Introduction
Hello! This is [Daily Korean], here to upgrade your Korean skills to the next level!
Today, we are going to talk about a very hot topic in Korea: “Changes in Marriage Trends.” Specifically, we will discuss why people are getting married later than before.
In the past, getting married in your 20s was the norm. But recently in Korea, if you visit a wedding hall, you’ll notice that many brides and grooms are in their mid-30s or even older! It has become a natural social phenomenon to focus on one’s career and personal life before settling down.
Are you ready to learn how to discuss this social trend like a native? Let’s dive in!
Key Expressions
Here are 4 essential expressions to talk about late marriage.
1. 결혼 시기가 늦어지다
- Pronunciation: [Gyeolhon sigiga neujeojida]
- English Meaning: Marriage timing is getting delayed / People are marrying later.
- Detail: This is a formal and objective way to describe the trend. You can use this when discussing social statistics or general observations.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Let’s look at ‘늦어지다’. It is written as ‘neuj-eo-ji-da’ but pronounced [neujeojida].
- This is due to ‘Liaison’ (연음 법칙). When a final consonant (batchim) like ‘ㅈ’ is followed by a vowel (like ‘어’), the sound moves over to the empty consonant spot. So, [늦+어] becomes [느저]. It flows much smoother this way!
2. 자리를 잡다
- Pronunciation: [Jarireul japda]
- English Meaning: To get settled / To become stable (financially or career-wise).
- Detail: This is a crucial phrase for B2 learners! In the context of marriage, it means “I have a stable job and have saved some money.” Koreans often say they want to marry after they “catch their spot” (자리를 잡다) in society.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- ‘잡다’ is pronounced [japtta], not [japda].
- This is called ‘Tensing’ (경음화). When the stop sound ‘ㅂ(p)’ meets ‘ㄷ(d)’, the ‘ㄷ’ hardens into a tense sound ‘ㄸ(tt)’. Say it with a bit more energy on the last syllable!
3. 필수가 아닌 선택
- Pronunciation: [Pilsuga anin seontaek]
- English Meaning: A choice, not a necessity.
- Detail: This phrase perfectly summarizes the modern Korean mindset. In the past, marriage was a “must” (필수), but now it is an “option” (선택). You can use this to express your opinion on marriage values.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- ‘필수’ is often pronounced [pilssu] by native speakers.
- Even though there is no rule writing it as ‘ss’, the ‘s’ sound often becomes tense after ‘l’ sounds in Sino-Korean words to provide emphasis.
4. 눈이 높다
- Pronunciation: [Nuni nopda]
- English Meaning: To have high standards (literally: eyes are high).
- Detail: This is a very common idiom. If someone is single for a long time, friends might ask, “Are your eyes too high?” meaning, “Are you too picky about choosing a partner?”
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- ‘눈이’ becomes [nuni] because of Liaison (연음).
- ‘높다’ is pronounced [noptta]. The bottom ‘ㅍ’ sounds like ‘p’, which triggers the ‘Tensing’ rule we learned above, turning ‘다’ into ‘따’.
Real-Life Dialogue
Let’s see how these expressions are used in a conversation between two friends, Minsu and Jieun, talking about a celebrity’s recent wedding news.
Minsu: Did you see the news? That famous actor is finally getting married at 45!
Jieun: Wow, really? But honestly, it’s not strange anymore. Nowadays, marriage timing is getting delayed for everyone. (결혼 시기가 늦어지고 있잖아.)
Minsu: True. Most of my friends want to get settled first before even thinking about dating. (먼저 자리를 잡고 싶어 해.)
Jieun: Exactly. For our generation, marriage is a choice, not a necessity. (결혼은 필수가 아닌 선택이니까.)
Minsu: Or maybe… their standards are just too high? (아니면 그냥 눈이 너무 높은 건가?)
Jieun: Haha! That could be true, too!
Culture Tip & Trend Analysis
Have you heard of the term “Bi-hon (비혼)”?
While “Mi-hon (미혼)” means “not yet married” (implying you will eventually), “Bi-hon (비혼)” means “willfully staying single.”
In modern Korea, the trend of late marriage isn’t just about being busy. It’s closely related to the rising cost of housing and the desire for a work-life balance. Many young Koreans, often called the MZ Generation, prefer to invest time and money in themselves rather than rushing into the responsibilities of a traditional family.
Also, popular reality shows like “I Live Alone” (나 혼자 산다) show celebrities enjoying their single lives, which reinforces the idea that living alone can be happy and fulfilling. Using the expression “필수가 아닌 선택” shows you truly understand this cultural shift!
Wrap-up & Practice
Today, we learned how to talk about the changing trends of marriage in Korea. Remember, language reflects culture, so understanding these values will help you connect deeper with Koreans!
📝 Mini Quiz
Fill in the blanks with the expressions we learned today:
- “I want to find a job and ________ before I get married.”
(결혼하기 전에 취직해서 ________ 싶어요.) -
“These days, marriage is _____________.”
(요즘 결혼은 _____________이죠.)
Answer Key:
1. 자리를 잡고 (get settled)
2. 필수가 아닌 선택 (a choice, not a necessity)
How is the marriage trend in your country? Is it similar to Korea, or different? Please leave a comment using the expressions you learned today!
See you in the next post! Happy Studying! 👋
