Korean · TOPIK Band 1 · Chapter 9

우리 가족이에요This is my family

Uri gajog-ieyo

No new grammar — you pull together everything so far (이다, 있다/없다, 은/는 vs 이/가, family words) to introduce a family. You also add describing words: 크다·작다·예쁘다·멋있다, the degree words 정말·아주·너무, 같이 (together), plus 나이 and 새. The culture section covers why Koreans ask your age and how "Korean age" works.

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우리 가족이에요— This Is My Family

  1. Jieunminsussi,gajoksajinieyo?Minsu, is this a family photo?
  2. Minsune,urigajogieyo.Yes, this is my family.
  3. Jieunwa,hyeongijeongmalmeosisseoyo!Wow, your older brother is really cool!
  4. Minsudongsaengeunajuyeppeoyo.My younger sibling is very pretty.
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나이가 많아요?— Is He Older?

  1. Michaelminsussi,hyeongeunnaigamanayo?Minsu, is your older brother older?
  2. Minsune,hyeongeunnaigamanayo.jeoneunjeogeoyo.Yes, my brother is older. I'm younger.
  3. Michaela,ne!jeongmaryo?Oh, okay! Really?
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nai

nounage

gachi

adverbtogether

jeongmal

adverbreally

aju

adverbvery

neomu

adverbtoo (much)

keuda

a.to be big

jakda

a.to be small

sae

det.new (before a noun)

yeppeuda

a.to be pretty

meositda

a.to be cool, stylish

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나이를 묻는 이유와 한국 나이Asking age & Korean age

In Korea people often ask your age, even on a first meeting. It isn't rude — age decides how you address each other (형/누나/오빠/언니) and which speech style you use. Knowing the age sets the relationship.

Age decides what you call each other

In chapter 7 you saw that 형·누나·오빠·언니 depend on the speaker's gender. They also depend on age — you only use them for someone older. So you need to know who is older to address them correctly, and that is exactly why age comes up so early.

"Korean age"

Traditionally in Korea you are one year old at birth, and everyone gains a year on New Year's Day (Jan 1) — so "Korean age" ran one or two years ahead of the international count. Since 2023, official documents use the international age (만 나이), but in everyday talk many people still give the Korean-style number.

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한글 복습: 가족 단어 읽기— Hangul Review: Reading the Family Words

Read the family words aloud:

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