🟠 Talking About Korean Festivals | Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–4)

🟠 Talking About Korean Festivals | Intermediate Level (TOPIK 3–4)

ν•œλ³΅μž…μ€ 2λͺ…μ˜ 여인 이미지


Do you know how to describe Korean festivals like Chuseok or Seollal in Korean conversations?

Korean festivals are filled with traditions, food, and family gatherings. In this lesson, you’ll learn essential vocabulary and expressions to talk about popular festivals, perfect for intermediate learners preparing for cultural discussions or traveling in Korea during holiday seasons.


πŸ“š Table of Contents


πŸ’‘ Major Korean Festivals

μ„€λ‚  (Seollal – Lunar New Year)
Celebrated at the beginning of the lunar calendar year, families gather to perform ancestral rites and play folk games like yutnori.

좔석 (Chuseok – Korean Harvest Festival)
A major holiday where families honor ancestors and share songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes). It’s similar to Thanksgiving in other cultures.

λ‹¨μ˜€ (Dano Festival)
Held in early summer, known for traditional hair-washing rituals with sweet flag water and Korean swing rides.

μ •μ›”λŒ€λ³΄λ¦„ (Jeongwol Daeboreum – First Full Moon Festival)
People crack nuts to protect their teeth and eat ogokbap (five-grain rice) for health and luck.


πŸ“– Useful Vocabulary and Expressions

λͺ…μ ˆ (Holiday) – Traditional holiday or festival

쑰상 (Ancestor) – Forefather; often mentioned during ancestral rites

μ„±λ¬˜ν•˜λ‹€ (To visit ancestral graves) – A common activity during Seollal and Chuseok

전톡 μŒμ‹ (Traditional food) – Examples include songpyeon, tteokguk, and jeon

κ°€μ‘± λͺ¨μž„ (Family gathering) – Central aspect of Korean festivals

Example sentence:
μΆ”μ„μ—λŠ” κ°€μ‘±κ³Ό ν•¨κ»˜ λͺ¨μ—¬ μ„±λ¬˜ν•˜κ³  전톡 μŒμ‹μ„ λ¨Ήμ–΄μš”.
During Chuseok, we gather with family to visit ancestors and eat traditional foods.


πŸ—£ Practice Dialogue

A: ν•œκ΅­μ˜ λͺ…μ ˆ 쀑에 κ°€μž₯ 큰 λͺ…μ ˆμ€ λ­μ˜ˆμš”?
Hanguk-ui myeongjeol jung-e gajang keun myeongjeol-eun mwoyeyo?
What is the biggest festival in Korea?

B: μ„€λ‚ κ³Ό μΆ”μ„μ΄μ—μš”. 가쑱듀이 λͺ¨μ—¬μ„œ 전톡 μŒμ‹μ„ λ¨Ήκ³  μ„Έλ°°λ₯Ό ν•΄μš”.
Seollal-gwa Chuseog-ieyo. Gajok-deuri moyeoseo jeontong eumsig-eul meokgo sebae-reul haeyo.
It’s Seollal and Chuseok. Families gather, eat traditional food, and perform New Year’s bows.


🧩 Quick Check: How would you describe Chuseok to someone who has never celebrated it before?


🌏 Did You Know?

Korean festivals often follow the lunar calendar, meaning dates change every year. For example, Chuseok typically falls in September or October, while Seollal is usually in January or February.


πŸ“¦ Final Thoughts

Understanding Korean festivals helps you connect deeply with local traditions and people. By learning key vocabulary and customs, you can fully enjoy these celebrations during your stay in Korea or when talking with Korean friends.

Immerse yourself in these traditions, and you’ll not only enhance your language skills but also appreciate Korea’s rich cultural heritage in everyday life.


πŸ”— Related Posts


πŸŽ“ Want to practice talking about Korean festivals in real conversations?
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πŸ’¬ Leave a comment: Which Korean festival would you like to experience first?

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