Hello! It’s Maeil Hangeul here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever walked into a huge, beautiful Korean bookstore like Kyobo or Aladdin and felt a little overwhelmed? You want to find the perfect book, but don’t know where to start. Today, we’re going to fix that! We’ll learn how to ask for book recommendations so you can find your next favorite read with confidence.
And here’s a fun fact: These days in Korea, it’s a huge trend to read books recommended by K-Pop idols! Fans love to read what their favorite artists are reading. So, knowing how to ask for these specific books is not just useful, it makes you a true K-culture insider! Let’s get started!
Key Expressions for Your Bookstore Adventure
Here are the essential phrases you’ll need. Let’s break them down!
1. ~ 좀 추천해 주세요 (~ jom chucheonhae juseyo)
- Pronunciation: [jom chu-cheon-hae ju-se-yo]
- English Meaning: Please recommend ~ for me.
- Detailed Explanation: This is the golden phrase!
추천하다(chucheonhada) means “to recommend.” Adding~아/어 주세요makes it a polite request. The magic word here is좀(jom). While it literally means “a little,” in this context, it softens the request and makes it sound more natural and friendly, like saying “Could you possibly…” instead of just “Recommend…”- Example: 소설 책 좀 추천해 주세요. (Soseol chaek jom chucheonhae juseyo.) – Please recommend a novel for me.
2. 요즘 인기 있는 책 (yojeum ingi issneun chaek)
- Pronunciation: [yo-jeum in-gi it-neun chaek]
- English Meaning: A book that’s popular these days
- Detailed Explanation: This is a fantastic way to ask for bestsellers.
요즘(yojeum) means “these days” or “recently.”인기 있다(ingi itda) means “to be popular.”- The grammar
~는turns the verb into an adjective, so인기 있는means “popular” or “that is popular.” - You can use this phrase to ask: 요즘 인기 있는 책 있어요? (Yojeum ingi issneun chaek isseoyo?) – Do you have any books that are popular these days?
3. 아이돌이 추천한 책 (aidori chucheonhan chaek)
- Pronunciation: [a-i-do-ri chu-cheon-han chaek]
- English Meaning: A book that an idol recommended
- Detailed Explanation: This is your secret weapon to tap into the trend! The grammar
(Noun)이/가 + (Past Tense Verb) + (Noun)creates a descriptive clause. So,아이돌이 추천한 책literally means “the book that an idol recommended.” You can swap out아이돌for a specific singer or group’s name!- Example: BTS가 추천한 책 있어요? (BTS-ga chucheonhan chaek isseoyo?) – Do you have a book that BTS recommended?
4. 이걸로 할게요 (igeollo halgeyo)
- Pronunciation: [i-geol-lo hal-ge-yo]
- English Meaning: I’ll take this one. / I’ll go with this.
- Detailed Explanation: You’ve found your book! Now how do you say you want to buy it? This is the perfect phrase.
이것(igeot) means “this thing,” and~(으)로 하다means “to decide on” or “to choose.” The ending~(으)ㄹ게요is used to express a decision or intention you’ve just made. It’s polite, natural, and used all the time in stores.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see these expressions in a real conversation between you (A) and a bookstore employee (B – 직원).
A: 안녕하세요. 책을 좀 찾고 있는데요. 요즘 인기 있는 책 좀 추천해 주세요.
(Annyeonghaseyo. Chaegeul jom chatgo issneun-deyo. Yojeum ingi issneun chaek jom chucheonhae juseyo.)
Hello. I’m looking for a book. Please recommend a book that’s popular these days.
B: 네, 그럼요. 혹시 찾으시는 장르가 있으세요? 에세이, 소설 다 인기가 많아요.
(Ne, geureomyo. Hoksi chajeusineun jangneu-ga isseuseyo? Essei, soseol da ingi-ga manayo.)
Yes, of course. Is there a specific genre you’re looking for? Essays and novels are all popular.
A: 음… 혹시 아이돌이 추천한 책도 있을까요? ‘ASTRO’의 차은우가 읽었다는 책을 찾고 싶어요.
(Eum… hoksi aidori chucheonhan chaek-do isseulkkayo? ‘ASTRO’ui Cha Eun-woo-ga ilgeossdaneun chaegeul chatgo sipeoyo.)
Hmm… by any chance, do you have books recommended by idols? I’d like to find the book that Cha Eun-woo from ‘ASTRO’ read.
B: 아, 네! 바로 이 책입니다. 저희 서점 베스트셀러 코너에도 있어요.
(A, ne! Baro i chaegimnida. Jeohui seojeom beseuteuselleo koneo-edo isseoyo.)
Ah, yes! It’s this one right here. It’s also in our bookstore’s bestseller section.
A: 와, 찾았네요! 감사합니다. 이걸로 할게요!
(Wa, chajassneyo! Gamsahamnida. Igeollo halgeyo!)
Wow, I found it! Thank you. I’ll take this one!
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
The “Idol’s Pick” (아이돌 추천 도서) Phenomenon
Why is this so popular? K-Pop idols often share what they’re reading during live streams (like on Weverse or YouTube Live) or mention books in interviews. When an idol like BTS’s RM or BLACKPINK’s Jisoo recommends a book, it can become an instant bestseller!
Fans see it as a way to connect with their favorite artists on a deeper level. Reading the same book allows them to understand the idol’s thoughts and perspectives.
Pro-Tip: Once you buy the book, you can participate in another trend: the “인증샷” (ingeung-syat), or “proof shot.” Take a cool, aesthetic photo of your new book and post it on Instagram or Twitter with hashtags like #북스타그램 (Book-stagram) and #[Idol’sName]추천책 (#[Idol’sName]’s Recommended Book). You’ll look just like a Korean fan!
Let’s Practice!
You did an amazing job today! Now it’s time to check your understanding.
- Fill in the blank: You want to ask for a poetry book recommendation. How would you complete this sentence?
시집 ____ ________ ___? (Sijip ___ ________ ___?)
(Hint: *sijip* means “poetry book”) - Make a sentence: You’ve been shown two books, and you decide to buy the one in your hand. What do you say to the employee?
You’re all set for your next trip to a Korean bookstore! Don’t be shy, try using these phrases.
Leave a comment below using one of today’s expressions! What kind of book would you ask for in Korean? We can’t wait to read your sentences
