Love and relationships are important topics in every culture. Through this blog, we will explore Dating and Marriage Culture and expressions related to dating and marriage in Korea, allowing you to enhance your Korean language skills.
In Korean society, dating and marriage hold significant importance within families and the broader community. Dating is a period during which two individuals get to know each other, expressing their interest and building communication. Subsequently, marriage represents a special moment where two individuals commit to each other’s love and devotion.
Today, we will cover various cultural information and vocabulary related to dating and marriage. We’ll delve into factors influencing dating or marriage in South Korea, commonly used expressions during dates, ways to express affection for someone you like, date locations and activities, as well as vocabulary associated with marriage. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you will gain confidence and be able to communicate more naturally in conversations with Koreans.
Furthermore, this blog aims to promote understanding of Korean culture and customs. Koreans place great value on the importance of family and etiquette. Accordingly, vocabulary and customs related to dating and marriage form an integral part of Korean culture. By learning Korean and delving deeper into its culture, you will gain a more profound understanding.
Now, are you ready to explore interesting information related to dating and marriage? Let’s get started!
Dating and marriage culture
Dating and marriage culture in South Korea is influenced by various factors, including
traditional values, modern influences, and societal expectations. Here are some key aspects
of dating and marriage culture in South Korean society:
- Confucian Values: Traditional Confucian values have a significant impact on dating and
marriage culture in South Korea. Respect for elders, hierarchical relationships, and
maintaining harmony within the family are highly valued. - Matchmaking: While arranged marriages are less common nowadays, matchmakers or
marriage agencies still play a role in South Korean society. These matchmakers facilitate
introductions and help individuals find suitable partners based on factors such as social
background, education, and family compatibility. - Group Dating: In South Korea, group dating is quite popular, especially among younger
people. This practice, known as “미팅 (meething)” or “소개팅 (sogaething),” involves
groups of friends arranging outings or activities to meet and socialize with the intention of
finding potential partners. - Couple Culture: South Korean society places emphasis on the concept of being part of a
couple. Once individuals enter a committed relationship, they often spend a significant
amount of time together, engage in couple-oriented activities, and celebrate milestones
such as anniversaries. Some important anniversaries are 100 days together, 300 days together and 1 year together. - Family Approval: Family approval holds great importance in South Korean culture. When
considering a potential partner, individuals often seek the approval of their parents and
extended family. Family introductions and meetings are common, and the family’s opinion
can heavily influence the couple’s decision. - Public Displays of Affection: South Korean society generally leans towards more
conservative attitudes regarding public displays of affection. While holding hands and
hugging are acceptable, overt displays of affection like kissing in public are often seen as
inappropriate. - Marriage Pressure: There is a societal expectation for individuals, especially women, to
marry at a certain age. This expectation can create pressure to find a partner and settle
down, leading to a phenomenon known as “marriage hunting.” - Wedding Culture: Weddings in South Korea are often elaborate and festive affairs.
Traditional customs, such as the ‘폐백(pyebaek)’ ceremony (where the bride and groom pay
respects to their parents) and the exchange of wedding ducks (a pair of duck carvings,
traditionally Mandarin ducks), are still practiced alongside modern wedding customs. - Gender Roles: Traditional gender roles are still prevalent in South Korean society,
although they are gradually evolving. Men are typically expected to be the primary
breadwinners, while women are often responsible for managing the household and raising
children. However, there is a growing trend of women pursuing careers and challenging
traditional gender norms. - Influence of Pop Culture: K-dramas and K-pop music have had a significant impact on
shaping romantic ideals and relationship expectations among South Korean youth. These
forms of entertainment often portray romanticized versions of love and influence the dating
preferences of young people.
important to note that while these cultural aspects provide a general overview,
individual experiences and perspectives on dating and marriage can vary widely within
South Korean society.
Great! Now that you are familiar with Korean dating and marriage culture, let’s explore
some expressions and vocabulary that will help enhance your language skills in this area. By
learning these expressions, you can communicate more effectively and naturally in
conversations related to dating and marriage in Korean society.
Let’s dive into these useful expressions and expand your language proficiency!
First time meeting
When it comes to first-time meetings in the context of dating, there are a few key terms and expressions that are commonly used in Korean culture:
| 미팅을 하다 | (miting-eul hada) | to be on a group blind date |
| 소개팅을 하다 | (sogaeting-eul hada) | to be on a blind date |
| 선을 보다 | (seon-eul boda) | to be on a blind date (arranged by a matchmaker) |
| 사내 커플 | (sanae keopeul) | couple within the company |
| 캠퍼스 커플 | (kaempaseu keopeul) | couple withing the university campus |
Expressions for Dating:
During a date, it’s important to express your feelings and communicate with your partner. Here are some common expressions you can use:
| 만나서 반가워요. | (mannaseo bangawoyo) | Nice to meet you. |
| 어디서 데이트할까요? | (eodiseo deiteuhalkkayo?) | Where shall we go for our date? |
| 너무 예쁘세요. | (neomu yeppeuseyo) | You look very beautiful. |
| 식사하러 갈까요? | (shiksa-hareo galkkayo?) | Shall we go for a meal? |
| 너무 재밌었어요. 다음에 또 만나요. | (neomu jaemisseoyo. Daeume tto mannayo) | I had a great time. Let’s meet again next time. |
Other words to know
| 사귀다 | (saguida) | to go out |
| 연애하다 | (yeonaehada) | to date |
| 사랑에 빠지다 | (sarange ppajida) | to fall in love |
| 짝사랑하다 | (jjaksaranghada) | to have a crush |
| 사랑을 고백하다 | (sarangeul gobaekhada) | to declare/ confess love |
| 따라다니다 | (ttaradadida) | to follow around |
| 사랑이 식다 | (sarangi sikda) | to fall out of love |
| 바람을 피우다 | (baram-eul piuda) | to cheat |
| 첫눈에 반하다 | (cheotnune banhada) | to fall on love in love at first sight |
| 헤어지다 | (he-eojida) | to break up |
Expressions of Affection:
When you have feelings for someone, it’s important to express your affection. Here are some phrases you can use:
| 사랑해요. | (saranghaeyo) | I love you. |
| 너무 보고 싶어요. | (neomu bogo sip-eoyo.) | I miss you so much. |
| 내 곁에 있어줘서 행복해요. | (nae gyeot-e iss-eojwoseo haengboghaeyo.) | I’m happy to have you by my side. |
| 너랑 함께 시간을 보내는 게 제일 좋아요. | (neorang hamkke sigan-eul bonaeneun ge jeil johayo.) | I enjoy spending time with you the most. |
| 항상 네 곁에 있을게요. | (hangsang ne gyeot-e iss-eulgeyo.) | I’ll always be by your side. |
Date Locations and Activities:
When planning a date, it’s important to choose the right location and activities. Here are some vocabularies related to date locations and activities:
| 영화관 | (yeonghwagwan) | movie theatre |
| 카페 | (kape) | cafe |
| 공원 | (gongwon) | park |
| 식당 | 식당 | restaurant |
| 콘서트 | (konseoteu) | concert |
| 산책 | (sanchaek) | walk |
| 피크닉 | (piknik) | picnic |
| 자전거 타기 | (jajeongeo tagi) | cycling |
| 요리하기 | (yorihagi) | cooking together |
Preconditions for selecting a spouse:
| 외모 | (wae-mo) | appearance |
| 능력 | (neung-ryeok) | capability |
| 성격 | (seong-gyeok) | personality |
| 경제력 | (gyeong-je-ryeok) | financial capabilities |
| 가정환경 | (ga-jeong-hwan-gyeong) | family environment |
| 학벌 | (hak-beol) | educational background |
| 가치관 | (ga-chi-gwan) | Value |
| 종교 | (jong-gyo) | religion |
Vocabulary Associated with Marriage:
Marriage is a significant milestone in a relationship. Here are some vocabularies associated with marriage:
| 청혼하다 | (cheonghonhada) | to propose |
| 약혼하다 | (yakhonhada) | to be engaged |
| 결혼하다 | (gyeonhonhada) | to get married |
| 이혼하다 | (ihonhada) | to get divorced |
| 재혼하다 | (jaehonhada) | to get remarried |
| 결혼식 | (gyeolhonsik) | wedding ceremony |
| 신랑 | (sinlang) | groom |
| 신부 | (sinbu) | bride |
| 남편 | (nampyeon) | husband |
| 아내 | (anae) | wife |
| 부인 | (buin) | wife |
| 배우자 | (bae-uja) | spouse |
| 약혼자 | (yakhonja) | fiancé/ fiancée |
| 신혼여행 | (sinhonyeohaeng) | honeymoon |
| 가족 | (gajok) | family |
| 부부 | (bubu) | married couple |
| 결혼 생활 | (gyeolhon saenghwal) | married life |
| 신혼집 | (sinhonjip) | newlywed’s house |
| 결혼 기념일 | (gyeolhon ginyeomil) | wedding anniversary |
What is the difference between 아내 and 부인?
| 아내 | 부인 |
| 아내 (aa-nae) is the term used to refer to one’s wife. – This word is commonly used when a husband introduces his wife to others or when a wife introduces herself. | 부인 (phu-in) also means one’s wife. – It is a more elegant and respectful term compared to 아내. -Therefore, people other than the husband can refer to one’s wife as 부인. |
“Remember that we use 부인 when referring to someone else’s wife. We do not use 아내 to refer to someone else’s wife.”
Activity 1
Translate the below words to Korean.
- Fiancé
- To go out
- Restaurant
- Couple within the company
- Religion
Activity 2
Complete the sentences with the appropriate dating or marriage vocabulary word.
- 저랑 _____ 어디로 갈까요? – Where shall we go for our date?
- 그들은 한 달 전에 ___________. – They got married a month ago.
- 저는 그녀와 재미있는 ____를 보냈어요. – I had a fun date with her.
- 내일 ________ 가요. – I have blind date tomorrow.
- 우리는 2년동안 ___________. – We have been dating for 2 years.
Activity 1 Answers
- Fiance – 약혼자
- To go out – 사귀다
- Restaurant – 식당
- Couple within the company – 사내 커플
- Religion – 종교
Activity 2 Answers
- 저랑 데이트 어디로 갈까요? – Where shall we go for our date?
- 그들은 한 달 전에 결혼했어요. – They got married a month ago.
- 저는 그녀와 재미있는 데이트를 보냈어요. – I had a fun date with her.
- 내일 소개팅 해요. – I have blind date tomorrow.
- 우리는 2년동안 사귀였어요. – We have been dating for 2 years.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have now learned various vocabulary related to dating and marriage in the Korean language.
Remember, language and culture are closely intertwined. Through learning Korean vocabulary associated with dating and marriage, you have also gained insights into Korean customs and values. So, keep practicing and exploring the rich world of the Korean language!
| LANGUAGE TIP: |
| Use romanization as a temporary tool for pronunciation guidance, but prioritize learning Hangeul (한글), the Korean alphabet. Hangeul allows for accurate reading and writing, providing a deeper understanding of Korean language structure and pronunciation. Transitioning to Hangeul early on will strengthen your foundation and enhance your overall language learning experience. Embrace Hangeul to grasp Korean vocabulary and grammar more effectively. |
감사합니다! (Thank you!)
Written by: Nikita Yadav
Edited by: the SKAPETOKOREA team