: “방에요? 왜요?”

Wife: "Into the room? Why?"

한량: “부부끼리 방에서 뭐 하겠소?”

Lazy Husband: "What do a husband and wife usually do in a room?"

한량: “아들이 열둘은 돼야 양반이지.”

Lazy Husband: "A real nobleman should have at least twelve sons."

여자 종: “목욕물 데울까요?”

Female Servant: "Shall I heat the bathwater?"

부인: “아니다. 지체할 시간이 없다.”

Wife: "No, there’s no time to waste."

부인: “마음 바뀌기 전에 일을 치러야 한다.”

Wife: "We must get this done before he changes his mind."

🎥 Video Translation

부인: “서방님, 낮이든 밤이든 좋으니 저랑 좀 노십시다. 방에서, 응?”
Wife: "Darling, day or night, it doesn’t matter. Let’s spend some time together… in the room, yes?"

 

- "서방님" is a respectful term used by a wife to address her husband during the Joseon Dynasty. It is rarely used in modern times. In contemporary Korean, however, a married woman may use "서방님" to address her husband's married brother, while "도련님" is used to address an unmarried brother-in-law.

 

🔎 The Joseon Dynasty: A Korean dynastic kingdom (1392–1897) known for its Confucian governance, cultural achievements, and lasting influence on Korean tradition.

 

- "낮이든 밤이든": "Whether it's day or night"

• "낮: (day) + "이든" / "밤” (night) + "이든"

• "-이든" expresses a choice between multiple possibilities, implying that both are included.

 

📌 Example Usage:

"비가 오든 안 오든 난 갈 거야." → "Whether it rains or not, I'm going."

 

- "좋으니": "Since it's good" / "Because it's good"

• "좋다 (to be good)" + connective ending "-으니" (expresses cause or condition).

 

📌 Example Usage:

"시간이 되니 만납시다." → "Since you have time, let's meet."

 

- "저랑 좀 노십시다": "Let's have some fun with me."

• "저랑" = "저” (me) + "랑" (with) → "with me"

• "좀": A softening word, making a request or suggestion sound gentler.

- "노십시다": "놀다” (to play, to have fun) + polite ending "-십시다" (suggestive form).

- "방에서, 응?": "In the room, okay?"

• "방에서" = "방 (room)" + location particle "-에서" (in, at).

• "응?": A phrase used to prompt a response from the listener.

 

📌 Example Usage
"오늘 저녁 먹고 영화 볼까, 응?" → "Shall we watch a movie after dinner, okay?"

 

🔎 "저랑 좀 노십시다. 방에서, 응?" is a euphemistic expression suggesting sexual intimacy.

 

🔮 Meaning
"낮이든 밤이든 상관없이 서방님과 함께 시간을 보내고 싶어요. 방에서 함께 놀아요, 응?"
→ "I don't care whether it's day or night. I want to spend time with you. In the room, okay?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips: "낮이든 밤이든" → "나지든 바미든"

 

한량: “이게 좋아”
Lazy Husband: "This is good."

 

- "이게": "이것이" → “이게” (Abbreviation)
- "좋아": "좋다” (to be good, to like) → “좋아” (to be good, to like)

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips: "이게 좋아" → "이게 조아"

 

부인: “옷차림도 좀 편하게 하시고, 서로 간에 …”
Wife: "Why don’t you dress more comfortably? And between the two of us…"

 

- “옷차림도”: "옷차림 (way of dressing)" + "도 (also)"

- “좀”: It softens the tone or conveys a sense of request.

- “편하게 하시고”: “편하다” (to be comfortable) + "-게" (adverbial ending) + "하시고" (an honorific form of “하다,” indicating continuation)

 

📌 Example Usage
"여기서 좀 편하게 쉬세요." → "Make yourself comfortable here."

 

🔮 Meaning
It emphasizes the suggestion of sexual intimacy mentioned earlier. It is a euphemistic expression proposing to undress and enjoy a sexual experience together.

 

한량: (웃음소리)
Lazy Husband: (chuckles)

 

부인: “내가 싫으면 첩년의 몸을 써서라도 후손은 봐야 할 것 아니오?”
Wife: "If you don’t want me, at least use a concubine’s body to ensure we have heirs!"

 

- "내가 싫으면": "내가” (I) + "싫다” (to dislike, to be unwanted) + "-으면" (conditional ending: "if")

 

📌 Example Usage
"이 음식이 싫으면 다른 걸 먹어." → "If you don’t like this food, eat something else."

 

- "첩년의 몸을 써서라도"
• "첩년" is a derogatory term that combines "첩 (concubine)" with "년", a word used to demean women, thereby expressing contempt toward a concubine.
• "몸 (body)" + "을 써서" (to use) + "-라도" (even if reluctantly).

- "후손은 봐야 할 것 아니오."
• "후손은": "후손” (descendant) + "-은" (topic marker)
• "봐야 할 것": "보아야 할 것" (something to see) → “봐야 할 것” (Abbreviation)

• "봐야 할": "보아야 한다." → "봐야 한다" + "-ㄹ" (관형사형 어미) → "봐야 할"

• "보아야 한다" (should/must see): "보다" (to see) + "-어야 한다" (should or must)

- "아니오": "아니오"는 일반적인 부정의 의미를 넘어, 강한 어조로 의문을 제기하는 역할을 합니다.

 

📌 Meaning

"나를 원하지 않는다면, 적어도 첩을 통해 후손은 남겨야 하지 않겠습니까?"

→ "If you don't want me, you must have an heir through a concubine."

 

🔎 One of the primary duties of a married woman during the Joseon Dynasty was to bear and raise children, particularly sons.

 

여자 종: “대감 어른 계십니다요. 참으십시오. 아가씨!”

Female Servant: "The master is right here. Please restrain yourself, miss!”

- “대감 어른”: "대감" was a term used during the Joseon Dynasty to respectfully address individuals who held high-ranking government positions, equivalent to vice-minister or higher. Adding "어른" (meaning "elder" or "respected person") to this title further expressed respect and courtesy toward the person being addressed.

- "계십니다요": "계시다” (to be, honorific for 있다) + "-ㅂ니다" (formal) + "요" (informal ending).

- "참으십시오": "참다” (to endure, restrain oneself) + "-십시오" (formal command).

 

📌 Example Usage

"화를 참으십시오." → "Please hold your anger."

 

🔮 Meaning

"대감 어른께서 계십니다. 그러니 참으세요, 아가씨!"

→"The master is here. Please restrain yourself, young lady!"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips
"계십니다요." → "계심니다요."

부인: “이년도 나보고 아가씨라고 하네?”

Wife: "This girl is still calling me ‘miss’?"

 

- "이년도": "이년" + "도 (also)."

• “이년”: The term "이년" is no longer used in modern Korean society. However, in the past, it was used as a derogatory and offensive term to demean women.

- "나보고": "나” (me) + "-보고" (indicates someone being referred to or spoken about).

- "아가씨라고 하네?": "아가씨” (young lady) + "-라고 하다" (to call someone something) + "-네?" (exclamation, realization).

 

🔮 Meaning
"이 하녀도 아직도 나를 '아가씨'라고 부르는군?"
→ "Even this maid still calls me 'young lady'?"

 

부인: “나를 잠정적 처녀 취급하는 거야?”

Wife: "Are you treating me like I’m some kind of provisional virgin?"

 

- "나를": "나” (I, me) + "-를." (Objective case marker)

- "잠정적 처녀": "잠정적” (tentative, temporary) + "처녀” (virgin, unmarried woman).

- "취급하는 거야?": "취급하다” (to treat, to regard) + "-는" (Progressive form) + "-거" (nominalization) + "-야?" (casual interrogative form)

 

📌 Example Usage
"나를 애 취급하는 거야?" → "Are you treating me like a child?"

 

🔮 Meaning

"나를 아직도 미혼 여성 취급하는 거야?"

→ "Are you treating me like a potential virgin?"

 

부인: “내가 머리에 비녀 꽂은 지가 언제인데?”

Wife: "How long has it been since I pinned this hairpiece on my head?"

 

- "내가": "나" (I) + "-가" (Subject case marker).

- "머리에": "머리" (head, hair) + "-에" (Locative case marker).

 

📌 Example Usage:

"머리에 꽃을 꽂았다." → "I put a flower in my hair."

 

- "비녀 꽂은 지가": "비녀" (binyeo, traditional Korean hairpin) + "꽂다" (to insert, to put in) → "꽂은" (Past participle) + "지" (Time duration marker) + "-가" (Subject case marker).

 

📌 Example Usage:

"우리가 만난 지가 오래됐어." → "It's been a long time since we met."

 

- "언제인데?": "언제" (when) + "-인데?" (Casual emphatic form).

 

📌 Example Usage:

"이게 얼마인데?" → "Do you know how much this is?"

 

🔮 Meaning:

"내가 결혼한 지가 얼마나 오래됐는데 아직도 그런 소리를 해?"

→ "How long has it been since I married, and you're still saying that?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips: "꽂은 지가" → "꼬즌 지가" (linked pronunciation occurs).

 

🔎 "머리에 비녀를 꽂다(To put a binyeo in one’s hair)" is a metaphorical expression meaning "to get married." A binyeo is a traditional hair ornament used by women, and in particular, the act of wearing a binyeo in the hair symbolized marriage for women in traditional Korean culture.

 

부인: “나 이거 왜 있어? 과부야? 과부는 남편 뒈지기 전에 해 본 적이라도 있을 걸?”

Wife: "Why do I even have this? Am I a widow? At least widows have experienced something before their husbands die."

 

- "나 이거 왜 있어?": "나" (I) + "이거" (this thing) + "왜" (why) + "있다" (to exist) + "-어" (sentence-ending form).

 

🔎 During the Joseon Dynasty, women always carried "이거" (a silver knife), valuing chastity and fidelity above all. In particular, women who were about to marry or were already married used the silver knife to protect their chastity and earn the trust of their husbands and in-laws.

 

- "과부야?": "과부" (widow) + "-야?" (casual question form).

- "과부는 남편 뒈지기 전에"
• "뒈지기" (the act of dying): "뒈지다" (a vulgar form of "죽다," meaning "to die") + "-기" (nominalization, turning a verb into a noun).
• "전에": "전" (before) + "-에" (a particle indicating time, place, or target, specifying the moment before the act of dying).

- "해 본 적이라도": "해 보다" (to have tried) + "-적" (nominalization, indicating experience) + "-이라도" (emphasizing even a tiny degree of the experience).
 • "해 본 적" was interpreted as "experienced something," but the underlying meaning refers to having had a sexual relationship with a man.

- "있을 걸": "있다" (to have) + "-을 것을?" (speculative ending) → "-을 걸?" (abbreviated form).

 

🔮 Meaning:
"나는 아직 아무 경험도 없는데, 과부는 적어도 남편과 해 본 적이라도 있잖아?"
→ "Why do I even have this? Am I a widow? At least widows have done it before their husbands died."

 

부인: “그래 나 처녀다.”
Wife: "Fine, I’m a virgin."

 

- "그래": An expression indicating agreement or resignation.

 

📌 Example Usage:
"그래, 네 말이 맞아." → "Fine, you're right."

 

- "나 처녀다.": "나" (I) + "처녀" (virgin, unmarried woman) + "-다." (casual declarative ending).

 

🔮 Meaning:
"좋아, 인정할게. 나 아직 처녀야."
→ "Fine, I'm a virgin."

 

여자 종: “죽을 죄를 졌습니다. 아가씨! 어머 씨발”
Female Servant: "I’ve committed an unforgivable sin, miss! Oh my… shit."

 

- "죽을 죄를 졌습니다.":
• "죽을 죄": "죽을" (deserving death) + "죄" (sin) → "a sin worthy of death."

• "-를": Objective case marker.
• "졌습니다.": "지다" (to commit) → "졌다" (past tense).
• "집니다" (formal present tense) → "졌습니다" (formal past tense).

- "아가씨!": A title used for an unmarried woman of noble status.

- "어머 씨발.":
• "어머": An exclamation women use when startled, shocked, or horrified.
• "씨발": A strong modern curse word. In this context, it is used self-deprecatingly.

 

🔮 Meaning:
"제가 큰 실수를 저질렀습니다, 아가씨! 어머, 젠장."
"I've committed a grave sin, my lady! Oh, shit."

부인: “개 같은 년! 네년 서방 오늘 고자 되는 날이다. 너 이리로 와”
Wife: "You wretched girl! Your husband is going to be castrated today. Get over here!"

 

- "개 같은 년!": "개" (dog) + "같은" (like) + "년" (a derogatory term for a woman).

 

📌 Example Usage:
"이 개 같은 년아!" → "You wretched woman!"

 

- "네년": In this sentence, "네년" is a form of "네년의" with the particle "의" (of) omitted.
The proper expression would be "너의" (your), but "네년" is a derogatory insult aimed at women, intended to humiliate or show contempt.

 

📌 Example Usage:
"네년이 뭘 잘못했는지 아냐?" → "Do you know what your woman did wrong?"

 

- "서방": "남편" (husband, old-fashioned term).

- "오늘 고자 되는 날이다.":
• "고자" (eunuch) + "되다" (to become).
• "-는": A verb ending that makes the preceding word function as a modifier, indicating an event happening in the present.
• "날" (day) + "-이다" (declarative sentence-ending particle).

 

📌 Example Usage:
"오늘 네 운명이 바뀌는 날이다." → "Today is the day your fate changes."

 

- "너 이리로 와": "너" (you) + "이리로" (this way) + "와" (come, command form).
• "와": "오다" (come) + "-아" (imperative ending).

 

📌 Example Usage:
"이리로 와서 도와줘!" → "Come here and help me!"

 

🔮 Meaning:
"이 못된 여자야! 네 남편 오늘 거세당할 거다. 당장 이리 와!"
→ "You wretched woman! Your husband is becoming a eunuch today. Come here!"

 

📌 Pronunciation Tips: "고자 되는 날이다" → "고자 되는 나리다" (linked pronunciation occurs).

 

한량: “방으로 좀 드시게.”
Lazy Husband: "Please, go into the room."

 

- "방으로": "방" (room) + "-으로" (directional particle, meaning "to" or "into").
- "좀": A word that softens a request or command.

 

📌 Example Usage:
"좀 앉으세요." → "Please sit down."

 

- "드시게": "드시다" (to eat, to go in, honorific) + "-게" (suggestive ending).

 

🔮 Meaning:
"방으로 들어가시죠." → "Please go into the room."

 

부인: “방에요? 왜요?”
Wife: "Into the room? Why?"

 

- "방에요?": "방" (room) + "-에" (location particle) + "-요?" (polite question marker).

 

📌 Example Usage:
"여기에요?" → "Is it here?"

 

- "왜요?": "왜" (why) + "-요?" (polite question marker).

 

📌 Example Usage:
"왜요? 무슨 일 있어요?" → "Why? What's wrong?"

 

🔮 Meaning:
"방에서요? 왜 그러시죠?" → "The room? Why?"

양식의 맨 위

 

한량: “부부끼리 방에서 뭐 하겠소?”
Lazy Husband: "What do a husband and wife usually do in a room?"

 

- "부부끼리": "부부" (married couple) + "-끼리" (among, between).

 

📌 Example Usage:
"친구끼리 여행 가자." → "Let's go on a trip among friends."

 

- "방에서": "방" (room) + "-에서" (location particle, meaning "in").

- "뭐 하겠소?": "뭐" (what) + "하다" (to do) + "-겠소?" (formal question ending).
• "뭐": "무엇을" → "뭘" (abbreviated form) → "뭐" (spoken form).

 

🔮 Meaning:
"부부가 방에서 뭘 하겠습니까?"
→ "What else would a married couple do in a room?"

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips:
"하겠소" → "하겓쏘" (linked pronunciation occurs).

 

한량: “아들이 열둘은 돼야 양반이지.”
Lazy Husband: "A real nobleman should have at least twelve sons."

 

- "아들이": "아들" (son) + "-이" (subject particle).

- "열둘은": "열둘" (twelve) + "-은" (emphasizing particle).

- "돼야": "되다" (to become) + "-야" (must, should).

 

📌 Example Usage:
"최소한 10점은 받아야 합격이지." → "You need at least 10 points to pass."

 

- "양반이지.": "양반이다" → "양반이지"
• "-이지": a softer and more natural form of "-이다."

 

📌 Example Usage:
"이 정도는 돼야 요리사지." → "This level is required to be a chef."

 

🔮 Meaning:
"양반이라면 최소한 아들이 열둘은 있어야 하지."
→ "A nobleman should have at least twelve sons."

 

여자 종: “목욕물 데울까요?”
Female Servant: "Shall I heat the bathwater?"

 

- "목욕물": "목욕" (bath) + "물" (water).

- "데울까요?": "데우다" (to heat) + "-ㄹ까요?" (shall we?).

 

📌 Example Usage:
"차를 데울까요?" → "Shall I warm the tea?"

양식의 맨 위

 

부인: “아니다. 지체할 시간이 없다.”
Wife: "No, there’s no time to waste."

 

- "아니다.": 부정 표현, 단호한 거절의 의미.

 

📌 Example Usage:
"이건 네 잘못이 아니다." → "This is not your fault."

 

- "지체할": "지체하다" (to delay, to hesitate) + "-ㄹ" (attributive form).

- "시간이 없다.": "시간" (time) + 부정 "-이 없다" (to not have).

 

🔮 Meaning:
"아니야. 더 이상 머뭇거릴 시간이 없어."
→ "No. There's no time to delay."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips:
"지체할 시간이" → "지체할 시가니" (linked pronunciation occurs).

 

부인: “마음 바뀌기 전에 일을 치러야 한다.”
Wife: "We must get this done before he changes his mind."

- "마음": "마음" (heart, feelings) + "-이" (omitted).

- "바뀌기": "바뀌다" (to change) + "-기" (nominalization).

- "전에": before ~ing.

 

📌 Example Usage:
"비 오기 전에 집에 가자." → "Let’s go home before it rains."

 

- "일을": "일" (task, duty) + "-을" (object marker).

- "치러야 한다": "치르다" (to carry out, to go through with) + "-어야 한다" (must do).

 

🔎 "일을 치르다": To complete or go through a particular task or experience.

 

📌 Example Usage:
"결혼식을 치러야 한다." → "We must go through with the wedding."

 

🔮 Meaning:
"남편이 마음을 바꾸기 전에 빨리 실행해야 한다."
→ "We must act quickly before my husband changes his mind."

 

🎥 Conclusion

The Korean drama ‘Dakgangjeong’ short clip offers a delightful blend of witty dialogue and traditional elements reinterpreted with a modern twist. Set against the backdrop of the Joseon Dynasty, it combines contemporary humor and expressions, providing an opportunity to explore the richness of Korean vocabulary and nuances. From traditional phrases like "서방님", "머리에 비녀를 꽂다" (to pin a binyeo in one’s hair), and "죽을 죄" (a crime worthy of death), to modern and intense expressions like "씨발" (a curse word) and "개 같은 년" (you wretched girl), the clip offers an engaging way to experience the charm of Korean culture and language.

This post has helped you understand the Korean language in the context of drama, its historical background, and its linguistic characteristics. Stay tuned for more content that delves deeper into Korean dramas and culture!