Hello! This is 매일한글 (Maeil Hangul), here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever seen a cute animal on a shelter’s social media and wished you could help? Today, we’re going to learn how to do just that by writing powerful, heartwarming phrases for animal adoption campaigns in Korean. Recently in Korea, there’s a growing movement on social media where everyday people share posts from local shelters to help animals find new homes. By learning today’s expressions, you can join this wonderful trend and make a real difference!
Let’s dive in and learn how to write a message that can change a life.
Core Expressions for a Cause
Here are three essential phrases you’ll see and use in Korean animal adoption campaigns.
1. 가족이 되어 주세요 (Become my family)
- Pronunciation [Romaja]: Gajog-i doe-eo juseyo
- English Meaning: Please become my family.
- Detailed Explanation: This is a very direct and emotional appeal from the animal’s perspective. It’s much warmer and more personal than just saying “please adopt me.” The phrase uses
가족(family) and the polite command form-어/아 주세요, making it a heartfelt request. It’s perfect for a photo caption of a lonely-looking dog or cat. -
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
Notice how 가족이 is pronounced [가조기, gajogi] and not[gajok-i]. This is a fundamental Korean pronunciation rule called linking (연음, yeoneum). When a consonant-final block (like족) is followed by a vowel-initial block (like이), the final consonant “moves over” to the next syllable. So, theㄱ (k)sound from족links with이to become기. It makes the pronunciation much smoother!
2. 평생 가족을 기다려요 (I’m waiting for a forever family)
- Pronunciation [Romaja]: Pyeongsaeng gajog-eul gidaryeoyo
- English Meaning: I’m waiting for a lifelong/forever family.
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Detailed Explanation: This phrase adds the beautiful word
평생(pyeongsaeng), which means “lifelong” or “for one’s whole life.” It emphasizes the commitment of adoption and the animal’s deep desire for a permanent, loving home.기다려요(I’m waiting) creates a sense of longing and patience, which can be very persuasive for potential adopters. -
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The first syllable, 평 (pyeong), has a strong aspirated ‘p’ sound. Think of it as a puff of air coming out with the ‘p’, like the ‘p’ in “park.” Theㅇ (ng)at the end is a nasal sound made at the back of your throat, similar to the “ng” in “singing.” Practice saying “pyeong” with a strong start and a resonant “ng” finish.
3. 사지 말고 입양하세요 (Don’t buy, please adopt)
- Pronunciation [Romaja]: Saji malgo ipyanghaseyo
- English Meaning: Don’t buy, please adopt.
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Detailed Explanation: This is the most famous slogan of the animal rights and adoption movement in Korea. It’s a powerful call to action that contrasts the act of buying a pet (
사다) with the act of adopting one (입양하다). The grammar-지 말고means “don’t do A, but do B,” making it a clear and direct message. You will see this hashtagged everywhere on Korean social media. -
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
Let’s look at 입양 (ip-yang). You might want to pronounce it with a clear stop between입and양. However, it sounds more natural when pronounced as [이뱡, ibyang]. Theㅂ (b/p)sound at the end of입becomes voiced (more like a ‘b’) and links smoothly to the following양syllable. This sound change, called nasal assimilation, happens often in Korean and makes the flow of speech much more natural.
Example Conversation
Here’s how you might see these phrases used in a real-life conversation between two friends looking at a shelter’s Instagram page.
- A: 이 강아지 좀 봐! 너무 귀엽다. 캡션에 “평생 가족을 기다려요”라고 쓰여 있어.
- (Yi gangaji jom bwa! Neomu gwiyeopda. Kaepsyeon-e “Pyeongsaeng gajog-eul gidaryeoyo”rago sseuyeo isseo.)
- Look at this puppy! So cute. The caption says, “I’m waiting for a forever family.”
- B: 어떡해, 마음 아프다. 우리도 스토리에 공유해서 도와주자.
- (Eotteokae, maeum apeuda. Urido seutori-e gong-yuhaeseo dowajuja.)
- Oh no, my heart aches. Let’s share it on our stories and help.
- A: 좋은 생각이야! 뭐라고 쓸까? 해시태그로 “사지 말고 입양하세요”는 꼭 넣고…
- (Joeun saenggak-iya! Mworago sseulkka? Haesitaegeuro “Saji malgo ipyanghaseyo”neun kkok neoko…)
- Great idea! What should we write? We should definitely include the hashtag “Don’t buy, please adopt”…
- B: “이 아이의 가족이 되어 주세요!” 이렇게 직접적으로 쓰는 건 어때?
- (I ai-ui “Gajog-i doe-eo juseyo!” ireoke jikjeopjeog-uro sseuneun geon eottae?)
- How about writing something direct like, “Please become this little one’s family!”?
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In Korea, the perception of pets has shifted significantly. The word 애완동물 (aewan-dongmul), meaning “pet for amusement,” is being replaced by 반려동물 (ballyeo-dongmul), which means “companion animal.” This reflects a deeper respect for animals as part of the family.
The slogan “사지 말고 입양하세요” became widely popular as many Korean celebrities and influencers (like Lee Hyori) began actively promoting shelter adoptions. When they post pictures with their adopted animals, they almost always use this hashtag. By using these phrases, you’re not just practicing Korean; you’re participating in a modern cultural movement that values compassion and responsibility. Using these phrases on your own social media will show you’re not just a learner, but someone who understands and engages with contemporary Korean culture.
Let’s Wrap It Up & Practice!
Great job today! We’ve learned three powerful and meaningful expressions to help advocate for animals in need. You can now write a touching message that might just help a furry friend find their forever home.
Now, it’s your turn to practice!
- Fill in the blank:
동물 가게에서 강아지를 ______ _______, 보호소에서 입양하세요.
(Don’t ______ a puppy at a pet store, please adopt from a shelter.) -
Create a sentence:
Imagine you are writing a caption for a photo of a beautiful cat at a shelter. Using “가족이 되어 주세요,” write a short, sweet message.
Share your answers in the comments below! We’d love to see the wonderful messages you create. See you next time at 매일한글
