Twinkling Watermelon: Learn Korean Grammar Through Heartfelt Drama

Twinkling Watermelon follows the story of Ryeo Un, who grew up in a family with hearing-impaired parents. One day, he mysteriously travels back in time and meets the younger version of his father, Yi Chan. To his surprise, he discovers that his father wasn’t born deaf and was once an active band member, leading to an emotional journey of music, family secrets, and self-discovery.

In this blog, we'll discuss 3 key Korean grammars points you can learn from a heart-fluttering scene in Twinkling Watermelon. This is the unforgettable confession moment between the younger versions of Ryeo Un’s parents. I chose this particular moment because it’s not only adorable but also incredibly relatable for many teenagers and young adults. Let’s get started!

Script

이찬: 미안하지만, 나 좋아하는 사람—

이찬: 나 가지라고?

이찬: 저기 잠깐! 청아야!

청아 (그림): 알아 네가 세경이를 좋아한다는거

상관 없어. 왜냐면…

니 마음의 주인은 너고,

내 마음의 주인은 나니까.

그래도 친구는 될 수 있잖아.

혹시 내가 장애인이라 싫은 거라면,

너는 개자식이고 나는 침뱉고

돌아서면 그만이니까 거절해도 괜찮아

우리, 친구가 될 수 있을까?

Yi Chan: I’m sorry, but there’s someone I like…

Yi Chan: It’s for me?

Yi Chan: Hey, wait. Chung Ah!

Chung Ah (drawing): I know you like Se Gyeong.

It doesn’t matter though. Because…

You own your feelings, and I own mine.

But we can still be friends.

If you don’t want to be my friend because of my disability,

then you’re a jerk.

I’ll just spit on you and walk away.

So feel free to reject me. Can we be friends?

1. Verb / Adjective + -지만 (Expressing Contrast like "but" or "however")

"미안하지만, 나 좋아하는 사람— "

"I’m sorry, but there’s someone I like… "

The ending -지만 is used to express contrast or opposition, much like saying "but" or "however" in English. It connects two clauses where the second clause presents a contrasting idea to the first.

Attach -지만 directly to the verb or adjective stem.

Example Sentences

맛있지만 너무 매워요. It’s delicious, but it’s too spicy.
졸리지만 공부해야 해요. I’m sleepy, but I have to study.
좋아하지만 말할 수 없어요. I like him, but I can’t say it.

2. Verb / Adjective + -잖아 (Reminding or Justifying)

"그래도 친구는 될 수 있잖아."

"But we can still be friends."

The ending -잖아 is used when the speaker wants to remind someone of something they already know or to justify their statement. It’s like saying, “You know…,” or “As you know…” in English.

Attach -잖아 to the verb or adjective stem.

Example Sentences

시간이 없잖아, 빨리 가자.We don’t have time, you know, so let’s hurry.
내가 말했잖아! I told you!
내가 이거 해본 적 있잖아, 걱정하지 마. I’ve done this before, remember? Don’t worry.

3. Verb / Adjective + -ㄹ/을까(요)? (Expressing curiosity or uncertainty)

"우리, 친구가 될 수 있을까?"

"Can we be friends?"

The grammar -ㄹ/을까(요)? is used to express curiosity, wonder, or uncertainty, and it can also be used to make polite suggestions or ask for someone’s opinion. It’s similar to asking, “I wonder if…,” “Could it be…,” or “Shall we…?” in English.

If a verb or adjective stem ends in a vowel, attach -ㄹ까요?
If it ends in a consonant, add -을까요? (no other changes).

Example Sentences

저기 가 볼까요? Shall we go over there?
이 옷이 비쌀까요? I wonder if this outfit is expensive.
이 길로 가면 더 빠를까? Will it be faster if we take this road?

And that’s a wrap!

Twinkling Watermelon mixes romance, music, and family in a heartwarming story. Plus, it’s a great way to learn Korean grammar through real conversations. If you haven’t watched it yet, I definitely recommend it!

What would you like to learn next? Comment it down below!

Twinkling Watermelon: Learn Korean Grammar Through Heartfelt Drama