Chaebol Romance · Scene 6 of 10
Scene 6: Can We Talk Casually?
Weeks into the contract, on a walk after work, the heir suggests dropping the formal speech.
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- The heir
우리 이제 말 편하게 할까요?
Shall we start talking casually now?
haeyo (polite) - The assistant
갑자기요? 회사에서는 안 돼요.
All of a sudden? Not at the office.
haeyo (polite) - The heir
회사 밖에서만요. 지금처럼.
Only outside the office. Like now.
haeyo (polite) - The assistant
그럼 먼저 말 놓으세요.
Then you drop the formal speech first.
haeyo (polite) - The heir
좋아. 그럼 너도 이제 반말해.
Okay. Then you talk casually too.
banmal (casual) - The assistant
어… 알았어. 근데 좀 어색하다.
Uh… okay. It feels a bit awkward, though.
banmal (casual) - The heir
금방 익숙해질 거야.
You'll get used to it soon.
banmal (casual) - The assistant
그래도 이름 부르는 건 아직 못 하겠어.
I still can't call you by your name, though.
banmal (casual)
Vocabulary
| Korean | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 말 편하게 하다 | to talk casually | Literally "to speak comfortably". |
| 말을 놓다 | to drop the formal speech | 놓다 = to put down. |
| 반말 | casual speech | The opposite of 존댓말 (polite speech). |
| 어색하다 | to feel awkward | Very common right after switching to banmal. |
| 익숙해지다 | to get used to | 익숙하다 = familiar. |
| 갑자기 | suddenly | 갑자기요? = all of a sudden? |
Speech-level and title notes
The switch to banmal is negotiated, not assumed. Usually the older or higher-status person offers first: 말 편하게 할까요? or 말 놓으세요.
Watch the exact line where it flips: 좋아 (line 5) is the first banmal line. From there both speakers drop -요.
Even after switching, she avoids his name. In Korean, using someone's given name is its own step of closeness, separate from banmal.
Quiz
Original dialogue inspired by genre tropes — not show scripts. AI-assisted.