K-Drama Scene Stealer: How to Say “I’m Waiting” in Korean!
Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever seen that classic scene in a K-drama? The main character is sitting in a beautiful café, looking out the window, waiting for their friend… or maybe their secret love! Or perhaps you’ve watched a K-pop idol’s live stream where they say, “I’m just waiting for my bandmate to arrive!”
Waiting is a part of everyday life, and in Korea, it’s a perfect opportunity to practice your language skills. Today, we’re going to learn the essential phrases for telling someone you’re waiting, so you can sound just like your favorite star!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are three simple but super useful expressions for any waiting situation.
1. I’m waiting. – 기다리고 있어요.
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Gidarigo isseoyo.
- English Meaning: I’m waiting.
- Detailed Explanation: This is the standard, polite way to say you are currently in the act of waiting. The
-고 있어요 (-go isseoyo)grammar pattern means “-ing” in English. You can use this with anyone, from a café barista to a new friend. -
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The final part, 있어요, is pronounced [isseoyo]. The ‘ㅆ’ (ss) sound from the first block (있) “jumps over” to the next syllable, which starts with a vowel (어). This is a super common pronunciation rule in Korean called liaison. So instead of saying it-eo-yo, you smoothly connect them to say [i-sseo-yo]. It makes you sound so much more natural!
2. Who are you waiting for? – 누구 기다리세요?
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Nugu gidariseyo?
- English Meaning: Who are you waiting for?
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Detailed Explanation: This is a polite way to ask someone who they are waiting for. 누구 (nugu) means “who,” and the
세요 (-seyo)ending makes the question respectful. A store employee might ask you this to be helpful. -
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The first sound in 기다리세요 (gidariseyo) is ‘ㄱ’ (g). In the middle of a word, like in기다리고 (gidarigo), it sounds like a soft ‘g’. But at the very beginning of a word, it can sometimes sound almost like a ‘k’. Don’t stress too much! Just keep the sound soft and unaspirated—don’t release a strong puff of air like you would for the English ‘k’.
3. I’m waiting for a friend. – 친구 기다려요.
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Chingu gidaryeoyo.
- English Meaning: I’m waiting for a friend.
-
Detailed Explanation: This is a simple and common answer. 친구 (chingu) means “friend.” You can easily swap out “친구” with another word, like 가족 (gajok – family) or a person’s name, like 민준 씨 (Minjun-ssi – Mr. Minjun).
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💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The ‘ㅊ’ in 친구 (chingu) is a fun sound! It’s like the “ch” in “church.” Make sure you release a little puff of air when you say it. It’s stronger than the ‘ㅈ’ (j) sound. Practice saying “cheese” and you’ve got it!
Example Dialogue in a Café
Imagine you’re at a trendy café in Seoul, waiting for your friend to go to a concert.
- Barista (A): 안녕하세요! 주문하시겠어요?
- (Annyeonghaseyo! Jumunhasigesseoyo?)
- Hello! Would you like to order?
- You (B): 아, 안녕하세요. 아직요. 친구 기다리고 있어요.
- (A, annyeonghaseyo. Ajigyo. Chingu gidarigo isseoyo.)
- Oh, hello. Not yet. I’m waiting for a friend.
- Barista (A): 네, 알겠습니다. 편하게 계세요.
- (Ne, algesseumnida. Pyeonhage gyeseyo.)
- Okay, I understand. Please make yourself comfortable.
- You (B): 감사합니다!
- (Gamsahamnida!)
- Thank you!
See? Simple and effective!
Culture Tip & K-Trend Deep Dive
In Korea, the culture of “waiting” is often shown in media to build anticipation and romance. You’ll hear “기다리고 있어요” constantly in dramas, right before a dramatic reunion or a sweet coffee date.
- K-Pop Live Streams: Recently, K-pop idols have made waiting for their members a fun part of their live content. They’ll turn on the camera and say, “여러분~ 지금 OO 기다리고 있어요!” (Everyone~ I’m waiting for [member’s name] right now!). It creates a casual, friendly vibe that fans love. By using this phrase, you’re tapping into that same friendly, in-the-moment feeling.
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Level-Up Your Politeness! If you’re waiting in a café or restaurant, you can impress the staff by saying: “친구 오면 주문할게요.” (Chingu omyeon jumunhalgeyo.), which means, “I’ll order when my friend comes.” This is a super polite and considerate thing to say, and it will definitely make you sound like a local!
Time to Practice!
Great job today! You’ve learned how to confidently say you’re waiting for someone in Korean. Now, let’s see what you’ve got!
- Fill in the Blank: You are waiting for your older brother. How do you say, “I’m waiting for my older brother”? (Hint: older brother for a female speaker is 오빠 [oppa]).
______ 기다리고 있어요.
- Your Turn! How would you answer the question “누구 기다리세요?” if you were waiting for your teacher (선생님 [seonsaengnim])?
Let us know your answers in the comments below! Try making your own sentence using the phrases you learned today. Who are you waiting for?
Happy learning
