[Basic Korean Conversation Series] 7: Asking About Interests

Basic Korean Conversation 7: Asking About Interests

Dialogue

A: 취미가 뭐예요? (Chwimiga mwoyeyo?)

B: 저는 영화 보는 걸 좋아해요. (Jeoneun yeonghwa boneun geol joahaeyo.)

A: 어떤 영화 좋아하세요? (Eotteon yeonghwa joahaseyo?)

B: 액션 영화를 좋아해요. (Aeksyeon yeonghwaleul joahaeyo.)

Breakdown of the Dialogue

1. 취미가 뭐예요? (Chwimiga mwoyeyo?)

• Meaning: This phrase means "What are your hobbies?" or "What is your hobby?" in English. It’s a common way to ask about someone's interests.
• Usage: Use this question when you want to know about someone's hobbies or interests. It’s suitable for both casual and formal settings.
• Pronunciation: The phrase is pronounced as "chwimi-ga mwo-ye-yo?" The word "취미" (chwimi) means "hobby," and "뭐예요" (mwoyeyo) means "what is."

2. 저는 영화 보는 걸 좋아해요. (Jeoneun yeonghwa boneun geol joahaeyo.)

• Meaning: This phrase means "I like watching movies." It is a simple way to express your interest in movies.
• Usage: Use this phrase when someone asks about your hobbies, and you want to say you like watching movies.
• Pronunciation: The phrase is pronounced as "jeo-neun yeong-hwa bo-neun geol jo-a-hae-yo." The word "저는" (jeoneun) means "I am," "영화" (yeonghwa) means "movie," and "좋아해요" (joahaeyo) means "like."

3. 어떤 영화 좋아하세요? (Eotteon yeonghwa joahaseyo?)

• Meaning: This phrase means "What kind of movies do you like?" It’s a follow-up question to learn more about someone's specific preferences.
• Usage: Use this question to ask for more details about someone's favorite types of movies.
• Pronunciation: The phrase is pronounced as "eo-tteon yeong-hwa jo-a-ha-se-yo?" The word "어떤" (eotteon) means "what kind of," and "좋아하세요" (joahaseyo) means "do you like."

4. 액션 영화를 좋아해요. (Aeksyeon yeonghwaleul joahaeyo.)

• Meaning: This phrase means "I like action movies." It is a specific response indicating a preference for action films.
• Usage: Use this phrase when you want to specify that your favorite type of movies are action movies.
• Pronunciation: The phrase is pronounced as "aek-syeon yeong-hwa-leul jo-a-hae-yo." The word "액션" (aeksyeon) means "action," and "영화를" (yeonghwaleul) is the object form of "movie."

Vocabulary and Expressions

• 취미 (Chwimi): Hobby
  • Example: "취미가 뭐예요?" (What are your hobbies?).
• 뭐예요 (Mwoyeyo): What is
  • Example: "이게 뭐예요?" (What is this?).
• 저는 (Jeoneun): I am
  • Example: "저는 학생이에요" (I am a student).
• 영화 (Yeonghwa): Movie
  • Example: "영화를 좋아해요" (I like movies).
• 좋아해요 (Joahaeyo): Like
  • Example: "음악을 좋아해요" (I like music).
• 어떤 (Eotteon): What kind of
  • Example: "어떤 음식을 좋아하세요?" (What kind of food do you like?).
• 액션 (Aeksyeon): Action
  • Example: "액션 영화" (Action movie).

Additional Examples

• Discussing Different Hobbies:
  • A: 취미가 뭐예요? (Chwimiga mwoyeyo?) - What are your hobbies?
  • B: 저는 독서하는 걸 좋아해요. (Jeoneun dokseo haneun geol joahaeyo.) - I like reading.
  • A: 어떤 책 좋아하세요? (Eotteon chaek joahaseyo?) - What kind of books do you like?
  • B: 소설을 좋아해요. (Soseoleul joahaeyo.) - I like novels.
• Talking About Hobbies Informally:
  • A: 취미가 뭐야? (Chwimiga mwoya?) - What are your hobbies? (informal)
  • B: 나는 운동하는 걸 좋아해. (Naneun undong haneun geol joahae.) - I like exercising. (informal)
  • A: 무슨 운동 좋아해? (Museun undong joahae?) - What kind of exercise do you like? (informal)
  • B: 축구를 좋아해. (Chukgureul joahae.) - I like soccer. (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 hobbies, be mindful of the context and the person’s comfort level. Some people might have personal or sensitive reasons for their interests.

Pronunciation Tips

• 취미가 뭐예요? (Chwimiga mwoyeyo?): Break it down into syllables – "chwi-mi-ga mwo-ye-yo?" The "취미" (chwimi) should be pronounced clearly.
• 저는 영화 보는 걸 좋아해요. (Jeoneun yeonghwa boneun geol joahaeyo.): Say it as "jeo-neun yeong-hwa bo-neun geol jo-a-hae-yo." The "영화" (yeonghwa) sounds like "young-hwa."
• 어떤 영화 좋아하세요? (Eotteon yeonghwa joahaseyo?): Pronounce it as "eo-tteon yeong-hwa jo-a-ha-se-yo?" The "어떤" (eotteon) should be clear, with "어" sounding like "uh."
• 액션 영화를 좋아해요. (Aeksyeon yeonghwaleul joahaeyo.): Say it as "aek-syeon yeong-hwa-leul jo-a-hae-yo." The "액션" (aeksyeon) should be pronounced with emphasis on the "ae" sound.

By understanding and practicing these basic Korean phrases, you can comfortably ask about someone's hobbies 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!