Archive #11

Annyeong Daily #11: answers explained

October 15, 2026 · Today's five include saying sorry, a TV music show, a party noodle dish, the word for "too", and the spelling of water. You will also see again how Korean makes short words from longer ones.

Want to try it first? The answers are below.Play #11

1Drama talk

Your friend bumps into you and says '미안해'. What did they say?

미안해 (mianhae)

Excuse me, waiter
I'm sorry
Watch out
Nice to meet you

Answer: I'm sorry

미안해 (mianhae) means "I'm sorry." It is casual, for friends, family and younger people. Korean has three common levels. 미안해 is casual. 미안해요 (mianhaeyo) is polite. 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) is the most formal and polite. Use it with a boss, a customer or an older stranger. When you bump into a stranger in a crowded place, people often say 죄송합니다 or 죄송해요 (joesonghaeyo). Example: 늦어서 미안해 (neujeoseo mianhae) — "Sorry I'm late." "Excuse me, waiter" is 저기요 (jeogiyo), not 미안해. Calling a server is not an apology.

Casual (반말) · Say it to: Friends, family, younger people you know

2K-pop

A fan says 'I'll be watching the 음방 tonight'. What will they watch?

음방 (eumbang)

A radio drama
A TV music show
A movie
A cooking show

Answer: A TV music show

음방 (eumbang) is short for 음악 방송 (eumak bangsong), "music broadcast". It means TV music shows. Groups perform their new songs there, often every week during a comeback period. Many shows give a first-place award, based on things like sales, streams and votes. Koreans often make short words by taking the first syllable of each word. 음 comes from 음악 (music), and 방 comes from 방송 (broadcast). Example: 오늘 음방에서 1위 했어! (oneul eumbangeseo irwi haesseo!) — "They won first place on the music show today!" A radio drama or a cooking show is not 음방.

Say it to: Friends and fellow fans — it's a short form

3Food

What is 잡채?

잡채 (japchae)

Spicy rice cakes
Grilled pork belly
Glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables
Seaweed soup

Answer: Glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables

잡채 (japchae) is glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables, often with meat. The noodles are 당면 (dangmyeon), made from sweet potato starch. They are clear and chewy. The dish is seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil and a little sugar. 잡 (jap) means "mixed", and 채 (chae) means vegetables. Long ago, it was made only with vegetables. The noodles were added later. Today it is a classic dish for holidays, birthdays and parties. Example: 잡채는 명절 음식이에요 (japchaeneun myeongjeol eumsigieyo) — "Japchae is a holiday food." Do not confuse it with 떡볶이 (tteokbokki), the spicy rice cakes.

Say it to: Anyone — it's a plain noun; your verb sets the politeness

4Grammar

Your friend says '저는 커피가 좋아요'. You want to say 'Me too, I like it'. Fill in the blank.

저___ 좋아요. (jeo___ joayo.)

를
도
의
에서

Answer: 도 — 저도 좋아요.

저도 좋아요 (jeodo joayo) means "I like it too." 도 (do) is a particle that means "also" or "too". A particle is a small word ending that shows the role of a word. 도 takes the place of 는, 이 or 가. So you say 저도, not 저는도. It is the same after a vowel or a consonant. Koreans use 저도요 (jeodoyo) as a short polite answer: "Me too." With friends, say 나도 (nado). Example: 저도 한국 음식을 좋아해요 (jeodo hanguk eumsigeul joahaeyo) — "I like Korean food too." 를 (reul) marks an object, and 에서 (eseo) marks a place of action, so they do not fit.

5Hangul

Using the official Revised Romanization, how is this written?

물

mur
mul
mel
mool

Answer: mul

물 (mul) means water. It has one syllable with three letters: ㅁ (m), ㅜ (u) and ㄹ. Revised Romanization writes ㅜ as u, not "oo". ㄹ at the end of a syllable is written l. Before a vowel, it is written r. You can see this when a vowel comes next: 물을 (mureul), "water" with the object particle. Example: 물 한 잔 주세요 (mul han jan juseyo) — "A glass of water, please." "mur" is wrong because the ㄹ is at the end. "mool" is how some English speakers write the sound, but it is not the official spelling.