[Korean Culture & Language] Cha, Cha, Cha


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When out drinking with friends, Westerners usually ask ‘if anyone wants another round of alcohol’. They normally stay in one place for the entire night, unless they go bar hopping. Koreans, on the other hand, generally move from one place to the next, typically from a restaurant to a bar and then to karaoke. This act is referred to as ‘rounds(차),’ and is usually divided into three categories: drinking with meals, drinking after meals, and drinking late at night.

 

Ex) 

A: 우리 다 먹었나? 2차 갈까?
A: Is everyone done eating? Anyone up for the second round(2차)?

 

B: 2차로 어디에 갈거야?
B: Where are we going for 2차?

 

C: 저번주에 갔던 포차 어때?

C: How about that Pocha that we went to the other week?


포차(Pocha) is a type of tent bar that serves low-cost, high-quality street food, generally with traditional Korean alcoholic beverages like soju and makgeolli. Koreans usually visit 포차 as their 2nd or 3rd stop on a night out.

 

B: 거기 해물전이 맛있었어! 거기로 가자.

B: I loved the seafood pancake there! Let’s go there.

 

C: 다들 2차 가자!

Guys, let’s go for 2차!





In the song “맥주 두잔 (2 Beer),” Kisum, one of Korea’s most well-known rappers, states that she can’t go 2차 since she’ll be busy the next day:

 

딱 기분좋은 두잔

Two beers are the perfect amount to make me feel good.

나 2차는 못가.

I can’t go for the second round(2차).

낼 새벽 5시에 나가.

I have to wake up early and leave at 5 am

난 할일이 너무 많아 너무 많아.

I have so much to do. So much to do.


‘차’ could be either to switch up the activity or simply switch up the location and is usually divided into three categories: drinking with meals, drinking after meals, and drinking late at night.

 

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