Korean Phrases 14: Describing Food

안녕 친구! I'm your main host, Professor Oh. There are 7 billion people on earth and counting. One of the things that bond humankind is food. We search for tasty food and talk about our experience. Whether you're writing an online review or having a face-to-face conversation, here are some simple phrases for you to use when describing food. Anytime you hear the sound, that means fill in the blank. We begin with the most common types of taste. 매워요. It's spicy. 매워요. 셔요. It's sour. 셔요. 짜요. It's salty. 짜요. 달아요. It's sweet. Separately, the characters are 달, 아, 요. Together, it's 달아요. 써요. It's bitter. 써, 요. 써요. If any of these tastes are a bit too much, just put 너무 at the front. 너무 means too, as in like too much of something. 너무 매워요. It's too spicy. 너무 셔요. It's too sour. 너무 짜요. It's too salty. 너무 달아요. It's too sweet. 너무 써요. It's too bitter. Here are some more taste descriptions. 감칠맛이에요. It's umami. Separately, the characters are 감칠맛이에요. Together, it's 감칠맛이에요. 맛있어요. It's delicious. Separately, the characters are 맛있어요. Together, it's 맛있어요. 맛없어요. It's not delicious. Separately, the characters are 맛없어요. Together, it's 맛없어요. 신선해요. It's fresh. 신선해요. 신선해요. 느끼해요. It's greasy. 느끼해요. 느끼해요. 시큼해요. It's tangy. 시큼해요. 시큼해요. 짭짤해요. It's slightly salty. 짭짤해요. 짭짤해요. 싱거워요. It's bland. 싱거워요. 싱거워요. 뜨거워요. It's hot. 뜨거워요. 뜨거워요. 차가워요. It's cold. 차가워요. 차가워요. 시원해요. It's refreshing. 시원해요. 시원해요. 건강에 좋아요. It's good for your health. 건강에 좋아요. 영양분이 많아요. It's nutritious. 영양분이 많아요. Eating chips or a piece of steak? Let's learn about textures. 바삭바삭해요. It's crunchy. 바삭바삭해요. 바삭바삭해요. 쫄깃쫄깃해요. It's chewy. 쫄깃쫄깃해요. 쫄깃쫄깃해요. 부드러워요. It's soft. 부드러워요. 육즙이 잘잘흘러요. The meat is juicy. 육즙이 잘잘흘러요. 육즙이 잘잘흘러요. 퍽퍽해요. It's dry. 퍽퍽해요. Want to compliment the chef? Learn these sweet phrases. 요리 너무 잘하세요. You're such a great cook. 요리 너무 잘하세요. 어쩜 이렇게 맛있을 수가 있어요? How can something be this delicious? Separately, the characters are 어쩜 이렇게 맛있을 수가 있어요? Together it's 어쩜 이렇게 맛있을 수가 있어요? I feel like I went to heaven and back. I'm full, but I'll have some more, please. 배부르지만 더 주세요. 돈 잘 썼어요. It's money well spent. 돈 잘 썼어요. You just had something amazingly delicious and you want to learn how to make it at home. Some people are very protective over the recipe, others are willing to share. Just ask this. 라면 조리법 가르쳐주세요. Please tell me the recipe to make your ramen. 김치 조리법 가르쳐주세요. Please tell me the recipe to make your kimchi. 갈비 조리법 가르쳐주세요. Please tell me the recipe to make your galbi. Just fill in the blank with the food you are impressed with. 조리법 가르쳐주세요. Here's another way to compliment the cook. 먹은 냉면 중에서 제일 맛있어요. This is the best naengmyeon I've ever eaten. 먹은 김치 중에서 제일 맛있어요. This is the best kimchi I've ever eaten. Just fill in the blank with the food noun. 먹은 중에서 제일 맛있어요. They don't like the food very much. Eh, it happens. 맛이 이상해요. This tastes weird. Separately, the characters are 맛이 이상해요. Together it's 맛이 이상해요. 신선하지 않아요. This isn't fresh. 신선하지 않아요. 맛에 비하면 너무 비싸요. It's too expensive compared to the taste. Separately, the characters are 맛에 비하면 너무 비싸요. Together it's 맛에 비하면 너무 비싸요. After your meal, describe how you're feeling. 배불러요. I'm full. 배불러요. 더 먹고 싶은데 배불러요. I want to eat more, but I'm full. 더 먹고 싶은데 배불러요. 아직 배고파요. I'm still hungry. 아직 배고파요. 든든해요. I'm perfectly full. All the phrases we learned today are formal, so use them towards elders and strangers. To study the phrases in detail and for the informal versions, check out the blog post at sweetandtastytv.com. The link to it is also in the description box. See you 개화 Wednesday for more travel episodes and on Mondays for more phrase lessons. 안녕! We have to climb up the mountain. So Yoona and I made it up to the peak, and we're going to have soju-ma time again. Soju and goguma. Soju-ma. Tell them about your pain. 배아파요. My stomach hurts. 목아파요. My throat hurts. Place the body part in a blank space.