Archive #9

Annyeong Daily #9: answers explained

October 13, 2026 · Today's five include a surprised cry, the fun work of being a fan, a cold summer noodle dish, the object particle 을 (eul), and the spelling of Korea's own name.

Want to try it first? The answers are below.Play #9

1Drama talk

Someone opens a gift and gasps '어머!'. What does it mean?

어머! (eomeo!)

Give it back
Mom!
Oh my!
Not again

Answer: Oh my!

어머 (eomeo) is a surprised sound, like "Oh my!" People say it when something is shocking, cute or unexpected. 어머나 (eomeona) is a longer form. Women use it more often, but men can use it too. It sounds close to 엄마 (eomma), "mom", but it is a different word. It does not call anyone. To show surprise, Koreans also say 헉 (heok) or 와 (wa). Example: 어머, 너무 예쁘다! (eomeo, neomu yeppeuda!) — "Oh my, it's so pretty!" This fits a gift, as in the question. "Mom!" is the tempting wrong answer, because the sounds are close.

Say it to: Mostly said to yourself; fine around anyone

2K-pop

A friend says their hobby is '덕질'. What do they do?

덕질 [덕찔] (deokjil)

Taking a cooking class
Fan activities — collecting, watching, supporting
Online shopping
Studying for exams

Answer: Fan activities — collecting, watching, supporting

덕질 (deokjil) means doing fan activities. It includes watching videos, buying albums, collecting photo cards and going to events. 덕 (deok) comes from 덕후 (deokhu), a devoted fan. -질 (-jil) is an ending added to a noun. It means doing that action again and again. Some words with -질 sound negative, so 덕질 has a joking, self-teasing feeling. Fans use it happily about themselves. It works for any hobby, like games, comics or sports. Example: 요즘 덕질하느라 돈이 없어 (yojeum deokjilhaneura doni eopseo) — "I have no money these days because of my fan activities." A person who does 덕질 is a 덕후.

Say it to: Friends and fellow fans — it's fan slang

3Food

What is 냉면?

냉면 (naengmyeon)

Instant noodles
Stir-fried noodles
Cold noodles
Noodles in black bean sauce

Answer: Cold noodles

냉면 (naengmyeon) means cold noodles. 냉 (naeng) means cold, and 면 (myeon) means noodles. Both parts come from Chinese characters. The noodles are thin and chewy, and often made with buckwheat. There are two main kinds. 물냉면 (mullaengmyeon) comes in an icy, slightly sour broth. 비빔냉면 (bibimnaengmyeon) is mixed with a spicy red sauce. Staff often cut the long noodles with scissors for you. Many people eat it after grilled meat. Example: 물냉면 하나 주세요 (mullaengmyeon hana juseyo) — "One cold noodle soup, please." Noodles in black bean sauce are 짜장면 (jjajangmyeon), a different dish.

Say it to: Anyone — it's a plain noun; your verb sets the politeness

4Grammar

Fill in the blank: 'I eat rice.'

밥___ 먹어요. (bap___ meogeoyo.)

Answer: 을 — 밥을 먹어요.

밥을 먹어요 (babeul meogeoyo) means "I eat rice" or "I have a meal." Rice is the object, the thing that receives the action. The object particle marks it. A particle is a small word ending that shows the role of a word. 밥 (bap) ends in the consonant ㅂ, so it takes 을 (eul). After a vowel, it would be 를 (reul), as in 커피를. When you speak, the ㅂ moves to the next sound, so 밥을 sounds like ba-beul. Example: 저는 아침에 빵을 먹어요 (jeoneun achime ppangeul meogeoyo) — "I eat bread in the morning." 이 (i) marks the subject, and 에 (e) marks a place or time.

5Hangul

Using the official Revised Romanization, how is this written?

한국

hanguk
hangook
hangug
hankuk

Answer: hanguk

한국 (Hanguk) means Korea. 한 (han) comes from an old name for the Korean people, and 국 (guk) means country. Revised Romanization writes ㄱ as g before a vowel and as k at the end of a syllable. So 국 starts with g and ends with k: guk. The full word is hanguk. When a vowel comes next, the k sound becomes g: 한국어 (hangugeo) — "the Korean language". Example: 한국에 처음 왔어요 (hanguge cheoeum wasseoyo) — "This is my first time in Korea." "hankuk" and "hangook" are older or informal spellings. You still see them in some product names.