In lieu of recent events; namely, an unexpectedly excellent (yet in many ways now routine) weekend in Korea, a recent bout with el plague day hanguk, and my current state of brainfuzz resulting from future plans and problematic circumstances, I don't really have that much to say. Some may think this lack of meaningful content would mean I would simply shut my mouth for a moment; but, I like to talk. And this is my blog.
So, my friends, I bring you the first installment of my Korea Top 5's, a series of serious and not so serious reflections on my year (10 months down!) in the ROK. The following is an excellent example of the not so serious end of the spectrum.
I present to you my Top 5 Favorite Konglish Phrases:
OK, hold up Emily, FTW!!
That's not even a real word!
Perhaps.
Or perhaps not. For those of you who haven't spent copious amounts of time in Korea, Konglish refers to a select group of Korean (or Hangul) words adapted from English. These words can range from those with the same meaning as their English counterparts (ie: 컴퓨터 = kom-pu-teo = computer) to words that closely resemble English but have a slightly different meaning than one might expect.
Alright, now that were all on the same page...
My Top 5 Favorite Konglish Phrases are :
5. 초코파이(cho-ko-pa-i) - Choco Pie
This one may not technically be considered Konglish, but I am making the rules here. Choco-pie refers to a chocolate treat similar to a moon-pie, that makes my students go simply bananas. While they are not particularly delicious, 초코파이 makes the list because it is shouted at me in a most hilarious fashion on a daily basis. [Background info: My students are rewarded with stickers for participation, winning games etc. When a student receives 10 stickers they get to choose from a coupon grab-bag and win prizes such a "No Homework!" "Change your seat!" and, you got it, "1 Choco-Pie!"] At least once a week, one of my students will come running up to me waving a coupon in my face (or smiling mischievously sans-coupon) and yell "TEACHER! I AM CHOCO-PIE! I AM CHOCO-PIE!" While, as an English teacher I must ardently correct the students each time, making sure he or she at least says "Teacher! Give my Choco-pie, please!" hearing, "I AM CHOCO-PIE!" never fails to make me smile :)
4. 서비스 (seo-bi-su) - Service (occasionally pronounced servic-ee)
Korean servis-ee is awesome. It basically means free of charge, or on the house. Korean businesses LOVE to give out servic-ee goods, though sometimes in unexpected and inexplicable ways. There are the standard freebies that come along with cosmetics; a loofa here, some cotton swabs there, you know the drill. There are always a few 1+1 and 2+1 deals ( buy one/two get one free) at the Family Marts and 7-Elevens. And then there are the bottles of glue and boxes of plastic bags (for example) taped to your coffee and cereal. One of my friends even gets servic-ee lettuce from the produce lady at her grocery store Asssaaaah! (which leads me to my next point...)
3. 아사!!!! - Asaaahhhh!!!!
This basically means Awsome! Woohoooo! Yayyy! I always know I've done something right when I explain the rules of a game or activity and hear a few "Assahhh's" from the monsters.
Also, it's pretty catchy. You should try it out.
2. 파이팅 / 화이팅!!! (pa-i-ting / hwa-i-ting) - Fighting!!!
Another favorite form of encouragement, is a good old "Fighting!!!" This is one of those words that directly resembles its English origin (although it is regularly pronounced "Hwaiting!!") but has drifted away from the literal English meaning over time. "Fighting!" is now the equivalent, of "You can do it!" "Good luck!" "Keep going!" and is generally shouted as a form of encouragement. National sporting arenas are often full of ", 대한민국 회이팅!! daehanmin-guk, hwaiting!! or even 코리아 화이팅!! Ko-ri-ah hwaiting!! Go, Korea!! It is also not uncommon to receive a "화이팅!" from a group of excited Korean's mid-hike. Alternatively, I have one student (English name Thomas, Korean name unknown) who will sometimes run into the room and scream " EMILY TEACHER, 화이팅!!" and then shake me vigorously by the shoulders. At these moments, just about everything is a little unclear.
1. 피자 (pi-ja) - Pizza!
There are few things I, or my students, love more than some good old 치자 그르스트 치자 피자 (chi-ja crus-tuh chi-ja- pi-ja). One of those things may be trying order myself, "ha-ghe (one) chi-ja crus-tuh chi-ja- pi-ja" at the PizzaSchool without bursting out laughing mid-order. For these reasons, as well as its amazing deliciousness and ability to bring chi-ja into my so often chi-ja-less life, 피자 is my number one favorite Konglish word of all time.
Any Waygooks out there have a favorite they would like to share?
Off to dream of hwaiting pijas...
Anyeong[hikheseyo].
에밀리
