Smart Saving: Korean Money Talk!

Introduction

Hello! This is [Daily Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills! 🌟

Today, we are going to talk about Reviewing Financial Goals. Do you set a budget at the beginning of the month? Checking if you stuck to that plan is just as important as making it!

Here is the trend: Lately in Korea, the “Flex” culture (showing off expensive purchases) is fading away. Instead, “Jjan-tech” (짠테크) is the new cool! It’s a combination of “Jjan-dori” (penny-pincher) and “Technology.” Young Koreans are sharing their “No-Spend Challenges” on social media and proudly showing how they manage their money.

Let’s learn some useful expressions to talk about your financial goals and whether you achieved them!

Key Expressions

Here are 3 essential expressions to discuss your money goals.

1. 돈을 모으다

• Pronunciation: [Doneul moeuda]
• English Meaning: To save money / To collect money
• Detail: This is the most standard way to say “save money.” You use this when you are gathering money for a specific future goal, like travel or buying a house.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip (Liaison):
  • When a syllable ends with a consonant (like ㄴ in 돈) and the next starts with a vowel (like 을), the sound carries over.
  • So, it is not pronounced as ‘Don-eul’ separately. It flows like [Do-neul].
  • 돈을 [Do-neul] sounds much smoother and more natural!

2. 아껴 쓰다

• Pronunciation: [Akkyeo sseuda]
• English Meaning: To spend sparingly / To save / To use economically
• Detail: This means you are being careful not to waste money (or resources). It implies cutting down on unnecessary expenses.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip (Tense Sounds):
  • Pay attention to the double consonants ‘ㄲ’ (kk) and ‘ㅆ’ (ss).
  • These are “Tense Sounds.” You need to build up air pressure in your mouth and release it sharply, without letting a lot of air out. It sounds stronger and higher in pitch than a single ‘g’ or ‘s’.
  • Pronounce it with energy: [A-kkyeo sseu-da]!

3. 목표를 달성하다

• Pronunciation: [Mokpyoreul dalseonghada]
• English Meaning: To achieve a goal
• Detail: This is a B1 (Intermediate) level phrase used in both daily life and formal situations. You can use it for financial goals, study goals, or fitness goals.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip (Tensification):
  • Let’s look at 달성 (achievement).
  • Even though it is written as ‘Dal-seong’, it is pronounced [Dal-sseong].
  • This is a rule called Tensification. Because of the influence of the ‘ㄹ’ sound, the following ‘ㅅ’ hardens into a ‘ㅆ’ sound.
  • Saying [Dal-sseong] makes you sound like a native speaker!

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how two friends, Minji and Soojin, talk about their money goals amidst the current trend.

Minji: 수진아, 이번 달 목표했던 돈은 다 모았어?
(Soojin, did you save all the money you targeted for this month?)

Soojin: 응! 배달 음식 안 시키고 아껴 썼더니 성공했어.
(Yes! I didn’t order delivery food and spent sparingly, so I succeeded.)

Minji: 와, 대단하다! 너 요즘 유행하는 ‘무지출 챌린지’ 하는 거야?
(Wow, that’s amazing! Are you doing the trending ‘No-Spend Challenge’ these days?)

Soojin: 맞아. 어제 드디어 목표를 달성해서 기분이 너무 좋아!
(That’s right. I finally achieved my goal yesterday, so I feel so good!)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

💰 What is “Jjan-tech”?

As mentioned in the intro, Jjan-tech (짠테크) is a huge trend in Korea right now. Due to high inflation, young Koreans (MZ Generation) are finding joy in saving small amounts of money.

• Cashback Apps: People use apps that give small cash rewards for walking or checking daily attendance. This is called “App-tech.”
• Mujichul Challenge (무지출 챌린지): This means “No-Spend Challenge.” People try to spend 0 won for a day (excluding fixed costs like transportation) and post proof on Instagram or blogs.

If you tell your Korean friends, “나도 요즘 아껴 쓰고 있어” (I am spending sparingly these days too), they will instantly relate to you!

Conclusion & Practice

Today we learned how to talk about reviewing financial goals and the Korean culture of saving.

Let’s Review:
1. 돈을 모으다 (To save money)
2. 아껴 쓰다 (To spend sparingly)
3. 목표를 달성하다 (To achieve a goal)

📝 Mini Quiz:
Fill in the blank with the correct expression!

“이번 달에는 쇼핑을 줄이고 돈을 ________.”
(This month, I will cut down on shopping and save money.)

A) 아껴 쓰다
B) 모으다

Leave your answer in the comments below! Also, tell us if you have a special saving goal this year. See you in the next lesson! 👋