Find the Viral Yakgwa: Your Korean Mart Guide!
Hello! This is [Daily Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever walked into a huge Korean grocery store (마트, mateu) and felt a little lost? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there! Today, we’re going to learn the essential phrases you need to find anything you want, just by asking or reading the signs.
This is super useful because lately in Korea, traditional snacks are making a huge comeback! You’ve probably seen the super trendy honey cookie, Yakgwa (약과), all over social media. To join in on the fun, you first have to find it! Let’s learn how to navigate the aisles like a pro.
Core Expressions for Your Shopping Mission
Here are three key expressions that will make you a grocery shopping champion in Korea.
1. Where is…? (~는/은 어디에 있어요? [~neun/eun eodi-e isseoyo?])
This is your golden ticket to finding anything, anywhere. Just put the noun you’re looking for in the blank!
- Korean Expression: 라면은 어디에 있어요?
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Ramyeon-eun eodi-e isseoyo?
- English Meaning: Where is the ramen?
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most common and polite way to ask for the location of something. Use ~은 (eun) if the noun ends in a consonant (like 라면, ramyeon) and ~는 (neun) if it ends in a vowel (like 과자, gwaja).
어디 (eodi)means ‘where’ and있어요 (isseoyo)means ‘is/exists’. - 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The phrase
있어요is pronounced [i-ssŏ-yo], not [it-seo-yo]. The finalㅆ (ss)consonant sound moves over to the next syllable, making it sound smooth. Practice saying “i-ssŏ-yo” with a strong, tense ‘ss’ sound!
2. Aisle / Section (코너 [koneo])
You’ll see this word on signs all over the store. It’s a key piece of vocabulary!
- Korean Expression: 과자 코너
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Gwaja koneo
- English Meaning: Snack Aisle / Snack Section
- Detailed Explanation: This is a Konglish (Korean-style English) word that comes from “corner,” but in a store, it means a whole section or aisle dedicated to a certain type of product. You can combine it with other words, like
정육 코너 (jeong-yuk koneo)for the meat section or유제품 코너 (yujepum koneo)for the dairy section. - 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The word
과자is pronounced [gwaja]. The과 (gwa)part is a very quick, single syllable. Imagine saying “Gwa-ja” smoothly. Theㅈ (j)sound is somewhere between an English ‘j’ and ‘ch’.
3. I’m looking for… (~을/를 찾고 있어요 [~eul/reul chatgo isseoyo])
This is a great way to tell a store employee what you need help with.
- Korean Expression: 약과를 찾고 있어요.
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Yakgwa-reul chatgo isseoyo.
- English Meaning: I’m looking for Yakgwa.
- Detailed Explanation:
찾다 (chatda)is the verb “to find” or “to look for.” By adding the~고 있어요 (~go isseoyo)grammar pattern, you create the present progressive tense (“I am…-ing”). Use ~를 (reul) after a vowel (like 약과, yakgwa) and ~을 (eul) after a consonant (like 빵, ppang, bread). - 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The
ㅊ (ch)in찾고 [chatgo]is an aspirated sound, meaning you should push out a strong puff of air, like the ‘ch’ in “chart.” Also, when a consonant likeㄱ (g)comes after a final consonant likeㅊ (t), it often becomes a tense sound. So,찾고is pronounced closer to [chat-kko]. This will make you sound much more natural!
Example Dialogue: The Yakgwa Hunt!
Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation at the mart.
- A (You): 실례합니다. 약과를 찾고 있어요. 과자 코너는 어디에 있어요?
(Sillyehamnida. Yakgwa-reul chatgo isseoyo. Gwaja koneo-neun eodi-e isseoyo?)
Excuse me. I’m looking for Yakgwa. Where is the snack aisle? -
B (Staff): 아, 과자 코너는 저쪽에 있어요. 3번 코너로 가보세요.
(A, gwaja koneo-neun jeojjoge isseoyo. Sambeon koneo-ro gaboseyo.)
Ah, the snack aisle is over there. Please try going to aisle number 3. -
A (You): 감사합니다!
(Gamsahamnida!)
Thank you!
Culture Tip: The “Halmaennial” (할매니얼) Trend!
Why is Yakgwa suddenly so popular? It’s all part of the “Halmaennial” (할매니얼) trend!
This word is a combination of 할머니 (halmeoni – grandmother) and “Millennial.” It refers to young Koreans in their 20s and 30s who are embracing “grandma’s tastes.” This includes everything from retro fashion to traditional foods like red bean jelly, black sesame rice cakes, and of course, Yakgwa!
Korean Z-generation is getting creative, putting Yakgwa on ice cream, pressing it in a waffle maker, or even making “Yakgwa-financiers.” So, when you use the phrase “약과는 어디에 있어요?” to find these cookies, you’re not just buying a snack—you’re participating in a huge, delicious cultural trend!
Let’s Practice!
Great job today! You’ve learned how to ask for locations (~는/은 어디에 있어요?), identify sections (코너), and say what you’re looking for (~을/를 찾고 있어요).
Now, try these quick exercises!
- Fill in the blank: You want to find milk (우유, uyu). How do you ask where it is?
_______는 어디에 있어요? - Make a sentence: How would you tell a store employee, “I’m looking for kimchi”? (Kimchi is 김치, gimchi).
You’re ready for your next trip to a Korean mart!
What’s the first thing you would look for? Let us know in the comments below using one of today’s phrases!
