Chimaek and Noraebang: Korean Phrases for a Night Out

Everyday Korean · about 8 minute read

For many visitors, one classic Korean evening goes like this: fried chicken and cold beer at a casual restaurant, then a private singing room. The first has its own word, 치맥 (chimaek), a blend of 치킨 (chicken) and 맥주 (beer). The second is the 노래방 (noraebang), from 노래 (song) and 방 (room). This guide gives you the sentences for that night, the patterns behind them, and a few details that make them sound natural.

If the casual endings in this guide are new to you, read Polite vs Casual Korean first.

Two kinds of speech in one evening

The sentences below come in two groups. When you talk to restaurant or noraebang staff, you use polite speech. When you talk to a close friend sitting next to you, you can use casual speech. Both are on this one night out.

At the chicken restaurant: talking to staff

Notice the first question you will hear, 몇 분이세요? ("How many people?"). 분 is the respectful word for "person" that staff use with customers. When you answer, you use the regular counter 명: 두 명이에요.

The word 반반 literally means "half and half". At a chicken restaurant it usually means half of the order in one style, such as plain fried, and half in another, such as a seasoned or sauced version. It is a common way to try two flavors.

At the table: talking to a friend

At the noraebang

The staff ask 몇 시간 하시겠어요? ("How many hours would you like?"). You reply with a number and 시간 (hours). Rooms are rented by the hour.

Between friends you will also hear 너부터 불러 봐! ("You sing first!") and 골라 봐! ("Pick one!"). The ending -아/어 봐 is a friendly push meaning "go ahead and try".

Five patterns worth learning

1. Counting with native Korean numbers. People, glasses, and hours are counted with Korean's native number set: 하나 (one), 둘 (two), 셋 (three). Before a counter word, these become shorter: 두 명 (two people), 맥주 두 잔 (two glasses of beer), 한 시간 (one hour). The same native numbers tell the clock hour, as in 일곱 시 (seven o'clock). Prices, in contrast, use the other number set (일, 이, 삼) that we covered in Korean for a One-Month Stay.

2. ~랑 / ~이랑: "and" or "with". 치킨이랑 맥주 (chicken and beer), 하나랑 맥주 두 잔 (one, and two beers). Use 이랑 after a consonant (치킨) and 랑 after a vowel (하나).

3. ~자 and ~(으)ㄹ래?: suggestions between friends. 반반으로 시키자! (let's get half-and-half), 이 노래로 하자! (let's go with this song), 노래방 갈래? (want to go to a noraebang?).

4. 못 vs 안. Both mean "not", but 안 means you don't or won't do something, while 못 means you can't. 노래 못 해도 돼? asks "is it okay if I can't sing?". And 나 아직 준비 안 됐어 means "I'm not ready yet".

5. ~네: a small reaction. 분위기 좋네! is a spontaneous "the vibe is good!". The ending -네 shows you just noticed something. You met it as -네요 in the one-month stay guide.

Pronunciation notes

• 못 해도 is "mo-tae-do". The final ㅅ of 못 sounds like a "t", and it joins with the ㅎ to make a stronger "t" sound. This is the hidden-sound idea from Batchim: Korean Final Consonants Explained.
• 치킨이랑 is "chikiniran". The final ㄴ slides over to the 이 block.
• 맛있어 is "masisseo". The ㅅ at the bottom of 맛 slides onto 있, and the ㅆ makes a doubled "ss" sound.
• 한 시간 is "han sigan". Say it as two short words with a tiny pause.

Practice

Say these aloud, then check the tables.

두 명이에요   맥주 두 잔 주세요   반반으로 시키자   노래 못 해도 돼?   한 시간 할게요

Which would you say to the staff, and which to a friend?

Answers: 두 명이에요, 맥주 두 잔 주세요 and 한 시간 할게요 are for the staff (polite). 반반으로 시키자 and 노래 못 해도 돼? are for a friend (casual).