Sneakers vs. Dress Shoes? Pick Your Fave Like a K-Style Pro!

Hello! It’s your favorite Korean teacher from [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Have you ever been shopping and couldn’t decide between two things? Today, we’re going to learn how to express your preferences in Korean, focusing on a classic fashion dilemma: sneakers or dress shoes? This is super useful whether you’re shopping in Myeongdong or just talking about your style with a Korean friend.

Lately in Korea, the fashion world is all about mixing it up! You’ll see K-pop idols wearing cool sneakers with fancy suits on music shows. So, knowing how to say which style you prefer is more relevant than ever. Let’s get started!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are three essential phrases to help you talk about what you like more.

1. -보다 (더) [-boda (deo)]
* English Meaning: (more) than
* Detailed Explanation: This is a magical little particle you attach to the noun you are comparing against. It’s the Korean equivalent of “than.” You can add 더 (deo), which means “more,” to add emphasis, but it’s often omitted in casual conversation.
* Example: 커피보다 차 (tea than coffee)

2. 더 좋아요 [deo jo-a-yo]
* English Meaning: I like it more / It’s better.
* Detailed Explanation: This is the simplest and most common way to state your preference. 좋아요 (jo-a-yo) means “it’s good” or “I like it,” and 더 (deo) adds the meaning of “more.” You can use this for almost anything, from food to clothes!

3. 제 취향이에요 [je chwi-hyang-i-e-yo]
* English Meaning: It’s my style / It’s my taste.
* Detailed Explanation: Want to sound like a native speaker? Use this phrase! 제 (je) means “my,” and 취향 (chwihyang) means “personal taste” or “preference.” This is the perfect expression to use when something perfectly matches your personal style. It’s a friendly and natural-sounding phrase.

4. 편해요 [pyeon-hae-yo]
* English Meaning: It’s comfortable.
* Detailed Explanation: When choosing shoes, comfort is key! 편해요 (pyeon-hae-yo) is a basic and very useful adjective. You can use it to explain why you prefer something.

Example Conversation: Shopping in Seoul

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation. Imagine two friends, A and B, are shoe shopping.

• A: 이 운동화랑 구두 중에서 뭐가 더 좋아요?
  • [I undong-hwa-rang gudu jung-e-seo mwo-ga deo jo-a-yo?]
  • Between these sneakers and these dress shoes, which do you like more?
• B: 음… 저는 구두보다 운동화가 더 좋아요. 훨씬 편해요.
  • [Eum… jeo-neun gudu-boda undong-hwa-ga deo jo-a-yo. Hwol-ssin pyeon-hae-yo.]
  • Hmm… I like the sneakers more than the dress shoes. They’re much more comfortable.
• A: 맞아요! 그리고 요즘 아이돌처럼 정장에 운동화를 신는 것도 제 취향이에요.
  • [Ma-ja-yo! Geu-ri-go yo-jeum a-i-dol-cheo-reom jeong-jang-e undong-hwa-reul sin-neun geot-do je chwi-hyang-i-e-yo.]
  • Right! And wearing sneakers with a suit like K-pop idols do these days is totally my style.
• B: 오, 그거 멋있네요! 그럼 이 운동화로 살까요?
  • [O, geu-geo meo-sin-ne-yo! Geu-reom i undong-hwa-ro sal-kka-yo?]
  • Oh, that’s cool! Then shall we buy these sneakers?

Culture Tip: The “Athleisure” Wave in Korea

What A and B talked about is a huge trend in Korea right now! The line between athletic wear and daily fashion has blurred, creating what’s called the ‘애슬레저 룩’ (aeseullejeo ruk – Athleisure look).

You’ll see people on the streets of Seoul wearing stylish track pants with a nice jacket, or a formal dress paired with chunky sneakers. Celebrities and idols, especially groups known for their trendy style like NewJeans, have made this look incredibly popular.

So when you say, “운동화가 더 좋아요. 편하거든요.” (I like sneakers more. Because they’re comfortable.), you’re not just giving a reason—you’re perfectly describing the mindset behind modern K-fashion! Knowing this little cultural detail will make you sound even more like a local.

Let’s Review and Practice!

Great job today! We learned how to compare two items using -보다 (더) and express our personal taste with 더 좋아요 and 제 취향이에요.

Now, it’s your turn to practice!

1. Fill in the blank:
You want to say, “I like coffee more than tea.”
* 저는 차____ 커피가 ___ ______.

(Answer: 보다, 더 좋아요)

2. Make your own sentence!
Look at the clothes you’re wearing right now. Do you like them? Are they your style? Try to write a short sentence.
* Example: 이 셔츠는 제 취향이에요! (This shirt is my style!)

What’s your pick: sneakers or dress shoes? Let us know in the comments using the phrases you learned today! 오늘 배운 표현으로 댓글을 남겨주세요!