술 vs 안주: The Two Stars of Drinking Culture

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  나는 어제 친구들과 술을 마셨어.

  na-neun eo-je chin-gu-deul-gwa sul-eul ma-syeoss-eo., na neun eo je chin gu deul gwa sul eul ma syeoss eo.

  Since 술 is a drink, '마시다' (to drink) is the correct verb.

• ❌

  나는 어제 친구들과 안주를 마셨어.

  na-neun eo-je chin-gu-deul-gwa an-ju-reul ma-syeoss-eo., na neun eo je chin gu deul gwa an ju reul ma syeoss eo.

  안주 is food, so you cannot use '마시다' (to drink). Use '먹다' (to eat) instead.

• ⭕

  술안주로 치킨을 시켰다.

  sul-an-ju-ro chi-kin-eul si-kyeoss-da., sul an ju ro chi kin eul si kyeoss da.

  Since 안주 means food with alcohol, ordering chicken as 술안주 is natural.

• ❌

  술안주로 맥주를 시켰다.

  sul-an-ju-ro maek-ju-reul si-kyeoss-da., sul an ju ro maek ju reul si kyeoss da.

  Beer is alcohol, so ordering it as 안주 is unnatural. It should be ordered as 술.

• ⭕

  술자리에서 안주가 빠지면 분위기가 어색해진다.

  sul-ja-ri-e-seo an-ju-ga ppa-ji-myeon bun-wi-gi-ga eo-saek-hae-jin-da., sul ja ri e seo an ju ga ppa ji myeon bun wi gi ga eo saek hae jin da.

  At drinking parties, 안주 affects the atmosphere, so this is appropriate.

• ⭕

  술자리에서 술이 빠지면 분위기가 어색해진다.

  sul-ja-ri-e-seo sul-i ppa-ji-myeon bun-wi-gi-ga eo-saek-hae-jin-da., sul ja ri e seo sul i ppa ji myeon bun wi gi ga eo saek hae jin da.

  If alcohol is missing at a drinking party, the atmosphere naturally becomes awkward.

• ❌

  안주를 마시면서 이야기를 나눴다.

  an-ju-reul ma-si-myeon-seo i-ya-gi-reul na-nwoss-da., an ju reul ma si myeon seo i ya gi reul na nwoss da.

  Since 안주 is food, '마시다' (to drink) is incorrect. Use '먹다' (to eat).

• ❌

  술을 먹으면서 즐거운 시간을 보냈다.

  sul-eul meok-eu-myeon-seo jeul-geo-un si-gan-eul bo-naess-da., sul eul meok eu myeon seo jeul geo un si gan eul bo naess da.

  술 is a drink, so '마시다' (to drink) should be used instead of '먹다' (to eat).

1. Which sentence uses 술 correctly?

   다음 중 술을 올바르게 사용한 문장은?(da-eumjungsul-eulol-ba-reu-gesa-yong-hanmun-jang-eun?, daeumjungsuleulolbareugesayonghanmunjangeun?)
   • 술안주로 맥주를 시켰다.(sul-an-ju-romaek-ju-reulsi-kyeoss-da., sulanjuromaekjureulsikyeossda.)
   • 나는 어제 친구들과 술을 마셨어.(na-neuneo-jechin-gu-deul-gwasul-eulma-syeoss-eo., naneuneojechingudeulgwasuleulmasyeosseo.)
   • 안주를 마시면서 이야기를 나눴다.(an-ju-reulma-si-myeon-seoi-ya-gi-reulna-nwoss-da., anjureulmasimyeonseoiyagireulnanwossda.)

2. Which is correct about 안주?

   안주에 관한 올바른 설명은?(an-ju-egwan-hanol-ba-reunseol-myeong-eun?, anjuegwanhanolbareunseolmyeongeun?)
   • 술과 함께 먹는 음식이다.(sul-gwaham-kkemeok-neuneum-sik-i-da., sulgwahamkkemeokneuneumsikida.)
   • 알코올 음료를 뜻한다.(al-ko-oleum-ryo-reultteus-han-da., alkooleumryoreultteushanda.)
   • 술을 마실 때 사용하는 동사이다.(sul-eulma-silttaesa-yong-ha-neundong-sa-i-da., suleulmasilttaesayonghaneundongsaida.)

3. Which sentence is incorrect?

   다음 중 틀린 문장은?(da-eumjungteul-rinmun-jang-eun?, daeumjungteulrinmunjangeun?)
   • 술자리에서 술이 빠지면 분위기가 어색하다.(sul-ja-ri-e-seosul-ippa-ji-myeonbun-wi-gi-gaeo-saek-ha-da., suljarieseosulippajimyeonbunwigigaeosaekhada.)
   • 안주를 마셨다.(an-ju-reulma-syeoss-da., anjureulmasyeossda.)
   • 술안주로 치킨을 시켰다.(sul-an-ju-rochi-kin-eulsi-kyeoss-da., sulanjurochikineulsikyeossda.)