Why Koreans Speak 반말 (Casual Korean) to Learners | A Glass with Billy
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- How to correctly use politeness levels (such as 반말 or 존댓말) can be one of the trickiest parts of learning Korean - but it can be done. However, there are some cases when native Korean speakers have used casual speech inappropriately to Korean learners. For example, sometimes people have used 반말 when meeting me for the first time (especially online), or have spoken overly casually in situations where it would be inappropriate toward a native Korean speaker. What are some of the reasons for that? What can you do when it happens? How should or shouldn’t you respond? I sat down with my friend and fellow Korean speaker Andy and talked about times when this has happened to us, what we did about it, and what are the best ways to deal with it.
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Music by Kevin MacLeod: "Beachfront Celebration," “MJS Strings,” and “Brightly Fancy.” (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 (creativecommons...)
I like the fact that billy not only teaches korean but also does videos to understand korean culture
그런 처음 만난 반말로 하는 한국인 만나본적이 있어요. 저는 보통 처음 만날 때 존댓말로 얘기하는데 그 사람이 계속 반말로 얘기해서 기분 좀 나쁜 것 같았어요. 영어로 그런 심한 차이 (존댓말/반말) 없지만, 그 사람이 한국인이랑 초엔 반말로 대화 안 할 거 같아요. 제가 외국인 이라서 그 사람이 그렇게 하는줄 알았어요.
빌리쌤 설명해줘서 감사하고 앞으로 그런 초엔 반말 하는 한국인 보면 그렇게 쓸게요. 다들 한국어 열심히 공부하세요!
as a foreigner it's a bit awkward to acknowledge when someone's using 반말, because it's kinda like 'you're a foreigner, you should be used to this' or 'why do you care' or like... we're trying too hard to fit into the culture and fake being offended or something... so this was an interesting video, i didn't know it would happen in a business situation too omg ! (btw i seriously love the filming location, it's so pretty...)
We filmed in 세종시, which is a really pretty city overall. There's a gigantic park there and so many places to film.
@@GoBillyKorean oh wow! for some reason i didn't think that was filmed in korea, it reminded me a lot of america haha, definitely going on my to-travel list then :D
@@chloe8387 Honestly it's a very simple, spread out city. It's not a tourist spot by any means for non-Koreans (there aren't any attractions outside of local events), but if you happen to have friends there or have some reason to visit it's great. I love every time I visit there and I really like the feel of the city. Maybe I can make a travel video about there someday.
@@GoBillyKorean that would be awesome! i looked at some pictures on google, and it looks like a really beautiful spot (a hidden gem for travellers, maybe?)
Billy you are true inspiration for foreigners specially for learning such fluent Korean ❤️
Hats off man !!👌🏻👏🏻
(제목) 반발 ---> 반말
처음 보는 사람이 반말을 하면 반발 합시다!
Sometimes old ladies use 반말 to younger people calling them '언니' '오빠' :) Most of them think it is a friendly way.
Oops! Thanks I'll fix that typo
4:06 - Those 2 sentences:
초면에 반말 쓰는 건 좀 그렇지 않아요?
초면인데 반말하는 게 좀 그렇지 않아요?
- “Isn’t it a bit odd for us to speak in 반말 when we’ve just met?
I thought using formal language was like a barrier. I wondered why couples in Kdramas used it but I understand now, 고마워요😊
It can be a barrier, but it's a necessary barrier in many situations.
It was so funny recently. I was using HelloTalk and a Korean I had never met before messaged me saying "안녕 잘 지냈?" And obviously I recognised this as 반말. Due to them being the same age as me I replied
"안녕. 저 괜찮아. 너는?" They got mega offended and replied
"진짜! 왜? 초면에 반말 쓰는 건 좀 그렇지 않아요?"
Then after 5 minutes of silence they said in perfect English "Learn respect!"
😂
Just a note, "너" is 반말 too, but it can be considered rude even when speaking in 반말. So it would only be appropriate when talking down to someone, or when used to a *close* friend your same age or younger - but not appropriate in other regular 반말 situations. They really shouldn't use 반말 to you either though since you just met.
I would have done the same thing. 😌
It irks me when they speak to me in 반말 without permission. I live in Korea, so this happens to me frequently. Truthfully, it makes me feel like they think I’m a dumb foreigner. Maybe I’m sensitive about it, but even my Korean friends have told me to stay away from those people because it shows they’re disrespectful. I’m not saying this is true, but I want to trust their opinion on this!
I understand if they’re old...even if it’s still seen as rude in the culture...I accept that. But sometimes 18 year olds will speak to me in 반말 right away even though I’m 24.
I will defend Koreans too though. Most of them say to use 반말 because they want my speaking experience to be less stressful. So SOME do not mean to be rude, they think they are helping me. But I want to learn 존댓말 so I only use 존댓말 (except for two people) since I need it for many occasions.
I love this kind of videos, talking about culture.
This was a really interesting video! I’ve always wondered when it was appropriate to use honorifics. I knew it would be context-based, but never really got a good grasp of the concept. I love how you guys gave many examples, I gave me a really good idea about when to use 반말 and 존댓말. Basically the video I never knew I needed!! Thanks!!!
I’ve actually mostly had the opposite experiences living in Korea thus far. To this date pretty much every Korean I’ve met and come to know has used 존댓말 with me, even if they’re much older. I’ve greatly appreciated the respect, though sometimes have had that slight feeling of distance, even with those that say I can call them 언니, etc. But I’ve only been in Korea four months, so I don’t know that I can claim much experience yet. 😂
as a hispanic this is really easy to relate to, we use honorifics in our language also, and it basically translates the same way.
Really interesting chat thanks 🙏. Honestly i would be over the moon if anyone talked to me at all should i get to korea, i would be too busy working out what anything means, to recognise how polite they are being 😂
I don’t know why but if they use 반말 with me (even if it’s another fellow learner who knows better) from the beginning, it feels really weird and unnatural. Most of the time, I haven’t had this time problem. Usually I start out by speaking to everyone in 존댓말 first until they initiate and say “hey you can speak informally with me” I don’t know why I’m the one who’s usually scared to ask the question though. I guess I’m worried that I’ll offend someone if I ask too soon. How big can the age gap be to speak 반말? I’ve always wondered that. Like is it normal for people with a 20 year old age difference to speak causally to one another? I couldn’t imagine it. Cause my friends are 3 years older than me and I still use 존댓말 with them cause I don’t know if I should ask, even though if I did they’d probably be okay with it but I don’t know. Welp lol
I'm suddenly very terrified of this happening to me, I don't control my facial expressions well at all!
I find it interesting that he said there are many korean online communities where 반말 is preferred. I’m in a korean language learning server and 반말 is highly looked down upon if you use it
Temperance it’s because the server is dedicated for “Korean learners”, not for “Korean speakers”
This happened to me twice or thrice when chatting with korean ppl at the bar.
반발 ?
反撥
Finally earlier
The problem with the question you use to ask people if it's too soon to use 반말, is that you don't give them a way to save face.
It's not that "you're no fun" sometimes, but that you 'broke their face' by not providing a graceful avenue for them to change behavior.
Something like "I'm sorry, but I'm not practiced/comfortable with speaking 반말 with someone I've just met." Or maybe "I'm not a native speaker, so I'm uncomfortable with 반말 (with new acquaintances/people I've just met)"
Think about what kind of answer/response they might have to give, and if it would be shameful for them to say it. Try to provide an opening that lets them say something graceful/apologetic. Not something that is self-correcting.
Also, you need to be careful of giving the impression that you think the person using 반말 is trying to 'break your face'. This won't necessarily cause offense, but it will generally cause a confrontation/ritual around face saving or face repairing; which corresponds with not being fun.
Also, when you're correcting someone for using 반말 you might want to use a higher level of 존댓말 than using a -yo ending.
(also, anyung in a business setting with age-peers isn't that weird.)
A kind of rule of thumb for when you can/should use 반말, 반말 is ok if you are able to say "let us go/do" as the leader or as a group member telling people what to do in an imperative mode; you are a close (enough) member of the group to provide direction for what the group should do. Are you part of 우리. This is why there's an asymmetry around who can use 반말. Older people can use 반말 with younger people, because the older people can direct the group with an sentence using 우리; younger people cannot so they will typically use 존댓말. Instructors can use 반말 to their students, even if their students are the same age, the students should use 존댓말 (but this has become more lax in some places). Age peers tend to use 반말 because they will often direct each other's activities with sentences using 우리 in a (polite) imperative mode.
Unfortunately I've also tried the methods you suggest, and it gets similar results. Telling a Korean speaker that you're not comfortable with 반말 can kill the mood - no matter what way you do it. The same applies to telling them using a higher speech level than the ~요 ending. In fact, that can be even worse if it's a situation where you're trying to make friends because you'd be distancing yourself even more from them.
As for business situations, 안녕 would be very inappropriate unless you're very old and talking to someone very young (still, it wouldn't be used since it's too casual for business situations, even if 반말 is used). If someone doesn't actually speak any Korean, then Koreans won't find it insulting to hear "안녕" because they'll know that's a beginner. But if someone who speaks Korean were to say that it would be inappropriate and overly casual.
@@GoBillyKorean
You may be focusing on the specifics too much (i.e. the possible solutions I suggest), and not the general problem-with/solution-to the way you've tried to address 반말.
"Think about what kind of answer/response they might have to give, and if it would be shameful for them to say it. Try to provide an opening that lets them say something graceful/apologetic. Not something that is self-correcting."
Hmm...
"As for business situations, 안녕 would be very inappropriate [...]"
I think you're very off here depending on context. It depends on the level of business; are you buying a warehouse of grain, or are you doing a multi-billion dollar deal? A lot of business in Korea is more casual than you indicate; so age-peer introductions with 안녕 isn't that strange in many business situations.
@@stoneself If you have another suggestion for what to say exactly in Korean in this sort of situation, I'd be really interested in hearing it. This is a situation I still have to deal with occasionally so I'm always looking for a better way to handle it :)
@@GoBillyKorean
There isn't a particular right thing to say, but to keep in mind that you're trying to assert your face without breaking their face.
Sometimes the "correct" thing to do is to let them save face even though it breaks your face.
The breaking of face/asserting face is where some of the break down ("no fun") is happening.
The topic of face is probably too much for me to summarize, but here's a link that might provide some insights:
web.uri.edu/iaics/files/03-Kun-Ok-Kim.pdf