Everyday Korean: Episode 49. 눈이 높아서 문제야. “The Problem Is Your High Expectations.”

By Harsh Kumar Mishra

네하: 언니, 저 상담 좀 해 줘요. Neha: Eonni, I need some advice.

정민: 말해 봐. 무슨 일이야? Jeongmin:Tell me. What’s up?

네하: 연애하고 싶은데 마음에 드는 남자가 하나도 없어요. Neha: I want to date, but I can’t find a single man I like.

정민: 그게 무슨 소리야. 넌 눈이 높아서 문제야. Jeongmin: What do you mean? The problem is your high expectations.

네하: 아니요, 전 눈이 하나도 안 높아요. 평범한 사람을 좋아해요. Neha: No, I don’t have high expectations at all. I like ordinary people.

정민: 그래? 조금만 눈 낮춰 봐. 평범한 남자 수십 명 보일 거야. Jeongmin: Really? Just try lowering your expectations a bit. You’ll see dozens of ordinary men.

네하: ㅎㅎ 언니가 그런 남자를 좀 소개해 주세요. Neha: Haha. Please introduce me to such a man.

상담 consultation

무슨 일이에요 What happened? 연애하다 to date 마음에 들다 to like something/someone 문제 problem 평범하다 ordinary; simple 눈을 낮추다 to lower one’s eyes (expectations) 보이다 to be visible; to be seen 소개하다 to introduce

V~아/어/해 주세요

This grammar point is attached to a verb and works like an auxiliary verb. Whenever you want to request that somebody do something for you, you can attach this to the verb stem of that activity. When a verb ends with ㅗ or ㅏ, use “~아 주세요,” and when a verb ends with any other vowel, use “~어 주세요.” Verbs ending in -하다 change to “~ 해 주세요.” Ex: 문 좀 열어 주세요. Please open the door. 저 대신에 택배를 받아 주세요. Please receive the parcel for me.

눈이 높아요

This is not a grammar point, but instead a commonly used idiom of the Korean language that means “to have high expectations.” It can also be used as “눈 안 높아요” as a negative expression, i.e., “to not have high expectations.” Ex:

민지 씨가 눈이 아주 높아요. 그래서 100점에서 98 점 받아도 실망해요. Minji has very high expectations. So, even if she gets 98 out of 100 points, she is disappointed.

Harsh Kumar Mishra is a linguist and Korean language educator. He teaches Korean with TOPIKGUIDE. com and LEARNKOREAN.in.

By Melline Galani

In many countries around the world, coffee is a big deal, but Italy still remains at the center in terms of taste with its famous espresso. South Korea has its own coffee culture, and those living here for some time are quite familiar with it. What makes it different from other continents is its variety. This variety spans over the type of cafes and also the coffee menu, making it difficult to choose.

In our wonderful city of Gwangju, Dongmyeong-dong is well known for its amazing restaurants, coffee shops, and places to go out with friends. The latest sensation I have discovered here is Del Pisa, an espresso bar serving authentic Italian coffee.

But what exactly is espresso coffee? It is a concentrated form of coffee served in small, strong shots and is the base for many coffee drinks. It is made from the same beans as coffee but is stronger, thicker, and higher in caffeine. Therefore, I thought an espresso bar would not be popular here precisely because Koreans prefer Americano, the lighter version of a coffee, but I was wrong.

I discovered Del Pisa by accident. I was in Dongmyeongdong at an early hour on a sunny summer day and just saw this place open. I went in craving a cappuccino, the coffee I usually drink. Instead of a cappuccino, which was not on the menu, I ordered a cinnamon cream latte – the best coffee I have ever had in this city and the one that made me a regular at this place.

Del Pisa’s specialty is, of course, espresso, which is cheap in terms of cost but delicious in terms of taste; however, the menu has many other delicacies to meet all tastes. For only 2,000 won you get to taste a real Italian espresso. If you fancy sweeter coffees than their cinnamon cream latte, their Einspanner will conquer you. The prices range from 2,000 to 6,000 won, but the taste is worth every penny. They also serve exquisite handmade cookies to accompany their drinks.

The unfinished-style interior of the coffee shop is very European-esque with Italian accents, making it not only fancy but also cozy and relaxing even on cold winter days. The wooden furniture adds a contrast to the white walls combined perfectly with paintings and other decorations.

Those who know me also know that when I discover something interesting, I take all my friends to the place. In Del Pisa’s case, we all have a unanimous opinion – they do serve the best coffee in Gwangju. For this reason, if you happen to be in the area after 10 a.m., give this place a try. I assure you that you will not regret the decision.

Address: 135 Donggyecheon-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju 광주 동구 동계천로 135 (동명동) Operating Hours: 10:00–22:00, closed on Mondays Phone: 010-6783-1557 Instagram: @delpisa_dongmyeong

Melline Galani is a Romanian enthusiast, born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest, and currently living in Gwangju. She likes new challenges, learning interesting things, and is incurably optimistic. She loves living life to its fullest and loves the cinnamon cream latte at Del Pisa. @melligalanis