Scene 4: Dinner with His Mother

The assistant is invited to a family dinner. The heir's mother asks the questions.

The mother
그래, 우리 아들이랑은 어떻게 만났니?
So, how did you meet my son?
banmal (casual)
The assistant
회사에서 처음 뵈었습니다, 사모님.
We first met at the company, ma'am.
hapsyo (formal)
The mother
부모님은 무슨 일을 하시니?
What do your parents do?
banmal (casual)
The assistant
아버지는 작은 식당을 하십니다.
My father runs a small restaurant.
hapsyo (formal)
The mother
식당? 오늘 음식은 입에 맞니?
A restaurant? Is tonight's food to your taste?
banmal (casual)
The assistant
네, 정말 맛있습니다.
Yes, it's delicious.
hapsyo (formal)
The heir
어머니, 식사 자리에서는 그만하세요.
Mother, please stop — we're at dinner.
haeyo (polite)
The mother
엄마가 궁금해서 그러지. 너도 먹어.
I'm just curious. You eat too.
banmal (casual)

Vocabulary

Korean	English	Note
뵙다	to meet (humble)	Humble form of 만나다, used toward someone you respect.
사모님	ma'am (wife of an executive)	A respectful address for a senior man's wife.
부모님	parents (honorific)	님 shows respect.
하시다	to do (honorific)	하다 + -시-.
입에 맞다	to suit one's taste	Literally "to fit the mouth".
식사 자리	a meal, the dinner table	자리 = occasion, seat.
궁금하다	to be curious	궁금해서 = because I'm curious.

Speech-level and title notes

-니? is a banmal question ending that older speakers use with younger people. It can sound warm from a grandmother; here it marks the age and status gap.

In 부모님은 무슨 일을 하시니 the mother uses honorific -시- for the parents but a banmal ending for the listener. Honorifics follow the person being talked about; the ending follows the person being talked to.

뵈었습니다 uses the humble verb 뵙다 instead of 만나다. The assistant lowers herself to raise the listener — the opposite move from the mother's.

The heir uses haeyo and 어머니 with his mother. That is more formal than 엄마, and here it signals that he is uncomfortable and wants her to stop.

Quiz

Original dialogue inspired by genre tropes — not show scripts. AI-assisted.