Learn Korean with “Be Melodramatic”: Blunt Honesty in Drama Dialogues

Table of Contents

🎥 "Be Melodramatic": Short Introduction

🎥 "Be Melodramatic": the Short Video

🎯 Key Takeaways

🎥 Grammatical Analysis of the Dialogue

📎 Appendix. Drama Overview & the Characters

 

🎥 "Be Melodramatic": Short Introduction

This short scene from a Korean drama introduces a chaotic and hilarious first meeting between a protective older sister, Im Jin-joo, and her younger sister’s boyfriend. While the tone may seem comical on the surface, the scene also provides a surprisingly sincere look into how Koreans express love, doubt, and trust, often through teasing and challenging questions.

Foreign learners can gain insight into:

- How Korean families test newcomers, particularly in relationships.

- The nuanced tone of Korean politeness, sarcasm, and honesty—all packed into casual conversations.

- The emotional rhythm that swings between comedy and sincerity is typical in Korean dramas.

From the abrupt “너 가난하지?” (“You’re poor, right?”) to a surprisingly deep line like “그거 달라고 하지도 않아. 그냥 그런 마음만 있으면 돼.” (“I’m not asking for that. Just having that kind of heart is enough”), Jin-joo’s lines reflect a character who masks genuine concern with blunt humor—a common trait in Korean dramas.

This scene, although brief, offers Korean learners a front-row seat to a unique cultural encounter, where financial concerns, love, loyalty, and social awkwardness collide at lightning speed.

 

A Practical Learning Guide

- You’ll observe how Koreans often use blunt or seemingly inappropriate questions as a way to test emotional sincerity, especially in close relationships.

- The question “너 지영이 좋아해?” followed by “사랑하는데요?” shows how Korean dramas often treat “좋아하다” vs “사랑하다” as a dramatic leap in romantic seriousness. Foreign learners can notice this contrast in tone and implication.

- You’ll learn how numbers like “3천원” (3,000 won) and “3억” (300 million won) are used not just for financial talk, but for dramatic exaggeration and to test the scale of love or sacrifice.

- This dialogue contains a mixture of 반말 (informal speech) and 높임말 (formal polite speech). For example:

• “그거 다 지영이 줄 수 있어?” → informal

• “그것도 줄 수 있습니다.” → formal

This juxtaposition reflects the boyfriend’s attempt to remain respectful under pressure from a blunt elder.

- Lines like “네 마음 알고 있으면서 모르는 척하는 경우가 더 많을 거야” are great examples of emotional metaphor in Korean speech, hinting at a complex understanding of love, fear, and timing. It reflects the cultural value placed on reading between the lines rather than saying everything directly.

- Phrases like “몽키 네가 해야 할 것을 해” show how teasing through English loanwords or animal metaphors is not uncommon, especially when someone’s being playfully scolded.

- This is an excellent example of indirect but heartfelt emotional expression in Korean, where sincerity is often wrapped in sarcasm, and serious messages are conveyed with humor.

- You can also explore how gender roles and emotional communication are culturally embedded in the line:

“네가 감히 이해할 수 있는 동물이 아니야, 여자는.”

While hyperbolic and somewhat controversial, this reflects a cultural trope in Korean media where women are portrayed as emotionally deep and mysterious, and men are told to act, not analyze.

 

🎥 "Be Melodramatic": the Short Video

[Source] YouTube, 1minute_drama

 

The older sister gives some comic advice to her younger sister’s boyfriend. For details, refer to the Introduction.

After this conversation ends, the younger sister returns home and shares a witty exchange with her parents.

 

임지영: “어머니에겐 두 명의 딸이 있죠?”

Im Ji-young: “Mother, you have two daughters, right?”

어머니: “있죠.”

Mother: “I do.”

임지영: “애석하게도 그 중의 한 명은 미친년 같아요.”

Im Ji-young: “Unfortunately, one of them is totally crazy.”

어머니: “알아요. 그게 네가 아니라는 것도.”

Mother: “I know. And I know it's not you.”

 

Everyone in Im Jin-joo’s family in the drama is full of wit.

 

Dialogue

임진주: “너 가난하지?”

Im Jin-joo: "You're poor, aren't you?"

 

🐾 This isn't the kind of question you can easily ask in real life. But since it’s Im Jin-joo’s character in the drama, such blunt and straightforward lines feel natural.

임지영: “동생 남친한테 하는 첫 질문이 너무 상쾌한데?”

Im Ji-young: "That’s such a refreshing first question to ask your younger sister’s boyfriend."

 

🐾 A rude or offensive question is cleverly turned into a “refreshing” one through irony, adding wit to the dialogue.

임진주: “만난 지 얼마나 됐다고?”

Im Jin-joo: "How long have you two been seeing each other?"

임지영 남친: “한 20일 정도 됐습니다.”

Im Ji-young’s boyfriend: "It’s been about 20 days."

임진주: “너 지영이 좋아해?”

Im Jin-joo: "Do you like Ji-young?"

임지영 남친: “사랑하는데요?”

Im Ji-young’s boyfriend: "I love her."

임진주: “너 지금 주머니에 얼마 있어?”

Im Jin-joo: "How much money do you have in your pocket right now?"

임지영 남친: “3천원.”

Im Ji-young’s boyfriend: "3,000 won."

임진주: “그거 다 지영이 줄 수 있어?”

Im Jin-joo: "Can you give all of that to Ji-young?"

임지영 남친: “그럼요.”

Im Ji-young’s boyfriend: "Of course."

임진주: “3억이면?”

Im Jin-joo: "What if it were 300 million won?"

임지영 남친: “그것도 줄 수 있습니다.”

Im Ji-young’s boyfriend: "I’d give that too."

임진주: “그거 달라고 하지도 않아.”

Im Jin-joo: "No one’s asking you to give it."

임진주: “그냥 그런 마음만 있으면 돼.”

Im Jin-joo: "Just having that kind of heart is enough."

임진주: “상대가 그 마음 몰라주는 거 같으면 알아줄 때까지 표현해.”

Im Jin-joo: "If it feels like the other person doesn't recognize your heart, keep showing it until they do."

임진주: “이렇게도 해보고, 저렇게도 해보고.”

Im Jin-joo: "Try this way, try that way."

임진주: “왜 이렇게 몰라주지? 답답해하지 말고 초초해하지 마.”

Im Jin-joo: "Don’t get frustrated or anxious thinking, 'Why don’t they get it?'"

임진주: “어디 안 도망가.”

Im Jin-joo: "They’re not going anywhere."

임진주: “네 마음 알고 있으면서 모르는 척하는 경우가 더 많을 거야.”

Im Jin-joo: "More often than not, she knows how you feel but pretends not to."

임진주: “왜 그런지 이해가 안 될 수도 있을 거야.”

Im Jin-joo: "You might not understand why that is."

임진주: “이해하려고 하지 마. 네가 감히 이해할 수 있는 동물이 아니야, 여자는.”

Im Jin-joo: "Don’t try to understand. A woman isn’t a creature you can easily grasp."

 

🐾 The sentence is inverted to emphasize “여자 (woman).” The normal word order would be: “여자는 네가 감히 이해할 수 있는 동물이 아니야.” But by placing “여자” at the end, the line delivers a stronger, more impactful tone.

임진주: “몽키 네가 해야 할 것을 해. 최선을 다해.”

Im Jin-joo: "Monkey, just do what you’re supposed to do. Do your best."

임지영 남친: “켁!”

Im Ji-young’s boyfriend: "Ack!"

 

🎯 Key Takeaways

📢 Explanations of basic dictionary definitions have been omitted.

1. "첫 질문이 너무 상쾌한데"

- "첫 질문이 너무 상쾌한데" means "The first question is so refreshing" (often sarcastically or humorously).

- "첫": "first" (attributive form of "처음")

- "질문이": "질문 (question)" + subject particle "-이"

- "너무": "too, very"

- "상쾌한데": "상쾌하다 (to be refreshing)" + attributive "-은" + ending "-데" (sentence ending that implies contrast, reflection, or trailing tone)

📌 Example Usage

"면접 보자마자 '왜 늦었냐'는 첫 질문이 너무 상쾌한데?"

"The first question in the interview, 'Why are you late?', was so refreshingly blunt."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"당황스러운 첫 인상" – "an embarrassing first impression"

📌 Example Usage

"첫 질문이 너무 당황스러워서 말문이 막혔다."

"The first question was so awkward that I was at a loss for words."

2. "주머니"

- "주머니" means "pocket"—a part of clothing used to carry small items.

- It is a standalone noun with no particles attached in the original usage.

📌 Example Usage

"지금 주머니에 돈 얼마 있어?"

"How much money do you have in your pocket right now?"

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"호주머니" – "pocket" (slightly older or more casual variant)

📌 Example Usage

"호주머니에서 손을 꺼내세요."

"Please take your hand out of your pocket."

3. "줄 수 있다"

- "줄 수 있다" means "can give" or "be able to give."

- "주다": to give

- "줄": future conditional/volitional form of "주다"

- "수": "ability" or "possibility"

- "있다": "to exist, to be possible" → together "할 수 있다" = "can do"

📌 Example Usage

"전 재산을 줄 수 있다면 사랑하는 거겠지."

"If he can give everything he has, it must be love."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"건넬 수 있다" – "can hand over"

📌 Example Usage

"지갑을 건넬 수 있을 정도로 믿었다."

"I trusted him enough to hand over my wallet."

4. "달라고 하다"

- "달라고 하다" means "to ask (someone) to give (something)" to oneself.

📌 Example Usage

"친구가 그 책을 달라고 했어."

"My friend asked me to give him that book."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"요청하다" – "to request"

📌 Example Usage

"선생님께 도움을 요청했다."

"I asked the teacher for help."

5. "몰라주다 / 알아주다"

- "몰라주다" means "to not acknowledge" or "to not appreciate."

- "알아주다": "to recognize, appreciate"

- Negation changes the meaning to the opposite.

- Both are verb constructions combining perception and supportive auxiliary "주다"

📌 Example Usage

"그 사람은 내 진심을 몰라줘."

"He doesn’t appreciate my sincerity."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"무시하다" – "to ignore"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 나를 완전히 무시했다."

"He completely ignored me."

6. "표현하다"

- "표현하다" means "to express" or "to articulate (thoughts, feelings, etc.)"

- "표현": expression

- "-하다": a suffix that forms a verb

📌 Example Usage

"감정을 솔직하게 표현하는 게 중요하다."

"It's important to express your emotions honestly."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"드러내다" – "to reveal"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 감정을 겉으로 잘 드러내지 않는다."

"He doesn't easily show his feelings."

7. "이렇게도 해보다 / 저렇게도 해보다"

- "이렇게도 해보다 / 저렇게도 해보다" means "to try it this way / that way too"

- "이렇게": "like this"

- "저렇게": "like that"

- "-도": also, even

- "해보다": "하다 (to do)" + "보다 (to try)"

📌 Example Usage

"이렇게도 해보고, 저렇게도 해봤는데 안 돼."

"I tried it this way and that way, but it still doesn’t work."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"시도하다" – "to attempt"

📌 Example Usage

"다양한 방법을 시도해봤다."

"I tried various methods."

8. "답답해하다"

- "답답해하다" means "to feel frustrated, stifled, or emotionally suffocated."

- "답답하다": to feel stuffy, suffocating

- "-해하다": causative/emotive suffix to describe others’ feelings

📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 내 말을 이해 못해 답답해했다."

"She was frustrated because she couldn’t understand me."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"답답함을 느끼다" – "to feel frustrated"

📌 Example Usage

"혼자 결정해야 하는 상황에 답답함을 느꼈다."

"I felt frustrated about having to decide alone."

9. "초조해하다"

- "초조해하다" means "to feel anxious" or "to become nervous"

- "초조하다": to be anxious

- "-해하다": describes someone else feeling that emotion

📌 Example Usage

"결과를 기다리며 초조해했다."

"He was anxious while waiting for the results."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"불안해하다" – "to feel uneasy"

📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 늘 미래에 대해 불안해했다."

"She was always uneasy about the future."

10. "도망가다"

- "도망가다" means "to run away" or "to escape."

📌 Example Usage

"그는 모든 걸 버리고 도망갔다."

"He ran away, leaving everything behind."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"탈출하다" – "to escape"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 위기에서 간신히 탈출했다."

"He barely escaped the crisis."

11. "모르는 척하다"

- "모르는 척하다" means "to pretend not to know."

- "모르다": to not know

- “-는”: present attributive form

- "척하다": to pretend

📌 Example Usage

"그는 내 말을 못 들은 척했다."

"He pretended not to hear me."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"시치미 떼다" – "to feign ignorance"

📌 Example Usage

"범인이 시치미를 떼고 있었다."

"The culprit was playing dumb."

12. "이해가 안 되다"

- "이해가 안 되다" means "I don’t understand" or "It doesn't make sense."

- "이해": understanding

- "-가": subject marker

- "안 되다": to not work out, to not happen

📌 Example Usage

"아무리 생각해도 이해가 안 돼."

"No matter how much I think, I just don’t get it."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"이해하지 못하다" – "to not understand"

📌 Example Usage

"그의 설명을 이해하지 못했다."

"I didn’t understand his explanation."

13. "이해하려고 하다"

- "이해하려고 하다" means "to try to understand."

- "이해하다": to understand

- "-려고 하다": to try/intend to do something

📌 Example Usage

"나는 네 입장을 이해하려고 노력 중이야."

"I’m trying to understand your point of view."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"이해해보려 하다" – "to attempt to understand"

📌 Example Usage

"그녀를 이해해보려 했지만 쉽지 않았다."

"I tried to understand her, but it wasn’t easy."

14. "최선을 다하다"

- "최선을 다하다" means "to do one’s best."

- "최선": best, utmost

- "-을": object marker

- "다하다": to exhaust, to do completely

📌 Example Usage

"나는 이번 시험에 최선을 다했어."

"I did my best on this exam."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"열심히 하다" – "to work hard"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 항상 열심히 일한다."

"He always works hard."

 

🎥 Grammatical Analysis of the Dialogue

📢 The parts that are difficult for foreign learners to grasp are consistently addressed, even if they are repeated multiple times. Please keep that in mind.

임진주: "너 가난하지?"

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "너 가난하지?": "너 (you)" + topic marker "-는" (omitted in casual tone) + "가난하다 (to be poor)" + sentence ending "-지?" (confirmative/question form often used rhetorically or challengingly).

📌 Example Usage

"요즘 힘든 거 아니야? 가난하지?"

"You're having a hard time lately, right? You're poor, aren't you?"

☀️ Meaning

"You're poor, right?" — This line bluntly questions the boyfriend’s financial state, likely as a provocation or test.

임지영: "동생 남친한테 하는 첫 질문이 너무 상쾌한데?"

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "동생 남친한테": "동생 (younger sibling)" + "남친 (boyfriend)" + dative particle "-한테 (to)" → "to my younger sibling's boyfriend".

- "하는 첫 질문이": "하다 (to do)" + attributive ending "-는" + "첫 (first)" + "질문 (question)" + subject marker "-이".

- "너무 상쾌한데?": "너무 (very)" + "상쾌하다 (to be refreshing)" + sentence-ending "-ㄴ데?" (expressing contrast or reaction).

📌 Example Usage

"처음 던진 질문이 너무 상쾌하네?"

"Your first question is unexpectedly refreshing."

☀️ Meaning

"That's a really refreshing first question to ask your sister’s boyfriend, huh?" — Sarcastic, implying the question was overly blunt or shocking.

임진주: "만난 지 얼마나 됐다고?"

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "만난 지": "만나다 (to meet)" + nominalizer "-ㄴ 지" (how much time has passed since doing something).

- "얼마나 됐다고?": "얼마나 (how much)" + "되다 (to become, to pass)" + “-었” (past tense) + indirect quotation "-다고?" (used in rhetorical questioning).

➡️✂️ “되다” → “되었다” (past tense) → “됐다” (contraction) → “됐다고”

📌 Example Usage

"만난 지 얼마나 됐다고 벌써 결혼 얘기야?"

"You just met—how long has it even been that you're already talking about marriage?"

☀️ Meaning

"You haven’t even been together long, have you?" — A skeptical challenge questioning the seriousness of the relationship.

임지영 남친: "한 20일정도 됐습니다."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "한": Approximation marker, meaning "about".

- "20일정도": "20일 (20 days)" + suffix "-정도 (approximately)".

- "됐습니다": Verb "되다 (to become / to pass)" in formal polite past form "-었습니다".

 ➡️✂️ “되다” → “되었다” → “되었습니다” → “됐습니다” (contraction)

📌 Example Usage

"만난 지 한 3개월 정도 됐습니다."

"We’ve been dating for about three months."

☀️ Meaning

"It’s been about 20 days." — A factual, polite answer in contrast to the tension of the previous line.

임진주: "너 지영이 좋아해?"

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "너": Informal "you".

- "지영이": Proper name "Ji-young" + subject marker "-이".

- "좋아해?": "좋아하다 (to like, to love)" + informal present tense.

📌 Example Usage

"너 진심으로 좋아해?"

"Do you really like her?"

☀️ Meaning

"Do you like Ji-young?" — Direct and confrontational, demanding emotional clarity.

임지영 남친: "사랑하는데요?"

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "사랑하다": "to love".

- "사랑하는데요?": Present tense + connector "-는데" (used here to affirm softly, with a questioning nuance) + polite ending "-요?".

📌 Example Usage

"좋아하는데요?"

"I do like her, though?"

☀️ Meaning

"I love her." — Spoken with slight defensiveness but also sincerity.

임진주: "너 지금 주머니에 얼마 있어?"

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "너": "you".

- "지금": "now".

- "주머니에": "주머니 (pocket)" + locative particle "-에".

- "얼마 있어?": "얼마 (how much)" + "있다 (to have)" + informal question ending.

📌 Example Usage

"지금 통장에 얼마 있어?"

"How much do you have in your bank account right now?"

☀️ Meaning

"How much money do you have in your pocket right now?" — Used to challenge his financial readiness or sincerity.

임지영 남친: "3천원."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "3천원": "3 (three)" + "천 (thousand)" + "원 (won, Korean currency unit)".

📌 Example Usage

"지금 500원 있어요."

"I have 500 won right now."

☀️ Meaning

"3,000 won." — A tiny amount, humorously or shamefully admitted.

임진주: "그거 다 지영이 줄 수 있어?"

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "그거": "that" (referring to the money).

- "다": "all".

- "지영이": "Ji-young" + subject particle "-이".

- "줄 수 있어?": "주다 (to give)" + possibility construction "-ㄹ 수 있다" in informal question form.

📌 Example Usage

"그 돈 전부 나한테 줄 수 있어?"

"Can you give me all that money?"

☀️ Meaning

"Can you give all that to Ji-young?" — Tests his willingness to give even small things sincerely.

임지영 남친: "그럼요."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "그럼요": Polite, affirmative expression meaning "of course".

📌 Example Usage

"시간 있어?" / "그럼요."

"Do you have time?" / "Of course."

☀️ Meaning

"Of course." — Eager, polite response.

임진주: "3억이면?"

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "3억": "3 (three)" + "억 (hundred million)" → 300 million won.

- "-이면?": Conditional ending "-이면" (if it’s...) + question intonation.

📌 Example Usage

"그게 1억이면 줄 수 있어?"

"If it were 100 million, could you give it?"

☀️ Meaning

"What if it’s 300 million?" — A rhetorical test of how far his love and generosity go.

임지영 남친: "그것도 줄 수 있습니다."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "그것도": "그것 (that too)" + additive particle "-도".

- "줄 수 있습니다": "주다 (to give)" + potential expression "-ㄹ 수 있다" + formal polite ending "-습니다".

📌 Example Usage

"그 정도도 도와줄 수 있습니다."

"I can help with even that much."

☀️ Meaning

"I can give that too." — A firm, sincere answer expressing his willingness regardless of the amount.

임진주: "그거 달라고 하지도 않아."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "그거": "that (thing)".

- "달라고 하지도 않아": "달라고 하다 (to ask for something)" in negative form + emphatic particle "-도 (even)" + "-지 않다 (don’t)" + sentence-final ending “-아” (informal, colloquial)

 ➡️ “달라고 하다” → “달라고 하지 않다” (negation) → 달라고 하지도 않다 (emphasis) + “달라고 하지도 않아” (sentence ending)

📌 Example Usage

"그거 원한다고 말한 적도 없어."

"I never even said I wanted it."

☀️ Meaning

"I’m not even asking you to give me that." — Emphasizing it’s not about the money, but the mindset.

임진주: "그냥 그런 마음만 있으면 돼."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "그냥": "just, simply".

- "그런 마음만": "그런 (such, like that)" + "마음 (heart, intention)" + limiting particle "-만 (only)".

- "있으면 돼": "있다 (to have)" + conditional "-으면" + "되다 (to be fine)" in informal polite.

📌 Example Usage

"진심만 있으면 돼."

"All you need is sincerity."

☀️ Meaning

"Just having that kind of heart is enough." — It’s the thought that counts, not the amount.

임진주: "상대가 그 마음 몰라주는 거 같으면 알아줄 때까지 표현해."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "상대가": "상대 (the other person)" + subject marker "-가".

- "그 마음 몰라주는 거 같으면": "그 마음 (that heart/intention)" + "몰라주다 (not acknowledge or appreciate)" + attributive “-는” (present tense) + nominalized clause "거" + expression of assumption "-같으면 (if it seems)".

- "알아줄 때까지": "알아주다 (to recognize, understand)" + attributive “-ㄹ” (future tense) + time expression "-때까지 (until)".

- "표현해": "표현하다 (to express)" in imperative informal form.

📌 Example Usage

"네가 좋아하는 걸 상대가 모르면, 알게 될 때까지 보여줘."

"If they don’t notice your feelings, keep showing them until they do."

☀️ Meaning

"If the other person doesn’t seem to understand your heart, keep expressing it until they do."

임진주: "이렇게도 해보고, 저렇게도 해보고."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "이렇게도": "이렇게 (like this)" + additive particle "-도".

- "해보고": "하다 (to do)" + "-아/어 보다 (to try)" + connector "-고 (and/also)".

- "저렇게도": "저렇게 (like that)" + additive "-도".

📌 Example Usage

"이렇게도 해보고 저렇게도 해봐야지."

"You have to try it this way and that way too."

☀️ Meaning

"Try it this way, and that way too." — Encouraging perseverance through multiple approaches.

임진주: "왜 이렇게 몰라주지? 답답해하지 말고 초조해하지 마."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "왜 이렇게 몰라주지?": "왜 (why)" + "이렇게 (like this)" + "몰라주다 (not appreciate, not understand)" + rhetorical "-지?"

- "답답해하지 말고": "답답하다 (to feel frustrated)" + “-해하다” (a suffix that forms a verb)

+ "-하지 말고 (don’t do and instead)".

- "초조해하지 마": "초조하다 (to feel anxious)" + “-해하다” (a suffix that forms a verb)

+ negative imperative "-하지 마".

📌 Example Usage

"상대가 몰라줘도 너무 답답해하지 마."

"Even if they don’t get it, don’t be too frustrated."

☀️ Meaning

"Why don’t they get it? But don’t feel frustrated or anxious." — Acknowledging the pain but advising calm.

임진주: "어디 안 도망가."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "어디": "where".

- "안 도망가": informal sentence ending form of "도망가다 (to run away)" + negation "안" → “not run away”.

📌 Example Usage

"그 사람 어디 안 가. 기다려."

"They’re not going anywhere. Just wait."

☀️ Meaning

"They’re not running away." — Reassuring that the person will still be around.

임진주: "네 마음 알고 있으면서 모르는 척하는 경우가 더 많을 거야."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "네 마음": "your heart" + object particle omitted.

- "알고 있으면서": "알다 (to know)" + progressive "-고 있다" + contrastive "-으면서 (while)".

- "모르는 척하는 경우가": "모르다 (to not know)" + attributive “-는” (present tense) + "척하다 (to pretend)" + attributive “-는” (present tense) + noun "경우 (case, instance)" + subject marker "-가".

- "더 많을 거야": “더 (more)” + "많다 (to be many)" + future/presumptive ending "-을 거야".

📌 Example Usage

"알면서도 모르는 척하는 경우 많아."

"There are a lot of times people pretend not to know even when they do."

☀️ Meaning

"There are more cases where they know how you feel but pretend not to."

임진주: "왜 그런지 이해가 안 될 수도 있을 거야."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "왜 그런지": "왜 (why)" + "그렇다 (to be so)" + "-ㄴ지 (indirect question)".

- "이해가 안 될 수도 있을 거야": "이해 (understanding)" + subject marker "-가" + "안 되다 (to not be possible)" + potential auxiliary "-ㄹ 수 있다" + speculative "-을 거야".

📌 Example Usage

"왜 그런지 이해가 안 될 수도 있지."

"You might not be able to understand why."

☀️ Meaning

"You might not understand why they act that way."

임진주: "이해하려고 하지 마. 네가 감히 이해할 수 있는 동물이 아니야, 여자는."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "이해하려고 하지 마": "이해하다 (to understand)" + intention "-려고 하다" + negative imperative "-하지 마".

- "네가 감히 이해할 수 있는": "네가 (you as subject)" + "감히 (daringly)" + "이해할 수 있는 (capable of understanding)".

- "동물이 아니야": "동물 (animal)" + negative copula "-이 아니야".

- "여자는": "여자 (woman)" + topic marker "-는".

📌 Example Usage

"감히 이해하려 하지 마. 넌 모를 거야."

"Don’t you dare try to understand. You never will."

☀️ Meaning

"Don’t even try to understand. Women aren’t creatures you can dare to comprehend."

임진주: "몽키 네가 해야 할 것을 해. 최선을 다해."

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "몽키": "monkey" used as a teasing or informal nickname.

- "네가 해야 할 것을 해": "네가 (you)" + "해야 할 (must do)" + “것 (thing)” + object particle "-을” + "하다 (do)" + informal imperative ending.

- "최선을 다해": "최선 (best effort)" + "다하다 (to do fully)" + imperative "-다해".

📌 Example Usage

"너는 네 할 일을 해. 최선을 다해서."

"You just do what you have to do. Do your best."

☀️ Meaning

"Monkey, just do what you’ve got to do. Give it your all." — Sarcastic but also encouraging.

임지영 남친: "켁!"

🔍 분석 (Analysis)

- "켁": Sound of choking, surprise, or shock — comic exclamation often used in dramas.

📌 Example Usage

"켁! 그런 말이 어딨어?"

"Gah! What kind of thing is that to say?"

☀️ Meaning

Gulp! — A funny, stunned reaction to being overwhelmed by the barrage of advice.

 

📎 Appendix. Drama Overview & the Characters

임진주 (Im Jin‑joo) played by Chun Woo‑hee

- A rookie drama screenwriter working on her first series.

- Quirky and unfiltered, she breaks up with her seven-year boyfriend and gradually falls in love with drama director Son Beom-soo.

 

임지영 (Im Ji‑yeong) played by Baek Soo‑hee

- Jin‑joo's younger sister, who appears occasionally in Jin‑joo’s personal life.

(Not to be confused with the leading trio; Im Ji‑young is part of Jin‑joo’s family circle)

 

📢 Please refer to other posts in the K-Drama Bites category on the blog for a drama overview,

🔖 Exploring “썸, some” in “Be Melodramatic”: A K-Drama Shorts Analysis