"My Dearest Nemesis" Shorts #1: Iconic Lines & Key Expressions to Speak Korean Like a Native

🎥 "My Dearest Nemesis": Introduction

Here’s a trending short clip from “그놈은 흑염룡” (My Dearest Nemesis)! This drama is a romantic comedy adaptation of the webtoon of the same name by Hyejin Yang. Some of you may have read the original webtoon. Currently airing, this 12-episode series features a fun back-and-forth exchange between Baek Soo-jung and Ban Joo-yeon.

 

🎥 "My Dearest Nemesis": Short Video

[Source] YouTube, @tvNDRAMA_official

 

🎥 "My Dearest Nemesis" Shorts: Meet the Characters

🎭 Baek Soo-jung (Moon Ga-young): Growing up in poverty without a mother, she leads a life of exhaustion. Having been unable to grow up like everyone else, she resents and is frustrated by her differences, driving her to work hard and succeed.

🎭 Ban Joo-yeon (Choi Hyun-wook): As the only grandson of the chairman of Yongseong Group, he has dedicated himself to becoming the successor his grandmother desires. However, having lost his parents in an accident at a young age, he still feels lonely and empty.

 

🎥 "My Dearest Nemesis" Shorts: Dialogue

반주연: “표정이 왜 그래요?”

Ban Ju-yeon: "Why do you look like that?"

반주연: “아직도 문제 있습니까?”

Ban Ju-yeon: "Is there still a problem?"

백수정: “좀 떨어져 서 주실래요?”

Baek Su-jeong: "Could you step back a little?"

백수정: “또 본부장 멱살 잡고 싶지 않으니까.”

Baek Su-jeong: "I don't want to grab the director by the collar again."

반주연: “멱살 잡은 적도 있습니까?”

Ban Ju-yeon: "Have you ever grabbed me by the collar?"

반주연: “난 그 정도 일은 안 한 거 같은데.”

Ban Ju-yeon: "I don’t think I’ve done anything that bad."

백수정: “시험당하는 기분, 그거 되게 별로거든요.”

Baek Su-jeong: "Feeling tested—it’s really unpleasant."

반주연: “필요한 일을 했을 뿐입니다.”

Ban Ju-yeon: "I only did what was necessary."

백수정: “알아도 기분 나쁜 건 어쩔 수 없어서요.”

Baek Su-jeong: "Even if I understand, I can't help but feel bad about it."

반주연: “어떻게 하면 기분 풀래요?”

Ban Ju-yeon: "How can I make you feel better?"

반주연: “보통 기분 풀 땐 뭐합니까?”

Ban Ju-yeon: "What do you usually do to feel better?"

백수정: “그냥 두세요. 혼자 알아서 풀 테니까.”

Baek Su-jeong: "Just leave me alone. I'll handle it myself."

반주연: “싫은데요.”

Ban Ju-yeon: "I don’t want to."

반주연: “나한테 초코우유 줄 사람은 이제 백수정씨 밖에 없어서.”

Ban Ju-yeon: "You're the only one who gives me chocolate milk."

 

🎯 Key Takeaways

1. 표정이 밝다 / 표정이 어둡다 (Bright Expression / Dark Expression)

"표정이 밝다" means someone looks happy or cheerful, while "표정이 어둡다" means they look sad or worried.

 

📌 Example Usage

"좋은 소식을 들어서 그런지 표정이 밝네!"

"You must have heard good news, your expression is so bright!"

 

"무슨 일 있어? 요즘 표정이 어두워."

"Is something wrong? You’ve looked gloomy lately."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

얼굴이 환하다 (Face is Radiant, Bright Look) – Used for someone looking especially happy.

 

📌 Example Usage

"행복해 보여서 얼굴이 환하네!"

"You look so happy, your face is glowing!"

 

2. 문제 있다 / 문제없다 (There’s a Problem / No Problem)

"문제 있다" means something is wrong, while "문제없다" means there’s no issue.

 

📌 Example Usage

"이 계획에 문제 있다. 다시 검토해야 해."

"There’s a problem with this plan. We need to review it again."

 

"걱정 마. 문제없어!"

"Don’t worry. There’s no problem!"

 

🐾 “문제 있다” vs “문제없다”

The two phrases have completely opposite meanings and differ grammatically as well. Therefore, their spacing is different.

 

"문제 있다": "There is a problem." / "Something's wrong."

- "문제": "문제 (problem, issue, question)." + subject marker “-가” (omission) + "있다 (to exist, to have)."

 

“문제없다”: "There's no problem." / "It's fine."

- “문제없다”: adjective

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

문제될 것 없다 (It Won’t Be a Problem) – Used when something isn’t an issue.

 

📌 Example Usage

"이 정도 실수는 문제될 것 없어."

"A mistake this small won’t be a problem."

 

3. 멱살 잡다 (Grab Someone by the Collar)

It means grabbing someone’s collar, but it often implies a heated argument or fight.

 

📌 Example Usage

"친구랑 싸우다가 멱살을 잡을 뻔했어."

"I almost grabbed my friend by the collar during a fight."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

주먹다짐하다 (Get Into a Fistfight) – Used when physical fighting happens.

 

📌 Example Usage

"서로 오해해서 주먹다짐까지 갔다."

"They misunderstood each other and ended up in a fistfight."

 

4. ~한 적 (Have Ever Done ~)

Used to describe a past experience.

 

📌 Example Usage

"이 영화 본 적 있어?"

"Have you ever watched this movie?"

 

"한 번도 이렇게 긴 여행을 한 적이 없어."

"I’ve never taken such a long trip before."

 

🎨 Expressions

경험하다 (To Experience Something) – A more formal way to say it.

 

📌 Example Usage

"이런 상황을 경험한 적 있나요?"

"Have you ever experienced this kind of situation?"

 

5. 시험당하다 (Be Tested, Be Put to the Test)

Means to be subjected to a test or trial.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그는 힘든 상황에서 인내심을 시험당했다."

"He was put to the test in a difficult situation."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

검증받다 (Be Verified, Be Evaluated) – Used in a more professional or academic setting.

 

📌 Example Usage

"새 기술이 충분히 검증받았나요?"

"Has the new technology been properly verified?"

 

6. 기분 별로다 / 기분 나쁘다 / 기분 풀다 (Feel So-So / Feel Bad / Feel Better)

These phrases describe different emotional states.

 

📌 Example Usage

"오늘 뭔가 기분이 별로야."

"I don’t feel great today."

 

"그 말 때문에 기분 나빠졌어."

"That comment made me feel bad."

 

"기분 풀어! 내가 맛있는 거 사 줄게."

"Cheer up! I’ll buy you something delicious."

 

🎨 Expressions

기분 전환하다 (Refresh One’s Mood) – Means to do something to feel better.

 

📌 Example Usage

"산책하면서 기분 전환 좀 해야겠어."

"I need to take a walk to refresh my mood."

 

7. 어쩔 수 없다 (It Can’t Be Helped)

Used when something is unavoidable.

 

📌 Example Usage

"이미 벌어진 일이야. 어쩔 수 없어."

"What’s done is done. It can’t be helped."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

방법이 없다 (There’s No Way / No Solution) – More direct in meaning.

 

📌 Example Usage

"이 상황에서는 방법이 없어."

"In this situation, there’s no way out."

 

8. ~ 밖에 없다 (There’s Nothing But ~, Only ~)

Expresses that there is no other option or possibility.

 

📌 Example Usage

"지금은 기다리는 방법밖에 없어."

"Right now, the only option is to wait."

 

"먹을 게 라면밖에 없어."

"There’s nothing to eat except ramen."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

오직 ~만 있다 (Only ~ Exists, Only Have ~) – A more emphatic way to express limitation.

 

📌 Example Usage

"오직 노력만이 성공을 가져올 수 있다."

"Only effort can bring success."

🎥 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.

 

반주연: "표정이 왜 그래요?"

- "표정이": "표정 (facial expression)" + subject marker "-이."

- "왜 그래요?": "왜 (why)" + "그렇다 (to be like that)" + polite question "-어요?"

• "그렇다" → "그래요?"

 

📌 Example Usage

"너 표정이 왜 그래?"

"Why do you look like that?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"무슨 일 있나요? 표정이 안 좋네요."

"Is something wrong? You don’t look good."

 

반주연: "아직도 문제 있습니까?"

- "아직도": "아직 (still, yet)" + emphasis "-도 (even now, still)."

- "문제 있습니까?": "문제 (problem, issue)" + "있다 (to exist, to be)" + formal question "-습니까?"

• "문제 있다." → "문제 있습니다." → "문제 있습니까?"

 

📌 Example Usage

"아직도 그 문제 해결 안 됐어?"

"That problem hasn’t been solved yet?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"여전히 문제가 남아 있나요?"

"Is there still an issue?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"아직도 문제 있습니까?" → "아직또 문제 읻씀니까?"

 

백수정: "좀 떨어져 서 주실래요?"

- "좀": "좀 (a little, softens the request politely)."

- "떨어져": "떨어지다 (to step away, to keep a distance)" + connective "-어 (imperative or connective form)."

- "서 주실래요?": "서다 (to stand)" + benefactive "-어 주다 (to do something for someone)" + polite request "-실래요?"

• "서다." + "서 주다." → "서 주시다." + "-ㄹ래요" → "서 주실래요?"

• "-ㄹ래요": used to express one's intention about a future action in polite speech, commonly used in spoken language.

 

📌 Example Usage

"조금만 뒤로 떨어져 주실래요?"

"Could you step back a little?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"조금만 거리를 두고 서 주세요."

"Please stand a little further away."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"떨어져 서 주실래요?" → "떠러져 서 주실래요?" (linking sound occurs).

 

백수정: "또 본부장 멱살 잡고 싶지 않으니까."

- "또": "Again, once more."

- "본부장": "Director, head of a department."

- "멱살 잡고 싶지 않으니까": "멱살 (collar, scruff of the neck)" + "잡다 (to grab)" + "-고 싶다 (to want to do)" + "-지 않다 (to not do)" + "-으니까 (because)."

 

📌 Example Usage

"또 싸우고 싶지 않으니까 조용히 해."

"I don’t want to fight again, so be quiet."

 

☀️ Meaning

"본부장 멱살 다시 잡고 싶지 않으니까 거리 좀 두세요."

"I don’t want to grab the director by the collar again, so keep some distance."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"멱살 잡고 싶지 않으니까" → "멱쌀 잡꼬 십찌 안으니까" (tense sound).

 

반주연: "멱살 잡은 적도 있습니까?"

- "멱살 잡은": "멱살 (collar)" + "잡다 (to grab)" + past participle "-은."

- "적도 있습니까?": "적 (experience, time something happened)" + "-도 (also, even)" + "있다 (to exist, to have done something before)" + formal question "-습니까?"

 

📌 Example Usage

"정말 그런 적 있어?"

"Did you really do that before?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"본부장 멱살을 잡은 적이 있다고요?"

"You actually grabbed the director by the collar before?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"잡은 적도 있습니까?" → "자븐 적또 읻씀니까?"

반주연: "난 그 정도 일은 안 한 거 같은데."

- "난" "나 (I, informal)" + topic marker "-는" (spoken as "난").

- "그 정도" "그 (that)" + "정도 (degree, level)."

- "일은" "일 (thing, matter, work)" + topic marker "-은" (contrast).

- "안 한 거 같은데" "안 하다 (to not do)" + past tense "-ㄴ" + noun form "-거" + conjecture "-같다" + soft ending "-는데."

• “안 하다” → “안 한 것 같다” → “안 한 거 같다” (abbreviation) → “안 한 거 같은데”

 

📌Example Usage

"난 그렇게 큰 잘못은 안 한 거 같은데."

"I don't think I made that big of a mistake."

 

☀️Meaning

"내가 그렇게 심한 일까지 하진 않았던 거 같은데."

"I don't think I did anything that serious."

 

🗣️Pronunciation Tips

"안 한 거 같은데" → "안 한 거 가튼데" (연음 발생).

  

백수정: "시험당하는 기분, 그거 되게 별로거든요."

- "시험당하는": "시험 (test, trial)" + passive "-당하다 (to be subjected to something)" + present progressive "-는."

- "기분": "Feeling, mood."

- "그거": "그것 (that thing, that situation)" → spoken contraction "그거."

- "되게": "Very, extremely (colloquial for '정말' or '매우')."

- "별로거든요": "별로 (not really, negative nuance)" + "-거든 (providing reasoning, explaining one's feelings)" + "-요 (polite ending)."

 

📌 Example Usage

"누가 나를 시험하는 기분, 진짜 별로야."

"Feeling like someone is testing me, I really hate it."

 

☀️ Meaning

"누군가 나를 시험하는 기분, 그거 정말 기분 나빠요."

"Being tested like this, it really feels terrible."

 

반주연: "필요한 일을 했을 뿐입니다."

- "필요한": "필요하다 (to be necessary)" + attributive "-ㄴ (describing the following noun)."

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

- "했을 뿐입니다": "하다 (to do)" + past tense "-었" + restrictive "-을 뿐이다 (only, nothing more)" + formal ending "-입니다."

• "하다" → "했다" → "했을 뿐이다" → "했을 뿐입니다"

 

📌 Example Usage

"나는 내 할 일을 했을 뿐이야."

"I only did what I had to do."

 

☀️ Meaning

"저는 단지 필요한 일을 했을 뿐입니다."

"I merely did what was necessary."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"했을 뿐입니다" → "해쓸 뿌닙니다" (연음 발생).

 

백수정: "알아도 기분 나쁜 건 어쩔 수 없어서요."

- "알아도": "알다 (to know, to understand)" + concessive "-아도 (even if)."

- "기분 나쁜 건": "기분 나쁘다 (to feel bad, to be unpleasant)" + noun form "-ㄴ 것" (spoken contraction "건").

• "기분 나쁜 것은" → "기분 나쁜 건" (shortened form)

- "어쩔 수 없어서요": "어쩔 수 없다 (it can't be helped)" + reason expression "-어서요 (because)."

• "어쩔 수 없다" → "어쩔 수 없어서" (informal) → "어쩔 수 없어서요" (polite speech)

 

📌 Example Usage

"이해해도 기분 나쁜 건 어쩔 수 없어."

"Even if I understand, I can’t help but feel bad."

 

☀️ Meaning

"이해해도 기분 나쁜 건 어쩔 수 없는 거잖아요."

"Even if I understand, there's no way I wouldn't feel bad."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"어쩔 수 없어서요" → "어쩔 쑤 업써서요" (linked sounds).

 

반주연: "어떻게 하면 기분 풀래요?"

- "어떻게 하면": "어떻게 (how, in what way)" + "하다 (to do)" + conditional "-면 (if, in case)."

- "기분 풀래요?": "기분 풀다 (to relieve one’s feelings, to make someone feel better)" + casual future intention "-ㄹ래요?" (asking preference).

• "기분 풀다." → "기분 풀래?" → "기분 풀래요?" (polite speech)

 

📌 Example Usage

"어떻게 하면 너 기분 풀릴까?"

"What can I do to make you feel better?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"내가 어떻게 하면 기분이 좀 풀릴까요?"

"What can I do to make you feel better?"

 

반주연: "보통 기분 풀 땐 뭐합니까?"

- "보통": "usually, generally."

- "기분 풀 땐": "기분 (mood, feelings)" + "풀다 (to relieve, to ease)" + adjective form "-ㄹ” + “때 (when)" + contracted "-ㄴ (spoken as '땐')."

• “기분 풀다” → “기분 풀 때” + “-는” (emphasizing auxiliary particle) → “기분 풀 때는” → “기분 풀 땐” (contracted)

- "뭐합니까?": "뭐 (what)" + "하다 (to do)" + formal question "-ㅂ니까?"

• “뭐 하다.” → “뭐 합니다.” → “뭐 합니까?”

 

📌 Example Usage

"스트레스 받을 때 보통 뭐합니까?"

"What do you usually do when you're stressed?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"기분이 안 좋을 때 보통 뭘 하세요?"

"What do you usually do when you're feeling down?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"뭐합니까?" → "뭐함니까?"

 

백수정: "그냥 두세요. 혼자 알아서 풀 테니까."

- "그냥": "just, simply, without reason."

- "두세요": "두다 (to leave, to let be)" + polite imperative "-세요."

• “두다” + “-어” → “둬” + “-세요” → “두세요”

- "혼자": "alone, by oneself."

- "알아서 풀 테니까": "알다 (to know)" + causal "-아서" + "풀다 (to relieve, to resolve)" + future intention "-ㄹ 테니까 (since I will, because I intend to)."

• “-ㄹ 테니까”: expresses a future action or intention.

 

📌 Example Usage

"신경 쓰지 말고 그냥 두세요."

"Don't worry about it, just leave me alone."

 

☀️ Meaning

"그냥 놔두세요. 제가 혼자 해결할 테니까요."

"Just leave me alone. I'll take care of it myself."

 

반주연: "싫은데요."

- "싫은데요": "싫다 (to dislike, to not want to do)" + contrast "-은데" + polite tone "-요."

• “-은데”: indicates contrast or defiance.

• “싫다” → “싫은데” → “싫은데요”

 

📌 Example Usage

"A: 그냥 가만히 있어."

"B: 싫은데요?"

"A: Just stay still."

"B: I don’t want to."

 

☀️ Meaning

"그럴 생각 없어요."

"I don’t feel like doing that."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"싫은데요" → "실흔데요" (linking sound).

 

반주연: "나한테 초코우유 줄 사람은 이제 백수정씨 밖에 없어서."

- "나한테": "I (informal)" + dative marker "-한테 (to me)."

- "초코우유 줄 사람은": "초코우유 (chocolate milk)" + "주다 (to give)" + future adjective "-ㄹ” + “사람 (person who will do something)" + topic marker "-은."

- "이제": "now, from now on."

- "백수정씨 밖에 없어서": "백수정씨 (Baek Su-jeong, name + polite suffix '-씨')" + "밖에 없다 (only, no one else)" + "-서 (cause, reason)."

 

📌 Example Usage

"나한테 도움 줄 사람은 너밖에 없어."

"You're the only one left who can help me."

 

☀️ Meaning

"이제 나한테 초코우유 줄 사람은 백수정 씨뿐이에요."

"You're the only one who can give me chocolate milk."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"밖에 없어서" → "바께 업써서" (linking sound).

My Dearest Nemesis (2025)

🎥 "My Dearest Nemesis" Shorts: Wrap-up

The dialogue between Baek Soo-jung and Ban Joo-yeon in “My Dearest Nemesis” is filled with pride, tension, and a subtle push-and-pull of emotions. On the surface, they seem eager to tear each other apart, yet their words reveal an intriguing emotional entanglement.

This scene offers many useful expressions for Korean learners. Phrases like "표정이 왜 그래요?" (Why do you look like that?), "문제 있습니까?" (Is there a problem?), and "그냥 두세요” (Leave it)" are commonly used in everyday life. Additionally, learners can pick up both strong expressions like "멱살 잡다"(grab someone by the collar) and emotional phrases like "기분 풀다" (lighten the mood), making this scene highly practical for language learning.

Why not practice lively banter like Baek Soo-jung and Ban Joo-yeon to enhance your natural Korean conversation skills? Sometimes direct, sometimes playful, this is a great way to learn how to express emotions in Korean.

In the next short clip, we’ll analyze more iconic lines and expressions to help you speak Korean like a native—stay tuned!