Korean for Intermediate Learners: Discussing Cultural Customs with 'In My Country, We...'
Learn to describe customs from your country in Korean using '우리 나라에서는...' and ask about Korean cultural norms. Build intermediate conversation skills for comparing traditions.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about customs from your own country and ask about Korean customs. The key pattern is '우리 나라에서는' (in my country, we...). You will practice using this to share cultural norms, and ask questions like '한국에서는 어떻게 해요?' (How do you do it in Korea?). This is different from discussing social issues because we focus on everyday cultural practices, not political or social problems. By the end, you will be able to have a natural conversation comparing customs, using appropriate honorifics and polite endings.
By the end, you can…
- describe a custom from my country using '우리 나라에서는...'
- ask about Korean customs using '한국에서는 어떻게 해요?'
- compare customs using '비슷해요' and '달라요'
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
우리 나라에서는 명절에 가족이 모여요.
In my country, families gather on holidays.
u-ri na-ra-e-seo-neun myeong-jeo-re ga-jok-i mo-yeo-yo.
Use this to describe a general custom. '명절' means traditional holiday. '모여요' is polite informal.
한국에서는 설날에 무엇을 해요?
What do you do on Seollal in Korea?
han-guk-e-seo-neun seol-la-re mu-eo-seul hae-yo?
Ask about a specific Korean holiday. '설날' is Lunar New Year. Use polite informal ending.
한국에서는 명절에 세배를 해요.
In Korea, we do sebae on holidays.
han-guk-e-seo-neun myeong-jeo-re se-bae-reul hae-yo.
'세배' is a traditional bow to elders. Use this to explain a Korean custom.
우리 나라에서는 생일 때 케이크를 먹어요.
In my country, we eat cake on birthdays.
u-ri na-ra-e-seo-neun saeng-il ttae ke-i-keu-reul meo-geo-yo.
Use '때' to mean 'when' or 'on the occasion of'. This is a common birthday custom.
한국에서는 생일 때 미역국을 먹어요.
In Korea, we eat seaweed soup on birthdays.
han-guk-e-seo-neun saeng-il ttae mi-yeok-guk-eul meo-geo-yo.
'미역국' is seaweed soup. This is a unique Korean birthday custom.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern '우리 나라에서는' means 'in my country, we...'. It is used to introduce a custom. For example: '우리 나라에서는 명절에 가족이 모여요.' (In my country, families gather on holidays.) You can also use '한국에서는' to ask about Korean customs: '한국에서는 설날에 무엇을 해요?' (What do you do on Seollal in Korea?) To compare, use '비슷해요' (similar) or '달라요' (different). For example: '한국과 우리 나라가 비슷해요.' (Korea and my country are similar.)
When to use it
Use these patterns in casual conversations with friends or acquaintances when discussing cultural differences. It is appropriate for intermediate learners to use polite informal speech (해요체) with people you are not close to. For example, when a Korean friend asks about your country's holidays, you can say: '우리 나라에서는 추수감사절에 칠면조를 먹어요.' (In my country, we eat turkey on Thanksgiving.) Then ask: '한국에서는 추석에 무엇을 먹어요?' (What do you eat on Chuseok in Korea?) Avoid using these patterns in formal business settings; instead, use formal speech (합니다체).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
우리 나라에서는 새해에 불꽃놀이를 해요. 한국에서는 새해에 무엇을 해요?
In my country, we do fireworks on New Year's. What do you do on New Year's in Korea?u-ri na-ra-e-seo-neun sae-hae-e bul-kkot-no-ri-reul hae-yo. han-guk-e-seo-neun sae-hae-e mu-eo-seul hae-yo?한국에서는 새해에 떡국을 먹어요. 그리고 가족들과 세배를 해요.
In Korea, we eat rice cake soup on New Year's. And we do sebae with family.han-guk-e-seo-neun sae-hae-e tteok-guk-eul meo-geo-yo. geu-ri-go ga-jok-deul-gwa se-bae-reul hae-yo.아, 그래요? 우리 나라에서는 새해에 가족이 모여서 파티를 해요. 비슷하네요!
Oh, really? In my country, families gather and have a party on New Year's. It's similar!a, geu-rae-yo? u-ri na-ra-e-seo-neun sae-hae-e ga-jok-i mo-yeo-seo pa-ti-reul hae-yo. bi-seut-ha-ne-yo!네, 비슷해요. 하지만 한국에서는 세배가 중요해요. 어른들께 세배를 하고 세뱃돈을 받아요.
Yes, it's similar. But in Korea, sebae is important. We bow to elders and receive New Year's money.ne, bi-seut-hae-yo. ha-ji-man han-guk-e-seo-neun se-bae-ga jung-yo-hae-yo. eo-reun-deul-kke se-bae-reul ha-go se-baet-don-eul ba-da-yo.A little context goes a long way
In Korea, '세배' (sebae) is a deep bow performed by younger people to elders on Seollal. Elders often give '세뱃돈' (New Year's money) in return. While the bow may seem formal, it is a sign of respect and affection. When discussing customs, Koreans appreciate genuine curiosity. Avoid saying '우리 나라가 더 좋아요' (my country is better); instead, say '흥미로워요' (it's interesting) or '비슷하네요' (it's similar). Also, use '우리 나라' rather than '제 나라' to sound natural; '우리' implies shared identity.
One thing to watch for
Using '제 나라에서는' instead of '우리 나라에서는'.
Try this instead: Koreans typically say '우리 나라' (our country) when referring to their own country, even in formal contexts. '제 나라' sounds overly individualistic and unnatural. For example, say '우리 나라에서는 명절에 가족이 모여요.' not '제 나라에서는...'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'In my country, we eat cake on birthdays' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
우리 나라에서는 생일 때 케이크를 먹어요.
This uses the pattern '우리 나라에서는' and '생일 때' (on birthdays). '케이크를 먹어요' means 'eat cake'. Alternative: '우리 나라에서는 생일에 케이크를 먹어요.' is also correct.
2Ask in Korean: 'What do you do on Chuseok in Korea?'
Show a sample answer
한국에서는 추석에 무엇을 해요?
This uses '한국에서는' and '추석에' (on Chuseok). '무엇을 해요?' means 'what do you do?'. You could also say '추석에 뭐 해요?' in casual speech.
3How do you say 'Korea and my country are similar' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
한국과 우리 나라가 비슷해요.
This uses '한국과 우리 나라' (Korea and my country) and '비슷해요' (are similar). The particle '가' marks the subject. Alternative: '한국이랑 우리 나라가 비슷해요.' is also natural.
Use '우리 나라에서는' to share your country's customs, and '한국에서는 어떻게 해요?' to ask about Korean ones. Compare with '비슷해요' and '달라요'. Remember to use '우리 나라' and polite informal endings.
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