Learn Korean with K-Drama Shorts: Real-Life Expressions from "Lovely Runner"

Master Korean Through the Magic of K-Dramas—One Scene at a Time.

This blog post curates the most engaging K-Drama Shorts and transforms them into powerful learning tools for Korean learners. I dive deep into the language, focusing on key vocabulary, expressions, and even grammar intricacies.

However, if you're a beginner or intermediate learner, don’t worry! Start with the 🎥 Dialogue and 🎯 Key Takeaways sections—designed to help you quickly absorb essential phrases.

Stay patient, follow through, and you won’t just understand the words by the end—you’ll feel the drama the way native speakers do.

For an even richer experience, pair this with K-Lingo (K-Pop) and study Korean daily. Learning a language has never been this exciting and dynamic!

 

🎥 "Lovely Runner": Introduction

About the Drama

"Lovely Runner" is a romantic comedy set in modern-day Seoul. It portrays the love and friendship of young people. The protagonists navigate their journey of love and dreams with humor and heartfelt moments, offering viewers warmth and deep emotional connection.

 

About the Short Video

This short clip captures the subtle emotional shifts between the main characters, Im Sol and Ryu Sun-jae. As Im Sol looks around Sun-jae’s home, she subtly expresses her interest, while Sun-jae reacts with flustered emotions and excitement.

Notably, the line “나 라면 먹고 가면 안 돼?” (Can I stay and have ramen?) is a phrase often used in K-dramas, symbolizing a sense of closeness and intimacy.

 

🎥 "Lovely Runner": Short Video

[Source] YouTube @DiggleClassic

 

🎥 "Lovely Runner" Shorts: Meet the Characters

Ryu Sun-jae (Played by Byun Woo-seok)

He is a warm-hearted and considerate person who profoundly values his friendships. He has shared a long-time friendship with Im Sol and harbors unique feelings for her, though he struggles to express them.

Im Sol (Played by Kim Hye-yoon)

She is a cheerful and lively character who spreads positive energy to those around her. She has feelings for Sun-jae and often playfully observes his reactions.

 

🎥 "Lovely Runner" Shorts: Dialogue

임솔: “집 구경이나 마저 할까”

Im Sol: "Should we finish looking around the house?"

임솔: “어 어디 안봤지?”

Im Sol: "Uh… where haven’t we seen yet?"

류선재: “침실 거기도 보여 줘야 돼?”

Ryu Seon-jae: "Do I need to show you the bedroom too?"

임솔: “아아 아 아니”

Im Sol: "Ah… no, no!"

류선재: “그럼 다 봤네 갈까?”

Ryu Seon-jae: "Then we've seen everything. Should we go?"

임솔: “저기 선재야 너 혹시 배 안 고파?”

Im Sol: "Uh… Seon-jae, aren't you hungry by any chance?"

임솔: “나 라면 먹고 가면 안 돼?”

Im Sol: "Can I stay and have some ramen?"

임솔: “나 오늘 안 들어갈거야” (선재의 마음속에서 들리는 소리)

Im Sol: "I'm not going home tonight." (He hears this in his mind.)

임솔: “안돼?”

Im Sol: "I can't?"

류선재: “돼.”

Ryu Seon-jae: "You can."

 

🎯 Key Takeaways

 

1. 집 구경하다 (To Look Around a House, To Tour a House)

This phrase refers to exploring or touring a house for purchasing, renting, or simply visiting.

 

📌 Example Usage

"새로운 아파트를 계약하기 전에 집 구경하러 갔다."

"I went to look around the house before signing the contract for a new apartment."

 

"친구 집이 너무 예뻐서 구경하고 싶었어."

"My friend’s house was so pretty that I wanted to look around."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

집을 둘러보다 (To Take a Look Around a House) – More neutral and can refer to a casual glance rather than a thorough tour.

 

📌 Example Usage

"집을 둘러보니 분위기가 정말 좋네."

"Looking around the house, the atmosphere is very nice."

 

2. 마저 하다 (To Finish Up, To Complete What’s Left)

Used when continuing and finishing something that was previously started.

 

📌 Example Usage

"숙제를 마저 해야 해."

"I have to finish up my homework."

 

"영화 재미있으니까 끝까지 마저 보자."

"The movie is interesting, so let’s watch until the end."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

끝내다 (To Finish, To Complete) – A more general way to say that something has been completed.

 

📌 Example Usage

"오늘까지 일을 끝내야 해."

"I have to finish my work by today."

 

3. 봤다 / 안봤다 (Saw / Didn’t See)

Refers to whether someone has seen or experienced something, often used for movies, shows, or events.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그 영화 봤어?"

"Did you see that movie?"

 

"아직 안 봤어. 스포일러 하지 마!"

"I haven’t seen it yet. No spoilers!"

 

🎨 Expressions

본 적 있어? (Have You Seen It Before?) – A softer way to ask if someone has seen something.

 

📌 Example Usage

"이 드라마 본 적 있어?"

"Have you seen this drama before?"

 

4. 침실 (Bedroom)

Refers to the sleeping area in a house.

 

📌 Example Usage

"침실이 정말 넓고 아늑해 보여."

"The bedroom looks incredibly spacious and cozy."

 

"새로운 침대를 침실에 놓았어."

"I put a new bed in the bedroom."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

방 (Room) – A broader term for any room.

 

📌 Example Usage

"내 방에서 좀 쉴게."

"I’ll rest in my room for a bit."

 

5. ~해야 돼? (Do I Have to ~? / Should I ~?)

It is used to ask whether something is necessary or obligatory.

 

📌 Example Usage

"지금 당장 가야 돼?"

"Do I have to go right now?"

 

"이 서류를 꼭 제출해야 돼?"

"Do I truly have to submit this document?"

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

~해도 돼? (Is It Okay to ~?) – A softer way to ask for permission.

 

📌 Example Usage

"조금 늦게 가도 돼?"

"Is it okay if I go a little late?"

 

6. 혹시 (By Any Chance, Maybe, Just in Case)

Often used to ask questions or express uncertainty politely.

 

📌 Example Usage

"혹시 시간 있어?"

"Do you have time, by any chance?"

 

"혹시 길을 아세요?"

"Do you happen to know the way?"

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

만약 (If, In Case of ~) – More conditional and used in hypothetical situations.

 

📌 Example Usage

"만약 비가 오면 어떻게 하지?"

"What should we do if it rains?"

 

7. 배 고프다 / 배 안 고프다 (Hungry / Not Hungry)

It is used to describe whether someone is feeling hungry.

 

📌 Example Usage

"배 너무 고파. 뭐 먹을까?"

"I’m so hungry. What should we eat?"

 

"난 아직 배 안 고파."

"I’m not hungry yet."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

시장하다 (To Be Hungry - Formal Expression) – A more old-fashioned and formal way to say someone is hungry.

 

📌 Example Usage

"조금 시장한데 뭐 좀 먹을까?"

"I’m feeling a bit hungry. Should we eat something?"

 

8. 나 라면 먹고 가면 안돼? / 나 넷플릭스 보고 가면 안돼? (Can I Stay and Eat Ramen? / Can I Stay and Watch Netflix?)

These expressions are often used playfully to suggest staying longer at someone’s place, commonly used in romantic or casual settings.

 

📌 Example Usage

"나 라면 먹고 가면 안돼?"

"Can I stay and eat ramen before I leave?"

 

"나 넷플릭스 보고 가면 안돼?"

"Can I stay and watch Netflix before I go?"

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

좀 더 있어도 돼? (Can I Stay a Bit Longer?) – A more neutral way to ask for permission to stay.

 

📌 Example Usage

"지금 나가기 싫어. 좀 더 있어도 돼?"

"I don’t want to leave now. Can I stay a bit longer?"

 

9. 안돼? / 돼. (Is It Not Okay? / It’s Okay.)

"안돼?" is used to ask for permission or to check if something is not allowed, while "돼." is the affirmative response, meaning "It’s okay" or "It’s allowed."

 

📌 Example Usage

"오늘 좀 늦게 가도 안돼?"

"Can’t I go a little later today?"

 

"돼. 괜찮아."

"It’s okay. No problem."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

가능해? (Is It Possible?) – A more formal way to ask if something is allowed.

 

📌 Example Usage

"내일 미팅을 연기하는 게 가능해?"

"Is it possible to reschedule the meeting for tomorrow?"

🎥 Grammatical Analysis of the Dialogue

The following content contains a lot of grammatical explanations. If you're not an advanced Korean learner, skim through it and don’t focus too much. If you're a beginner or intermediate learner, memorizing even one more conversation from above is better.

 

임솔: "집 구경이나 마저 할까"

"Shall we finish looking around the house?"

 

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "집 구경이나": "집 (house, home)" + "구경 (tour, look around)" + "이나 (or something, suggesting an alternative)."

- "마저": "마저 (even finishing something completely)."

- "할까": "하다 (to do)" + "-ㄹ까 (shall we?, suggestion)."

 

📌 Example Usage

"우리 집 구경이나 마저 할까?"

"Shall we finish looking around the house?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"아직 다 못 봤으니까 집 구경, 마저 할래?"

"Since we haven’t seen everything yet, shall we finish looking around?"

 

임솔: "어 어디 안봤지?"

 

🔍 Analysis

- "어": An exclamation expressing hesitation.

- "어디": "Where."

- "안봤지?": "안 (not)" + "보다 (to see)" + past tense "-았" + confirming "-지?".

• "안보다" → "안보았다" (past tense) → "안봤다" (contracted form) → "안봤지."

 

📌 Example Usage

"어, 어디 아직 안 봤지?"

"Uh, where haven’t we looked yet?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"우리 안 본 곳이 어디지?"

"Where haven’t we checked yet?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"어디 안봤지?" → "어디 안봗찌?" (natural pronunciation flow)

 

류선재: "침실 거기도 보여줘야 돼?"

 

🔍 Analysis

- "침실": "Bedroom."

- "거기도": "거기 (there)" + "도 (also)."

- "보여줘야 돼?": "보여주다 (to show)" + "-어야 되다 (have to)."

• "보다 (to see)" → "보여주다 (to show)" → "보여주어야 된다 (have to show)" → "보여줘야 된다" (contracted form) → "보여줘야 돼" (spoken form)

 

📌 Example Usage

"침실도 보여 줘야 해?"

"Do I have to show the bedroom too?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"침실까지 보여 줘야 해?"

"Do I even have to show the bedroom?"

 

임솔: "아아 아 아니"

 

🔍 Analysis

- "아아": An exclamation expressing hesitation or flustered response.

- "아니": "No," used to deny something.

 

📌 Example Usage

"아, 아니야!"

"Ah, no!"

 

☀️ Meaning

"아, 그건 아니야!"

"Ah, that’s not what I meant!"

 

류선재: "그럼 다 봤네 갈까?"

 

🔍 Analysis

- "그럼": "Then, in that case."

- "다 봤네": "다 (all, everything)" + "보다 (to see)" + past tense "-았" + exclamatory "-네."

• "다 보다" → "다 보았다" (past tense) → "다 봤다" (contracted form) → "다 봤네" (exclamatory)

-  "갈까?": "가다 (to go)" + "-ㄹ까? (shall we?, suggestion)."

 

📌 Example Usage

"그럼 다 본 거네. 갈까?"

"Then we’ve seen everything. Shall we go?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"다 봤으니까 이제 갈까?"

"Since we’ve seen everything, shall we leave now?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"다 봤네 갈까?" → "다 봔네 갈까?" (natural pronunciation flow)

 

임솔: "저기 선재야 너 혹시 배 안 고파?"

 

🔍 Analysis

- "저기": "Uh, excuse me," used to get someone's attention.

- "선재야": "선재 (name)" + "야 (casual address)."

- "너 혹시": "너 (you)" + "혹시 (by any chance)."

- "배 안 고파?": "배 (stomach)" + "안 (not)" + "고프다 (to be hungry)" + "-아?" (question marker).

 

📌 Example Usage

"저기, 너 혹시 배 안 고파?"

"Uh, are you not hungry by any chance?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"너 혹시 배 안 고픈 거야?"

"Are you not hungry?"

 

임솔: "나 라면 먹고 가면 안 돼?"

 

🔍 Analysis

- "나": "I."

- "라면 먹고": "라면 (ramen, instant noodles)" + "먹고 (eat and)."

- "가면 안 돼?": "가다 (to go)" + "-면 안 되다? (is it not okay if…?)".

• "안 되다" → "안 돼" (contracted form).

 

🐾 "라면 먹고 가다" is a phrase in Korean with a suggestive meaning similar to "Netflix and chill" in English.

 

📌 Example Usage

"나 라면 먹고 가도 돼?"

"Can I eat ramen before I leave?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"라면 한 그릇 먹고 가면 안 될까?"

"Would it be okay to have a ramen bowl before leaving?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"라면 먹고" → "라면 먹꼬" (natural flow of pronunciation).

 

임솔: "나 오늘 안 들어갈거야" (선재의 마음속에서 들리는 소리)

 

🔍 Analysis

- "나": "I."

- "오늘": "Today."

- "안 들어갈 거야": "안 (not)" + "들어가다 (to go in)" + "-ㄹ 거야 (future statement)."

• "안 들어가다" → "안 들어갈 거다" → "안 들어갈 거야" (spoken form).

 

📌 Example Usage

"나 오늘 집에 안 들어갈 거야."

"I’m not going home today."

 

☀️ Meaning

"오늘 밤 집에 안 갈 거야."

"I’m not going home tonight."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"안 들어갈 거야" → "안 드러갈 꺼야" (natural pronunciation flow).

 

임솔: "안돼?"

 

🔍 Analysis

- "안돼?": "안되다 (to not be allowed)" + question marker "?" (asking for permission).

• "안되다" → "안돼" (contracted, informal speech).

 

📌 Example Usage

"안 돼?"

"Is it not okay?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"정말 안 되는 거야?"

"Is it truly not possible?"

 

류선재: "돼."

 

🔍 Analysis

"돼": "되다 (to be okay, to be possible)" in informal speech.

 

📌 Example Usage

"돼."

"It’s okay."

 

☀️ Meaning

"그래, 괜찮아."

"Yeah, it’s fine."

Lovely Runner (2024)

🎥 "Lovely Runner" Shorts: Wrap-up

This short clip is an excellent resource for Korean learners to familiarize themselves with everyday expressions and natural conversations.

In particular, the phrase “나 라면 먹고 가면 안 돼?” (Can I stay and have ramen?) helps illustrate the nuanced emotional expressions in Korean culture.

Listen closely to the dialogue and learn authentic Korean expressions and pronunciation through the interactions between the characters!