[Basic Korean Conversation Series] 6: Talking About Family

Basic Korean Conversation 6: Talking About Family

Dialogue

A: 가족이 몇 명이에요? (Gajogi myeot myeong-ieyo?)

B: 우리 가족은 네 명이에요. (Uri gajogeun ne myeong-ieyo.)

A: 형제가 있어요? (Hyeongje-ga isseoyo?)

B: 네, 오빠가 한 명 있어요. (Ne, oppaga han myeong isseoyo.)

Breakdown of the Dialogue

1. 가족이 몇 명이에요? (Gajogi myeot myeong-ieyo?)

• Meaning: This phrase means "How many people are in your family?" in English. It’s a polite way to ask about the size of someone's family.
• Usage: Use this question when you want to know about the number of members in someone's family. It’s suitable for most social and formal settings.
• Pronunciation: The phrase is pronounced as "ga-jog-i myeot myeong-i-e-yo?" The word "가족" (gajok) means "family," "몇" (myeot) means "how many," and "명" (myeong) is a counter for people.

2. 우리 가족은 네 명이에요. (Uri gajogeun ne myeong-ieyo.)

• Meaning: This phrase means "My family has four people." It is a simple and polite way to state the size of your family.
• Usage: Use this phrase when someone asks about the number of people in your family. The structure can be adapted by changing "네" to the appropriate number.
• Pronunciation: The phrase is pronounced as "u-ri ga-jog-eun ne myeong-i-e-yo." The word "우리" (uri) means "our" or "my," and "네" (ne) means "four."

3. 형제가 있어요? (Hyeongje-ga isseoyo?)

• Meaning: This phrase means "Do you have siblings?" It’s a polite way to ask if someone has brothers or sisters.
• Usage: Use this question to inquire about someone's siblings.
• Pronunciation: The phrase is pronounced as "hyeong-je-ga is-seo-yo?" The word "형제" (hyeongje) means "siblings" (brothers and sisters), and "있어요" (isseoyo) means "do you have."

4. 네, 오빠가 한 명 있어요. (Ne, oppaga han myeong isseoyo.)

• Meaning: This phrase means "Yes, I have one older brother." It is a simple and polite way to state you have an older brother.
• Usage: Use this phrase when someone asks if you have siblings and you want to specify that you have an older brother. The structure can be adapted by changing "오빠" to the appropriate sibling term and "한 명" to the appropriate number.
• Pronunciation: The phrase is pronounced as "ne, oppa-ga han myeong is-seo-yo." The word "네" (ne) means "yes," "오빠" (oppa) means "older brother" (used by females), and "한 명" (han myeong) means "one person."

Vocabulary and Expressions

• 가족 (Gajok): Family
  • Example: "가족이 몇 명이에요?" (How many people are in your family?).
• 몇 (Myeot): How many
  • Example: "몇 명 있어요?" (How many people are there?).
• 명 (Myeong): Counter for people
  • Example: "다섯 명" (five people).
• 우리 (Uri): Our/My
  • Example: "우리 집" (our house/my house).
• 형제 (Hyeongje): Siblings (brothers and sisters)
  • Example: "형제가 많아요" (I have many siblings).
• 있어요 (Isseoyo): Do you have/Is there
  • Example: "친구가 있어요?" (Do you have friends?).
• 네 (Ne): Yes
  • Example: "네, 맞아요" (Yes, that's right).
• 오빠 (Oppa): Older brother (used by females)
  • Example: "오빠가 좋아요" (I like my older brother).

Additional Examples

• Discussing Family Sizes:
  • A: 가족이 몇 명이에요? (Gajogi myeot myeong-ieyo?) - How many people are in your family?
  • B: 우리 가족은 다섯 명이에요. (Uri gajogeun daseot myeong-ieyo.) - My family has five people.
  • A: 형제가 있어요? (Hyeongje-ga isseoyo?) - Do you have (usually brother) siblings?
  • B: 네, 언니가 두 명 있어요. (Ne, eonniga du myeong isseoyo.) - Yes, I have two older sisters.
• Talking About Siblings Informally:
  • A: 가족이 몇 명이야? (Gajogi myeot myeong-iya?) - How many people are in your family? (informal)
  • B: 우리 가족은 네 명이야. (Uri gajogeun ne myeong-iya.) - My family has four people. (informal)
  • A: 형제 있어? (Hyeongje isseo?) - Do you have siblings? (informal)
  • B: 응, 오빠 한 명 있어. (Eung, oppa han myeong isseo.) - Yes, I have one older brother. (informal)

When to Use These Phrases

• Formal Settings: Use these phrases in formal settings like professional environments, when meeting new people, or when talking to someone older or of higher status.
• Informal Settings: The informal versions can be used with friends, peers, or younger people in casual settings.

Things to Be Careful About

• Formality: Ensure you use the correct level of formality based on the situation. Using informal speech in a formal setting can be seen as disrespectful.
• Pronunciation: Pronounce each syllable clearly. Mispronouncing key phrases can lead to misunderstandings or seem impolite.
• Cultural Sensitivity: When asking about someone's family, be mindful of the context and the person’s comfort level. Family can be a sensitive topic for some people.
• Siblings: When Koreans use the term "형제", it means siblings who are boys. If you want to mention girl siblings, you can say "자매(jamae)".

Pronunciation Tips

• 가족이 몇 명이에요? (Gajogi myeot myeong-ieyo?): Break it down into syllables – "ga-jog-i myeot myeong-i-e-yo?" The "가족" (gajok) should be pronounced clearly with a soft "g."
• 우리 가족은 네 명이에요. (Uri gajogeun ne myeong-ieyo.): Say it as "u-ri ga-jog-eun ne myeong-i-e-yo." The "우리" (uri) sounds like "oo-ri."
• 형제가 있어요? (Hyeongje-ga isseoyo?): Pronounce it as "hyeong-je-ga is-seo-yo?" The "형제" (hyeongje) should be clear, with "형" sounding like "hyung."
• 네, 오빠가 한 명 있어요. (Ne, oppaga han myeong isseoyo.): Say it as "ne, oppa-ga han myeong is-seo-yo." The "오빠" (oppa) should be pronounced with emphasis on the double "p."

By understanding and practicing these basic Korean phrases, you can comfortably ask about someone's family and discuss your own. This not only helps in building rapport but also enhances your cultural understanding and communication skills in Korean-speaking environments. Happy learning!