Martial Arts

1. 도장 견학해도 될까요?

   Do-jang gyeon-hak-hae-do doel-kka-yo?

   May I observe the dojang?

   Usage

   A Korean martial arts training hall is a "dojang". Taekwondo dojangs are usually on the second or third floor of a building in a residential area, with 태권도 written large on the sign. Watching is normally free, but during children's classes non-parents may be turned away, so aim for the adult slot in the evening (around 19:00-21:00)

   Grammar Note

   "Verb + a/eo-do doelkkayo?" politely asks for permission. "Doelkkayo?" is softer than "dwaeyo?" because it leaves the judgement to the listener. The haeyo style is polite enough, though with the head instructor you can go up to the hamnida style: "gyeonhak-haedo doegesseumnikka?"

2. 하루 체험 수업 들을 수 있나요?

   Ha-ru che-heom su-eop deu-reul su in-na-yo?

   Can I take a one-day trial class?

   Usage

   Korean dojangs normally run on a monthly fee, but more of them now take one-off visitors. In Seoul, English-language taekwondo experience programmes around Insadong and Myeongdong cost roughly 30,000-70,000 won a session. Asking directly at a neighbourhood dojang is cheaper, around 10,000-20,000 won, and some will simply let you join for free

   Grammar Note

   Korean uses "deutda" (to listen) for taking a class: "sueobeul deutda". "-eul/l su innayo?" asks whether something is possible and sounds more tentative than "isseoyo?". "Deutda" is a ㄷ-irregular verb, shifting to "deul-" before a vowel

3. 태권도는 완전 처음이에요

   Tae-gwon-do-neun wan-jeon cheo-eum-i-e-yo

   I have never done taekwondo at all

   Usage

   Saying this up front gets you started on basic poomsae forms and footwork. Korean dojangs mark rank by belt colour, with white the lowest. Swap "taegwondo" for "hapkido", "yudo" (judo) or "geomdo" (kendo). Note that Korean hapkido shares its characters with Japanese aikido but includes kicks and strikes, making it a rather different art

   Grammar Note

   "Noun + ieyo/yeyo" means "it is". Use "ieyo" after a final consonant and "yeyo" after a vowel, so "cheoeum" takes "ieyo". "Wanjeon" is properly the noun "completeness", but in speech it is widely used as an intensifying adverb meaning "totally"

4. 도복 빌릴 수 있을까요?

   Do-bok bil-lil su i-sseul-kka-yo?

   Would it be possible to borrow a uniform?

   Usage

   A taekwondo uniform is a "dobok", and the collar colour shows rank — black for black-belt holders, white for coloured belts. Most dojangs keep a few loaner doboks for visitors, free or around 5,000 won. Training is barefoot, so socks come off. If you want to buy one, a dojang or a sports shop sells them for roughly 30,000-60,000 won

   Grammar Note

   "Billida" means to borrow and "billyeojuda" means to lend, so since you are the borrower "billil su isseulkkayo?" is correct. The ending "-eulkkayo?" carries conjecture, and on top of a potential form it turns the request into a tentative "would it be possible for me to ...?"

5. 체험 수업은 얼마예요?

   Che-heom su-eo-beun eol-ma-ye-yo?

   How much is the trial class?

   Usage

   For ongoing training, ask about the monthly fee with "wol hoebi" or "han dare eolmayeyo?". A typical Seoul taekwondo dojang charges 100,000-150,000 won a month, less outside the capital, and there may be a separate registration fee ("deungnokbi"). Most take cards, but bring cash if you are only doing a trial

   Grammar Note

   The topic particle is "eun" after a final consonant and "neun" after a vowel, so "sueop" takes "eun". "Eolmayeyo?" is the basic way to ask a price; the stiffer hamnida-style equivalent is "eolmaimnikka?"

6. 신발은 어디에 벗어 놓으면 돼요?

   Sin-ba-reun eo-di-e beo-seo no-eu-myeon dwae-yo?

   Where should I leave my shoes?

   Usage

   Never step onto the dojang mats in shoes. There is a shoe cabinet ("sinbaljang") by the entrance where shoes go before you step up. Korean dojangs have sprung mat flooring and training is barefoot. Leave your bag in the changing room or on the shelves along the wall — lockers are often absent, so travel light with valuables

   Grammar Note

   "-eumyeon dwaeyo?" is the standard way to check what you are supposed to do. "Beotda" (take off) plus the auxiliary "nota" (leave in place) expresses taking them off and leaving them there. The particle "e" in "eodie" marks a static location

7. 외국인도 등록할 수 있어요?

   Oe-gu-gin-do deung-nok-hal su i-sseo-yo?

   Can foreigners sign up as members too?

   Usage

   For longer stays. Some dojangs ask for an alien registration card or a Korean phone number to enrol you, but many will simply take the monthly fee in cash. If you want a formally certified dan grade from the Kukkiwon, that is a separate process with a testing fee of roughly 30,000-100,000 won

   Grammar Note

   The particle "do" means "also" and replaces the topic marker "eun/neun" or the subject marker "i/ga" rather than stacking on them. "Deungrok" undergoes nasalisation and is pronounced — and romanised — "deung-nok"

8. 수업 시간표 좀 볼 수 있을까요?

   Su-eop si-gan-pyo jom bol su i-sseul-kka-yo?

   Could I have a look at the class timetable?

   Usage

   Korean dojangs revolve around after-school children's classes (roughly 15:00-19:00), so adult classes ("seongin-ban") are usually limited to evenings after 19:00 or an early-morning slot. Saturdays tend to be mornings only and Sundays closed. The timetable is often posted at the entrance or on the dojang's Instagram, so "insta isseoyo?" is a quick shortcut

   Grammar Note

   "Jom" is a contraction of "jogeum" (a little), but in requests it softens the tone rather than indicating quantity. Slipping it in makes a request sound markedly more natural, and Korean speakers include it by default

9. 무릎을 다쳐서 발차기는 빼고 해도 될까요?

   Mu-reu-peul da-cheo-seo bal-cha-gi-neun ppae-go hae-do doel-kka-yo?

   My knee is injured — could I skip the kicking drills?

   Usage

   Taekwondo is built around kicking, and moves like the turning kick and back kick put real load on the knees and hips. Tell them before class and they will shift you toward hand techniques and poomsae forms. Swap "mureup" for "heori" (lower back), "eokkae" (shoulder) or "balmok" (ankle)

   Grammar Note

   The connective "-aseo/eoseo" gives a cause or reason and is gentler than "-eunikka", which suits explaining your situation. "Ppaeda" (to remove) plus "-go" yields "leaving out X", so "A-neun ppaego hada" means to do everything except A

10. 띠는 어떻게 매는 거예요?

    Tti-neun eo-tteo-ke mae-neun geo-ye-yo?

    How do I tie the belt?

    Usage

    The belt wraps twice around the waist of the dobok and is tied so both ends hang level; if the knot sits vertically you have tied it wrong. Ranks run white, yellow, green, blue, red, black, and the red-and-black "poom" belt is a Korean-specific grade for under-age black belts. If your belt loosens mid-class, step back from the line and turn away to retie it

    Grammar Note

    "-neun geoyeyo?" asks how something is properly done rather than merely how you do it, so it fits questions about correct etiquette better than a plain "eotteoke maeyo?". "Maeda" is the verb for tying a belt or necktie; shoelaces take "mukkda"

11. 합기도 수업도 있나요?

    Hap-gi-do su-eop-do in-na-yo?

    Do you also have hapkido classes?

    Usage

    Korean hapkido combines joint locks and throws with kicks and self-defence work, and is trained by police and military units. It is often taught alongside taekwondo, with both names on the same sign. You can also substitute "geomdo" (kendo), "yudo" (judo) or "ssireum" (Korean wrestling)

    Grammar Note

    The ending "-nayo?" asks a question more gently than "-ayo/eoyo?" and is favoured when seeking information from someone you have just met. Attached to "itda" it gives "innayo?", nasalised in pronunciation

12. 관장님께 어떻게 인사드려야 해요?

    Gwan-jang-nim-kke eo-tteo-ke in-sa-deu-ryeo-ya hae-yo?

    How should I greet the head instructor?

    Usage

    The person running the dojang is the "gwanjangnim" and the instructors are "sabeomnim". On entering and leaving you bow toward the front of the hall, where the national flag hangs, and you bow deeply from a standing position to the instructors. Address them by title — "gwanjangnim", "sabeomnim" — never by name; that hierarchy is fundamental in Korea

    Grammar Note

    "Kke" is the honorific form of "ege" (to a person) and is used for superiors. "Insa-deurida" is the humble counterpart of "insa-hada" and is what you use when greeting someone above you. "-aya/eoya haeyo" expresses obligation, "have to"

13. 도장에 들어올 때는 정면을 보고 인사하세요

    Do-jang-e deu-reo-ol tae-neun jeong-myeo-neul bo-go in-sa-ha-se-yo

    When you enter the dojang, face the front and bow

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. "Jeongmyeon" is the wall bearing the Korean flag and the dojang precepts, and you bow to it each time you enter or leave. If you arrive late, bow at the door, tell the instructor "neujeoseo joesonghamnida" (sorry I am late), and wait for permission before joining the line

    Grammar Note

    "-eul/l ttae" means "when you do X". "Deureooda" (come in) and "deureogada" (go in) differ by the speaker's position — from inside the hall the instructor naturally says "deureooda". The ending "-seyo" gives a polite instruction or suggestion

14. 차렷, 경례!

    Cha-ryeot, gyeong-nye!

    Attention — bow!

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. This pair of calls opens and closes every session and is used in Korean worldwide as taekwondo's standard command language. On "charyeot" you snap your feet together and stand straight; on "gyeongnye" you bow from the waist about 30 degrees. At many dojangs students call out "gamsahamnida" or "taegwon" as they bow. Other calls you will hear are "junbi" (ready), "sijak" (begin), "geuman" (stop) and "baro" (return to position)

    Grammar Note

    Commands are bare nouns or clipped forms with no verb ending. "Charyeot" derives from "charida" (to set in order) and comes from military drill, where it is also used in school assemblies. "Gyeongrye" is the Sino-Korean word for salute, nasalised in speech to "gyeong-nye"

15. 발차기 할 때 무릎을 먼저 올리세요

    Bal-cha-gi hal ttae mu-reu-peul meon-jeo ol-li-se-yo

    When you kick, lift your knee first

    Usage

    Said by the instructor. A taekwondo kick has three phases — raise the knee, extend, re-chamber — and beginners tend to swing the whole leg without lifting the knee, which makes this the most frequent correction. It applies equally to the turning kick and the front kick. Other cues you will hear are "heori dollyeoyo" (turn your hips) and "chukbal dollyeoyo" (pivot your supporting foot)

    Grammar Note

    "Balchagi" is built from "bal" (foot) + "chada" (to kick) + the nominalising suffix "-gi"; adding "-gi" to a verb stem creates an action noun, as in "dallida" → "dalligi" (running). "Ollida" is the causative of "oreuda" (to rise), hence "to raise"

16. 오늘은 여기까지 하겠습니다. 수고하셨습니다

    O-neu-reun yeo-gi-kka-ji ha-get-sseum-ni-da. Su-go-ha-syeot-sseum-ni-da

    That's all for today. Well done, everyone

    Usage

    Said by the instructor to close the session, after which the class lines up for the final "charyeot, gyeongnye". Students answer with "gamsahamnida!". There is no tipping culture in Korean dojangs, but saying "deokbune jal baewotseumnida" (thanks to you I learned a lot) after a trial goes down very well

    Grammar Note

    The infix "-get-" carries intention or supposition, so "hagetseumnida" is a formal declaration of what the speaker will do. "Sugohasyeotseumnida" contains the honorific "-si-" in hamnida style; strictly it is awkward addressed upward to a superior, but from instructor to student it is entirely natural

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