Beezit Korea

"라떼는 말이야~"
This expression is one of the most popular Korean memes ever.
You’ll hear it in dramas, variety shows, and even real-life offices all the time.

In Korea, when an older person starts a sentence with
“라떼는 말이야~ (Latte neun maliya~)”,
it sounds like “latte” (the coffee)
but it actually comes from “나 때는 말이야,” which means “Back in my day…”

It’s a funny way older Koreans begin nostalgic or “lecture-style” stories,
like: “Back in my day, we worked late but had passion!”

So this meme phrase became super popular —
because every Korean has heard it at least once from a teacher, a parent, or… a boss at work.

And here’s the fun part, sometimes even Koreans make visual jokes out of it!
We use a horse (말 / ‘mal’) emoji drinking a latte to literally show “나 때는 말이야”
(because in Korean, “mal” means horse, and the phrase sounds like “latte is a horse”).
You might see memes in chatrooms showing a horse sipping a latte whenever someone acts old-fashioned or starts lecturing.

In this short, our foreign rabbit character misunderstands “라떼” as the actual latte coffee, until she realizes the real meaning.
And ten years later… she becomes the “Latte Boss” herself

4 months ago | [YT] | 1

Beezit Korea

K-Style Battle: 꾸안꾸 vs 꾸꾸꾸 | Effortless or Extra?

If you’ve ever wondered how Koreans talk about style, you’ll love these two expressions 꾸안꾸 (kku-ahn-kku) and 꾸꾸꾸 (kku-kku-kku).

They sound cute, but they reveal a lot about Korean fashion culture!

It comes from the Korean verb “꾸미다 (kkumida),” which means “to decorate” or “to dress up.”

⸻

꾸안꾸 (꾸민 듯 안 꾸민 듯)

“꾸안꾸 (kku-ahn-kku)” means “a look that seems effortless but is actually well put together.” In other words, it looks casual, but you can tell there’s real effort behind it.

For example: • Hair looks loosely tied, but the bangs are perfectly styled • Makeup looks natural — as if you’re not wearing any • The outfit seems comfortable, but the colors and fit are carefully planned

It captures that “I didn’t try too hard, but I still look great” kind of Korean style.

Korean mindset behind 꾸안꾸: Many Koreans don’t want to stand out too much or draw unnecessary attention. They value subtle elegance — looking good without looking like they tried too hard. It’s that unique balance of “I don’t want everyone to stare, but I still want to look pretty.”

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꾸꾸꾸 (꾸미고 꾸미고 또 꾸미고)

꾸꾸꾸 (kku-kku-kku)” means being fully dressed up and glamorous. It describes a style where everything is perfectly put together • Hair, makeup, and fashion are all completely done • You stand out anywhere you go, like the main character in a drama

In short, 꾸꾸꾸 is all about confidence, attention to detail, and expressing your best, most polished self. Confidence and presentation matter, especially for special moments.

⸻

Which One Are You?

Are you more of a 꾸안꾸 — naturally stylish and subtle? Or a 꾸꾸꾸 — bold, confident, and ready to shine?

4 months ago | [YT] | 1

Beezit Korea

When there’s only one piece left, everyone suddenly stops eating and just… waits. No one wants to look greedy, so people keep saying, “You can have it!” “No, you go ahead!” “I’m full anyway~”

It’s not really about the chicken — it’s about being polite and reading the mood (눈치 in Korean).

Sometimes someone finally takes it, sometimes it just sits there until the meal ends.

When that happens, someone might break the tension by saying, “Don’t be shy, just eat it already!” (눈치 보지 말고 빨리 먹어!) Or a friend who’s ready to leave might grab it and joke, “I’ll eat the last one — time to go home!” (남은 거 내가 먹고 이제 집에 가자!)

It’s a small, funny moment — but it shows how Koreans balance kindness, manners, and humor even in everyday life.

4 months ago | [YT] | 3

Beezit Korea

Koreans sometimes say “라면 먹고 갈래?”, which literally means “Do you want to come in and have some ramen?” But it’s not really about the ramen — it’s a flirty, indirect way to invite someone to stay longer, usually between people who already have some romantic tension, especially late at night.

It became popular from old Korean movies and dramas, and now it’s used jokingly among friends or in memes too.

If you use it with its original nuance, it’s only natural between a couple or someone you’re really close to.

Among very close friends, some people might also say it jokingly just for fun or to tease each other about that “romantic” meaning.

4 months ago | [YT] | 3

Beezit Korea

[“I picked it up on the way” — What Koreans really mean by “오다 주웠어”]

I made a short video about a funny Korean expression.

In this short video, someone gives a small gift and says “오다 주웠어”,
which literally means “I picked it up on the way here.”

Of course, they didn’t actually pick it up from the street!
It’s a cute and indirect way Koreans express warmth when giving a gift —
as if saying, “It’s nothing big,” even though they really cared.

[Why Koreans Say It This Way]

Koreans often find it a bit awkward or embarrassing to express their true feelings directly.
So instead of saying “I bought this for you because I like you” or “I wanted to make you happy,”
they’ll joke and say, “오다 주웠어~” (I just picked it up on the way.)

It’s a playful, indirect way to show affection without sounding too emotional or serious.
That’s why this expression feels both funny and heartwarming at the same time.

[When It Turns Into a Real Joke]

Among very close friends or siblings (like an older brother and younger brother),
people sometimes take this expression literally — as a joke!
They’ll hand over a random item, even actual trash, saying: “오다 주웠어~” "오다 주웠다~"

It’s a way to tease the other person — creating that moment of curiosity (“Oh, what is it?”)
and then making them laugh when they realize it’s just a silly prank.
It shows deep closeness — the kind of humor you can only share with someone who knows you well.

[When You Can (and Can’t) Use It]

Use it with:
Close friends, younger people, or someone you feel relaxed with.

Example: giving snacks → “이거 오다 주웠어~”

Don’t use it with:
Older people, teachers, or anyone you need to show respect to.
In those cases, say something like:

“작지만 선물이에요.” (It’s small, but please accept it.)
“....(someone whom you give to)...생각나서 샀어요.” (I thought of you and bought this.)

So when a Korean says “오다 주웠어,”
it’s just their sweet, funny way of showing they care.

4 months ago | [YT] | 3

Beezit Korea

[Korean Honorifics Made Simple: Just Add “요”!]

In this short video, a foreign man talks to a Korean grandmother and struggles with Korean honorifics (존댓말) — the polite way of speaking.

In Korean culture, showing respect through language is very important.

We use 존댓말 when talking to older people, strangers, teachers, or anyone we’re not close with.

With close friends or younger people, we use 반말 (casual speech).

[Here’s the easiest way to think about it 👇]

Just take your casual sentence and add “요” at the end — and it becomes polite!

For example:

좋아(like) → 좋아요

예뻐(pretty) → 예뻐요

반가워(nice to see you) → 반가워요

무거워(heavy) → 무거워요

바빠(busy) → 바빠요

[But Some Words Completely Change]

There are also special honorific words that are totally different, not just “요” added:

자요(sleep) → 주무세요

먹어요(eat) → 드세요

밥(meal) → 식사(general), 진지(for especially elderly)

나이(age) → 연세

These are used when speaking to or about someone older or respected,

but for most daily situations, adding “요” is all you need to sound polite and friendly in Korean.

4 months ago | [YT] | 3

Beezit Korea

[🍚 “Let’s have a meal sometime!” — What Koreans really mean]

In this short video, a Korean person says “언제 밥 한번 먹자”, which literally means “Let’s have a meal sometime.”
But here’s the thing — in Korean culture, this phrase usually isn’t a real invitation! 😅

It’s often just a friendly or polite way to say:

[🇰🇷 Why Koreans Say It That Way]

Korean culture values harmony and politeness, so people often avoid saying things too directly.
Instead of saying “I don’t have time to meet” or “Let’s meet soon,” people soften it with friendly, indirect expressions like
“언제 밥 한번 먹자~” — it sounds warm, polite, and leaves things open.

So, even if there’s no actual plan, it helps maintain a good relationship without sounding rude.

[🍱 How to Say It When You Actually Mean It]

If you really want to make plans, Koreans usually say something a bit more specific, like:

“이번 주나 다음 주에 밥 한번 먹을래요?” → “Do you want to grab a meal this week or next week?”

“언제 시간 돼요? 밥 한번 진짜 먹어요.” → “When are you free? Let’s really have a meal.”

“다음 주에 꼭 봐요!” → “Let’s definitely meet next week!”

These sound more concrete and sincere, not just polite small talk.

So next time someone says “언제 밥 한번 먹자~”,
you’ll know it’s more about friendliness and social harmony than actual dinner plans.

Is there any other Korean expression you misunderstood? :(

4 months ago | [YT] | 3

Beezit Korea

BeezitKorea 오픈챗 만들었어요💕
매일매일 한국어 한국문화 한국여행…
다 이야기해요😎
Join our Open chat👇👇🇰🇷Fun Korean🎵
open.kakao.com/o/gIaV1Yeh

1 year ago | [YT] | 3

Beezit Korea

'Easy Korean Speaking For Travelers 101' video series has been released on Beezit Korea Youtube channel! Please participate our events below! Click the image :)

1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 2

Beezit Korea

드디어 추석 명절이 곧 다가왔어요! 여러분들이 추석에 먹고싶은 음식은 무엇인가요? 선택해보세요! Finally, the Chuseok holiday is just around the corner! What food do you want to eat during Chuseok? Please choose!

1 year ago | [YT] | 2