LV1. TIME

You can read time with Korean after reading this article.

1.Hours (~시)
1:00 한시
2:00 두시
3:00 세시
4:00 네시
5:00 다섯시
6:00 여섯시
7:00 일곱시
8:00 여덟시
9:00 아홉시
10:00 열시
11:00 열한시
12:00 열두시

2. AM and PM (오전, 오후)
1:00am 오전 한시
1:00pm 오후 한시

3. Minutes (분)
1:01 한시 일분
1:05 한시 오분
1:10 한시 십분
1:15 한시 십오분
1:30 한시 삼십분 or 한시 반
1:45 한시 사십오분


4. practice (연습)
(1) 3:25 pm : 오후 세시 이십오분
(2) 2:45 pm :
(3) 6:30 am :
(4) 1:40 pm :
(5) 9:30 am :
(6) 11:10pm :
(7) 9:10pm :
(8) 7:30pm :
(9) 12:05am :
(10) 4 :10pm :

Koren Language LV2 - AVst는지 모르다/알다 (2)

For the exercise. All questions are based on TOPIK test.
Don't foreget you leave a message after reading this article to the end.


1. 맞는 것을 고르십시오.
가 : 지금 밖의 ( )가 어때요?
나 : 추운지 모르겠어요.
① 날씨 ② 구두 ③ 겨울 ④ 자리

가 : 대성 씨가 지금 ( )에 가는지 알아요?
나 : 글쎄요, 어디에 가는지 모르겠어요.
① 무엇 ② 어디 ③ 저기 ④ 거기

A : 지금 바빠요?
B : 아니요. 몰라요. ____________________.
① 지금 바쁜지 몰라요.
② 지금 바빠서 몰라요.
③ 지금 바쁘기 때문에 몰라요.
④ 지금 바쁘면 몰라요.

A : 내일 시간 있어요?
B : 글쎄요. ____________________________.
① 내일 바빠서 만날 수 있어요.
② 내일 수업이 없어서 만날 수 있어요.
③ 내일 약속이 있는데 만나요.
④ 내일 시간이 있는지 몰라요.

A : 효리가 어제 어떤 남자를 만났는지 알아?
B : 응. _____________________
① 어떤 남자를 만났는지 관심 없어.
② 어떤 남자를 만났는지 모르겠어.
③ 어떤 남자를 만났는지 알아.
④ 어떤 남자를 만났는지 알 수 없어.

A : 지하철이 벌써 왔네요!
B : 이렇게 지하철이 일찍 __________ .
① 올걸 그랬어.
② 왔는데 어떻게 해?
③ 올지 몰랐어.
④ 올 뻔 했어.

2. 틀린 것을 고르십시오.
① 선생님, 수업하지 말아요.
② 안녕히 가세요.
③ 친구가 밥 먹었는지 모른다.
④ 어제 친구의 댁에 간 걸 안다.

① 아버지 가방에 들어 가셨는지 모른다.
② 아버지가 방에 들어 가셨는지 모른다.
③ 아버지께서 식사를 하셨는지 모른다.
④ 아버지께서 지금 주무시는지 모른다.

3. 아래 대화를 읽고 질문에 대답하시오.
Jing : 안녕하세요?
Tom : 네. 어떻게 지냈어요?
Jing : 바빠 죽겠어요! 정신이 없어요.
Tom : 진짜요?
Jing : 네. 한국어 선생님이 과제를 많이 줘요.
그래서 시간이 어떻게 가는지 몰라요.
Tom : 저도 그래요. 한국어 정말 어려워요.
가끔 저는 이해하지 못해요.
교실에서 무엇을 하고 있는지 몰라요.
Jing : 저도 그럴 때가 많아요. Tom오빠.
한국어만 보면 머리가 아파요.
Tom : 하하. 오빠랑 커피 마시러 가요.
Jing : 안돼요. 숙제가 많아요. 시간이 많이
걸려요. 숙제가 언제 끝날지 몰라요.
Tom : 숙제 끝나고 무엇을 할거에요?
좋은 계획이 있어요?
Jing : 글쎄요. 무엇을 할지 몰라요.
Tom : 우리 영화를 보러 가는 게 어때요?
Jing : 날씨가 추워서 싫어요.
Tom : 지금 중국의 날씨는 어때요?
Jing : 지난 주에 눈이 많이 왔어요.
Tom : 겨울이 오면 중국으로 돌아가요?
Jing : 모르겠어요. 부모님이 한국으로
오실지 몰라요. 오빠는 집에 가요?
Tom : 여자친구랑 여행을 가기로 했어요.
Jing : 어디로 가기로 했어요?
Tom : 글쎄요. 어디로 갈지 모르겠어요.
Jing : 중국으로 가는 게 어때요?
Tom : 좋은 생각이에요!


(1) Jing이 왜 바빠요?

(2) Tom은 한국어가 쉽다고 말했어요?

(3) Tom이 Jing에게 무엇을 마시자고 말했어요?

(4) Jing은 숙제가 적어요?

(5) Tom의 여자친구가 중국에 가요?


4. <보기>를 이용해 문장을 만드십시오.

지난 / 무엇을 / 했는지 / 안다 / 여름에

-> 너가 _____________________________.


미래에 / 아무도 / 무엇이 / 될지 / 모른다.
-> 우리는 ___________________________.



If you need a document file, please ask me then I will send a PDF file including these questions you can print out. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via e-mail, dooliya@gmail.com.

Koren Language LV2 - AVst는지 모르다/알다 (1)

Normally, this expression is on Level 2 of Korean class for foreigners at university's language centers in Korea.

Today, You will learn
1. AVst는지 모르다/알다
2. DVst(으)ㄴ지 모르다/알다

AVst : action verb stems
DVst : description verb stems
----------------------------------------------------
1. Meaning? -> I don't know/do know that(or if) Subjective Verb....
2. Classification : 3 types based on the time
(1) AVst는지 모르다/알다DVst(으)ㄴ지 모르다/알다 -> Present tense
(2) Vst았/었/였는지 모르다/알다 -> Past tense
(3) Vst(으)ㄹ지 모르다/알다 -> Future tense
-----------------------------------------
ex>
A : 지금 날씨가 어때요? How's the weather now?
B : 몰라요. 날씨가 어떤지 몰라요. I don't know. I don't know how the whether is now.

A : 어제 무엇을 먹었어요? What did you eat yesterday?
B : 글쎄요. 어제 무엇을 먹었는지 몰라요.Well.. I don't know what I had yesterday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
You can easily think of how to use it!

그거 쉬워요? 몰라요? = 그거 쉬운지 몰라요?
Is it easy? you don't know? = You don't know that it's easy?

공부하는 것이 힘들어요? 몰라요? = 공부하는 것이 힘든지 몰라요?
Studying is difficult? You don't know? = You don't know studying is difficult?

친구를 만나요? 언제? 몰라요? = 언제 친구를 만나는지 몰라요?
You see a friend? When? You don't know? = You don't know when you see a friend?

-----------------------------------------------------
WORDS

Action Verbs
(사람을) 만나다 : to meet
(음식을) 먹다 : to eat
(옷을) 입다 : to wear
가다 : to go <-> 오다 : to come
자다 : to sleep <-> 깨다, 일어나다 :to get or wake up
공부하다 : to study

Description Verbs
어렵다 to be difficult <-> 쉽다 : to be easy
모르다 not to understand <-> 알다 : to understand
예쁘다 to be pretty
귀엽다 to be cute
------------------------------------------------------

Korean Language - 있다/없다.

"무엇이 있습니다." "무엇이 없습니다."

0. pattern : ~이/가 있다 / 없다

1. Meaning

(1) ~이/가 있다 is standing for an existence expression like "There is/are ~."

(2) ~이/가 없다 means "There is/are not ~"

#. Sometimes, Korean people use 있다 like "have"

2. Example

(1) 책상이 있습니다. There is a desk.

(2) 펜이 있습니다. There is a pen.

(3) 컴퓨터가 있습니다. There is a computer.

(4) 커피가 있습니다. There is coffee.

(5) 돈이 있습니다. There is money or I have money.

3. What's "이/가"

이/가 is post-position which is following after Noun used as objective in sentences.

4. When should you put 이 or 가 after objective noun?

(1) As you can see 책상 on 2.(1) sentence, the last character is composed of three consonants and it's put "이." ; when the last character has three of consonants, you should put 이 on the sentences. 2.(2) and 2.(5) are also the same way.

(2) Otherwise, 2.(3), 2.(4) have "가" after the subjectives. the last character has only two consonants. So, you should put "가" on when there is the last character of the objective has two consonants.

5. Self-study

(1) 스피커(이/가) 있습니다. There are speakers.

(2) 시계(이/가) 있습니다. There is a watch.

(3) 선생님(이/가) 있습니다. There is a teacher.

(4) 자동차(이/가) 있습니다. There is a car.

(5) 지하철(이/가) 있습니다. There is subway.

(6) 버스(이/가) 있습니다. There is a bus.

(7) 택시(이/가) 있습니다. There is a taxi.

(8) 기차(이/가) 있습니다. There is a train.

(9) 콜라(이/가) 있습니다. There is coke.

(10) 사이다(이/가) 있습니다. There is cider.

6. Answer

(1) 가, (2) 가, (3) 이, (4) 가, (5) 이, (6) 가, (7)가, (8)가, (9)가, (10)가

7. What's difference of 있다 and 있습니다

있다 and 있습니다 have the same meaning standing for existence.

For listeners, however, you should speak differently.

있다 is informal for usual writing for oneself such as essay, diary, and etc. It's the basic form of verb. Normally, basic forms of verbs are shown as "~다"

있습니다 is extremely formal for the old, or in business situation shown as "~습니다."

있어요. is formal for everyone in speaking way as "어요/아요"

있어 is informal in speaking to your friends.

있다 < 있어 < 있어요 < 있습니다.

(informal)------------------------(formal)

ex> 돈이 있다. < 돈이 있어. < 돈이 있어요. < 돈이 있습니다.

8. Negative expression against "있다"

"없다" is the negative expression against "있다." It's also used the same way with 있다.

(1) 포도가 없습니다. There is not a grape.

(2) 사과가 없습니다. There is not an apple.

(3) 사람이 없습니다. There is not a person.

(4) 가방이 없습니다. There are not rice.

(5) 책이 없습니다. There is not a book.

9. Self-study

(1) 남자(이/가) 없습니다. There is no man.

(2) 철수(이/가) 없습니다. There is not Cheolsu.

(3) 종이(이/가) 없습니다. There are not papers.

(4) 지도(이/가) 없습니다. There is no map.

(5) 돈(이/가) 없습니다. I have no money.

10. Answers

(1) 가 (2) 가 (3) 가 (4) 가 (5) 이

------------------------------------------

11. Practice Patterns

(1)

Jack : 돈 있어요?

Sam : 아니요, 돈이 없어요 (No, I don't have money)

Jack : Sam은 돈이 없군요.

(2)

Sean : 콜라 있어요?

Dean : 아니요. 콜라 없어요. 사이다가 있어요.

Sean : 콜라는 없지만 사이다가 있군요.

(3)

Jing : 펜 있어요?

Lulu : 아니요. 가방이 있어요.

Jing : 펜은 없고 가방이 있군요.

----------------------------------

Words Check

책상

펜

컴퓨터

커피

돈

스피커

시계

선생님

자동자

지하철

버스

택시

기차

콜라

사이다

포도

사과

사람

가방

책

남자

종이

지도

돈

----------------------------------------

Key Sentence

(1) 돈이 있습니다.

(2) 돈이 없습니다.

What's Different Between Verb and Adjective in Korean Language?

What's different between Verb and Adjective in Korean Language?

In Korean language, Verb and Adjective are similar in ways to change, function of sentences, etc. So, it's not easy to find differences out. There are three ways.


1. There are ‘-ㄴ다’ and ‘-는다’ representing as ending of present tense. Verb can be put ‘-는다’, but adjective can not. Adjective can be put ‘-ㄴ다’ on the end of itself, but verb can not.

ex>
먹다. (to eat)
내가 밥을 먹는다. (o)
내가 밥을 먹다. (x)

예쁘다. (to be pretty)
효리는 예쁜다. (x)
효리는 예쁘다. (o)


2. There are ‘-아라’ and ‘-어라’ representing as ending of making people do something and ‘-자’ as ending of doing something together like 'let's.' ‘-아라’, ‘-어라’ and ‘-자’ can put on verb and cannot put on adjective.

ex>
읽다( to read)
효리야, 책을 읽어라. (o)
효리야, 책을 읽자. (o)

키가 작다. (to be short)
효리야, 키가 작아라. (x)
효리야, 키가 작자. (x)


3. Progressive tense and perfect tense like ‘-고 있다’, ‘-아/-어 있다’, or ‘-는 중이다’ can not be with Adjective. But, verb can have progressive tense.

ex>
가다. (go)
효리는 지금 학교에 가고 있다.(o)
효리는 지금 학교에 가 있다.(o)
효리는 지금 학교에 가는 중이다. (o)

좋다. (to be good)
날씨가 무척 좋고 있다.(x)
날씨가 무척 좋아 있다.(x)
날씨가 무척 좋은 중이다.(x)

What's Arirang (아리랑)?

What's Arirang(아리랑)?

If you are interested in Korea or not, you might have heard a song, "Arirang", on media. Now, I am going to explain about Arirang(아리랑). Actually, some of my friends have asked what Arirang means and stands for, but I couldn't answer clearly.

"Arirang~ Arirang~ Ah Ra Ri Oh~"

Have you ever heard this song? As you may guess, Arirang is one of the name of Korean folk songs. Let's see the lyrics of it.

“아리랑 아리랑 아라리요 / 아리랑 고개를 넘어간다 / 나를 버리고 가시는 님은 / 십리도 못가서 발병난다.”
(Arirang Arirang Arariyo / Arirang gogaelul nurmeganda/ nalul burigo gasinun nimuen / siplido motgaseo balbyungnanda.)

Actually, there are a lot of Arirang songs in difference of region. Lyrics, tempo, beats are different also. Why is Arirang? Here are some Arirang stories.

1. 'Ari'(아리) is 고운(goun) standing for sweet, tender, pretty, and good-looking. 'rang'(랑) means 님(nim) which is kinda formal expression on you, darling, or lover.
아리랑(arirang) means like sweet or pretty darling, or lover.

2. There is another view on Arirang. Ari(아리) has another meaning, "extremely missing." So, Arirang is also "extremely missing darling or lover."

Arirang can be sung by Koreans when they really want something like for win of sports game. As a representative of Korean traditional folk songs, it's widely spreaded all over the world. In other words, it can be another Korean national anthem showing Korean's nationality and personality considered as 한(han, 恨 like lamentation) and 정(jeong, 情 like human nature).

Korean Former President Kim Dae Jung

Korean Former President Kim Dae Jung

Before you know Korean other things, you have to know Kim Dae Jung. He's the most prestigious politician in Korea especially against the Korean right party. I'm not on Mr. Kim's side, but he got me think deeply and deeply on where I go to as I am Korean. I'd disliked him because of his followers' behavior and mind. Some of them are crazily falling in love with N. Korea so that they can not distinguish between 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea' and 'Republic of Korea.' Merely, they say DPRK has existed for people as the DPRK shows words 'democratic people's.'

Korean people are very sensitive on political things between left and right sides even though Korea is not a huge country with short history of democracy. Historically, Korean politicians have been fighting their own benefits based on the regionalism. Of course, I really want people not to have regional antipathies making Korea be bumper-to-bumper. There is saying that "Never talk about Kim Dae Jung especially in Jeonra-do. If you do, you gonna be stabbed and buried without proof." As it is, he is considered as the leader who fought against the dictators with military regime.

He has knelt down in 13th and 14th presidential elections and gone to studied at Cambridge University for a year. In 1994, he has founded 'Asian-Pacific Peace Foundation.' and retired as a politician. In 1997, he was elected as the 15th President. At that time, Korea was suffering from financial crisis under International Moratorium Fund. He's tried to finish all over up. With invitation from the North Korean leader, Kim Jeong-il, he visited and negotiated some issues with the declaration statement in 10th of October, 2000. The relationship had progressed and the attitude of N. Korea had started to change with right-about-face. For the reason of that, he was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in the same year.

It's out of question his reputation is good in the world. In many reasons, I am on the other side of his, however, I can not deny he is the best Korean politician I've ever seen. He had devoted his whole life for Korean democracy.

I'm questioning myself continually now. What should I do for my country? Do I have ability to make world better? Am I set for people? What I only have answer is not 'yes.' That's the reason why I don't blame him although I'm on the opposite side of his.

As I am Korean...

As I am Korean...

I've read part of South Korean law saying "All People have dignity and worth as humanbeing and right to persue their own hapiness. The nation affirms the basic inviolable right which people have, and has duty to ensure it." That shows so-called 'the right to persue one's happiness' of Korean people.

Why was I born? What for am I living? What should I do for the best life people have never had? Perhaps, am I being to be used for some purpose? If so, what is the purpose?

Those are what I've been asking myself continually. Those are probably the reason of existence or the questions for purpose of life.

Anyone, however, never gives the right answer as much as I am satisfied.

[int] Asking Directions

Ciara : 실례합니다. 저는 가장 가까운 경찰서를 찾고 있어요.
Ryu : 오른쪽으로 가셔서 두블럭 더 가세요. 그리고.. 그리고..
Ciara : 그 다음에는요?
Ryu : 몰라요.

Ciara : Excuse me. I'm looking for the nearest police station.
Ryu : Make right and go more two blocks... and...and..
Ciara : and then?
Ryu : I don't know.

----------------------------------------------------------------

<2>
Ciara : 저기요. 경찰서가 어디있는지 아세요?
Kim : 오. 왼쪽으로 가시고 곧바로 가세요. 그러면 보일거에요.
Ciara : 정말 고맙습니다.

Ciara : Hey. Do you know where the police station is?
Kim : Oh. Turn left and go straight. Then, you will see.
Ciara : Thanks a lot.


--------------------------------------------------------------

1. excuse me : 실례합니다.
When you need a help from someone, you can say "실례합니다." It's extremly formal.
And "여기요" and "저기요" are also being used in spoken.
Basically, 여기요 is like "here is." and 저기요 is "there is."

2. I don't know : [저는] 몰라요. (opp. 알아요 = I know)
In Korean speaking, Korean people usually omit subjective when a speakers talk about himself or herself and listeners know the answer is on the speaker.

3. Direction : 방향
좌측 or 왼쪽 : left side
우측 or 오른쪽 : right side
straight : 곧바로
back side : 뒤쪽
front side : 앞쪽
to the back side : 뒤쪽에 ( the preposition 'to' used for direction is "~에.")
그러면 : then

4. more : 더 (opp. less : 덜, 조금)
ex> eat more! (더 먹어) - eat less! (조금 먹어!)






#. This is for people who can read Korean without the English instructions.

Seoul has 25 administrative divisions

#. The Picture was captured from www.NAVER.com

What's the capital city of South Korea?

The probability what you get the right answer to the question is only less than 15%.

Guess it! Busan? Daegu? Seoul? Gwangju? Ulsan? Daejeon? Incheon?

What you folks are reading here means that you are interested in Korea. Of course, you already know what the capital city of South Korea is.

With the Korean economy growing up, Seoul, the capital city of seoul, has been up to one of the biggiest cities across the world. Even amazing Korean economic growth has been accepted by some developing coutries as a their own economic growth model. (I cannot deny the Korean ecconomy is affected from the U.S.)

How big is Seoul City? As you visit first itme, you probably have a question how the city is distinguished the boundary. The answer is simple. Seoul city is surrounded by a range of mountains and divided into north and south with the Han river(한강[hangang]).

You can check and feel that with the Seoul map on like the Google Earth.

Seoul is only roghly 50km south from the North Korea. (Isn't it a quite short distance?)

The metropolis has lots of satellite cities as like as other cities. The gross Seoul population including the cities around Seoul is about 25 million inhabitants so that Seoul is being assumpted the second largest metropolitan area in the world.

As many as citizens live in Seoul, the city has 25 administrative divisions. (We call an administrative division "gu"[구].) And all the divisions are divided into 522 small towns named "dong"(동)

I will put 25 divisions (gu) on here. But not put 522 towns(dong). (I don't exactly know because there are too many.) ;-p

1. Dobong-gu (도봉구)

2. Dongdaemu-gu (동대문구)

3. Dongjak-gu (동작구)

4. Eunpyeong-gu(은평구)

5. Gangbuk-gu (강북구)

6. Gangdong-gu (강동구)

7. Gangseo-gu (강서구)

8. Gangnam-gu (강남구)

9. Geumcheon-gu (금천구)

10. Gangseo-gu (강서구)

11. Guro-gu (구로구)

12. Gwanak-gu (관악구)

13. Gwangjin-gu (광진구)

14. Jongno-gu (종로구)

15. Jung-gu (중구)

16. Jungnan-gu (중랑구)

17. Mapo-gu (마포구)

18. Nowon-gu (노원구)

19. Seocho-gu (서초구)

20. Seodaemun-gu (서대문구)

21. Seongdong-gu (성동구)

22. Songpa-gu (송파구)

23. Yangcheon-gu (양천구)

24. Yeongdeungpo-gu (영등포구)

25. Yongsan-gu (용산구)

--NEW WORDS------------------------------------------

강 [gang] : river

한강 [hangang] : the Han River which is across the city of Seoul

남 [nam] : south

북 [buk] : north

서 [seo] : west

동 [dong] : east

강남 [gangnam] : South from the Han River

강북 [gangdong] : North from the river

강서 [gangseo] : West from ~

강동 [gangdong] : East ~

서울[Seoul, sa;ul] : Seoul
~구 [-gu] : a administrative division such as 동대문구, 도봉구, and so on.

Get the tailored Korean class for you!

Get the tailored Korean class for you!

- With understdanding Korean things including politics, economy, society, culture, and so on, get Korean languages.

- Basically, the Korean class could be different offline and online.
- Experieced of teaching Korean with English speaking to American, Philiphinos, Sri Lankan, Japanese and lots of Chinese in NY and Seoul. - You can choose teaching language among Korean, English and Chinese.

#. Class Classification

- Practical Intensive Course (Only Offline Available)

- Preparation for the Korean test (Only Offline Available)

- Freetalking

- Learning Koean with k-pops.

- Korean News for you- Disscussion

# You must...

1. take your mind to study and learn Korean crazily.

2. not understand and think on the side of your culture.

3. have positive and critical thinking.

# Ways to learn (you can choose before you learn)

1. Offline (You should be in Seoul or around Seoul.)

- in-person learning

- phone

2. Online

- e-mail (for your writing)

- voice chatting (for your speaking and listening)

- international phone call *- video chatting *

Korean Religion

Korea has mainly three kinds of religion, Confucianism, Buddism and Christianity.

Starting the middle of the 20th century, Christianity could prosper and has competed with Buddhism. Christianity were affected by Korean Shamanism, Taoism and Buddhism.

With many people insist that Buddists are half of Koreans or Christians are half of Koreans, in 2005, the Korean government announced the statistics of the rate. roughly 46% of the Koreans don't have a particular religion. It means that they could be in Korean Shamanism and Confucianism. Christians are 29.2% of the population of which are Catholics 10.9% and Protestants 18.3%.

Islam is also in Korea. Not many people belive, but it's growing up with about 100,000 foreign workers and immigrants from Muslim countries.

Korean New Year (2)

Korean New Year (2) - The memorial service for Korean's own ancestors.

I am not sure whether "the memorical service for ancestors" is translated in english correctly. Anyway, as you can see the picture, it's called "cha rae"[차례]. It's kind of the respectful service for Koreans' own ancestors.

It's originated from Confucianism which was accepted in the Chosun dynasty as a national religion and a efficiently ruling idea.

I think you already know that Koreans love hot and spicy food. But you won't find out hot and spicy food on the service. It's totally banned that hot, spicy and red color food including peppers and garlics is put on because the red means that ancestors' spirits don't prefer. Obviously, it could be kind of shamanism or idolraty, which is believing idols.

Because Koreans practice worships for acestors like idols, Christian people deny this ritual ceremony with one of the Ten Commandments from the Holy Bible that says "I am the LORD thy God, thou shalt have no other gods before me."

There are other regulations when Koreans set up the table. Fish should be on east and fish's head should be headed for right side. Meat should be on west-side. Koreans put dried seafood like a squid on the left side of the table. And red-colored fruits like apples are on right side of the table.

As like that there are lots of dialects from each area in one language, the methods how to set up are different from family, region, and so on.

차례(charae), the memorial service for ancestors, is usually being held twice a year, 설날(the Korean new year) and 추석(chusok : the Korean Thanksgiving day).

----NEW WORDS

차례 (charae) : the ancestral memorial service in Korea

a picture : 사진[sa jin]

Confucianism : 유교 (you gyo)

Christianism : 기독교 (gi dok gyo)

Buddhism : 불교 (bul gyo)

#. ~교 means a kind of religion.

an apple : 사과(sa gwa / sa gua)

a squid : 오징어 (oh jing oe)

----QUIZ

WHAT is "the memorial service for ancestors" called in Korean?

Korean New Year

Korean New Year

Koreans usually celebrate New Year twice. One is from the solar calender, the other one is for the lunar new year. In the past thime before I or my parents came up on the world, Asian people had a tendency to follow the lunar calender. I think the Pacific Asian people had regarded the lunar was a kind of pivotal standard for the life.

Firstly, I don't want to mention and explain about the lunar calender because I think you are here with your interests of Korean things or Asian things. Unless you were, you can type in "the lunar calender" and get some information or contents about it.

I remember that some of media say Asian people have Chinese New Year. When I read, I got depressed. Why was it from China? I don't know and can not find out where the origin from. It's obvious that there are lots of hypothesis and assumptions but I can not insist which one is logical and valid. Anyhow, I want the New Year on the lunar callender to be called like "the Lunar New Year" now that China, Japan, Mongol, Vietnam or others which I don't know have a celebration of the lunar new year.

The Korean New Year is known as "Seollal" [설날] . It has other names such as "Sesu", "Wondan", "Sinwon" or "Wonil." It's the biggest Korean festival with "Chusok"[추석].

(Chusok is like the Korean Thanksgiving day.)

Starting the Japanese period, the Korean has accepted the solar calender.

Koreans have solar and lunar new year celebrations now. The solar new year is called "sin jeong"[신정], the other one is "goo jeong."[구정] . Part of Korean conservertives asks Koreans not to use "sin jeong" and "goo jeong" because the two words were from Japanese expressions.

What does the Korean do on Seollal? As is the case with other countries, Koreans also have like New Year's resolutions and greeting with their precious reletives. With roughly a couple of weeks to go before Seollal, Koreans send some postal mails with their sweat hearts.

Many people go back to their hometown where they had been grown up. Many Korean people with dreams of success gathered into Seoul or around Seoul from other cities or provinces in 1970's. Those were the babyboom genereation from their parents suffered from the Korean War. By virtue of their efforts, South Korea could stand and come up.

On one or two days before Sollal, lots of cars are clogging up on all the highways and all tickets for travellers on the holidays are sold out. Do you want to feel the day? Just take your car on highways. You may have to wash your hands around highways, not in a restroom of service area.

With pleasure of getting together with family, they are going back their hometown on that day even if they get great tons of stress.

On Seollal, Koreans have new year's greeting, called "Sebae"[세배]. Young people bow formaly in Korean ways, with kneeling down and bending their body, to their parents or grand parents. (You can see the pictures on the top of the post.)

--NEW WORDS-----------------------

세배 (sebae) - bow formaly in Korean ways.

설날 (sollal) - the Korean New Year based on the solar or lunar callender

신정 (sinjeong) - the Korean solar new year. The word might be from Japan.

구정 (goojeong) - the Korean lunar new year.

고향 (gohyang) - the hometown where you were born and grown.

추석(chusok) - the Korean Thanksgiving day. It's not the same with the American or Canadian one.

할아버지(hal ah bu ji) - grandfa

할머니 (halmoni) - grandma

아버지 (abeoji) - father [formal]

아빠 (abba) - dad [informal]

어머니 (oemoni) - mother [formal]

엄마 (eomma) - mom [informal]

중국(joongguk) - China

몽골(mongol) - Mongol

일본(ilbol) - Japan

아시아(Ah si ah) - Asia

-------------------------------

Quiz.

What's the Korean lunar new year called in Korean?

Why the Korean gets the traffic congestion on highways during the national holidays?

Words - House

You can learn Korean at your finger tips on my blog!!


House : 집(jip)

문 [mun] : a door
티비 [tivi] : a TV
전화기[jeonwhagi] : a telephone
휴대폰 [hyudaepon] : a cellphone
탁자 [takja] : a table
의자 [uija] : a chair
책상 [chaeksang] : a desk
책 [chaek] : a book
냉장고[naengjanggo] : a refrigerator
전자레인지 [jeonjarange] : a micro oven.
침대 [chimdae] : a bed
소파[sopa] : sofa
박스[baksu] : box
이불[yibul] : linen
베개[begae] : a pillow
창문[changmun] : window
유리[youli] : glass
컵 [keop] : a cup
유리컵 : a cup made of class
안경[angyung] : glasses
옷장 [otjang] : a closet



"이것/저것/그것은 OOO입니다."
This/That/It is OOO.

You can put those words in the form of the sentence.


----------------------
#. Read these sentences.

1. 이것은 책상입니다.
2. 그것은 침대입니다.
3. 저것은 탁자입니다.
4. 저것은 냉장고입니다.
5. 이것은 베개입니다.

My name is...

Hello. I'm here as usual. Today's expression is "My name is."

I will give a dialogue. If you know how to read Korean, you can learn easily.

------------
류 : 안녕하세요? (ah nyung ha se yo?)

Ciara : 안녕하십니까? (an nyung ha sip ni gga?)

류 : 만나서 반갑습니다. 제 이름은 류입니다. (man na seo bangapsupnida. Je yirumun Ryu ipnida.)

Ciara : 네. 저도 반갑습니다. 제 이름은 씨에라입니다.
(Ne. Jeodo bangapsupnida. Je yirumun Ciara yipnida.)

-------------

Ryu : Hello?
Ciara : Hello?
Ryu : Nice to meet you. My name is Ryu.
Ciara : Ah~ Nice to meet you, too. I'm Ciara.

---------------


# Expressions
Hello = 안녕하십니까 = 안녕하세요 = 안녕
Nice to meet you = 만나서 반갑습니다. = 반갑습니다.
My name is OOO = 제 이름은 OOO 입니다.

# Words
meet = 만나다.
my = 저의 = 제 = 나의
name = 이름
is = 입니다.

# Grammar
만나서 is meant to show your reason that you did or have done.
English word order is subjective, verb, and objective. In Korean, however, the word order is subjective, objective, and verb. (Eng : S+V+O, Kor : S+O+V)

-----------------------------
#. BONUS!!!

I will put this sentence "This is a bag."
"a bag" is said "가방[gabang]" in Korean.
"This" is said "이것은" as well.

Analyze the sentence "This is a bag. "
이것은 (This) - Subjective
입니다 (is) - Verb
가방 (a bag) - Objective

As I wrote, Korean order is subjective, objectictive, and verb. Thus!!
you should think like this.
(this) - (a bag) - (is). = (이것은) (가방) (입니다.)


------------------------

# More~

Now, you know "this" is "이것은". How do korean say "that" and "it"?

- this = 이것은 [yigussun]
- that = 저것은 [geogussun]
- it = 그것은 [gugussun]

Now you can change the sentence "this is a bag" to "that is a bag" or "it is a bag."

---------------------------

# Excercise. Change the sentences to Korean.

1. That is a book. (a book = 책[chaeck])
_________________________

2. This is my dog. (a dog = 개[gae])
_________________________

3. It is a car. (a car = 차[cha])
_________________________

Some Words from other languages

There is a ton of Korean words from English. Usually, north Korean language has tendency to create its own vocabulary when foreign words come to. On the contrary, lots of south Korean words are created from sounds of English words. Wow!!

• computer : 컴퓨터 [kom pu toe]
• mouse : 마우스 [m a u s]
• monitor : 모니터 [mo ni toe]
• ice cream : 아이스크림[a i s k rim]
• elevator : 엘리베이터[el li be i teo]
• camera : 카메라[ka mae la]
• microphone, MIC : 마이크[ma i k]
• CD : 시디[si di]
• DVD : 디비디[di vi di]
• date : 데이트[de i t]
• coffee : 커피 [keo pi]
• cola : 콜라 [kol la]
• cider : 사이다 [sa i da]
• McDonald : 맥도날드[maek do nal d]
• Burger King : 버거킹[beo geo king]
• Starbucks : 스타벅스[stabeoks]
• donuts : 도너츠[do neo chu]
• pizza : 피자[pi ja]
• spaghetti : 스파게티 [spageti]
• hamburger : 햄버거 [haembeogeo]
• bagel : 베이글 [beigul]
• sandwich : 샌드위치 [saen d wi chi]
• France : 프랑스 [pu lang su]
• Paris : 파리 [Pa li]
• Sri Lanka : 쓰리랑카 [ssu li lang ka]
• India : 인도 [in do]
• Philliphine : 필리핀 [pil li pin]
• Brazil : 브라질 [Bu la jil]
• Singapore : 싱가포르 [sing ga po ru]
• Turkey : 터키[teo ki]
• Sony : 소니[so ni]
• Toyota : 도요타 [do yo ta]
• Nintendo : 닌텐도[nin ten do]

- NOTES

1. Most of countries are called in the same way with common saying.

EX> Brazil, Singapore, Turkey etc...

2. Some brands doing business and franchizing in Korea are called in the original name.

EX> Sony...

3. Foods originated not in Korea are called in the original.

EX> Pizza, Cola ....

- Conclusion

Anything invented, created or made not in Korea is being used with its original sound using all over the world.

At this point, you may have a question how you guess where words from. I would like to give an answer understanding Korean cultural things is the best way to improve your Korean. I think any other language is NEVER understood without understanding its own culture.

If you have any question, you can email to dooliya@gmail.com at your convenience.

Useful Expressions

If you walk on streets, you may want to go to bathroom. Probably, you are in emergency situation with number one or number two. Whatever!
What will you do?

If you show the korean your expressful body languages, the korean might catch your meaning. However, it's obviously efficient if you say some korean sentences. ( It's okay that you say just only one word meaning of "bathroom.")

How should you say "bathroom" in Korean? You say "화장실."[hwajangsil]
Then, how should you say "I'm in emergency" in Korean? You can say "저 급해요." [jeo guphaeyo]

I will put some korean sentences for the situation on the below.

• a bathroom = 화장실 [hwajangsil]
• I'm in emergency! = 저 급해요! [jeo guphaeyo]
• I wanna go to bathroom = 저 화장실 가고 싶어요. [jeo hwajangsil gago sipoeyo]
• Where is a bathroom? = 화장실이 어디에요? [hwajangsili eodiaeyo]

Tip> When you ask something, you should make your intonation up at the end of the question.

Dialogue>

You : 실례합니다. [sillehapnida] = Excuse me.

Ryu : 네? [ne] = huh?

You : 저 화장실 가고 싶어요. [jeo hwajangsil gago sipeoyo] = I wanna go to bathroom

저 급해요! [jeo guphaeyo] = I'm in emergency.

Ryu : 여기에 있어요. [yeokiae itseoyo] = It's here.

Voca>

1. a bathroom : 화장실 [hwajangsil]
2. be in emergency : 급해요 [guphaeyo]
3. I : 저 [jeo]
4. here : 여기[yeoki]
5. there : 저기[jeki]

----------------------------

한국어 공부해요~

Let's learn Korean. ^^