Good Evening Everyone Here. Hope we all had a great weekend?
There is one thing I love about Korean people is the way they talk (I mean the way they talk l repeat). Their language carries this kind of respect and sweetness that makes you want to listen more and more. Even if you don’t fully understand what they are saying, you can feel the emotion and energy behind the words.
Seriously, the first time I heard the word “Annyeong”, I was confused and l was looking like JJC (Jolly Just Come). At first, I thought it was just Normal Hello we do say, but l later realized it’s more than that what l thought of. “Annyeong” is a simple word Koreans use to greet one another. It means peace or well-being. Imagine that (Smiles), every time you say hello, you are actually wishing the person peace. That alone shows how much value they place on harmony in them.
But In Nigeria here, we say How far? or How you dey? which is also our way of checking up on someone that is how it goes here. But in Korea, greeting someone is not just casual it carries cultural depth indeed. Another thing I love most about the language how flexible it is but powerful.
Culturally, Koreans put a lot of respect into their words. They bow when greeting, they use respective words when talking to elders and its said with warmth. That’s why I admire them, their language is not just sound but it’s a reflection of their values. If I could still remember vividly, the first time I tried saying the language in front of some Korean friends, Seriously, the way their faces were lifted up to me showed me that language is not just communication, it’s connection because l was not sounding well and pronouncing it the way its supposed to be. They busted into laughter, and later corrected my pronunciation gently, and from that moment we bonded together.
Moreover, In my own Country Nigeria, our own greetings carry meaning too. When we say Good morning sir/ma, it’s not about just time-checking only but it’s a way of showing respect. But when Yoruba people say Ekaaro, or Igbo people say Ndeewo, it’s about giving honor and recognition to one another because respect is reciprocal. Even though languages are different, the heart behind greetings is the same everywhere.
So whenever I hear Koreans that language, I don’t just hear a casual hello. I hear a message of peace, respect, and togetherness. And that, to me, is the true beauty single Korean of the word, it makes you feel included, even as a foreigner. You don’t need to be fluent before you can connect. That is it!!!!!
