Ace Your Korean! Phrases to Cheer On Your Friends
Hello! It’s your favorite Korean booster, [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your skills!
Do you have a friend who is studying hard for an exam? In Korea, cheering for friends during stressful times is a huge part of friendship. Lately in Korea, with so many people preparing for big challenges like the university entrance exam (수능), job interviews, or even K-pop auditions, knowing how to offer a word of encouragement is more important than ever. Today, let’s learn some essential phrases to cheer someone on and make them feel great!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are three simple but powerful phrases to encourage your friends.
- Korean Expression: 시험 잘 봐 (Sihyeom jal bwa)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Shi-heom jal bwa
- English Meaning: Good luck on your test! / Do well on your test!
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most common and direct way to wish someone luck before an exam. It literally means “see the test well.” It’s an informal phrase, so you should only use it with close friends or people younger than you.
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Korean Expression: 할 수 있어! (Hal su isseo!)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Hal su ee-sseo!
- English Meaning: You can do it!
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Detailed Explanation: This is a powerful and versatile phrase of encouragement. You can use it not just for exams, but for any challenge someone is facing. It’s like a shot of confidence! Say it with energy to really motivate your friend.
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Korean Expression: 응원할게 (Eungwonhalge)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Eung-won-hal-ge
- English Meaning: I’ll be rooting for you! / I’ll be cheering you on!
- Detailed Explanation: The word ‘응원 (eungwon)’ means ‘cheering,’ like you would for a sports team. When you say ‘응원할게’, you are telling your friend that you are on their team and supporting them completely. It’s a very warm and supportive expression.
Example Conversation
Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation. Imagine your friend, Minjun, is preparing for the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean).
- A: Minjun, you look tired. Are you still studying for the TOPIK exam?
(민준아, 피곤해 보여. 아직 토픽 시험공부 중이야?) - B: Yeah, it’s tomorrow. I’m so nervous.
(응, 내일이야. 너무 긴장돼.) - A: Don’t worry! 할 수 있어! (Hal su isseo!) You studied so hard.
(걱정하지 마! 할 수 있어! 너 정말 열심히 공부했잖아.) - B: Thanks. I really hope I do well.
(고마워. 정말 잘 봤으면 좋겠다.) - A: You will! 시험 잘 봐 (Sihyeom jal bwa)! 내가 응원할게 (Eungwonhalge)!
(그럴 거야! 시험 잘 봐! 내가 응원할게!) - B: Thank you so much! I feel much better now.
(정말 고마워! 이제 기운이 좀 나네.)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
Want to sound even more like a native Korean? Here’s a pro tip!
When you tell a friend “시험 잘 봐 (Sihyeom jal bwa)”, Koreans often give a special snack. The most popular ones are 엿 (yeot – a type of sticky Korean taffy) or 찹쌀떡 (chapssaltteok – sticky rice cakes).
Why sticky food? There’s a clever play on words! The Korean verb for “to stick” is 붙다 (butda), which also means “to pass an exam.” So, by giving sticky food, you are wishing that they “stick” to the university or company they are applying to—in other words, that they pass! It’s a sweet and thoughtful tradition that shows you really care.
Wrap-up & Practice Time!
Today we learned three fantastic phrases to encourage a friend: 시험 잘 봐, 할 수 있어!, and 응원할게. These simple words can make a huge difference to someone feeling nervous.
Now, let’s practice!
- Fill in the blank: Your friend is about to go into a job interview. You want to tell them, “You can do it!” What do you say?
걱정하지 마! 너는 ___________!
- Your turn: Imagine your best friend is nervous about their final exams. How would you write a short, encouraging message to them using at least two of the phrases we learned today?
Leave your answers in the comments below using the expressions you learned today! I’ll be rooting for you! 응원할게요
