Another Modifier -는

February 28, 2009 at 11:00 pm | In Noun, Particles, Rules, Verb | Leave a Comment
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Another modifier I learned today is -는 which is similar to topic particle used for words ending in vowel.  This new modifier is almost similar to -(으)ㄴexcept that it is specially used for processive verb. 

This modifier doesn’t mind the final character of the word whether vowel or consonant it is directly added to a processive verb.  Amazingly, unlike (으) ㄴ, this modifier cannot be used to descriptive verbs or adjectives.  Here are examples of its  application in certain processive verb:

  • 만나는 (manneun) from 마나 (manna) which means meet
  • 쓰는 (sseuneun) from 쓰(sseu)  which means write
  • 기다리는 (kidarineun) from 기다리 (kidari) which means  wait for
  • 가는 (kaneun) from 가 (ka) which means go
  • 먹는 (meokneun)  from 먹 (meok) which means eat
  • 보는 (boneun) from 보 (bo) which means look

This modifier added in a processive verb placed before a noun has a present meaning, that someone is verbing or doing.  This should somehow make this statement clear:

  • 쓰는 사람 (Sseunen saram) –> the person who is writing
  • 읽는 책 (ikneun chaek) –>the book that [he] is reading
  • 걸는 선생님 (keolneun seonsaengnim) –> the teacher who is walking.

So obvisouly for descriptive verbal nouns which takes auxiliary verb 해요,  one there is always the form descriptive verb+한 like this example: 깨끗한 방 (kkaekeuthan bang) would mean a room that is clean. 

However, for a processive verbal nouns with 해요, the verb 하 functions as processive so it taked the modifier 는. Such as 산보하는 사람 (sanbohaneun saram) which means a person who is taking a walk.  Comparing to the last modifier i learned -ㄴ when this is used on the example given –> 산보한 사람 (sanbohan saram) it now means a peron who took a walk. Its meaning becomes past.

Ways to Say: Concerning, About

January 30, 2009 at 10:20 pm | In Noun, Phrases | 2 Comments
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There are two ways to express what in English means about, with respect to, concerning etc.  This is through the use of the following postpositional phrase:

  • -에 대해서  (-e daehaeseo)
  • -에 관해서 (-e gwanhaeseo)

Of these two, the second one tends to mean more formal or bookish.  I just realized that my other site about my favorite Korean artist is actually using this postpositional phrase  in the tag line 왭사이트 휘성에 관한  at (http://wheesung.wordpress.com).   I wrote this tagline over a year ago using my dictionary and some early learnings on particles.

Here are some other examples:

  • 어빠는 자동차에  대해서 많이 알고 있어요.  (Oppaneun chadongcha daehaeseo manhi alko isseoyo.)  My brothers knows a lot about cars.
  • 필리핀사람들은 언제나 정부에 관해서 이야기를 해요.  (Pilipinsaramdeuleun onjena jeongbue gwanhaseo iyagi haeyo.)  The Filipinos always talk about the government.

Honorific Nouns

November 3, 2008 at 3:44 pm | In Honorific, Noun | 2 Comments
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On my earlier days of studying Korean, i have been introduced to some words that are called honorific.  These are words that are used when talking to someone with high social status, government official, foreign guest, teachers etc.

When honorific words are used the polite (-요) or formal (-ㅂ니다/습니다) style of speech. Many of the honorific words I learned before are actually verb such as 주무시 (chumushi) instead or 자 (ja) for the word sleep or 드시 (dushi) instead of 먹다 (mokta) for the verb eat.   Apart from these verbs, there are noun that are considered honorific.  Here are some of the examples:

Regular Noun

Honorific Noun

English Meaning
집 (jip) 댁 (daek) House
나이 (nai) 연세 (yeonse) Age
사람 (saram) 분 (bun) Person
밥 (bap) 진지 (chinji) Rice
아이 (ai) 자 녀분 (cha nyeobun) Children
자 제분 (cha chebun)

These are the nouns preferred when talking to an esteemed person.

Terms for Kinship and Relations

November 1, 2008 at 2:24 pm | In Noun | Leave a Comment
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I added a new page on this site found on the right side.  Its the Kinship Terms or how to address family members or related person.  Just like how Korean uses different styles in communicating (formal, formal-polite and intimate), addressing people may also varies depending on the gender of the person related.  There are also honorifics used for esteemed person (person of higher social status).

I know a lot of Korean movie and drama fanatics are used to hearing 오빠 (oppa), 누나 (nuna) or 언니 (eonni).  Thesea re just some of the terms used to denote relationship which at times are not limited to blood relations.  오빠 can be used by a younger girl to call her boyfriend or old friend who is a guy.  Same goes with 누나, this is not limited to an older sister to a younger brother but can be used to address older girls close to a guy.

To know more about this, check out the page on Kinship Terms.

Another Generalizer 아무 (amu)

October 11, 2008 at 9:33 am | In Noun | Leave a Comment
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This post helps increase vocabulary.  The two syllable 아무 (amu) is a generalizer that means ‘any’ so this can be usually found in front of a noun. It can also mean any old [noun] = 아무[noun].

  • 아무 나 (amuna) anybody, anyone
  • 아무 것이나 – anything
  • 아무 데나 – any place
  • 아무 데서나 – from any place
  • 아무 때나 – anytime

You will constantly hear this two syllables in Korean conversation and even on songs.

Verbal Nouns: Processive

May 3, 2008 at 9:26 am | In Noun, Verb | Leave a Comment
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So we know that nouns can act as verb in a sentece, well this happens both in English and Korean language.  For the purpose of this post, verbal nouns (or nouns that acts as verb in sentence) can be further categorized as Processive or Descriptive.   This somehow clears some of the questions I have on verbs and nouns in Korean.

Let’s deal with Processive Verbal Nouns first.  These are the type where the verbal noun can be separated from the versatile verb 하 (ha which means does/ performs action or says/speak.  So literally its verbal noun + verb 하 (infinitive form is 해 for intimate conversation or 해요 as polite verb ending).

Let’s use the example 구경 (kukyong which means watches or views).  This is an example of a processive noun and can be expressed in these ways:

  • 구경해요 – kukyeonghaeyo or
  • 구경을 해요 – kukyeongeul haeyo, where 구경을 becomes an object of the verb 해.

The same pattern will be true for verbal nouns such as 일 (il or work), 청소 (cheongso or clean), 확인 (hwag.in or check) etc.

  • 일(을) 해 – ireul hae or ilhae 
  • 청소(를) 해 – cheongsoreul hae or cheongsohae
  • 확인(을) 해 – hwakineul hae or hwakinhae

I used to think 해 is something optional and wasn’t really clear on when to use it and when not.  This lesson in the book explains it.  Got to read Descriptive Verbal Nouns now.

What Month is it?

February 25, 2008 at 12:24 pm | In Noun | 2 Comments
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Month in Korea is either 달 (tal) or 월 (wol). 월 (Wol ) is commonly seen as the last character block or syllable for each month.  달 (Tal) is more used as a noun.  Below are the 12 months in Korean:

  • 일월 (Irwol) – January
  • 이월 (Iwol) – February
  • 삼월 (Samwol) – March
  • 사월 (Sawol) – April
  • 오월 (Owol) – May
  • 유월 (Yuwol) – June
  • 칠월 (Chirwol) – July
  • 팔월 (Palwol) – August
  • 구월 (Guwol) – September
  • 시월 (Siwol) – October
  • 십일월 (Shipilwol) – November
  • 십이월 (Shipiwol) – December

What Day Is It?

February 3, 2008 at 6:44 am | In Noun, Phrases, Rules | Leave a Comment
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My last posting was about days of the week.  This time I have learned to say what days it is.  I have also learned how Koreans use days in their conversation. 

To say what day it is ->  오늘 <일요일>이에요 Onuel Iryoil-eyo. Today is Sunday.  Just simply change the word in parenthesis to the current day + the copula 이에요 (ieyo).

If you want to want to ask what is the day today –> 오늘이 무슨 날인지 아라? Oneul Mosun Nal-inja ara? This is asking, ‘do you know what day it is?’.  Change 아라 to 아십니까 (ashimnikka) then the question is asked the polite way.

I visited one Korean site which is Korean Class 101 and it says there,  when 2 or more days are mentioned or referred to at the same time, the last two blocks (요일-yoil) are removed such that only the first syllable is used. 

월금토 (wolkumto) referring to Monday, Friday and Saturday.

Days of the Week

January 13, 2008 at 1:59 pm | In Noun | 2 Comments
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This posting is inspired by Wheesung’s 7Days song from his Love…Love…?Love…! album. This is also basic for someone who is learning Korean.  Knowing the how to say the days of the week.

  1. Monday – 워요일  (Wuyoil)
  2. Tuesday – 화요일  (Hwayoil)
  3. Wednesday – 수요일  (Suyoil)
  4. Thursday – 목요일  (Mokyoil)
  5. Friday – 금요일  (Kumnyoil)
  6. Saturday – 토요일  (Toyoil)
  7. Sunday – 일요일  (Iryoil)

Speaking of days of the week what goes with these words are the following:

  • Today which is 오늘 (onul)
  • Yesterday is 어제 (Oje)
  • Tomorrow is 내일 (naeil)

Place Nouns and 에

November 2, 2007 at 5:01 pm | In Noun | 3 Comments
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I learned place nouns as Korean would name it.  The use of this nouns and 에 will help communicate clearly specially when location is discussed.  Among the few place nouns i learned are:

  • 안 (inside) used primarily when describing a space or location that can be loosely filled
  • 속 (inside) same meaning as 인 but is used mainly for space or location which can be easily identified as filled
  • 밖 (outside)
  • 위 (above, on top, over)
  • 밑 (below, bottom, underneath)
  • 아래 (lower, down, below)
  • 앞 (in front)
  • 뒤 (at the back, behind)
  • 근처 (within the vicinity, near)
  • 옆 (next to, beside)
  • 사이 (between)

Positioning of the noun is important since the above place nouns can be used to modify another noun.  I thought the language is not sensitive to such but I was wrong:

  • 문 뒤에 -  would mean behind the door or located behind the door but if word order is changed to
  • 뒤 문 -  it would then mean the ‘back door’ or door at the back or door behind.  뒤 is used to modify 문

 I also learned one important place noun which will be helpful when I travel to Korea, this is 편 or 쯕 which denotes direction or side (as location).  So to say the following:

  • On left – 왼 편에 or 왼 쯕에
  • On right – 오른 편에 or 오른 쯕에
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