From Bull to Bear in Hangul: Talk Stocks Like a Korean!
Hello! It’s [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever wanted to understand Korean news about the economy or chat with friends about the latest hot stocks? You’re in the right place! These days in Korea, especially among the younger generation (the MZ Generation), investing in stocks (주식) has become a huge topic. Today, we’ll learn the essential vocabulary to understand and talk about the ups and downs of the stock market. Let’s get started!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are three key sets of expressions that will make you sound like a natural when discussing stocks.
1. The Formal Rise & Fall: 상승 (Sangseung) & 하락 (Harak)
- Korean Expression: 상승 (sangseung) / 하락 (harak)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: [sang-seung] / [ha-rak]
- English Meaning: Rise / Fall (or Increase / Decrease)
- Detailed Explanation: These are the official, news-report-worthy words for a stock’s movement. 상승 is used when the price goes up, and 하락 is for when it goes down. You’ll see these words constantly in financial news articles and broadcasts. They are more formal than the slang terms we’ll learn next.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- For 상승 [sangseung], the final ‘ㅇ’ (ng) sound is key. It’s one smooth sound made in the back of your throat, like the ‘ng’ in “singing.” It’s not an ‘n’ followed by a ‘g’.
- For 하락 [harak], the ‘ㄹ’ (r) sound is a light flap, similar to the ‘tt’ in the American English pronunciation of “water.”
2. The Slang for Drama: 떡상 (Tteoksang) & 떡락 (Tteongnak)
- Korean Expression: 떡상 (tteoksang) / 떡락 (tteongnak)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: [tteok-ssang] / [tteong-nak]
- English Meaning: Skyrocketing / Crashing (Slang)
- Detailed Explanation: This is how real people talk! 떡 (tteok), meaning rice cake, is a slang prefix used to emphasize something. So 떡상 literally means “rice cake rise,” but it’s used to describe a stock that shoots up dramatically. Conversely, 떡락 is for a stock that suddenly crashes. Use these with friends for a very natural, modern feel!
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- The ‘ㄸ’ (tt) in 떡상 [tteok-ssang] is a “tense” or “double” consonant. To make this sound, you create tension in your throat and pronounce the ‘t’ sound without any puff of air. It’s a hard, sharp sound. Think of the ‘t’ in “stop” rather than the ‘t’ in “top.”
3. The Colors of the Market: 빨간 불 (Ppalgan Bul) & 파란 불 (Paran Bul)
- Korean Expression: 빨간 불 (ppalgan bul) / 파란 불 (paran bul)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: [ppal-gan bul] / [pa-ran bul]
- English Meaning: Red light / Blue light
- Detailed Explanation: This is a crucial cultural point! In Western stock markets, red means down and green means up. In Korea, it’s the opposite! 빨간 불 (red light) means the stock price has gone UP. 파란 불 (blue light) means the price has gone DOWN. So, if a Korean friend says their portfolio is “all red,” they are very happy!
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- In 빨간 [ppalgan], the ‘ㄹ’ is followed by a consonant, so it has a clear ‘l’ sound. But in 파란 [paran], the ‘ㄹ’ is between two vowels, so it sounds more like a soft ‘r’ flap. This is a key rule for the consonant ‘ㄹ’!
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these words are used in a real conversation about a famous K-pop agency’s stock.
A: Did you see the news about JYP Entertainment’s stock today?
(오늘 JYP 엔터테인먼트 주식 뉴스 봤어? – Oneul JYP enteoteinmeonteu jusik nyuseu bwasseo?)
B: I did! It totally skyrocketed after their new group’s debut announcement!
(응! 새 그룹 데뷔 발표하고 완전 떡상했더라! – Eung! Sae geurup debwi balpyohago wanjeon tteoksanghaetdeora!)
A: I know! My stock account is finally showing a 빨간 불. I’m so relieved.
(맞아! 내 주식 계좌가 드디어 빨간 불이야. 너무 다행이야. – Maja! Nae jusik gyejwaga deudieo ppalgan buriya. Neomu dahaeng-iya.)
B: That’s great! Let’s hope we don’t see a sudden 하락 tomorrow.
(좋겠다! 내일은 갑자기 하락 안 했으면 좋겠다. – Joketda! Naeireun gapjagi harak an haesseumyeon joketda.)
Culture Tip & Trend Analysis
Why Red Means Go (Up)!
The biggest takeaway for learners is the color difference. In Korea and many other East Asian countries (like China and Taiwan), red is a symbol of luck, fortune, and prosperity. It makes sense, then, that a rising stock price is shown in red. Blue, on the other hand, is often associated with coolness or melancholy, making it a fitting color for a price drop. If you remember this cultural context, you’ll never be confused when looking at a Korean stock chart!
Korean Z-gen is deeply interested in “재테크” (jae-te-keu), a term for financial management and investment techniques. Using slang like 떡상 and 떡락 on social media or in chats with friends shows you’re not just learning the language, but you’re also in tune with the current culture.
Let’s Practice!
Time to check what you’ve learned.
- Fill in the blank: If your favorite company’s stock price falls dramatically, you can tell your friend, “아, 내 주식 ______했어!” (Ah, my stock ______-ed!).
- O / X Quiz: In Korea, if your stock chart is full of 빨간 불 (ppalgan bul), you are sad. (O / X)
You’re all set to follow the Korean stock market! Try using one of these expressions in the comments below. For example, tell us about a stock you know that recently went 떡상! Happy learning
