Unlock ‘God-saeng’ Mode: Korean Tips for Juggling Studies and Alba!
Hello! This is [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Are you a student? Do you have a part-time job? Finding a balance between the two can be tough, no matter where you are in the world. Today, we’re going to learn some essential Korean expressions to talk about this exact situation!
Lately in Korea, the trend of “갓생” (God-saeng) is huge among young people. It means living a “Godly life”—a super productive and diligent lifestyle where you excel at your studies, work, exercise, and hobbies. It’s all about becoming the best version of yourself! So, let’s learn how to talk about your own “God-saeng” journey in Korean.
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are three key phrases to help you talk about your busy but fulfilling life.
1. 병행하다 (byeonghaenghada)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: byeong-haeng-ha-da
* English Meaning: To do two things at the same time; to juggle; to do in parallel.
* Detailed Explanation: This is the perfect formal verb for saying you’re handling two major commitments, like school and work. It sounds more structured and intentional than just saying “I do both.” It’s a great word to use when explaining your situation to a professor or a boss.
2. 짬을 내다 (jjameul naeda)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: jjam-eul nae-da
* English Meaning: To make time; to squeeze in time.
* Detailed Explanation: “짬 (jjam)” refers to a small bit of spare time you find between your scheduled activities. So, “짬을 내다” isn’t about having a lot of free time; it’s about actively carving out a moment to do something, like studying on the subway or grabbing a quick coffee with a friend. It’s a very native-sounding expression!
3. 정신이 없다 (jeongsini eopda)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: jeong-sin-i eop-da
* English Meaning: To be swamped; to be out of one’s mind (with busyness); to be frantic.
* Detailed Explanation: Literally meaning “to not have a mind/spirit,” this phrase perfectly describes the feeling of being so busy that you can’t think straight. It’s an informal and very common way to express that you’re overwhelmed. Use this with friends when they ask how you’re doing!
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation between two university students, Minjun (A) and Sora (B).
A: 소라야, 요즘 얼굴 보기 힘드네. 많이 바빠?
(Sora-ya, yojeum eolgul bogi himdeune. Mani bappa?)
(Sora, it’s been hard to see you lately. Are you very busy?)
B: 응, 학업이랑 카페 아르바이트를 **병행하고 있어서 정신이 하나도 없어.**
(Eung, hageob-irang kape areubaiteu-reul byeonghaenghago isseoseo jeongsini hanado eopseo.)
(Yeah, I’m juggling my studies and a cafe part-time job, so I’m completely swamped.)
A: 와, 대단하다! 공부할 시간은 있어?
(Wa, daedanhada! Gongbuhal sigan-eun isseo?)
(Wow, that’s amazing! Do you have time to study?)
B: 지하철에서 **짬을 내서 단어를 외우고 있어. 나도 ‘갓생’ 한번 살아보려고!**
(Jihacheor-eseo jjameul naeseo daneo-reul oewoogo isseo. Nado ‘God-saeng’ hanbeon saraboryeogo!)
(I make time on the subway to memorize vocabulary. I’m trying to live a ‘God-saeng’ life!)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive: The ‘갓생 (God-saeng)’ Lifestyle
So, what exactly is this 갓생 (God-saeng) trend we mentioned? It’s a combination of the English word “God” and the Korean word “생 (saeng),” which means life.
This isn’t about grand, life-changing achievements. It’s about finding satisfaction in small, consistent acts of self-improvement. On Korean social media, you’ll see thousands of posts with the hashtag #갓생. People share pictures of their completed to-do lists, their workout logs, or the books they’ve read.
For Korean Z-Gens, living a “God-saeng” life is a way to feel in control and build self-esteem. So, when you use a phrase like “학업과 알바를 병행하면서 갓생 살고 있어요” (I’m living a ‘God-saeng’ life while juggling studies and my part-time job), you’re not just describing your schedule—you’re tapping into a modern cultural mindset. Your Korean friends will be seriously impressed!
Let’s Wrap It Up & Practice!
Great job today! We learned how to talk about balancing multiple responsibilities like a pro. You can now use 병행하다 to describe what you’re juggling, 짬을 내다 for how you find the time, and 정신이 없다 for when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Now, it’s your turn to practice!
- Fill in the blank:
요즘 회사 일과 한국어 공부를 _______________려니 정말 바빠요.
(It’s really busy trying to _______________ work and Korean studies these days.)
(Hint: Use the verb ‘to do in parallel’) -
Your Turn!
What are you doing to live a “God-saeng” life? Write a short sentence in Korean using one of the expressions we learned today!
Leave your answers in the comments below. We can’t wait to see your “God-saeng” efforts! Fighting! (파이팅!)
