Daily Dose of Hangul (한글)

Back to Post Modifier Patterns

November 15, 2009 at 11:39 am | In Modifiers | Leave a Comment
Tags: Post Modifiers

Couple of months ago, I have been reading about creating modifier forms — the basic ones. It was really difficult. As it is right now I still at times commit errors on the use of topic, subject, object markers and some other post-positioning.

Today, I learned about a noun that turns into a post modifier. So this post is a combination of what I have learned on creating modifiers and a special post modifier function of a noun that is called 길 (kil). This word means road, way or street, here are sample use of this word:

길에서 놀지 말아요 (Kileso nolji marayo) – Do not play in the street.
그 길 무엇이에요? (Hakyoeseo kil mueshieyo?) – What street is that? or What is that way?

Last time I made a post on processive modifier -는 (-neun), yes it’s called processive modifier because it can only be attached to action verb and not the descriptive ones (there is such thing as descriptive verb in Korean while in English we would normally call these words adjectives). The word 길 following a processive verb in 는 form takes the sentence to a new meaning which is not really too far from the essence of street, way or road. 길 then renders a new pattern meaning ‘on the way’.

Just as I imagine, processive modifier in this use will from verbs like 가 (ka) or 와 (wa) which means go and come respectively. So here are samples of processive verbs followed by 길:

Question: 어디에 가세요? (Eodie kaseyo?) – Where are you going?
Answer: 학교에 가는 길이에요. (Hakyoe kaneun kilieyo) – I am on my way to school.

Notice that one can actually also answer 학교에 갈 거에요 (Hakyoe kal koeyo) – I am going to school –which, I have learned to form during the time that I am reading about future tense of verbs. So this new post modifier gives speaker an option on answering such question. Here is another sample:

집에서 돌아오는 길에 휘성 가수가 만났어요. (Jipeseo dorawaneun kile Wheesung mannaseoyo) On my way back home I met singer Wheesung.

Translation

November 12, 2009 at 10:04 am | In Song, Translation Project | Leave a Comment
Tags: Korean Drama, Korean Song, Translation

I have been doing all this self study and effort to learn Korean and I still think I am poor at it. I have watched tons of Korean Dramas and listened to a lot of Korean songs so I won’t get alienated with my own little world of learning Korean Language. I just finished watching 찬란한 유산 (Shining Inheritance as commonly translated but it also means Glorious Heritage or Brilliant Heritage/Inheritance).

Shining Inheritance

It’s been a while since I get to finish watching a feel good Korean drama and I am so happy i got the chance to see this drama in one long weekend doing marathon. What interests me more is one of the songs in the Official Sound Track (OST). The song that I have been addicted to lately is 사랑에 미쳐서 (Sarange Michyeoso) which means Crazy in Love. I instantly wanted to get hold of the Korean lyrics of the song which I found out was sung by 지선 (Jisun from the group Loveholic). More than wanting to sing along while i play the song over and over, I said to my self I will translate the song in English.

I thought its going to be at least not so difficult with a little help from my dictionary and with all the things I learned about the language…well i am not going to be discouraged that easy so I am giving it a try at least for the first few stanzas.

웃고 싶어서 그냥 하는 말인데
I wanted to smile just as I speak
그댄 왜 이렇게 내맘을 몰라 정말..
why it is like this you really don’t know my feelings
다짐했는데 다시 사랑에 미쳐서
with all the things I did, again with my crazy love
지독하게 내마음을 쥐고 흔드나봐요
I am trying to hold on the hurting in my heart

그대 떠난 그 자리에 서서
When you left that place where you stood
나는 아직 그대만 보죠
I still could see only you.
너무 아픈데 언제쯤 우린
It hurts the thought that we
서로 남이 될까..
finally will be to each other…

가슴이 멈추질 않아
My heart will not stop
이별을 말하고도 한동안 사랑했잖아
him to say goodbye. For a while this love is okay
아직까지 그런듯한데
Until it will be like this

아픔이 가시질 않아
The pain will not go in time
다시 몇번을 참아봐도
Having to see again
너 없는 하루하루가 너무 힘이 들어
Day by day without you is just too hard
내겐 너 뿐인데..
For me there is only you.

Expressing ‘How wonderful it would be…’

October 12, 2009 at 12:59 pm | In Verb | 2 Comments
Tags: Conditional Verb, Expression

Another use of the verb in conditional form is for English expression ‘how wonderful it would be if…’ The conditional form of verb followed by phrase 얼마나 좋겠어요 (olmana chokesseoyo) does it. The pattern would look like this – (었)으면 얼마나 좋겠어요. Note that the verb formed with -으면 can be in past or present form.

Here are some of its applications:

시간이 더 있었으면 얼마나 좋겠어요 (Shicani deo isseoseumyeon olmana chokesseoyo) – How wonderful it would be if we had more time.
하얀 색이 아니었으면 얼마나 좋겠어요 (Hayan saeki anieosseumyeon olmana chokesseoyo) – How wonderful it would be if it wasn’t white.
가수 휘성씨 만나면 얼마나 좋겠어요 (Kasu Wheesungshi mannamyeon olmana chokesseoyo) – How wonderful it would be to meet Wheesung the singer.

Uses of Conditional Verb form -(으)

October 10, 2009 at 9:57 pm | In Phrases, Verb | Leave a Comment
Tags: Conditional Verb, Expression, wish

There are a handful of practical uses of verb in conditional form. One of which is in combination with 좋겠어요 (-chokesseoyo). I have learned that 좋다 (choda) can either mean to like or is good. However, when it is used with verb in conditional form and the future form of 좋다 which is 좋겠어 (chokesseo) it then corresponds to English sentence expressing hope or wish.

To simplify, first sentence clause ending in (으)면 plus final verb 좋겠어요 (chokesseyo) or 좋겠습니다 (chokessumnida) creates the expression ‘It would be good if….’ or ‘I hope or … ‘

We know that in English to say something like ‘It would be good if we have a wine’ is an expression that expresses wish to have wine. Here are examples of verb in conditional form used side by side 좋겠어요.

여름이 가지 않으면 좋겠어요. (Yeoreumi kagi aneumyeon chokesseoyo) – Literally this means, if summer did not go, it would be good. [= If summer did not go it would be good.]
한국말을 잘 하면 좋겠어요. (Hangukmareul jal hamyeon chokesseoyo) – I wish I speak Korean well or I hope speak Korean well.
지금 김치를 사면 좋겠어요. (Chigeum kimchireul samyeon chokesseoyo) – It would be good if we buy kimchi now.

Conditional Verb

September 7, 2009 at 8:53 pm | In Verb | 1 Comment
Tags: Conditional Verb

I really spend little time now learning and reviewing my Korean. Now is just high time to learn another type of verb in conditional form. The conditional form is a two-shape ending; -으면 (eumyeon) attached to consonant ending base verbs and plain -면 (myeon) attached to vowel ending base verb.

When this ending is attached to verb its meaning becomes when/if <verb>. This is how the verb is formed, see how base verb transform into its conditional form:

가 (ka) –> 가면 (kamyeon) – when one goes or if one goes
이쁘 (ippeu) –> 이쁘면 (ippeumyeon) – if something is cute or when its cute
쓰 (sseu) –> 쓰면 (sseumyeon) – if one write or when someone writes
먹 (meok) –> 먹으면 (meokeumyeon) – if one eats or when one eats
받 (pad) –> 받으면 (padeumyeon) – if one gets or when one gets
들 (deul) –> 들으면 (deureumyeon) – if one hears or when one hears

To an -ㄹ extending verb such as 사-ㄹ (sal, means live) the verb ending is attached on the extended form of the verb using 면 — as such 살면 (salmyeon) means if one lives or when one lives. It’s a bit tricky, supposedly the extended form ends in consonant but the verb ending used if for vowel ending verbs which is 면.

Want vs. Like

August 9, 2009 at 10:27 pm | In Verb | 5 Comments
Tags: Auxiliary Verb, like, Verb, want

A year ago when I started the difficult battle of learning Korean Language, i seek refuge with websites that offer Language Exchange Partners which I fondly called my LEPs. I had a few and they come and go. One of the earliest question I asked was how to express ‘i would like to…’ At that time I learned about -고 싶다 (-go shipda) verb which is used to express wish, desire or want. But one of my LEPs told me to use the verb 좋겠어 (jokesso). He told me this is commonly used because -go shipda can only be used to express one’s (first person sentence). I was confused then.

One’s desires, wants and wishes are expressed by using the auxiliary verb -고 싶어요 (-go shipeoyeo). To say someone other than you desires, wants and wishes to… -고 싶어해요 (-go shipeohaeyo) is used. However to say someone likes something, one can use 좋아세요 (choaseyo) or 좋아해요 (choahaeyo).

Here are some sample application:

비빔밥을 먹고 싶어요. ( Bibimbapeul mokko shipeoyeo) – I want to eat bibimbap.
친구는 비빔밥을 먹고 싶어해요. ( Chinguneun bibimbapeul mokko shipeohaeyo) – My friend wants to eat bibimbap.
친구는 비빔밥을 좋아해요. (Chinguneun bibimbap choahaeyo) – My friend likes bibimbap.

Denying Obligation

July 25, 2009 at 11:39 pm | In Manner of Speaking, Verb | 3 Comments
Tags: Negative Verb, Particles

Last time I learned how to express obligation by using the particle -야 (-ya) and 해요 (haeyo). Now I learned how to deny such obligation something like the English expression ‘you don’t have to’ or ‘you may not’ or ‘you need not’.

This is not something really offensive, the tone is rather it’s all right even if <verb>. The expression is formed by using a particle I just recently post, 도 (do) that is, added to a negative verb followed by 좋아요 (choayo), 돼요 dwaeyo) or 괜잖아요 (gwaenchanayo). So it’s necessary to know first how negative verbs are formed to be able to make use of this new expression.

A quick recap verbs are made negative by adding 안 in front of it this is the short cut or the longer way which is verb+지 (ji) 않아요.

Here are examples of the practical use of this expression:

밥을 안먹어도 괜잖아요. (Bapeul anmokodo gwaenchanayo) – It’s alright if you don’t eat the rice.
내일 집에 가지 않아도 돼요. (Jipe kaji anado dwaeyo). You don’t have to go home tomorrow.
아무선물을 가져오지 않아도 좋아요. (Amuseonmureul kajyeo.oji anado choayo). It’s okay even if you don’t bring any gift.

Expressing Obligation with -야 해요

July 24, 2009 at 3:31 pm | In Manner of Speaking, Verb | Leave a Comment
Tags: Infinitive, Particles

This new particle I learned simulates the way English statements stress the need to do something from just doing it. I will clean the room tomorrow is a bit lax compared to saying I must clean the room tomorrow. The latter sends out something like a higher level of urgency or an obligation. This ‘must’ or ‘need to’ message I learned is expressed by using the particle -야 (-ya) then ending the statement with verb 해요 (haeyo). The particle is attached to a verb’s infinitive form both for plain and honorific verbs.

학교에 가야 해요 (Hakyoe kaya haeyo) – I need to go to school.
내일 공부해야 해요 (Naeil gongbuhaeya haeyo) – I must study tomorrow.
언니 이 책을 읽어야 해요 (Eonnie i chaekeul ilkoya haeyo) – My (older) sister needs to read this book.

야 attached to the verb gives it the ‘only if you <verb>” meaning and the 해요 as verb ending means ‘will do it’. As such the combination of this particle and verb ending therefore results to meaning you have to <verb>.

나는 한국어 책을 읽어야 해요 =)

More Uses of 도 (Do)

July 22, 2009 at 7:04 pm | In Particles | Leave a Comment
Tags: Particles

I really feel sorry for my self and for those who have been looking forward to new post that I cannot update more frequently. I have been constantly reading the new handbook I got authored by Samuel Martin called Practical Korean. It’s another book I just got from Powerbooks three weeks ago.

Since the creation of Elementary Korean is actually inspired by the the first edition of this book, the approach in explaining is somehow similar except that Practical Korean is using romanization heavily as opposed to Elementary Korean which uses romanization for pronunciation simulation purposes.

I found this lesson on the use of of the particle -도. Previously I learned that this is attached to a word (usually a noun) which gives meaning ‘too’ or ‘also’. Like when you say 나도 (nado), it means me too or me also. Previously this particle has been compared with it’s brother 또 (Ddo) which means the same but the difference is, its a stand alone word. It does not have to be connected to a noun.

Now I learned a practical application of the particle -도 in combination with the verbs 좋아요 (choayo) and 괜잖아요 (gwaenchanayo). 좋아요 means ‘is good’ or ‘to like’ while 괜잖아요 means ‘is okay’ or ‘to be alright’ or ‘makes no difference’. The particle is actually attached to the infinitive form of the verb, in present tense.

The use of -도 in combination with 좋아요 or 괜잖아요 gives the same meaning as the English statements that asks or gives permission in this thought flow:

‘is it okay if I…?
‘can i…?
it is okay for you to…
you can…

He are some examples:

내일 공부해도 좋아요? (Naeil kongbuhado choayo?) – Is it okay to study tomorrow?

여기 앉아도 괜잖아요 (Yogi anjado gwaenchanayo) – I don’t mind if you sit here. You can sit here

연필로 써도 좋아요 (Yeonpilro sseodeo chuayo) – You can write using pencil.

이 방에 계셔도 괜잖아요 (I bange kyesyeodo gwaenchanayo) – It’s okay for you to stay in this room.

Korean Wordbook for Beginners

June 29, 2009 at 12:44 am | In Tips | 4 Comments
Tags: Korean Book

A year ago when I got the chance to visit Seoul, I bought a handful of Korean books to help me learn the language fast. I have not opened most of them except the culture comic book. Now that I temporarily stopped reading Continuing Korean to review my previous learnings, I took the time to open this small handbook called Korean Wordbook for Beginners. Its a Korean-English wordbook but it doesn’t have romanization which I really don’t mind. One language adviser once said that to be able to learn Korean, one must get rid of romanization. Instead, the focus should be on reading and writing in Hangul.

The book is relatively cheap. It only cost me 4800KRW or less than 5USD. It contains common Korean words used. It has synonyms and antonyms which I find really helpful in making the right choice of word. It also has example of the word’s use written in Korean without any English translation so it will somehow challenge your proficiency.

I appreciate the appendix as well as it contains collection of words commonly used in expression like Question Pronouns, Conjunctive Adverbs (normally used to connect 2 sentences), counting units or marker, number, colors and a lot more.

Here is a collection of Question Pronouns: