#05 손꼽아 기다리다
Updated: 2 days ago
[Weekly Korean] 손꼽아 기다리다 [Son-kkob-a gi-da-ri-da]
Hello Korean learners! Welcome back to this week’s Weekly Korean lesson by iSeodang Korean Institute!
Have you ever had an upcoming trip, a long-awaited holiday, or a meetup with a good friend that you just couldn't wait for? In Korean, when you are so excited that you literally "count on your fingers" to track the days, we say: 손꼽아 기다리다 [Son-kkob-a gi-da-ri-da].
Let’s dive into what this word means, how to use it in daily conversations, and expand your vocabulary with related terms for all learning levels!
1. Key Expression: 손꼽아 기다리다 [Son-kkob-a gi-da-ri-da]
Meaning: Eagerly looking forward to something, counting down the days with excitement.
When to use: Use this when you are eagerly counting down the days for an upcoming event, holiday, trip, or meeting a friend! ('손' means hand/finger, and '꼽다' means to count—so it literally means counting days on your fingers!)
2. Practice Dialogue
Here is a quick conversation to see how native speakers use 손꼽아 기다리다 in daily life:
A: 이번 주말에 친구들과 여행 간다고 했죠?
(You said you were going on a trip with your friends this weekend, right?)
B: 네! 한 달 전부터 오늘만 손꼽아 기다렸어요!
(Yes! I've been eagerly waiting for today for a month!)
3. Level Up Your Connection Vocabulary!
To help you talk about communication and connection more fluently, here are related words categorized by learning levels:
Level | Korean Phrase | Meaning |
🟢 Beginner | 기다리다 [Gi-da-ri-da] | To wait |
날짜 [Nal-jja] | Date | |
주말 [Ju-mal] | Weekend | |
🟠 Intermediate | 기대되다 [Gi-dae-doi-da] | To look forward to |
설레다 [Seol-le-da] | To feel fluttered / excited | |
다가가다 [Da-ga-ga-da] | To approach / get closer | |
🔵 Advanced | 학수고대하다 [Hak-su-go-dae-ha-da] | To eagerly anticipate |
기대감에 부풀다 [Gi-dae-ga-me bu-pul-da] | To be filled with high expectations | |
임박하다 [Im-ba-ka-da] | Right around the corner |
💡 Teacher’s Note & Culture Tip
Koreans often say "새로운 마음으로 시작해 볼까요?" (Shall we start with a fresh mindset?) when writing the first page of a new diary or starting a new semester.
It is a popular, encouraging phrase used to reset your determination and bring a small, positive change into your daily routine. Try starting your Korean study session with a "새로운 마음" this week!
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