Korea Silence: November 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

-보다 more than

The comparative marker '-보다' (more than) is attached to a standard of comparison (which is usually the second noun) when both items of comparison are mentioned. It is often accompanied by '-더' which means 'more'.

한국말이 영어보다 (더) 어려워요. Korean is more difficult than English.

개가 고양이보다 (더) 커요. Dogs are bigger than cats.

오늘은 어제보다 (더) 시원해요. Today is cooler than yesterday.

When the standard of comparison is omitted, '더'('more) is used.

이게 더 좋아요. This is better.

한국말이 더 어려워요. Korean is more difficult.

나는 사과가 더 좋아요. I like apples more.

-아/어/여 보이다 someone(or something) looks (appears, seems...)

This pattern conveys meanings such as likeness, resemblance, or similarity. when attached directly to the stems of adjectives.
The past tense form of this pattern is '-아/어/여 보였다.'

-아 보이다 is after verb stems having '아/오'
-어 보이다 is after verb stems having other vowel '아/오'
-여 보이다 is after verb stems having '-하다'

옷이 작아 보여요. The clothes look small.

한국음식이 맛있어 보여요. Korean food looks delicious.

그분이 행복해 보여요. He looks happy.

V-아(어/여) 보다 to see

(1) On it's own, '보다' means 'to see.' The pattern '-아(어/여)보다' is used to convey meanings such as 'someone tries doing something ( to see how it will turn out) or 'someone does something to see (how it will turn out).'

이 구두를 신어 보세요. Please try on these shoes.

전화해 보세요. Please try to call.

여기서 기다려 보세요. Please wait here.

(2) With past tense form. it can be used to express experience as well as the meanings mentioned in (1)

저는 한국에 가 봤어요. I have been to Korea.

저는 멜라니를 만나 봤어요. I have met Melanie.

T-부터 from (when)

The marker '-부터' indicates a movement away from a certain place or time.
It is much more commonly used for time than place.
For place, the marker '-에서' is better.

9시부터 12시까지 한국어를 공부해요. I study Korean from nine to twelve.

몇 시부터 수업을 시작해요? What time does class begin?
(From what time do you begin class?)

이것부터 하세요. Do this first.

여기부터 읽으세요. Read from here.

N/T-까지 Until

This marker '-까지' indicates goal of the time and place, attaching to nouns of place or time.

어디까지 가세요? How far are you going?

시청까지 가요. I am going as far as City Hall.

아홉시까지 오세요. Please come by nine o'clock.

V-(으)ㄹ 거예요 Will

This pattern is used in the first or second person to express an action which is going to take place in the future.

(1) -ㄹ 거예요 : If the verb stem ends in a vowel.

안나씨, 내일 뭐 할 거예요? Anna, what will you do tomorrow?

저는 내일 이사를 할 거예요. I will move tomorrow.

(2) -을 거예요 : If the verb stem ends in a consonant.

지금 점심 먹을 거예요? Will you have lunch now?

아니오, 30분 후에 먹을 거예요. No, I will have it in 30 minutes.

If the subject of the sentence is the 3rd person pronoun, this pattern indicates likelihood or probability.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

오후 Evening

[oh-hiu]

아침 Morning

[ah-chim]

갑자기 Suddenly

[kap-ja-gyi]

AV-고 싶다 Would like to (do)/ Want to (do)

The pattern ‘-고 싶다’ is used to indicate the desire of the subject and is used with action verbs and ‘있다.’ This pattern ‘-고 싶다’ is used with first person statements and second person questions. Here are some examples:

사과를 사고 싶어요. (I) would like to buy an apple.

커피를 마시고 싶어요. (I) would like to drink a cup of coffee.

한국에 가고 싶어요. (I) would like to go to Korea.

안나씨를 만나고 싶어요? Would (you) like to see Anna?

어디에 가고 싶으세요? Where would (you) like to go?

Tense and negation are expressed in the verb '싶다'.

피자를 먹고 싶어요. (I) wanted to eat pizza.

피자를 먹고 싶지 않아요. (I) don't want to eat pizza

Thursday, November 26, 2009

어떻게 How

[or-dot-gae]

언제 When

[on-jae]

왜 Why

어디 Where

무엇/뭐 What

누구 Who

어느 Which

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

구원 Relief/ Rescue

[gu-worn]

J: 救援

Friday, November 20, 2009

배불러요. I'm full

[pae-pu-ror-yor]

많이 배불러요. I'm very full.

배고파요. I'm hungry

[pea-gu-pa-yor]

많이 배고파요. I'm very hungry.

그럼요. Of course/ Sure.

[ke-rom-nio]

Thursday, November 19, 2009

잘 있었어요? How have you been?

[chal-yi-sor-sor-yor]

Have you been well? Have you been good?

Reply: 잘 있었어요.

오랜만이에요. Its been a long time./ Its been a while.

[wu-ran-man-ni-ae-yor]

여보세요? Hello?

[your-bu-seh-yor]

Used for phone conversation

고마워\ 고맙습니다\ 감사합니다 Thank you.

[go-ma-wor] [go-marp-seam-ni-da] [kam-sa-ham-ni-da]

informal polite form: 고마워 (Reply: 아니아 (literally mean 'no', but 'don't mention' in this context)
formal polite form: 고맙습니다 (Reply: 아니에요)
slighly more formal polite form: 감사합니다 (Reply: 아니에요)

반갑습니다. Pleasure/Nice to meet you.

[pan-garp-seam-ni-da]

Literally mean 'pleasure to meet you'.

e.g.
처음 뵙겠습니다, 반갑습니다.
First time meeting you, nice to meet you.

처음 뵙겠습니다. How do you do?

[chor-erm-pea-gea-seam-ni-da]

처음 뵙겠습니다 means “How do you do?” or litearlly “It’s my first time meeting you.”

저기요! Execuse Me!

[chor-gi-yor]

어서 오세요 Welcome

[or-sor-oh-seh-yor]

-았/었/였- Past tense

This is used to indicate an action which took place in the past or a condition which used to exist.

(1) -았-
When the final vowel of the verb stem is 'ㅏ,ㅗ', it takes '-았-'

많다: 많 + -> 많았어요.
좋다: 좋 + 았어요. -> 좋았어요.
만나다: 만나 + -> 만나았어요. -> 만났어요. (contraction)
오다: 오 + -> 오았어요. -> 왔어요. (contracion)

(2) -었-
When the final vowel of the verb stem is any other vowel like 'ㅓ, ㅜ, ㅡ, ㅣ', it takes '-었-'.

먹다: 먹 + -> 먹었어요.
읽다: 읽 + 었어요. -> 읽었어요.
가르치다: 가르치 + -> 가르치었어요. -> 가르쳤어요. (contraction)
찍다: 찍 + -> 찍었어요.

(3) -였-
When the verb is a '하다' verb, it takes '-였-'.

산책하다: 산책하 + -> 산책하였어요. -> 산책했어요. (contraction)
기뻐하다: 기뻐하 + 였어요. -> 기뻐하였어요. -> 기뻐했어요. (contraction)
공부하다: 공부하 + -> 공부하였어요. -> 공부했어요. (contraction)