비디오 게임을 하다
bideo geimeul hada
To say "play video games" in Korean, use 비디오 게임을 하다 (bideo geimeul hada).
The phrase 비디오 게임을 하다 is used to describe the activity of playing video games. In natural, everyday conversation, Korean speakers often shorten this phrase to 게임하다 (to play games).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 비디오 게임 (video game) followed by the object marker 을 and the verb 하다 (to do or to play).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb part of the phrase changes depending on the level of politeness required. In polite, everyday conversation, 하다 is conjugated to 해요, resulting in 비디오 게임을 해요. In casual speech used with friends or people younger than you, it is conjugated to 해, resulting in 비디오 게임을 해.
How do you pronounce it?
bideo geimeul hada
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying 비디오 게임을 플레이하다 using the English loanword for "play" when speaking generally. While 플레이하다 is used in specific gaming contexts, such as playing a specific character, using 하다 is much more common for the general act of playing games.
Did you know?
- Korean gamers often use the term 현질 (hyeon-jil) to describe the act of spending real money on in-game items, a specific vocabulary word that has no direct equivalent in the phrase 비디오 게임을 하다.
- Korean speakers may use the term 피시방 (PC bang) when talking about where they 게임하다, referring to the specialized gaming cafes that are a social hub in Korean cities.
- The verb 하다 has ancient roots in Middle Korean, originally appearing as ᄒᆞ다.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Seoyeon are talking about their hobbies.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연 씨는 취미가 뭐예요?Seoyeon ssineun chwimiga mwoyeyo?Seoyeon, what is your hobby?
- 서연 Seo-yeon저는 비디오 게임을 하다 보면 시간이 빨리 가요.jeoneun bidio geimeul hada bomyeon sigani ppalli gayo.Time flies when I play video games.
- 지훈 Ji-hun저도 그런데, 같이 하실래요?jeodo geureonde, gachi hasillaeyo?Me too, do you want to play together?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 좋아요. 내일 만나요!ne, joayo. naeil mannayo!Yes, I'd love to. Let's meet tomorrow!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 비디오, 하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
