진수 씨가 밥 한번 먹자고 했는데 언제 연락을 할까요?
Jinsu asked me to have a meal together, when will he contact me?
그거 인사로 한 빈말일 텐데 설마 진짜 연락을 기다리는 건 아니지요?
You shouldn’t be waiting for his call since it must have been an empty greeting comment.
밥 먹자는 말이 어떻게 인사예요?
How can someone ask to have a meal together just for greetings?
한국 사람들은 헤어질 때 딱히 할 말이 없으면 그렇게 말해요.
Koreans say that if they have nothing to say when it’s time to say bye.
지난번에 학교 앞에서 만났을 때 헤어지면서 한 약속인데….
We made that promise when we parted after we met in front of our school….
한국어는 말을 할 때의 상황이나 맥락을 통해서 그 뜻을 이해해야 해요. 그런 것 때문에 오해가 생기기도 하지요.
You should understand the meaning of Korean through context and situation. Sometimes those can lead to misunderstanding.
설마 V/A+ 는/은/ㄴ 건(것은) 아니지요?
It is attached to the stem of the action or descriptive verb. It is used when the speaker wants to confirm the listener’s opinion about the fact that the speaker doesn’t want to admit. It is usually used for negative situations or events.
설마 저를 도둑으로 의심하시는 것은 아니지요?
You don’t believe I’m the thief, do you?
오늘 평소하고 다르게 말이 없네. 설마 어디 아픈 건 아니지?
You don’t speak as usual today. Oh, are you sick?
설마 그 사람이랑 다시 사귀고 싶은 건 아니지?
You don’t want to go out with him again, do you?
Related words
빈말 empty comment
설마 is used when you want to express your doubt.
딱히 is used when you mean there isn’t much of something.
맥락 context
오해 misunderstanding
Source: Yonsei University. Korean Language Institute
