Trending: ‘Text Hip’ & Book Talk

Introduction

Hello! This is [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills to the next level! 👋

Do you like reading books? Today, we are going to learn how to talk about “Likes and Dislikes regarding books.”

Actually, reading has become a huge trend in Korea recently! 🇰🇷 With the rise of the term “Text Hip” (텍스트 힙)—which means reading text is “hip” or cool—and the amazing news of writer Han Kang winning the Nobel Prize in Literature, everyone is heading to bookstores.

Let’s learn how to talk about your reading tastes so you can join this trendy conversation!

Key Expressions

Here are 4 essential expressions to help you talk about books like a local.

1. 어떤 책을 좋아해요?

• Pronunciation: [Eotteon chaeg-eul joaheyo?]
• English Meaning: What kind of books do you like?
• Explanation: This is the best way to start a conversation about hobbies. You can replace ‘책’ (book) with ‘영화’ (movie) or ‘음악’ (music).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • ‘좋아해요’ is pronounced [jo-a-hae-yo], not [jo-ha-hae-yo].
  • When the consonant ‘ㅎ(h)’ is between vowels, the sound often becomes very weak or disappears completely. This is called ‘H-dropping.’ So, say it smoothly like “Jo-a-hae-yo”!

2. 저는 소설 읽는 걸 좋아해요.

• Pronunciation: [Jeoneun soseol ingneun geol joaheyo.]
• English Meaning: I like reading novels.
• Explanation: Use this pattern: “[Genre] + 읽는 걸 좋아해요”.
  • Genres: 소설 (Novel), 에세이 (Essay), 만화 (Comics/Manga), 시 (Poetry).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • ‘읽는’ is pronounced [ing-neun], NOT [ilk-neun].
  • Why? First, the double patchim ‘ㄺ’ simplifies to ‘ㄱ(k)’. Then, because ‘ㄱ’ is followed by the nasal sound ‘ㄴ(n)’, the ‘ㄱ’ changes to ‘ㅇ(ng)’.
  • This is called ‘Nasalization.’ It sounds much softer and easier to say!

3. 요즘 이 작가가 유행이에요.

• Pronunciation: [Yojeum i jakgaga yuhaeng-ieyo.]
• English Meaning: This author is trending these days.
• Explanation: Use this when you want to introduce a popular writer. ‘유행’ means trend or fashion.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • ‘작가’ is pronounced [jak-kka].
  • When ‘ㄱ’ meets another ‘ㄱ’, the sound becomes tensed and stronger (Double ‘kk’). Put a little more energy into the ‘ga’ part!

4. 책 좀 추천해 줄래요?

• Pronunciation: [Chaek jom chucheonhae jullaeyo?]
• English Meaning: Can you recommend a book?
• Explanation: A polite way to ask for a suggestion. Adding ‘좀’ (a little) makes the request sound softer and more natural.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • ‘줄래요’ is pronounced [jullaeyo].
  • The ‘ㄴ(n)’ in the patchim meets the ‘ㄹ(l)’ and changes into a ‘ㄹ(l)’ sound as well. This makes the flow liquid and smooth like [jul-lae-yo].

Conversation Practice

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation.
(Minji and Alex are at a trendy bookstore in Seoul.)

Minji: 알렉스 씨, 어떤 책을 좋아해요?
(Alex, what kind of books do you like?)

Alex: 저는 소설 읽는 걸 좋아해요. 요즘 한국에서는 뭐가 인기예요?
(I like reading novels. What is popular in Korea these days?)

Minji: 한강 작가의 소설이요! 요즘 이 작가가 유행이에요.
(Han Kang’s novels! This author is trending these days.)

Alex: 아, 뉴스에서 봤어요! 책 좀 추천해 줄래요?
(Ah, I saw that on the news! Can you recommend a book?)

Culture Tip & Trend Analysis 🧐

What is “Text Hip” (텍스트 힙)?

You might think young people only watch short videos like TikTok or Reels, right? But in Korea, Gen Z is leading a reading boom!

• Text Hip: A combination of “Text” + “Hip” (cool). It means that reading books and interpreting text is considered a cool, intellectual lifestyle.
• How to do it: Young Koreans visit independent bookstores, buy poetry or essays, and post pictures of highlighted sentences on Instagram.
• Hot Topic: Especially after Han Kang won the Nobel Prize, reading her books (like The Vegetarian or Human Acts) has become the ultimate “Text Hip” move. If you tell a Korean friend, “I’m reading Han Kang,” they will be very impressed!

Wrap-up & Quiz

Today, we learned how to discuss book preferences and caught up with the hottest Korean trend, “Text Hip”!

📝 Mini Quiz:
Complete the sentence using the Korean word for “Novel”.

Q: 저는 _______ 읽는 걸 좋아해요.
(I like reading novels.)

1. 만화 (Manhwa)
2. 잡지 (Japji)
3. 소설 (Soseol)

Answer: (Check the comments for the answer! 😉)

Don’t be afraid to visit a Korean bookstore or library. Try using today’s expressions to ask for a recommendation!

Please leave a comment below telling me what kind of books YOU like!
(Ex: 저는 만화 읽는 걸 좋아해요!)

See you in the next post! 안녕! 👋