Korean False Friends - Avoid Common Mistakes

핸드폰

Korean

mobile phone/cell phone

handphone

English

not a standard English word (cell phone/mobile)

Example

핸드폰 번호가 뭐예요? | What's your cell phone number?

아르바이트

Korean

part-time job

arbeit

English

Example

주말에 아르바이트해요. | I work part-time on weekends.

콘센트

Korean

electrical outlet/socket

consent

English

permission or agreement

Example

콘센트가 어디 있어요? | Where is the outlet?

노트북

Korean

laptop computer

notebook

English

paper notebook for writing

Example

노트북 좀 빌려줄래요? | Can I borrow your laptop?

미팅

Korean

blind date/group dating

meeting

English

business or formal meeting

Example

이번 주말에 미팅 있어. | I have a blind date this weekend.

원피스

Korean

dress (women's clothing)

one-piece

English

one-piece swimsuit or combined unit

Example

새 원피스 샀어요. | I bought a new dress.

백미러

Korean

rearview mirror

back mirror

English

not standard English

Example

백미러를 확인하세요. | Check your rearview mirror.

에어컨

Korean

air conditioner

aircon

English

informal/regional abbreviation

Example

에어컨 좀 켜줄래요? | Can you turn on the air conditioner?

화이팅

Korean

good luck! you can do it!

fighting

English

physical combat or argument

Example

시험 화이팅! | Good luck on your test!

커닝

Korean

cheating on a test

cunning

English

clever in a deceitful way

Example

커닝하다가 걸렸어요. | I got caught cheating.

셀카

Korean

selfie

selca

English

not a real English word

Example

셀카 찍자! | Let's take a selfie!

서비스

Korean

free gift/complimentary item from restaurant

service

English

customer service or assistance

Example

사장님이 서비스로 주셨어요. | The owner gave it to us for free.

오픈카

Korean

convertible car

open car

English

not standard English

Example

오픈카 타고 싶어요. | I want to ride in a convertible.

스킨

Korean

toner (skincare product)

skin

English

outer layer of body

Example

세안 후에 스킨을 바르세요. | Apply toner after cleansing.

매직

Korean

permanent marker

magic

English

supernatural power or illusion

Example

매직 펜 있어요? | Do you have a permanent marker?

비닐

Korean

plastic bag

vinyl

English

synthetic plastic material or record

Example

비닐 봉투 주세요. | Please give me a plastic bag.

핫도그

Korean

corn dog (battered and fried)

hot dog

English

sausage in a bun

Example

핫도그 하나 주세요. | One corn dog, please.

오토바이

Korean

motorcycle

auto bike

English

not standard English

Example

오토바이 타고 왔어요. | I came on a motorcycle.

리모컨

Korean

remote control

remocon

English

not a real English word

Example

리모컨 좀 주세요. | Please pass me the remote.

클래스

Korean

high quality, sophistication, style

class

English

classroom course or social rank

Example

클래스가 다르네요. | That's really classy/sophisticated.

다이어트

Korean

weight loss, slimming

diet

English

food intake (any purpose) or legislative assembly

Example

다이어트 중이에요. | I'm trying to lose weight.

파이팅

Korean

encouragement, cheer

fighting

English

combat or argument

Example

내일 시험 파이팅! | Good luck on tomorrow's exam!

아이쇼핑

Korean

window shopping

eye shopping

English

not standard English

Example

오늘은 그냥 아이쇼핑만 했어요. | Today I just went window shopping.

샤프

Korean

mechanical pencil

sharp

English

having a fine edge or point

Example

샤프 좀 빌려줄래? | Can I borrow your mechanical pencil?

텔레비

Korean

television

TV

English

television (abbreviation)

Example

텔레비 좀 꺼줘. | Turn off the TV.

컨닝페이퍼

Korean

cheat sheet

cunning paper

English

not standard English

Example

컨닝페이퍼 만들었어. | I made a cheat sheet.

핸들

Korean

steering wheel

handle

English

grip or to manage

Example

핸들을 왼쪽으로 돌리세요. | Turn the steering wheel to the left.

아파트

Korean

large residential complex/condo building

apartment

English

rental unit in any building

Example

새 아파트로 이사했어요. | I moved to a new apartment complex.

몰

Korean

shopping mall

mall

English

shopping mall or pedestrian area

Example

몰에서 만나요. | Let's meet at the mall.

가스

Korean

natural gas (for cooking)

gas

English

gasoline or any gas state

Example

가스 불 좀 켜줘. | Turn on the stove.

팬티

Korean

underwear (both men and women)

panty

English

women's underwear only

Example

팬티 어디서 샀어? | Where did you buy your underwear?

코너

Korean

section in a store or TV show segment

corner

English

angle where two lines meet

Example

그 가게 화장품 코너가 좋아요. | That store has a good cosmetics section.

원샷

Korean

drink in one gulp (bottoms up)

one shot

English

one attempt or single camera shot

Example

원샷 하자! | Bottoms up! / Let's down it!

러닝머신

Korean

treadmill

running machine

English

not standard English

Example

러닝머신에서 30분 뛰었어요. | I ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes.

비닐하우스

Korean

greenhouse

vinyl house

English

not standard English

Example

비닐하우스에서 토마토를 키워요. | We grow tomatoes in the greenhouse.

팝콘

Korean

popcorn

English

popcorn

Example

영화 볼 때 팝콘 먹어요. | I eat popcorn when watching movies.

레몬

Korean

lemon

English

lemon or defective product

Example

레몬차 주세요. | Lemon tea, please.

보너스

Korean

extra pay, reward

bonus

English

extra benefit or payment

Example

이번 달에 보너스 받았어요. | I got a bonus this month.

슈퍼

Korean

small convenience store/grocery

super

English

prefix meaning excellent or superior

Example

슈퍼에서 우유 사왔어. | I bought milk at the convenience store.

드라이버

Korean

screwdriver

driver

English

person who drives or golf club

Example

드라이버 좀 빌려줘. | Can I borrow a screwdriver?