Every time I explain Korean to my foreign friends, I realize something new. Korean isn’t just about memorizing words and grammar—it’s a completely different way of thinking. Some expressions don’t translate directly, and the same sentence can have totally different meanings depending on the situation. The more I try to explain it, the more I see how unique the Korean thought process really is.
I was born and raised in Korea, so I never really questioned these things. But after seeing my foreign friends struggle with certain phrases, I started to understand just how different Korean can feel to someone learning it. At first, I would just say, “That’s just how we say it,” but the more questions I got, the more I realized how confusing it could be for them.
So in this post, I’ll break down some of the biggest challenges foreigners face when trying to think in Korean. Whether you're learning the language or helping someone else understand it, knowing these will make a big difference.
You don't Have to Say Everything - And That's Normal
In English, you need to be clear. If you want coffee, you say, “Can I get a cup of coffee, please?” But in Korean, people often say less and expect you to figure out the rest.
One time, I was with a foreign friend in a group of Koreans, and someone asked, “오늘 어때?” (Literally: "How’s today?"). The other person just nodded and said, “좀 그렇네.” ("It’s a bit like that.") And that was it. Conversation over. My friend looked completely lost.
What’s a bit like what? Was today good? Bad? Boring? What are we even talking about?
When I tried to explain it, I realized it’s not about the words. In Korean, you’re expected to read between the lines. If you’re in the same situation, you’re supposed to just understand the mood. At first, I found this really frustrating. But eventually, I caught myself using “좀 그렇네” all the time.
Now, when someone asks me, “How was it?” I just say, “그냥 그랬어.” (“It was just… whatever.”) And somehow, that’s enough.
"Ah... That's a Bit..." = How to Say No Without Saying No
In English, if someone asks, "Wanna grab dinner?" and you don’t want to, you just say, "Nah, I’m good." That’s it. But in Korean? Saying "no" too directly can feel a little rude. So instead, people soften their refusals.
I learned this in a really awkward way.
Once, a foreign friend invited a Korean coworker to dinner. The coworker smiled and said, "오늘은 좀 어려울 것 같아요." ("Today might be a little difficult.") My friend, thinking this was just a scheduling issue, said, "No problem! How about tomorrow?"
The coworker hesitated, then said, "내일도 좀..." ("Tomorrow is also a bit...")
At this point, my friend turned to me and whispered, "Why does he keep saying it’s difficult? Does he need help with something?" I laughed and explained, "He’s just politely saying no."
Ever since then, my friend knew that when someone says, "It might be difficult," it’s time to drop the subject.
"Our Mom", "Our House", "Our Everything"
This one confuses foreigners all the time. In English, we say "my mom, my house, my company." But in Korean, people say 우리 엄마 (our mom), 우리 집 (our house), 우리 회사 (our company). Even when the listener has nothing to do with their mom, house, or company.
The first time I heard a foreign friend react to this, he looked genuinely confused. "Wait... do we share the same mom?" Nope. It’s just how Korean works. Things like family, workplaces, and even countries are seen as part of a collective, not just an individual’s possession.
Now, when I explain this to my foreign friends, I make sure to warn them in advance. Otherwise, they might hear "우리 남편" ("our husband") and really start asking questions.
That Time a Friend Accidentally Disrespected Someone with the Word "Eat"
Korean has built-in hierarchy. Who you’re speaking to completely changes the words you use. Even something as simple as "eat" has different forms:
- 먹다 (meokda) – Casual, used with friends
- 드시다 (deusida) – Polite, used with elders or in formal situations
- 잡수시다 (japsusida) – Extra respectful, usually for elderly people
I once watched a foreign friend casually ask an older Korean, "밥 먹었어요?" ("Did you eat?"). The room went silent for a second. A Korean friend nearby quickly whispered, "It’s 드셨어요."
The look on my friend’s face was pure confusion. He had no idea what went wrong. But in that moment, he learned that in Korean, you always have to be aware of who you’re talking to. Since then, he’s been extra careful with honorifics.
Korean Won't Feel Natural at First - But That's What Makes It Fun
For a long time, I didn’t realize how hard Korean could be for foreigners. I grew up speaking it, so it always felt natural. But after explaining things to my friends, I saw how some of the expressions I use every day can be really hard to grasp.
Now, when I help people learn Korean, I don’t just teach grammar and vocabulary—I try to explain the mindset behind the language. Once you start seeing things the way Koreans do, the language makes a lot more sense.
So if you ever find yourself thinking, "Why does this not make sense?!"—don’t worry. That probably means you’re finally starting to think like a Korean. And once you break away from English thinking, you’ll be surprised how natural everything starts to feel.