K-Drama Burnout? How to Say “Let’s Take a Break!” in Korean

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

Have you ever been binge-watching a K-drama or studying Korean for hours and felt your brain start to melt? You’re not alone! In Korea, where people work and study incredibly hard, knowing how to suggest a much-needed break is a vital social skill.

Today, we’re going to learn some super useful phrases to say, “Let’s take a break!” You’ll hear these expressions everywhere, from K-dramas where characters are pulling an all-nighter to K-pop idols resting during a tough dance practice. Let’s learn how to pause and recharge like a true local!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are three essential ways to suggest a break, from casual chats with friends to more polite situations.

1. 좀 쉬자 (Jom swija)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Jom swija
• English Meaning: Let’s rest a bit.
• Detailed Explanation: This is the most common and casual way to suggest a break to your close friends or people who are younger than you. ‘좀 (jom)’ means ‘a little bit’ and it softens the suggestion, making it sound friendly. The ‘-자 (-ja)’ ending is the “Let’s…” grammar form used in informal speech (banmal).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The ‘쉬 (swi)’ sound can be tricky! It’s a single syllable. Try making an “oo” sound with your lips (like in “soon”) and then spread them wide into an “ee” sound (like in “see”). It’s a quick “swee” glide. Practice saying it a few times: swi, swi, swija!

2. 잠깐 쉴까요? (Jamkkan swilkkayo?)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Jamkkan swilkkayo?
• English Meaning: Shall we take a short break?
• Detailed Explanation: This is your go-to polite version! Use it with colleagues, classmates you don’t know well, or anyone older than you. ‘잠깐 (jamkkan)’ means ‘for a moment’. The key grammar here is ‘-(으)ㄹ까요? (-(eu)lkkayo?)’, which is a gentle and polite way to ask “Shall we…?” or “How about we…?”. It invites the other person’s opinion, which is very considerate.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: Notice the double consonant ‘ㄲ’ in ‘까요 (kkayo)’. This is a “tensed” sound. It’s stronger and sharper than a regular ‘ㄱ (g/k)’. To make this sound, don’t let any air escape, as you would with a ‘k’. It sounds like the ‘k’ in the English word “sky”. So, it’s not a soft ‘kayo’, but a sharp [kkayo].

3. 피곤해요 (Pigonhaeyo)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Pigonhaeyo
• English Meaning: I’m tired.
• Detailed Explanation: While not a direct suggestion, this is a very natural way to hint that you need a break. By stating how you feel, you open the door for the other person to suggest a rest. It’s a soft and indirect strategy that works in almost any situation, both casual and polite.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The first letter ‘ㅍ (p)’ is an “aspirated” sound. This means you should release a strong puff of air when you say it. Hold your hand in front of your mouth and say “pi”. You should feel the air hit your palm! It’s like the ‘p’ in the English word “pie”.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation! Imagine two friends, A and B, are practicing the choreography for the latest hit song by the K-pop group SEVENTEEN.

A: 와, 이 안무 진짜 힘들다. 벌써 두 시간째야. 나 너무 피곤해요.
(Wa, i anmu jinjja himdeulda. Beolsseo du siganjjaeya. Na neomu pigonhaeyo.)
(Wow, this choreography is really tough. It’s already been two hours. I’m so tired.)

B: 맞아. 우리 좀 쉬자. 편의점 가서 아이스크림 먹을까?
(Maja. Uri jom swija. Pyeonuijeom gaseo aiseukeurim meogeulkka?)
(I agree. Let’s rest a bit. Wanna go to the convenience store and get some ice cream?)

A: 좋아! 가자!
(Joa! Gaja!)
(Sounds good! Let’s go!)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

You might have heard of Korea’s “빨리빨리 (palli-palli)” or “hurry, hurry” culture. Because life can be so fast-paced, taking meaningful breaks is incredibly important.

This is why you see cafes on almost every street corner in Korea! Suggesting a coffee break is one of the most common ways to initiate a rest. You could easily replace “좀 쉬자 (Jom swija)” with “커피 한잔 할까? (Keopi hanjan halkka?)” which means “Wanna grab a cup of coffee?”.

In recent K-dramas like “Queen of Tears”, you’ll often see high-powered characters step away from intense business meetings to have a quiet moment with a coffee. This isn’t just for the plot—it’s a true reflection of Korean work culture. Using these “break” phrases shows you understand the rhythm of daily life in Korea!

Let’s Review & Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned three fantastic ways to suggest a break.

• With a close friend: 좀 쉬자! (Jom swija!)
• In a polite situation: 잠깐 쉴까요? (Jamkkan swilkkayo?)
• To hint that you need a rest: 피곤해요. (Pigonhaeyo.)

Now, it’s your turn to practice!

Quiz: You are working on a project with a new classmate and you notice they look tired. What is the most polite and natural way to suggest a break?

1. 좀 쉬자.
2. 잠깐 쉴까요?
3. 피곤해.

(The answer is 2!)

Now, try making your own sentence! Leave a comment below using one of the phrases we learned today. You could write, “공부했어요. 지금 좀 쉬자!” (I studied. Let’s rest a bit now!).

Keep up the great work, and see you in the next lesson