I ugly-cried watching this drama. Like, my husband asked if I was okay. Multiple times. If you’ve seen “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” you know exactly what I mean.
What’s This Drama About?
Before we dive in - this IU and Park Bo-gum masterpiece is set in 1950s Jeju Island. It follows Ae-soon (IU), a girl who dreams of becoming a poet, and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), who quietly loves her through everything.
The drama stayed in Netflix’s global top 10 for 8 consecutive weeks. Yeah, it’s THAT good.
Quick Overview
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 폭싹 속았수다 | pokssak sogassuda | You’ve worked so hard (Jeju) |
| 수고했어요 | sugohasseoyo | You did well / Good work |
| 함께하다 | hamkkehada | To be together |
| 떠나가다 | tteonagada | To leave / depart |
| 보고 싶다 | bogo sipda | I miss you |
| 사랑해 | saranghae | I love you |
| 힘내 | himnae | Stay strong / Cheer up |
1. 폭싹 속았수다 (pokssak sogassuda) - “You’ve worked so hard”
🎯 When to Use It
This is the Korean title of the drama! It’s Jeju dialect, not standard Korean. Most mainland Koreans don’t even know this phrase - which is part of what makes it special.
“폭싹” (pokssak) means “completely” or “entirely,” and “속았수다” (sogassuda) means “to have struggled” or “worked hard.”
💬 The Title Translation Story
IU explained it beautifully at the press conference:
“Even if life presents us with tart tangerines, let us transform them into sweet marmalade.”
The English title “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is genius - it plays on “when life gives you lemons” while referencing Jeju’s famous tangerines.
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
When I first saw the Korean title, I thought it meant “I was completely deceived” (속다 = to be deceived). Turns out that’s the mainland Korean interpretation! Jeju dialect is like a whole different language sometimes.
My grandmother was from Jeju, and she used to say phrases that none of us understood. This drama brought back so many memories.
📝 Practice Examples
- After a long day: 오늘 하루 폭싹 속았수다 (oneul haru pokssak sogassuda) - “You worked so hard today”
- To someone going through tough times: 많이 속았수다 (mani sogassuda) - “You’ve been through a lot”
DO:
- Use it to acknowledge someone’s hard work or struggles
- Remember it’s Jeju dialect - use it to show you know K-drama culture
DON’T:
- Expect Koreans to understand it immediately (many won’t!)
- Confuse it with 속다 (sokda - to be deceived)
🔄 Standard Korean Equivalent
수고했어요 (sugohasseoyo) - “Good work” / “You’ve worked hard”
2. 수고했어요 (sugohasseoyo) - “You did well”
🎯 When to Use It
This is the standard Korean version of acknowledging someone’s effort. You’ll hear this EVERYWHERE - after work, after a performance, after literally any effort.
💬 Real Example
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
I say this to my husband every single day when he comes home from work. It’s such a Korean thing - we acknowledge effort, not just results.
When my toddler finally finishes eating (which takes FOREVER), I tell her “수고했어~” too. She has no idea what it means yet, but it’s the thought that counts.
📝 Practice Examples
- To a coworker: 오늘도 수고하셨습니다 (oneuldo sugohaseyosseumnida) - “Good work today too” (formal)
- To a friend: 수고했어! (sugohasseo!) - “Good job!” (casual)
- At a restaurant to staff: 수고하세요 (sugohaseyo) - “Keep up the good work” (when leaving)
DO:
- Say it when leaving work, shops, or restaurants
- Use it to acknowledge any kind of effort
DON’T:
- Say it to someone higher in rank than you (use 수고하셨습니다 instead)
3. 함께하다 (hamkkehada) - “To be together”
🎯 When to Use It
This word carries so much weight in Korean. It’s not just “being together” physically - it implies sharing experiences, struggles, and life itself.
In the drama, this word hits different because Ae-soon and Gwan-sik go through SO much together.
💬 Real Example
(Thank you for being with me during hard times / Of course. I’ll be with you in the future too)
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
My wedding vows included “평생 함께하겠습니다” (pyeongsaeng hamkkehagesseumnida) - “I will be with you for life.” It’s such a heavy promise in Korean culture.
📝 Practice Examples
- Promise: 앞으로도 함께할게 (apeurodo hamkkehalge) - “I’ll be with you going forward”
- Gratitude: 함께해줘서 고마워 (hamkkehaejwoseo gomawo) - “Thank you for being with me”
- Invitation: 같이 함께하자 (gachi hamkkehaja) - “Let’s be together”
4. 떠나가다 (tteonagada) - “To leave”
🎯 When to Use It
This isn’t just “leaving” like leaving a room. 떠나가다 has emotional weight - it’s leaving for good, departing from someone’s life, or passing away.
The drama’s OST uses “떠나가는 날” (tteonaganeun nal) - “the day of leaving” - and yes, I cried.
💬 From the OST
“떠나가는 날에도 웃어줄게” (tteonaganeun nare-do useojulge) “Even on the day I leave, I’ll smile for you”
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
This word always makes me emotional. When my grandfather passed away, we said “할아버지가 떠나셨어” (harabeojiga tteonasyeosseo). It’s gentler than saying “died” - more like “he departed.”
📝 Practice Examples
- Sad goodbye: 떠나지 마 (tteonaji ma) - “Don’t leave”
- About someone who left: 그 사람은 떠났어 (geu sarameun tteonasseo) - “That person left”
- Poetic: 떠나가는 계절 (tteonaganeun gyejeol) - “The departing season”
5. 보고 싶다 (bogo sipda) - “I miss you”
🎯 When to Use It
Literally means “I want to see you,” but it’s THE way to say “I miss you” in Korean. It hits harder than any English translation.
In the drama, when they’re separated… ugh. The way Park Bo-gum says this line. 💔
💬 Real Example
(I miss you / Me too… let’s meet soon / Yeah ㅠㅠ)
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
When I travel for even ONE day, I text my husband “보고 싶어” at least three times. And don’t get me started on being away from my daughter - instant tears.
Even my dogs. I FaceTime my dogs when I’m away. Don’t judge me.
📝 Practice Examples
- To a lover: 너무 보고 싶어 (neomu bogo sipeo) - “I miss you so much”
- To family: 엄마 보고 싶어요 (eomma bogo sipeoyo) - “I miss you, mom”
- Casual: 야, 보고 싶다 (ya, bogo sipda) - “Hey, I miss you”
DO:
- Use it freely with people you’re close to
- Add 너무 (neomu - so much) for emphasis
DON’T:
- Say it to strangers or casual acquaintances (it’s intimate)
6. 사랑해 (saranghae) - “I love you”
🎯 When to Use It
You know this one. But in Korean culture, we don’t throw “사랑해” around casually. When a Korean says it, they MEAN it.
The confession scene in this drama… I won’t spoil it, but prepare tissues.
💬 Different Levels
| Level | Korean | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | 사랑해 (saranghae) | Close relationships |
| Polite | 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo) | Respectful but loving |
| Formal | 사랑합니다 (saranghamnida) | Very formal/dramatic |
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
I tell my daughter “사랑해” probably 50 times a day. My husband? Maybe once a day, and usually when he does something nice like bringing me coffee.
Korean couples often don’t say “사랑해” as much as Western couples say “I love you.” But when we say it, it carries weight.
📝 Practice Examples
- To family: 엄마, 사랑해요 (eomma, saranghaeyo)
- Dramatic confession: 나 너 사랑해 (na neo saranghae) - “I love you”
- Cute: 사랑해용~ (saranghaeyong~) - Aegyo version
7. 힘내 (himnae) - “Stay strong”
🎯 When to Use It
Literally “put out strength,” this is how Koreans encourage each other. Different from 화이팅 (fighting) - 힘내 is more personal, more gentle.
When life gives Ae-soon and Gwan-sik tangerines (struggles), they tell each other 힘내.
💬 Real Example
🏠 Cera’s Real Life
My mom’s go-to phrase when I’m struggling: “힘내, 우리 딸” (himnae, uri ttal) - “Stay strong, my daughter.”
I say it to myself too, honestly. Raising a toddler while managing a household? 힘내, 나 자신.
📝 Practice Examples
- To a friend: 힘내! 넌 할 수 있어 (himnae! neon hal su isseo) - “Stay strong! You can do it”
- Polite: 힘내세요 (himnaeseyo) - “Please stay strong” (to someone older)
- Self-encouragement: 힘내자 (himnaeja) - “Let’s stay strong”
DO:
- Use it when someone is going through a hard time
- Pair it with a hug or supportive gesture
DON’T:
- Use it sarcastically (it’s sincere encouragement)
🎯 Quick Review Quiz
1. What does “폭싹 속았수다” mean?
- A) I was deceived
- B) You’ve worked so hard (Jeju dialect)
- C) I’m tired
2. Which phrase means “I miss you”?
- A) 사랑해
- B) 보고 싶다
- C) 함께하다
3. When would you say “수고했어요”?
- A) When meeting someone
- B) When acknowledging someone’s effort
- C) When saying goodbye forever
Check Answers
- B - It’s Jeju dialect meaning “You’ve worked so hard”
- B - 보고 싶다 literally means “I want to see you”
- B - Use it to acknowledge effort (like after work)
Bonus: Jeju Dialect vs Standard Korean
| Jeju (제주어) | Standard Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 폭싹 속았수다 | 수고했어요 | Good work |
| 혼저 옵서예 | 어서 오세요 | Welcome |
| 고맙수다 | 고마워요 | Thank you |
Jeju dialect is so different that it’s sometimes considered a separate language! The drama beautifully showcases this linguistic heritage.
Want More K-Drama Korean?
Check out my K-Pop Demon Hunters series for more K-content vocabulary!
This post made me rewatch the drama. Again. Send help (and tissues).