I already wrote about some of the crap appearing in a English phrase book for Koreans. Today we are going to look at some of the crap going the opposite way. Here are some phrases pulled from some phrase book left in my old apartment by the teacher who lived there prior to me. Please note this is not Making Out In Korean, but some more legitimate phrase book for tourists.
심장마비가 났어요. (Shim-jang-ma-bi-ga na-sseo-yo.)
I’ve had a heart attack.
This is listed under “I need first aid!” and “Someone help!” If you are in the midst of having a heart attack are you going to be in any condition to be bellowing about it in a language you have no command of? This line seems kind of pointless to include.
치마와 속옷을 벗으세요. (Chima-wa so-go-seul beo-seu-se-yo.)
Remove your skirt and underwear please.
So polite. I think if you are asking a girl to strip you could use a slightly less formal form. “벗어” would probably be more appropriate…unless you were a doctor treating a woman and not actually bedding them down.
밴드 불러 주시겠어요? (Ppaen-deu pul-leo chu-shi-ge-sseo-yo?)
Can we get a “one man band?”
This is one of those phrases that I have never heard other. Hell, I don’t even know what “밴드 불러” is. I’ve asked various Korean friends this question while out on the town, and not even Koreans know who this joker is.
So there you go, try this nonsense out with your Korean friends…and for God sake, if any of them know about the “one man band” let me know what it is, and where I can find one.
