Level Up Your Korean: Talk Science & Digestion Like a Pro!
Hello! It’s your favorite Korean teacher from [Daily Hangul] here to upgrade your skills!
Today, we’re moving beyond “맛있어요!” (It’s delicious!) and diving into a more advanced topic: how our bodies actually process all that amazing Korean food. We’re talking about the science of digestion! This might sound tricky, but learning these words is incredibly useful for discussing health, watching Korean documentaries, or even understanding wellness trends on social media.
Lately in Korea, there’s a huge boom in health and wellness, often called “Healthy Pleasure” (헬시플레저 – helsi peullejeo). From workout vlogs to detailed meal prep posts, people are more interested than ever in what’s happening inside their bodies. So, let’s learn the vocabulary to join this fascinating conversation!
Core Expressions for Your Science Chat
Here are a few essential words you need to know to discuss the digestive process in Korean.
1. 소화 (sohwa)
- Pronunciation [so-hwa]: so-hwa
- English Meaning: Digestion
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most fundamental word and refers to the entire process of breaking down food. You can use it as a standalone noun, or you can add the verb 되다 (doeda – to become) to make 소화되다 (sohwadoeda – to be digested) or 하다 (hada – to do) to make 소화하다 (sohwahada – to digest).
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The ‘ㅎ’ (h) sound in Korean is very soft and airy, almost like a sigh. Don’t pronounce it with a hard ‘H’ sound like in “house.” Think of it as a gentle breath between ‘소’ (so) and ‘아’ (a), making it a smooth [so-hwa].
2. 영양소 (yeongyangso)
- Pronunciation [yeong-yang-so]: yeong-yang-so
- English Meaning: Nutrient
- Detailed Explanation: This word refers to the substances in food that our bodies need to live and grow, like vitamins, minerals, protein, etc. It’s a combination of ‘영양’ (yeongyang – nutrition) and ‘소’ (so – element). It’s a key term in any conversation about healthy eating.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The ‘ㅇ’ (ng) at the end of a syllable, like in ‘영’ (yeong) and ‘양’ (yang), is pronounced like the “-ng” in the English word “singing.” Make sure not to release the ‘g’ sound separately. It’s a single, nasal sound produced at the back of your throat.
3. 분해하다 (bunhaehada)
- Pronunciation [bun-hae-ha-da]: bun-hae-ha-da
- English Meaning: To break down; to decompose
- Detailed Explanation: This is a crucial scientific verb. In the context of digestion, it means to break down complex food molecules into simpler ones. For example, “단백질을 아미노산으로 분해하다” (danbaekjireul aminosaneuro bunhaehada) means “to break down protein into amino acids.”
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: Like with ‘소화’, the ‘ㅎ’ (h) in ‘해’ (hae) is very soft. Also, pay attention to the first syllable ‘분’ (bun). The ‘ㄴ’ (n) sound is clear and crisp. Practice saying it cleanly: [bun-hae-ha-da].
4. 흡수되다 (heupsudoeda)
- Pronunciation [heup-ssu-doe-da]: heup-ssu-doe-da
- English Meaning: To be absorbed
- Detailed Explanation: This is a passive verb that describes what happens after food is broken down—the nutrients are absorbed by the body. The active form is ‘흡수하다’ (heupsuhada – to absorb). Using the passive form ‘되다’ is very common in scientific explanations because the focus is on what happens to the nutrients, not who or what is doing the absorbing.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: This one has two important points!
- The final ‘ㅂ’ (b) in ‘흡’ (heup) is an “unreleased stop.” This means you close your lips to make the ‘p’ sound but don’t release the puff of air. It sounds like you’re cutting the sound off abruptly.
- When ‘수’ (su) follows ‘흡’ (heup), it becomes tense. So, instead of a soft ‘s’ sound, it’s pronounced like ‘ss’. The pronunciation becomes [흡쑤되다, heup-ssu-doe-da]. This is called ‘된소리되기’ (tensing).
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these words are used in a real conversation between two friends watching a health vlog.
A: 이 유튜버 진짜 똑똑하다. 음식이 우리 몸에서 어떻게 소화되는지 과학적으로 설명해 주네.
(I yutyubeo jinjja ttokttokada. Eumsigi uri momeseo eotteoke **sohwadoeneunji gwahakjeogeuro seolmyeonghae june.)**
This YouTuber is so smart. They’re scientifically explaining how food is digested in our bodies.
B: 맞아. 음식물을 잘게 분해해서 몸에 좋은 영양소가 흡수된다는 거지?
(Maja. Eumsingmureul jalge **bunhaehaeseo mome joeun yeongyangsoga heupsudoendaneun geoji?)**
Right. It means that food is broken down into small pieces so that the good nutrients can be absorbed, right?
A: 응, 바로 그거야! 그래서 천천히 씹는 게 중요하대.
(Eung, baro geugeoya! Geuraeseo cheoncheonhi ssimneun ge jungyohadae.)
Yep, that’s exactly it! That’s why they say chewing slowly is important.
B: 아, 이제부터 밥 먹을 때 꼭꼭 씹어 먹어야겠다.
(A, ijebuteo bap meogeul ttae kkokkkok ssibeo meogeoyagetda.)
Ah, I’ll have to make sure I chew my food thoroughly from now on.
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In Korea, the “Healthy Pleasure” trend is all about making health enjoyable, not a chore. On Instagram, you’ll see people proudly posting their “오운완” (O-un-wan), which is short for “오늘 운동 완료!” (Oneul undong wallyo! – Today’s workout complete!).
When they post their meals, they often use scientific-sounding abbreviations. A very common one is “탄단지” (Tan-Dan-Ji). This is a shortened term for the three main nutrients:
* 탄수화물 (Tansuhwamul): Carbohydrates
* 단백질 (Danbaekjil): Protein
* 지방 (Jibang): Fat
So, if you see someone post a picture of their chicken breast, sweet potato, and avocado salad with the hashtag #탄단지, you’ll know they’re talking about their balanced meal of carbs, protein, and fat. Using terms like 영양소 and understanding 탄단지 will make you sound like a true insider in Korean wellness circles!
Time to Practice!
Great job making it this far! Let’s review what we learned.
1. Fill in the blank:
Our bodies need to ________ food into smaller pieces to absorb nutrients.
우리 몸은 영양소를 흡수하기 위해 음식을 더 작은 조각으로 ( )해야 해요.
(Answer: 분해)
2. Make a sentence:
Try creating your own short sentence in Korean using the word 소화 (digestion). For example: “This food is easy to digest.”
Share your answers and sentences in the comments below! We’re excited to see you put your new knowledge to use. Keep up the amazing work
