Archive #5

Annyeong Daily #5: answers explained

October 9, 2026 · Today's five help you react and say thanks: a panic phrase, a fan word for your favorite, a phrase for after a big meal, the right thank-you for your manager, and the name of the Korean alphabet. October 9 is also Hangeul Day in Korea.

Want to try it first? The answers are below.Play #5

1Drama talk

Someone realizes they left their passport at home. They say '어떡해!'. What does it mean?

어떡해! [어떠캐!] (eotteokae!)

How much is it?
Hurry up!
What do I do? / Oh no!
Never mind

Answer: What do I do? / Oh no!

어떡해 (eotteokae) means "What do I do?" or "Oh no!" It is a short form of 어떻게 해 (eotteoke hae), "how do I do (it)". People say it when something suddenly goes wrong. It can also show worry for someone else. After a friend's bad news, 어떡해... means "Oh no, that's terrible." Many people misspell it as 어떻해. That is wrong. Remember: 어떻게 means "how", and 어떡해 means "what do I do". Example: 어떡해, 지갑을 잃어버렸어 (eotteokae, jigabeul ireobeoryeosseo) — "Oh no, I lost my wallet." The polite form is 어떡해요 (eotteokaeyo).

Casual (반말) · Say it to: Friends, or said to yourself

2K-pop

A fan points at a photo and says '내 최애야'. What are they telling you?

내 최애야 (nae choeaeya)

This is my best friend
This is my old album
This is my first concert
This is my favorite (member)

Answer: This is my favorite (member)

내 최애야 (nae choeaeya) means "This is my favorite." 최애 (choeae) joins 최 (choe), "most", and 애 (ae), "love". Both parts come from Chinese characters. 내 (nae) means "my", and -야 (-ya) is a casual ending for "it is". In fan talk, 최애 is your favorite member of a group. 차애 (chaae) is your second favorite. The word is not only for people. Example: 떡볶이가 내 최애 음식이야 (tteokbokkiga nae choeae eumsigiya) — "Tteokbokki is my favorite food." It does not mean "best friend". That is 제일 친한 친구 (jeil chinhan chingu).

Casual (반말) · warm · Say it to: Friends and fellow fans

3Food

After a big meal you say '배불러요'. What does it mean?

배불러요 (baebulleoyo)

It was cheap
I'm hungry
One more, please
I'm full

Answer: I'm full

배불러요 (baebulleoyo) means "I'm full." 배 (bae) means stomach, and 부르다 (bureuda) here means "to be full". So the idea is "My stomach is full." The verb changes shape: 부르다 becomes 불러요. Many words ending in 르다 add an extra ㄹ like this. Koreans often say it to a host as a polite way to refuse more food. Hosts may still offer more, because giving lots of food shows care. The opposite is 배고파요 (baegopayo) — "I'm hungry." Example: 너무 많이 먹어서 배불러요 (neomu mani meogeoseo baebulleoyo) — "I ate too much, so I'm full."

Polite (해요체) · Say it to: Anyone — hosts, staff, coworkers

4Grammar

Your manager just helped you with a problem. Which 'thank you' fits best?

땡큐
고맙다
고마워
감사합니다

Answer: 감사합니다

감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is "Thank you" in the formal polite form. Korean speech changes with the person you talk to. With a manager, an older person or a stranger, you use polite forms. 고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida) is just as polite. 감사 (gamsa) comes from Chinese characters, so some people feel it sounds a little more formal. 고마워 (gomawo) is casual, for friends. 고맙다 (gomapda) is the plain form. It is used in writing, or to people younger than you. Example: 도와주셔서 감사합니다 (dowajusyeoseo gamsahamnida) — "Thank you for helping me." 땡큐 (ttaengkyu), from English, sounds too playful at work.

Formal (합쇼체) · Say it to: Your boss, elders, strangers, staff — anyone

Also read: Thank you in Korean (감사합니다, gamsahamnida) — vs 고맙습니다 and 고마워

5Hangul

Using the official Revised Romanization, how is this written?

한글

hangeul
hangul
hangeol
hanguel

Answer: hangeul

한글 (Hangeul) is the name of the Korean alphabet. 한 (han) is often explained as "great" or "Korean", and 글 (geul) means "writing". King Sejong created it in the 1440s, so ordinary people could read and write easily. Today, October 9 is Hangeul Day, a national holiday in Korea. In Revised Romanization, the vowel ㅡ is written eu. So 글 is geul, and the full word is hangeul. Example: 한글은 배우기 쉬워요 (hangeureun baeugi swiwoyo) — "Hangeul is easy to learn." "Hangul" is an older spelling that you still see often. "hanguel" and "hangeol" are simply wrong.