Exam season vocabulary
Textbook시험 공부를 열심히 하고 있습니다si-heom gong-bu-reul yeol-sim-hi ha-go it-seup-ni-daI am studying hard for exams
Real아 진짜 죽겠다 내일 시험인데 아무것도 안 했어a jin-jja juk-get-da nae-il si-heom-in-de a-mu-geot-do an haet-eoI'm literally dying, exam is tomorrow and I've done nothing🏷️ Close friends
Korean students are masters of self-deprecation during exams. Everyone claims they didn't study (안 했어 = didn't do anything), even the straight-A students. Saying 나 공부 많이 했어 (I studied a lot) is social suicide.
Exam season survival phrases
공부 했어? — 아니 ㅠㅠ 너는?Did you study? — No ㅠㅠ you?
아 이거 시험에 나올까?Think this will be on the exam?
나 F 받을 것 같아I think I'm going to fail
도서관 자리 있어?Are there library seats available?
커피 몇 잔째야How many coffees are you on?
시험 끝나면 뭐 할 거야?What are you doing after exams?
The ritual: 1) Claim no studying was done. 2) Panic together. 3) Cram all night. 4) Drink coffee. 5) Take exam. 6) Immediately discuss answers outside. 7) Regret everything. 8) Repeat next exam season.
Korean exam culture: 도서관 자리 전쟁 (library seat war) is real. Students arrive at 6 AM to claim seats during exam season. Some leave bags overnight to 'save' seats (controversial). 스터디카페 (study cafes) solved this — pay 1,000-2,000 won/hour for guaranteed quiet seating with unlimited coffee.
Quick Quiz