Korean Phrases for the Perfect Family Trip! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Korean Phrases for the Perfect Family Trip! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Are you dreaming of a family adventure in Korea but worried about planning it in Korean? Don’t worry! Today, we’re going to learn some key phrases that will help you plan the perfect family trip, making sure everyone, especially the little ones, has an amazing time.

Lately in Korea, the trend for family travel isn’t about rushing through crowded tourist spots. It’s all about “healing trips” (힐링 여행), focusing on relaxation and making memories in beautiful, kid-friendly locations. Let’s learn the Korean you need to plan your own trendy and relaxing family getaway!

Core Expressions for Trip Planning

Here are three essential expressions to make your family travel planning smooth and fun.

1. ~는/은 어때? (~neun/eun eottae?)

• Korean Expression: 제주도는 어때?
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Jejudo-neun eottae?
• English Meaning: How about Jeju Island?
• Detailed Explanation: This is the most common and natural way to make a suggestion or ask for an opinion in a casual setting. You attach ~는 (neun) to nouns ending in a vowel and ~은 (eun) to nouns ending in a consonant. It’s the perfect phrase to use when brainstorming destinations with your family or friends.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The key is the double consonant ‘ㄸ’ (tt) in ‘어때’ (eottae). It’s a tensed sound, not like the ‘t’ in “water.” To make this sound, put your tongue behind your teeth as if you’re about to say ‘t’, but build up more pressure before releasing the sound. It should be a short, sharp burst: [eottae]!

2. 아이들이 좋아할 만한 곳 (aideuri joahal manhan got)

• Korean Expression: 아이들이 좋아할 만한 곳으로 가자.
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Aideuri joahal manhan got-euro gaja.
• English Meaning: Let’s go to a place the kids would likely enjoy.
• Detailed Explanation: This phrase is a game-changer for family planning! Let’s break it down:
  • 아이들 (aideul): kids
  • 좋아하다 (joahada): to like
  • -(으)ㄹ 만하다 (-eul manhan): a grammar pattern meaning “to be worth (doing)” or “likely to be.”
  • 곳 (got): place
    You can use this structure to talk about anything worth doing, like “읽을 만한 책” (ilgeul manhan chaek – a book worth reading). It shows you’re being thoughtful about your kids’ preferences.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  In ‘좋아할’ (joahal), the ‘ㅎ’ (h) sound is very weak or even silent when it’s between two vowels. Instead of pronouncing it as a strong “jo-ha-hal,” native speakers let the sounds flow together smoothly, making it sound like [jo-a-hal]. This little trick will make your Korean sound much more natural!

3. 넉넉하게 계획을 짜다 (neongneokage gyehoegeul jjada)

• Korean Expression: 아이들이 있으니 시간을 넉넉하게 계획을 짜자.
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Aideuri isseuni siganeul neongneokage gyehoegeul jjaja.
• English Meaning: Since we have the kids, let’s make a flexible schedule (plan with plenty of time).
• Detailed Explanation: This phrase is your secret weapon for stress-free family travel! 넉넉하게 (neongneokage) means “plentifully” or “generously,” and 계획을 짜다 (gyehoegeul jjada) means “to make a plan.” Together, it means to plan with lots of buffer time, avoiding a rushed schedule. It shows you understand the unpredictable nature of traveling with children.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  When the final consonant ‘ㄱ’ (k) in ‘넉’ is followed by ‘ㅎ’ (h) in ‘하게’, they merge to create an aspirated ‘ㅋ’ (k) sound. So, instead of “neok-hak-e,” the pronunciation becomes [neong-neo-kage]. This sound change, called aspiration, is common in Korean and is a key to fluent pronunciation.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation between a couple planning a weekend trip.

A: 여보, 우리 주말에 어디 갈까?
(Yeobo, uri jumare eodi galkka?)
Honey, where should we go this weekend?

B: 음… 강원도는 어때? 공기가 좋잖아.
(Eum… Gangwon-do-neun eottae? Gonggiga jotjana.)
Hmm… How about Gangwon-do? The air is nice there, you know.

A: 좋아! 아이들이 좋아할 만한 곳이 많을까?
(Joa! Aideuri joahal manhan got-i manheulkka?)
Sounds good! Do you think there are many places the kids would enjoy?

B: 그럼! 양떼 목장도 있고, 바다도 볼 수 있어. 대신 아이들 있으니 시간을 넉넉하게 계획을 짜자.
(Geureom! Yangtte mokjangdo itgo, badado bol su isseo. Daesin aideul isseuni siganeul neongneokage gyehoegeul jjaja.)
Of course! There’s a sheep farm, and we can see the ocean. But since we have the kids, let’s plan with a flexible schedule.

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In Korea, the concept of a “healing trip” (힐링 여행) has become a huge part of family culture. Popular TV shows like “The Return of Superman” (슈퍼맨이 돌아왔다) often show celebrity dads taking their children not to flashy theme parks, but to serene nature spots, unique “Kids’ Pensions” (키즈 펜션) with private playgrounds, or farms where they can interact with animals.

This has fueled a nationwide trend where the goal of a family trip is not just sightseeing, but genuine relaxation and quality time. So, when you use a phrase like 넉넉하게 계획을 짜자 (Let’s plan with plenty of time), you’re doing more than just being practical—you’re tapping directly into the modern Korean mindset of what makes a truly great family vacation. It shows you value connection over a packed itinerary!

Let’s Practice!

Ready to test your new skills?

1. Fill in the blank: You want to suggest going to a kids’ cafe with your family. How would you ask, “How about the kids’ cafe?”
   

   키즈 카페는 _______?

2. Sentence Building: You’re looking for a good restaurant for your family in Busan. Try to create the sentence: “Let’s find a place in Busan that the kids would enjoy.”
   

   (Hint: 부산에서 + 아이들이 좋아할 만한 곳 + 을/를 찾아보자)

You’ve learned some incredibly useful phrases for planning a family trip in Korea today! Now you can confidently share your opinions and make thoughtful suggestions.

What’s your dream family destination in Korea? Try making a sentence using one of today’s expressions in the comments below!