안녕하세요 여러분! Today I have a new kind of lesson for you all: it’s about Hanja! If you don’t know what Hanja is, it’s “Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation,” according to Korean Wiki Project. Korean words that feature the same borrowed character often have a shared meaning of some sort, which is why Hanja is good to know! If you know the meaning of one word with a character, you might be able to figure out another word with the same character without even using a dictionary! 

To start this series of lessons, I wanted to start with the character 최; I got an ask about some words starting with it and thought it’d be helpful to make a short lesson about it :) I’m also going to post this on my Instagram soon as well, so go check it out there too! Let’s start!

I hope this short list of words has been helpful – let me know what you think and if you’d like to see more of these! Maybe in the future I can break down the entire word – instead of just explaining what 최 means, for instance, I can explain what 애 means too, for example. Lmk your thought! See you in the next lesson! 다음에 또 봐요!

• My masterlist
• Joinmy Discord chat here to practice Korean with others!
• Follow me onInstagram herefor more Korean content!
• GetDrops Premium usingmy affiliate link to expand your Korean vocab!
• Check out myKo-Fi to support this blog and my studies! Thank you for your generosity!

안녕하세요 여러분! Hey everyone! Today I have a lesson with a grammar structure you hear pretty often and it yet another way to say “because” in Korean lol. I also made a post on my Instagram about this structure, so go check that out as well! Let’s start!

Here’s the formula for this structure:

• [verb stem] + 느라고 + [rest of sentence]
• Note that this can only be used with verbs, not adjectives.
• I believe the -고 can be dropped with no difference in meaning.

-느라고 is used to explain a reason for a consequence, and this consequence is usually negative. It can also be used in contexts when your doing one action prevents you from doing the other. Let’s look at some examples:

• 공부하느라고 밤 새웠어요. = I stayed up all night studying.
• Here, you’re explaining what caused you to stay up all night, which was studying.
  
• 숙제를 하느라고 파티에 못 갔어요. = I couldn’t go to the party because I was busy doing homework. 
• The consequence of your doing homework is not not being able to go to the party. One action, doing homework, prevented you from doing the other, which is going to the party.

Let’s see some more examples!

• 늦잠을 자느라고 수업에 못 갔어요. = I didn’t go to class because I overslept.
• 운동하느라고 전화를 못 받았어요. = I was exercising, so I couldn’t pick up your phone call.
• 일하느라고 바빴어요. = I was busy working.
• 요리하느라고 힘들었어요. = I was exhausted after cooking. 
• 야근하느라고 집에 늦게 왔어요. = I came home late because I was working overtime.

That’s about it for this lesson! Hope it was helpful! See you in the next one! 다음에 또 봐요!

• My masterlist
• Joinmy Discord chat here to practice Korean with others!
• Follow me onInstagram herefor more Korean content!
• GetDrops Premium usingmy affiliate link to expand your Korean vocab!
• Check out myKo-Fi to support this blog and my studies! Thank you for your generosity!

안녕하세요 여러분! I have another Insta post I wanted to share with y’all! I have a regular lesson about -(으)면 되다 and -(으)면 안 되다 that I made a while back, but I feel like this post is a little more accurate and captures its nuance better. So that’s why I’m posting it here too! I hope it’s helpful!

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram by clicking the link below! Hope this is helpful :) See you in the next lesson! 다음에 또 봐요!

• My masterlist
• Joinmy Discord chat here to practice Korean with others!
• Follow me onInstagram herefor more Korean content!
• GetDrops Premium usingmy affiliate link to expand your Korean vocab!
• Check out myKo-Fi to support this blog and my studies! Thank you for your generosity!

안녕하세요 여러분! Hey everyone! I got a request for a vocab list about K-pop fandom-related words, so here it is! This is a combination of words you might use as a fan and some words related to being an idol. I hope it’s helpful :) Let’s start!

Nouns

• 가사 = lyrics
  
• 가수 = singer
• 그룹 = group
• (메인, 리드) 댄서 = (main, lead) dancer
• 리더 = leader
• (메인, 리드) 래퍼 = rapper
• 막내 = the youngest member of a group
• (메인, 리드) 보컬 = vocal
• 노래 = song
  
• 뮤직비디오 = music video
• 뮤비 is short for this.
• 멤버 = member
  
• 비주얼 = visual
• 밴드 = band
• 안무 = choreography
• 안무 연습 = dance practice
• 아이돌 = idol
• 연습생 = trainee
  
• 응원봉 = lightstick
  
• 인터뷰 = interview
• 앨범 = album
• (제일) 좋아하는 멤버 = bias
• 제일 좋아하는 멤버 literally means “favorite member” or “member you like the most.” I often just see 좋아하는 멤버 to mean the same thing, even though it literally means “member that you like.”
  
• 컴백 = comeback
• 콘서트 = concert
• 콘서트티켓 = concert ticket
• 케이팝 = K-pop
• 포토카드 / 포카 = photocard
• 팬 = fan
• 팬사인회 = fan signing event
• 팬클럽 = fan club
  

Verbs

• 덕질하다 = to be a die-hard fan of; to be really into
• 노래하다 = to sing
• 노래를 부르다 is another word for “to sing”
  
• 데뷔하다 = to debut
• 녹음하다 = to record
• 연습하다 = to practice
  
• 응원하다 = to cheer on; to support
• 촬영하다 = to shoot; to film
• 춤을추다 = to dance
• 컴백하다 = to have a comeback

That’s about it for this list! 제일 좋아하는 밴드가 뭐예요? 코멘트 하세요! What is your favorite band? Leave a comment! See you in the next lesson! 다음에 또 봐요!

• My masterlist
• Joinmy Discord chat here to practice Korean with others!
• Follow me onInstagram herefor more Korean content!
• GetDrops Premium usingmy affiliate link to expand your Korean vocab!
• Check out myKo-Fi to support this blog and my studies! Thank you for your generosity!

안녕하세요 여러분! I got a request to do some possible questions and answers that you might come across if you’re auditioning to be a K-pop idol! I’m not entirely familiar with the audition process or what kinds of questions might be asked of you, but here’s a list based on what I found online. I think that in order to answer these questions in Korean, you should be familiar with beginner/upper-beginner and some intermediate grammar structures and vocabulary. Check out my masterlist linked below to find some lessons that might help you answer them! I hope this is helpful for any aspiring idols! Let’s start!

Questions / 질문

• 이름이 뭐예요? = What is your name?
• 어디에서 왔어요? = Where are you from?
• 어디에 살아요? = Where do you live?
• 몇 살이세요? = How old are you?
• 학교에 어디 다녀요? = Where do you go to school?
• 학교에 어디 다녔어요? = Where did you go to school? 
• 무슨 언어를 하세요? = What languages do you speak?
• 노래한 지 얼마나 됐어요? = How long have you been singing for?
• 춤을 춘 지 얼마나 됐어요? = How long have you been dancing for?
  
• 랩을 한 지 얼마나 됐어요? = How long have you been rapping for?
  
• 무슨 악기를 하세요? = What instruments do you play?
• 왜 아이돌 되고 싶으세요? = Why do you want to be an idol?
• 가장 좋아하는 가수/밴드 누구예요? = Who is your favorite singer/band?
• 취미가 뭐예요? = What are your hobbies?

Answers / 대답

• 안녕하세요, 제 이름은 [name]입니다. = Hello, my name is [name].
• 저는 [country]에서 왔어요. / 저는 [country] 사람입니다. = I am from [country].
• 저는 [place]에 살고 있습니다. = I live in [place].
• 저는 [#]살입니다. = I am [#] years old.
• Use native Korean numbers when saying your age.
• 저는 [school’s name]에 다녀요. = I go to [school’s name].
• 저는 [school’s name]에 다녔어요. = I went to [school’s name].
  
• 저는 [language 1], [language 2]하고 [language 3] 합니다. = I speak [language 1], [language 2], and [language 3].
• 저는 노래한 지 [amount of time] 됐어요. = I have been singing for [amount of time].
• 저는 춤을 춘 지 [amount of time] 됐습니다. = I have been dancing for [amount of time].
• 저는 랩을 한 지 [amount of time] 됐습니다. = I have been rapping for [amount of time].
  
• 저는 [year]년부터 노래했습니다 / 춤을 췄습니다 / 랩을 했습니다. = I have been singing/dancing/rapping since [year].
• 저는 [instrument] 연주합니다. = I play [instrument].
• [reason] 아이돌 되고 싶습니다. = I want to become an idol because [reason].
• 가장 좋아하는 가수는/그룹은 [name]입니다. = My favorite singer/group is [name].
• 제 취미는 [hobby]하고 [hobby] 입니다. = My hobbies are [hobby] and [hobby].

That’s about it for this list! Best of luck to you all :) See you in the next lesson! 다음에 또 봐요!

• My masterlist
• Joinmy Discord chat here to practice Korean with others!
• Follow me onInstagram herefor more Korean content!
• GetDrops Premium usingmy affiliate link to expand your Korean vocab!
• Check out myKo-Fito support this blog and my studies! Thank you for your generosity!

안녕하세요 여러분! Hey everyone! I got another request for a K-pop breakdown, so here it is! This one was pretty tricky for me to break down, but I hope it all makes sense anyways! If you have a song you’d like to see me break down, let me know and I’ll try to fulfill it!

You can listen to this song here! I used lyricstranslate.com’s really good translations and Naver Dictionary to help me out. As usual, I linked my full-length lessons about the grammar structures mentioned if you want to learn more about them! Let’s start!

휘하고 멋지게 솟구치는 눈은 / 이별에 손짓인 듯 부서지는 / 밤으로 가득한 고요를 본다

The snow that soars up majestically with a whoosh / Sees the silence full of night / That is shattered by our goodbye as if it were a gesture

• 휘하다 -> I can’t find a related translation for this word on Naver Dictionary, but just going off the translations from lyricstranslate, it means “with a whoosh.”
• 멋지다 can mean anything from “nice” to “awesome” to “charming.” 
• [adjective stem] + 게 turns that adjective into an adverb.
• -고is attached to stems to mean “and.” So 휘하고 멋지게 means “with a whoosh and majestically.”
• 솟구치다 = soar; gush; surge
• 눈 = snow
• [verb] + 는 + [noun] = [noun] that [verbs] -> This is how you describe nouns with verbs in the present tense. 
• -은 is a topic particle that shows that 눈 is the topic of the sentence. More about particles here!
• 이별 = farewell; goodbye
• 에 = is a location particle meaning “to” or “in.” In this context, however, it means “by,” as in “shattered by.”
  
• 손짓 = hand gesture
• [noun] + 인듯 = as if it is [noun]
• 부서지다 = break; be broken; be shattered
• 밤 = night
• 가득하다 = full [of smth]
  
• -(으)로 in this context means “with” or “of,” as in “filled with night” or “full of night.”
• 고요 = silence
• 보다 = to see
• [verb stem] + ㄴ/는다 or [adjective stem] + 다 is known as the plain style or narrative form. This type of speech doesn’t really have a formality level. You see it a lot in books and newspapers where there’s not really a specific formality level you’re using. It can also be used with those who you would speak informally to.

돌아보는 여운이 안타깝다 / 숨을 쉰다 눈이 온다 / 인사한다 잠이 든다

The afterglow is full of regret / Breathing, snowing / Greeting, falling asleep

• 돌아보다 = to look back
• 여운 = resonance; lingering feeling; echo
• I think 돌아보는 여운 literally means “the resonance I looked back on” or something like that.
• 안타깝다 = regrettable; sad
  
• 숨을 쉬다 = to breathe
• 눈이 오다 = to snow (literally “snow comes”)
• 인사하다 = to greet
• 잠이 들다 = to fall asleep
• When conjugated into the plain style, the ㄹ gets dropped and replaced with -ㄴ다 because it’s irregular.

떠나간다 / 떠나간다 / 남은 것은 이제 없다

Leaving / Leaving / Now there’s nothing left

• 떠나가다 = to leave
• 남다 = to remain; to be left
• 남은 것 = what’s left; the things that remain
• 이제 = now
• 없다 = to not be there; to not exist; to not have

그대가 웃는 걸 보면서 나도 웃는다 / 발자국에 아쉬움 꾹 묻어둔 채로

As I look at you smile, I smile too / Burying my regret in my footprints

• 그대 = You -> this is a more romantic way of saying “you” that you would say to your partner.
• 웃다 = to smile; to laugh
• 웃는 걸 refers to the fact that you’re smiling. The action of you smiling is turned into a noun, and that is what the speaker is looking at.
• [verb stem] + (으)면서 means “as one [does verb]” and is used for when two actions are done simultaneously.
• 나 = I (informal)
• -도 = too
• 발자국 = footprints
• 아쉽다 = be a shame; be a pity
• 아쉬움 is the noun form of 아쉽다 courtesy of -ㅁ nominalization. 
• 꾹 = firmly; completely
• 묻어두다 = hide; bury; conceal
• -ㄴ 채로 describes the state that something is in as an action is being done. In this case, the speaker is smiling with her heart buried – her heart is in the state of being buried as she is smiling.

That’s all for this breakdown – I hope it was helpful! See you in the next lesson! 다음에 또 봐요!

• My masterlist
• Joinmy Discord chat here to practice Korean with others!
• Follow me onInstagram herefor more Korean content!
• GetDrops Premium usingmy affiliate linkto expand your Korean vocab!
• Check out myKo-Fi to support this blog and my studies! Thank you for your generosity!

안녕하세요! Hey everyone! Here is yet another breakdown request fulfilled! If you have a song you’d like to see me break down, let me know and I’ll try to fulfill your request!

You can listen to this song here! I used Genius’s translationsandNaver Dictionary to help me out with this breakdown! I also linked my full-length lessons about the grammar structures featured in this song if you want to learn more about them. Let’s start!

사랑 촌스런 그 감정 / 근데 내 가슴이 뛰어 / 왜 나 이래 나? 

Love, that old-fashioned feeling / But why is my heart racing? / What’s wrong with me? 

• 사랑 = love
• 촌스런 -> from 촌스럽다, meaning “old-fashioned”
• 그 = that (must be placed before a noun)
• 감정 = feeling
• 근데 can usually be translated as “but” – it is sometimes used to draw attention to a different topic or something contrasting to what is currently being spoken about.
• 내 = my (informal)
• 가슴 = heart; chest
• -이 is a subject particle – more about particles here!
• 뛰다 = to run; to jump 
• 왜 = why
• 이래 comes from 이렇다, meaning “to be like this” or “to do this.” This line literally means “why am I like this?” but can also mean “what’s wrong with me?”
  

나도 모르게 when you call my name / 가슴 아프게 나의 심장이 쿵쿵

Unknowingly, when you call my name / Heartbreakingly, my heart is pounding

• 나 = I/me (informal)
• -도 = too/even (depending on context)
• 모르다 = to not know
• Adding-게 to a verb or adjective stem turns it into an adverb. 나도 모르게 means “unknowingly” or, more literally, “without me even knowing.”
• 아프다 = to be sick; to hurt
• 나의 = another way to say “my.” -의 is a possessive marker.
• 심장 = heart -> This refers more to the heart, while 가슴 can mean either “heart” or “chest.”
• 쿵쿵 is an onomatopoeia and is supposed to mimic the sound of a heartbeat.

내 뜻대로 되지 않아 / 흔한 filter조차 없어

It’s not going my way / I don’t even have any trendy filter

• 내 = my (informal)
• 뜻 = meaning
• -대로 = according to [smth]; as [smth]
• 되다has a few different meanings. In this case, it’s a little hard to translate directly, but I would say it means “to go” (as in to go a certain way) or “to be done” (as in something is done some way). 
• -지 않다= not / does not 
• More literally, I think this line means “It’s not going according to my meaning.” As with a lot of K-pop lyrics (and Korean in general), it’s best to focus on the meaning rather than the literal English translation, so don’t worry too much if the translation sounds odd!
• 흔하다, according to Naver Dictionary, means “common” or “commonplace.” Not quite sure why Genius translated it as “trendy,” but I guess if something is trendy, it becomes common because everyone is using it. 
• [noun] + 조차 =  even [noun]
• 없다 = to not be there / to not have

That’s about it for this breakdown! I hope it was helpful :) See you in the next lesson! 다음에 또 봐요!

• My masterlist
• Joinmy Discord chat here to practice Korean with others!
• Follow me onInstagram herefor more Korean content!
• GetDrops Premium usingmy affiliate link to expand your Korean vocab!
• Check out myKo-Fito support this blog and my studies! Thank you for your generosity!

안녕하세요! Hello again everyone! I have yet another breakdown that was requested! If there’s a song you want to see broken down, let me know and I’ll try to fulfill your request!

You can listen to this song here! I used colorcodedlyrics.comandNaver Dictionary to help me translate these lyrics! I also linked my full-length lessons about the grammar structures featured in this song if you want to learn more about them. Let’s start!

거울 속에 마주친 얼굴이 어색해서 / 습관처럼 조용히 눈을 감아 / 밤이 되면 서둘러 내일로 가고 싶어 

The face in the mirror is awkward / So like a habit I quietly close my eyes / When the night comes I want to hurry up and go to tomorrow

• 거울 = Mirror
• 속에 = Inside
• 마주치다 = to meet (usually refers to eyes meeting)
• 얼굴 = face
• -ㄴ/은allows you to describe nouns with that verb in the past tense. So 마주친 얼굴 literally means “the face that I met.”
• -이 is a subject particle – more about particles here!
• 어색하다 = awkward
• -아/어서 means “so” or “because.” 어색해서 means “because it’s awkward” or “it’s awkward, so…”
• 습관 = habit
• [noun] + 처럼 = like [noun]
• 조용하다 = quiet; 조용히 = quietly 
• 눈 = eye(s)
• 감다 = to close (when talking about eyes)
• 밤 = night
• 되다 = to become (밤이 되다 literally means “to become night”)
• -(으)면 = if/when
• 서두르다 = to rush; to hurry
• 내일 = tomorrow
• -(으)로in this context means “to” or “towards.”
• 가다 = to go
• [verb stem] + 고 싶다 = I want to [verb]

설렘으로 차오르던 나의 숨소리와 / 머리 위로 선선히 부는 바람 / 파도가 되어 어디로든 / 달려가고 싶어 / 작은 두려움 아래 천천히 두 눈을 뜨면

My breath that rose up with excitement / And the wind that blows coolly above my head / I want to become a wave / And run anywhere / When I slowly open my eyes under the small fears

• 설렘 = excitement; thrill
• Here, -(으)로 means “with”
• 차오르다 = to rise up
• 나의 = my (informal) -> 나 means “I,” while -의 is a possessive marker.
• 숨소리 = breath -> refers to the sound of breath
• [verb stem] + 던is another way to describe a noun with a verb. It is used for actions that you used to do repeatedly in the past or that you did but did not complete. 
• -와 = and
• 머리 = head
• 위로 = above; top
• 선선히 = coolly
• 불다 = blow
• 불다’s stem ends in ㄹ, which gets dropped when you want it to describe a noun.
• 바람 = wind
• 파도 = wave
• 어디로든 = anywhere
• 달려가다 = to run
• 작다 = small
• 두려움 = fear -> noun form of the verb 두렵다, meaning “afraid”
• 아래 = below; bottom
• 천천히 = slowly
• 두 = two (this is the word for “two” that you put before a noun)
• 뜨다 = to open (eyes)

휩쓸려 길을 잃어도 자유로와 / 더이상 날 가두는 / 어둠에 눈 감지 않아 / 두 번 다시 날 모른 척 하지 않아

I’m free even when I’m swept away and get lost / I won’t close my eyes / in the darkness that traps me anymore / I won’t pretend to not know who I am again

• 휩쓸리다 = to be swept away
• 길을 잃다 = to get lost
• -아/어도 = even though/even if
• 자유롭다 = to be free
• 더이상 = anymore
• 날 = me (informal)
• 가두다 = to trap; to confine; to lock up
• 어둠 = darkness
• -지 않다 = to not [verb/adjective]
  
• 두 번 = twice
• 다시 = again
• 모르다 = to not know
• -척 하다 = to pretend to [verb/adjective]

That’s about it for this breakdown! Hope it was helpful and fun to read! See you in the next lesson! 다음에 또 봐요! 

• My masterlist
• Joinmy Discord chat here to practice Korean with others!
• Follow me onInstagram herefor more Korean content!
• GetDrops Premium usingmy affiliate link to expand your Korean vocab!
• Check out myKo-Fi to support this blog and my studies! Thank you for your generosity!

안녕하세요 여러분! Hey everyone! I got yet another request for a breakdown! If you have a song you’d like to see broken down, let me know! I linked my full-length lessons about the featured grammar points throughout as well in case you want to learn more about them!

I translated all these lyrics myself, but I did refer to this lyric videoandNaver Dictionary to help me out :) Let’s start!

나를 스쳐가는 그대 / 내 말을 들어줘 / 걸음을 멈추고 / 내 노랠 들어줘

You brush against me / Listen to what I have to say / Stop in your tracks / And listen to my song

• 나를 = me 
• 나 is the informal way to say “I,” while -를 is an object particle. More about particles here!
• 스쳐가다 = to brush against; to pass by
• 그대 = you -> This is a poetic/romantic way to say “you” and isn’t really used in everyday spoken Korean.
• [verb stem] + 는 allows you to describe nouns with that verb. 나를 스쳐가는 그대 literally means “you who brushes against me.”
  
• 내 = my (informal)
• 말 = words
• 듣다 = to listen; to hear
• 듣다’s stem ends in ㄷ, so it becomes 들어줘 when conjugated.
• [verb stem] + 아/어주다 means that a verb is done forsomebody and can be used when pleading that someone do something for you. In this case, he’s commanding that you listen to him. 
• Literally, this line means “listen to my words.”
• 걸음 = step(s) -> from the verb 걷다, meaning “to walk”
• 멈추다 = to stop
• -고 is a connector that means “and.” This line means “stop in your tracks and…”
• 노래 = song

축 처진 고개들과 / 비틀거리는 그림자 / 그렇게 나는 불청객이 돼 / 아무도 모르는 yeah / 노래를 부르며 yeah

Among the drooping heads / And staggering shadows / I become an uninvited guest / While I sing a song / That nobody knows

• 축 처지다 = droop; hang; sag
• 고개 = head
• Attach -들 to nouns to make them plural
  
• [verb stem] + ㄴ/은 allows you to describe a noun with that verb in the past tense. So 축 처진 고개들 literally means “heads that drooped.”
• 과/와is attached to nouns to mean “and” or “with.” 과 is attached to nouns ending in a consonant, while 와 is attached to those ending in a vowel. 
  
• 비틀거리다 = stagger; stumble; falter; totter
• 그림자 = shadow(s) (it can still be implied that a noun is plural without the -들 depending on the context!
• 그렇게 = like that
• 불챙객 = uninvited guest
• 되다 = to become
• These lines were a little tricky to translate, but I think it essentially means “the drooping heads and staggering shadows, like that, I become an uninvited guest” as if he is an uninvited guest because the drooping heads and staggering shadows make him one. 
  
• 아무도 = nobody
• 모르다 = to not know
• 아무도 모르다 sounds like a double negative – nobody doesn’t know. But in Korean, this is the correct way to say “nobody knows”! When using indefinite pronouns like 아무것도, 아무데도, (nothing, nowhere), etc., you need to use a negative verb like so.
• 부르다 -> when paired with 노래, means “to sing.”
• [verb stem] + (으)며means “while [verb]” and is used when two actions are happening at the same time.

아무도 모르는 / 노래를 부를래 / 지나가는 너의 / 마음을 붙잡을 수 있길 바라며

I’ll sing a song / That nobody knows / Hoping that I can grasp your heart / As it passes

• [verb stem] + ㄹ/을래(요) means “I will [verb]” or “I want to [verb].” It expresses a strong intention to do something.
• 지나가다 = pass; go by
• 너의 = your(informal)
• 너 means “you” (informal), and -의 is a possessive marker.
• 마음 = hear
• 붙잡다 = grasp; grab; hold
• [verb stem] + ㄹ/을 수 있다 = can [verb]
• [verb stem] + 기를 바라다 = to hope that [verb]
• Those last two lines literally mean “while hoping I can grasp your passing heart.”

That’s about it for this breakdown! Hope it was helpful :) See you in the next lesson! 화이팅!

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안녕하세요 여러분! Hey everyone! I have another Hanja lesson for y’all today – this one is about two possible meanings of 악! I’m planning on posting this to my Instagramtomorrow as well, so be sure to follow me there for more Korean content! I hope this is helpful, and you can let me know if you have any questions! 화이팅!

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안녕하세요 여러분! I have another Hanja lesson for y’all – this one is about 수! This lesson doesn’t list every single possible meaning of 수, but these are some common ones. You can find this post on my Instagram as well; be sure to follow me there for more Korean content! I hope this is helpful!

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안녕하세요 여러분! Hey everyone! Today’s lesson is about -고 보니까, which is one way to express realization. Let’s start!

Use this formula:

• [verb stem] + 고 보니까 + [rest of sentence]
• The -까 can be dropped with no difference in meaning.

This structure is used to express your realization after you finish doing an action. Let’s look at an example:

• 한국어 수업을 듣고 보니까 꽤 어렵더라고요. = After taking a Korean class, I’ve realized that it’s quite difficult.

This sentence communicates your realization after you completed the action of taking a Korean class, that realization being that Korean is difficult to learn. I want to emphasize that this structure can only be used when talking about a completed action, not one that is currently in progress. 

Notice that this structure is seen in sentences that have other endings communicating some sort of realization or surprise like 것 같다, -네요,and-더라고요. Let’s see some more examples! 

• 책을 다 읽고 보니까 생각보다 재미있어요. = After reading the book, I see that it’s more interesting than I thought.
• 그러고 보니까 그 콘서트 표는 꽤 비싸네요. = Now that I think about it, that concert ticket it quite expensive.
• 그러고 보니 is a fixed expression meaning “now that I think about it” or “come to think of it.”
• 처음에는 김치를 싫었는데 다시 먹어보고 보니 괜찮더라고요. = At first, I didn’t like kimchi, but after trying it again, it’s okay.
• 원래는 걔가 좀 차가운 것 같지만 더 친해지보니 아주 착하네요. = Originally I thought she was a little cold, but now that I’ve gotten closer to her, she’s very nice.

That’s about it for this lesson! Lmk if you have any questions :) See you in the next one! 다음에 또 봐요!

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이 블로그를 읽는 사람에게,

메모: 이 블로그는 최근의 게 아니다. 1월에는 이 블로그를 썼는데 여기에도 올리고 싶었다. 잘 읽어 봐줘라 ~~

안녕! 캐나다에서 온 금희주이다. 지난 일주일간 어떻게 지내냐?

난 우리 할머니의 댁에 기차를 타고 가서 새해를 함께 보냈다. 내 16번째 생일에, 할머니와 나는 함께 기차를 탔던 경험이 있다. 그 이후로 나는 기차 타는 걸 좋아하게 됐다. 18살 때 우리 할머니는 대학교에 다니는 나한테 소포를 자주 보내셨다. 그 이후로 우리는 펜팔을 했다. 할머니는 내 말을 항상 진심으로 들어주신다. 코로나 바이러스 때문에 2년이 지나도록 못 만났다. 난 우리 할머니가 너무 보고 싶었다. 내가 사랑하는 사람들 특히 우리 할머니가 코로나 바이러스와 같은 것들로 인해 아프실까 걱정된다. 요즘 여러분의 가족들은 잘 지내니?

처음에 우리 조부모님은 내가 한국어를 공부하는 게 이상하다고 생각하셨다. 조부모님은 나한테 “우리는 독일계 캐나다 사람인데 왜 한국어를 배우고 있니?”라고 물어보셨다. 그 질문은 나를 죽일 것이다.

난 조부모님께 내가 언제나 언어를 사랑한다고 말했다. 진실이다. 언어학이 내 전공이었다. 그렇지만 모든 언어를 통틀어 제일 생각나는 언어는 한국어였다.

9월에 (7개월 동안) 한국어 수업을 듣기 시작해서 나는 한국어 말하기와 듣기가 중급수준으로 빠르게 올랐다. 한국어 수업을 듣기 전에는 한국말로 못 할 것 같았다. 매일 한국어를 공부한다고 해도 한국어 실력을 향상시키지 못했다. 왜 그랬을까?

왜냐하면 한국 사람들과 한국어로 말하지 않았기 때문이다. 난 항상 내가 한국에 가기 위해서 한국어 공부를 열심히 해야 된다고 생각했지만 한국어를 사용하는 나라에 살지 않기 때문에 한국어를 배우기 어렵다. 16살때부터 한국어를 배우기 시작했는데 22살인 지금까지 왜 난 한국어로 편하게 말할 수 없을까?

한국 사람들과 한국어로 말한 이후로 한국어를 쉽고 편하게 배우기 시작했다. 100년 동안 한국어를 공부해 봤자 한국말로 대화하지 않으면 한국어를 배우는 외국인은 한국어가 유창하지 않을 것이다.

일주일 전에는 왜 한국어를 배우고 있는지 생각해보는 시간을 보냈다. 올해 한국에 가려고 하는데 한국에 영원히 살고 싶지는 않다. 캐나다는 좋지 않지만 나쁘지도 않다. 완벽하진 않다. 그렇지만 나는 한국 사람들이 캐나다를 사랑하는 이유를 알 것 같다. 캐나다는 많은 다른 나라에서 이민을 온 사람들로 이루어져 있다. 그래서 캐나다는 많은 나라의 문화가 섞여 있다. 또 우리는 특정한 종류의 문화가 있다. 이 문화는 한국과 조금 비슷하다.

난 어렸을 때 태권도 수업을 들어서 어린 나이에 한국에 대해 조금 알았다.

한국과 캐나다는 너무 좋은 관계를 가지고 있다. 나는 캐나다를 싫어하는 한국인을 한 명 밖에 못 봤다. 하지만 미국을 싫어하는 많은 한국인과 캐나다인을 많이 봤다. 캐나다에 많은 한국인이 살고 있기 때문에 한국의 문화가 캐나다를 영향을 미쳤다. 토론토에는 한인 타운 두 개 있다. 밴쿠버에서 한국인만 사는 한국 이웃집들이 많다. 그래서 캐나다가 한국인들이 친숙하다. 한국인이들은 다른 문화를 잘 받아들이는 캐나다를 좋아하는 데다가 캐나다 사람들의 친절한 성격을 좋아한다.

외국인은 한국에 쉽게 사랑에 빠진다. 한국인은 캐나다에 쉽게 사랑에 빠진다. 내가 아는 한국 오빠는 한국과 캐나다는 너무 다르다고 했다. 왜냐하면 한국에는 한 개의 문화가 있다고 했거든. 다른 나라에 태어난 한국인은 한국이 아니라고 하는 거 같다. 다른 나라에서 태어난 한국인도 그 나라 사람이 아니라는 것 같다. 그럼, 그 한국인들은 누구니?

오빠가 한 말에 동의하다. 대부분 캐나다에서 온 문화를 한국에서 온 것이랑 비슷하는데 많이 중요한 건 다르다. 캐나다의 문화는 물처럼 곧잘 변한다.

한국의 문화는 고정된 튼튼한 바위 같다. 계곡에서 물은 바위를 따라 흐르고, 바위는 물에 움직이지 않다. 하지만 물이 흐르면 바위가 매끄러워질 것이다. 어려운 문제 같다.

한국인들은 캐나다에서도 여전히 한국인의 정체성을 가지고 있기 때문에 한국인들이 캐나다를 매우 좋아한다.

읽어 줘서 고맙다. 

희주 올림

anon asked: what’s the difference between -는 동안 and -(으)면서? I’m so confused

This is a great question! I am assuming you’re asking because they can be translated as the same thing into English. I understand why there will be confusion because, under context, these grammar points aren’t really distinguishable in English as they are in Korean. 

-는 동안; while, during [goherefor more]

Use this when:

1. You’re not talking about the same doer of the action [엄마가 설거지를 하는 동안 아빠는 화장실을 청소했어요 - Mom cleaned the dishes while dad cleaned the bathroom]
2. You are talking about the same doer of the action [어제 공부하는 동안 문제가 생겼어요 - I found a problem while studying yesterday]
3. The doer of the action is inanimate [비가 많이 오는 동안 구름이 어두워졌어요 - the clouds darkened while it poured]

Try to remember that 동안 is used for a period of time; “-는 동안”은 일정 기간 동안 사용되다. Consider the example in the first rule. Think of the context of this sentence as: during the time it took for my mom to do the dishes, my dad cleaned the bathroom. Yes, you can switch it around because contextually it means the same thing, “아빠가 화장실을 청소하는 동안 엄마는 설거지를 했어요.”

NOTE:Because “-는” attaches to the dependent clause [엄마가 설거지를 하는 동안], the verb before it does not take tense and underlyingly takes the tense of the independent clause’s verb [아빠는 화장실을 청소했어요]. I used the past tense [과거] in my examples, but you can use the present tense [현재] or future tense [미래], obviously, depending on what you want to say. 

More Examples:

1. 한국에서 사는 동안 한국어를 빨리 배웠어요 - While I lived in Korea, I learned Korean quickly.
2. 대학교 디니는 동안 어디에서 살 거예요? - Where are you going to live while attending University?
3. 아빠가 저녁을 준비하는 동안 저는 보통 숙제를 해요 - I usually do my homework while my dad makes dinner.
4. 희주가 세수하는 동안 혜민은 이를 닦았어요 - While Heeju washed her face, Hyemin brushed her teeth.
5. 제가 자는 동안 고양이는 제 식물을 먹었어요 - While I slept, my cat ate my plants.

-(으)면서; while

Use this when:

1. The doer of the action is the same [희주는 먹으면서 유튜브를 봐요 - Heeju watches YouTube while eating]
2. The action is happening simultaneously [지하철을 기다리면서 친구하고 전화했어요 - I waited for the metro while I called my friend]
3. Contrasting two actions [대현은 한국에서 일하고 싶다고 하면서 한국어를 못해요 - Daehyun said they wanted to work in Korea, but they don’t speak Korean]

NOTE: You can only use -(으)면서 when talking about the same doer of the action or state. For example, 희주는 일하는 동안 음악을 들었어요 and 희주는 일하면서 음악을 들었어요. BOTH work and are grammatically correct. The working and listening to music is being done by 희주, whether at the same time, or during work. However, a sentence like “희주는 일하면서 혜민은 음악을 들었어요” is grammatically incorrect. Even if 희주 and 혜민 are doing this at the same time, you must use -는 동안. 

More Examples:

1. 샤워하면서 노래를 불렀어요 - While showering, I sang
2. 요리하면서 요리법을 봐요 - While cooking, I read a recipe
3. 수업을 들으면서 메모를 해요 - I take notes while in class
4. 운전하면서 문자를 보내지 마세요 - Don’t text while driving
5. 희주는 숙제를 하면서 음악을 들어요 - While Heeju does her homework, she listens to music

Differences between the two:

1. You can use 동안 with nouns [명사], you cannot use (으)면서 with nouns. However, you can use (이)면서 with nouns in conjunction with 이다 [저는 대학생이면서 선생님이에요 - I am a university student and a teacher]. This expresses two states of being that happen at the same time. 
2. You can not use -는 동안 to contrast actions
3. You MUST use the same doer of action with (으)면서
4. -는 동안 expresses an action that occurs during a period of time; -(으)면서 does not necessarily take place at a specific time

Similarities between the two:

1. You attach tense at the end of the sentence, you cannot attach tense to the dependent verb
2. They are, most of the time, interchangeable; just remember the rules above

BONUS! -(을/ㄹ) 때; when

The closest origin of “때” I could find in 한자 is “時”. “때” refers to an event/time/period of action (another translation of 時 can be 시). 

Things to remember:

• You can use -때 with nouns and -(을/ㄹ) 때 with verbs.
• Because it refers to a specific moment, you can attach tense to -(을/ㄹ) 때
• You can use this with adjectives!
• Can be used with -까지 and -부터! [때 + 부터 = since// 때 + 까지 = until]

Examples:

1. 비행기를 도착할 때 엄마하고 전화할게요 - When my plane lands, I’ll call my mom
2. 대학생[이였을] 때 돈이 없었잖아요 - When I was a uni student, I didn’t have money, as you know
3. 한국 친구에게 한국말로 하기 시작했을 때 마이클은 깜짝 놀랐어요 - When I started speaking Korean to my Korean friend, Michael was surprised!
4. 공부할 때 음악을 들어요 - When I study, I listen to music
5. 시간이 있을 때 알려주세요 - Let me know when you have time
6. 16살 때부터 한국어를 배웠어요 - I’ve been learning Korean since I was 16
7. 이렇게 될 때까지 더 씻어야 해요 - You have to wash it more until it’s like this
8. 한국에 갈 때 홍대하고 제주도 방문하고 싶어요 - When I go Korea, I want to visit Jeju and Hongdae
9. 혜민 언니는 한국에 들어갔을 때 제가 너무 슬펐어요 - I was so sad when Hyemin when back to Korea
10. 어렸을 때 그림을 그리기 시작했어요 - I started drawing when I was a kid

Hope this helps! If there’s any more confusion, please, don’t hesitate to send another message or ask! 

Happy Learning :) 

~ SK101

(으)시 vs Deferential [Korean Honorifics]

anon asked: what’s the difference between 먹다 and 드시겠습니다. You say they both mean eat but i am confused? Help!

@femaletype asked: next do (으)시 vs -세요 vs -ㅂ/습니다 Bc honorific vs deferential is the bane of my existence

First, I will give a list of honorific verbs and nouns, then explain the honorific ending! It’s important to note an “elevation” of formality; who is being elevated! In this case, there are three types:

1. verbs that elevate* the subject
2. verbs that elevate the object
3. verbs that elevate the recipient of the action (usually used with the honorific particle 께)

*elevate = who are talking about in an honorific way?

높임말 동사; Honorific Verbs

• (2) 만나다 / 보다; 뵙다 [to see, to meet]
• (1) 먹다; 드시다 / 식사하다 / 잡수시다 [to eat]
• (1) 마시다; 드시다 [to drink]
• (3) 주다;드리다 [to give]
• (1) 있다; 계시다 [to stay]
• (1) 죽다; 들어가시다 [to die]
• (1) 아프다; 편찮으시다 [to be hurt/in pain]
• (1) 말하다; 말씁하시다 [to speak]
• (1) 자다; 주무시다 [to sleep]
• (3) 묻다; 여쭈다 [to ask]
• (1) 배고프다; 시장하시다 [to be hungry]
• (2) 데리다; 모시다 [to accompany]^

^ the plain form 데리다 is more commonly used as a compound verb with 오다 or 가다, but that can be it’s own separate post if people are interested.

높임말 명사; Honorific Nouns

• 이름; 성함 [name]
• 나이; 연세 [age]
• 집; 댁 [house]
• 생일; 생신 [birthday]
• 밥; 진지 / 식사 [food, meal]
• 병; 병환 [disease, illness]
• 술; 약주 [alcohol]
• 아이; 자제분 [child]
• 이; 치아 [tooth]
• 말; 말씀 [word]

It’s important to note, that outside of these specific verbs, you can realistically elevate any verb in Korean using (으)시. 

-(으)시 vs. (스)ㅂ니다; Deferential Honorific

At this point, you should be familiar with plain style conjugation patterns (-어/아요). The deferential style is the infamous -(스)ㅂ니다 that gives the statements their formal ending. Of course, as we know, -(스)ㅂ니다 is more formal than -어/아요. If at any point, you are unsure as to which formality to use, always use the deferential style. 

Honorifics can attach to both the deferential and polite styles, but are used in different contexts illustrated below:

• [polite]집에 가요 - I’m going home
• [deferential]집에 갑니다 - I go home
• [polite + (으)시] 집에 가세요 - Go home, (hon. subject)
• [deferential + (으)시] 집에 가십니다 - (hon. subject) goes home

Remember, you cannot, ever, at any point, ever, use (으)시 for yourself.

-(으)세요

When (으)시 is attached to the polite style conjugation, there are two usages; (1) to show respect, (2) to create an imperative. 

The use of -(으)시 elevates the subject, object, or any recipient of the action who is older, in a higher position, or placed above you in respect. Of course, you will hear some Koreans complain about this politeness hierarchy, however, that is not an excuse to speak in an intimate way to a doctor, professor, or an elder–this is not about being close, this is about being respectful. 

The biggest difference between the deferential -(스)ㅂ니다 and the honorific  -(으)시 is that one acknowledges the elevation of the subject/object/recipient of action [-(으)시] while the other acknowledges the formality of the environment around them [-(스)ㅂ니다].

When talking to someone closer to your age (seemingly), you are able to use [polite + (으)시] to express politeness without being overtly formal. This is why, in restaurants, you will use phrases like:

• 순두부찌개 하나 좀* 주세요 - please give me tofu stew
• 물 좀 주세요 - please give me water
• 아아 한잔 좀 주세요 - please give me an iced americano

*좀 softens the request

Where the server will use an honorific term:

• [드시다] 뭐 드시겠습니까? - what will you eat/drink?
• [드리다] 영수증을 드릴까요? - do you want me to give you a receipt?

Note that the -까 creates an interrogative phrase.

All that said…

You can add (으)시 to any verb in order to create it’s honorific counterpart. This goes for literally any verb. If you are truly lost and cannot remember how to use the honorific form of 먹다 then you can use some form of 먹으시다. Examples:

• [to answer/reply] 대답하다 + (으)시 = 대답하시다
• [to sing] 노래부르다 + (으)시 = 노래부르시다
• [to listen] 듣다 + (으)시 = 들으시다

Hope this helps! Honorifics are honestly difficult. So difficult, that even switching formality without honorifics is still considered rude (from intimate to plain to deferential). You’ll hear people say it’s okay to not use the proper formality because you’re a foreigner, but I think that’s a lazy solution to learning. If you want to learn properly, do it properly. 

Example Sentences:

1. 무슨 책을 읽으세요? - what book are you reading?
2. 한국 분이세요? - are you Korean?
3. 한국어를 가르칠 사람은 김 선생님이세요 - Mx. Kim will teach Korean
4. 엄마가 전화하셨어요 - My mom called
5. 부모님께서 은행에 가셨어요 - My parents went to the bank

That being said, it’s okay to mess up formalities so long as you catch the mistake and correct yourself. The listener (older Korean or friend) will greatly appreciate the self-assessment. 

If there’s still some confusion, let me know!! Happy Learning :)

~ SK101

p.s. for more conjugations, you can go here!!

anon asked: I just finished reading your most recent blog and im just confused about something. you give us the translation for boda and bo-eda but why do I sometimes see a different verb beside boda? like meokeoboda? Sorry about the romanization, i dont have a korean keyboard on my phone

Hey! It’s not a problem! If you need help figuring out how to add a keyboard to your phone, it’s simpler than you think! Just go the “keyboard” function in your settings then press “add new keyboard” you should see “Korean” or 한국어. 

As for your question, I’m going to assume you’re talking about 어/아/여 보다! If I’m not assuming correctly, then please send me another pm or comment on this blog! Hopefully my assumption is correct though!

V ~ 어/아 /여 보다; try, suggest/order (imperative / attempt; 시도)

Conjugate the stem, then add 보다. Not much else to it!

If we attach ~(으)시다 to the grammar point, then we make it a more formal imperative. But if you use intimate style (반말) with your friends, then conjugating 보다 regularly is fine. Here are some formal examples:

• 치마를 입어 보세요 - Try the skirt on
• 잘 생각해 보세요 - think about it well
• 식혜를 마셔 보세요 - try sikhye (Korean rice drink)

Intimate Style:

Sometimes my Korean friends have a hard time saying something in English, and I have a hard time understanding. Usually when this happens, I say, “한국말로 해 봐” which literally just means, “say it in Korean”. If you’re someone who finds it a bit easier to speak informally (like most learners, lol), then here are some other sentences you can use:

When NCT drops another bop and you’re desperate to share it with your friend, say: 잘 들어 봐 - listen well

When your friend is talking too fast in Korean and you can’t keep up, say: 야. 천천히 말해 봐 - yo, speak slower

When your friend has a big test coming up and you wanna support them, say: 공부 열심히 해 봐! 파이팅 - study hard! fighting

V ~ 어/아/여 보다 + 과거 = 어/아/여 봤어요; have tried (experience; 경험)

Here’s where it get’s interesting! If you conjugate 보다 in the past tense when attached to a verb, it talks about past experience. However, this is a very specific example that has happened in the past (usually a distant past, not one that happened recently). Here are some examples:

• 한국에 가 봤어요 - I’ve been to Korea
• 감자탕 먹어 봤어요 - I’ve tried gamjatang (Pork Bone Stew)
• 어렸을 때 미국에 살아 봤어요 - I lived in the US when I was young

If you want to ask someone if they’ve ever done something, or tried something, then just add a question mark!

• 감자탕 먹어 봤어요? - have you ever tried gamjatang?
• 노래방에 가 봤어요? - have you ever been to karaoke?
• 스키 타 봤어요? - have you ever been skiing?

If you want to say that you haven’t done the thing that they’re asking, then add 안 before the main verb. EX. 아니요. 감자탕 “안” 먹어 봤어요 - No. I haven’t tried gamjatang. You can also use “못” instead of “안”. I have used both in the same context and it means the same thing!

V ~ (보다) + (으)ㄴ 적(이) 있다/없다 = have done V / haven’t done V (experience; 경험)

Another way to express experience in the past with / without 보다 is (으)ㄴ 적(이) 있다/없다. 적 is a dependent noun related to time! Here are some examples:

• 떡볶이 먹은 적이 있어요 - I’ve eaten tteokbokki (Korean spicy rice cake)
• 서울에 산* 적이 없어요 - I have never lived in Seoul!

With 보다: 

• 소주 마셔 본 적이 있어요 - I’ve tried soju
• 한복 입어 본 적이 없어요 - I haven’t tried wearing a Hanbok!

*살다 (to live) is an irregular ㄹ verb, therefore ㄹ acts as a vowel/is omitted in most grammatical instances. Other irregular ㄹ verbs you may know: 만들다 (to make), 알다 (to know), 울다 (to cry), 열다 (to open), 팔다 (to sell), many more!

When saying that you’ve watched something, or haven’t while using 보다 in the sense of “to see”, you wouldn’t say 봐 봤어요 or 봐 본 적–, it’s just grammatically incorrect and honestly, unnatural sounding. You would just say 본 적 or 봤어요. The Korean person you’re talking to will understand the context instantly. Here are some examples to illustrate this:

• 영화 기생충 봤어요(?) - Have you seen/I have seen “Parasite”(?)
• 드라마 알랑말랑 본 적이 있어요 - I’ve watched the drama “알랑말랑”

Hope that answers your question! I would say this grammar point is maybe A2-B1! Pretty easy and once you get it, you’ll start to understand some more intermediate sentences a lot better! If you’re still confused, or, again, I assumed wrong, then don’t hesitate to send me another message/pm! I’ll help you right away!

Happy Learning :)

~ SK101

anon asked: I was studying and came across the sentence 별이 보여요. I looked on Papago and I’m confused. anything helps at this point. Thanks!

Hey, no worries! I got you!

The sentence 별이 보여요 actually means “the stars are seen”. 보이다 is a passive verb (수동태), whereas, 보다 is an active verb (능동태). What this means is that the subject either is doing the action or receives action from the verb.

보다 - to see
보이다 - to be seen

Passive and active verbs are super common in English (if used sparingly). For example, you can say, I threw the ball (I did the action to the ball) or, the ball was thrown by me. This shows that the action is done (passive) by the objective me, to the subjective ball.

Here are some more examples in Korean:

• 별을 봐요 - I see the stars
• 별이 보여요 - The stars are seen
• 사자가 토끼를 봤어요 - The lion sees the rabbit
• 토끼가 사자에게 보였어요 - The rabbit is seen by the lion
• 많은 사람들은 영화 기생충을 봤어요 - Many people watched the movie Parasite
• 영화 기생충은 많은 사람들에게 보여졌어요 - The movie Parasite was seen by many people

Hope this answers your question! If there’s any more confusion, please don’t hesitate to pm or send another ask! Happy Learning :)

~ SK101

anon asked: what’s the difference between 끊다 and 자르다?

Great question! Hopefully my answer helps! Both can mean “to cut” but here’s a better explanation:

One is used abstractly, while the other is used for more concrete situations. When you want to cut something for a recipe, or cut a piece of paper, you use 자르다. When you want to hang up the phone, or quit smoking, you use 끊다.

끊다 - cut (something abstract); not a literal cutting of something

1. 이만 끊을게요 - I’ll hang up (on the phone)
2. 앞으로 담배를 끊을 거예요 - From now on, I’m going to quit smoking.

자르다 - cut (something concrete); a literal cutting of something

1. 종이를 반으로 자르세요 - cut the paper in half
2. 이렇게 잘라야 해요 - you should cut it like this
3. 머리 잘라서 머리가 짧아졌어요 - my hair got shorter because I cut it

Hope that helps! Happy learning :) 

~ SK101

anon asked:  hi! i’m still in the process of learning hangul and i know there’s is no specific order to learn korean but what was the easiest route for you? this may sound silly because i’m thinking too far ahead but when/how did you get to the point of not having to use a dictionary or translator for everything? or is that something i’ll always have to do? i’ve only learned one other language and it was spanish. i think i was able to pick up on it quicker because of cognates that are similar to english and i think those also exist for english and korean but i find them more difficult to identify due to the alphabet being different. i hope i didn’t make it sound confusing. thank you for any tips! i appreciate it all

안녕하세요! 늦게 네 질문이 읽어서 미안해요!

이걸 기억하세요: 여러분은 새로운 언어를 배울 때 항상 사전을 사용할 거예요.

만약 한국어를 배우면 다른 사람들마다 다 배우는게 달라요. 우리가 이걸 이미 알고 있었어요. 그렇지만 사람들은 한국어를 대화하지 않으면 한국어를 배우지 못해요. 우리는 “아 한국에 가려고 한국어를 배워"라고 말하지만 한국어를 사용하는 나라에 살지 않아서 한국어를 배우기 어려워요. 우리 한국말로 말해야 돼요. 진짜로요.

저는 한국사람들과 한국어로 대화했기 때문에 한국어를 쉽게 배울 수 있었어요. 매일 한국어 문법과 어휘도 배우는데 한국말을 사용하지 않으면 기억을 못해요. 항상 "쓰기, 읽기가 제일 쉬워"라고 생각하고 듣기, 말하기 연습을 안 했어요. 16 살때부터 한국어를 배우기 시작했어요! 지금 22살이잖아요!! 제가 왜 한국말로 편하게 말할 수 없었을 가요?!

한국말로 대화하지 않았기 때문이에요.

이건 제 충고예요. 만약 한국어를 쉽게 배우고 싶으면 한국말로 해야 돼요. 너가 문법과 어휘도 배워야 되지만 말하기도 해야 돼요. 하루에 5분이라도요

도움이 됐으면 좋겠습니다. 잘 배우세요.

ENG Trans.:

Hello! Sorry for reading your message late. 

Remember this: when you’re learning a new language, you will always use a dictionary (in a way, fluency is arbitrary). 

If you want to learn Korean, everyone learns different. Of course, we already knew that. However, if a person doesn’t speak in Korean, then they won’t learn Korean. We say things like, “I am learning Korean to go to Korea,” but most of us don’t live in a country that actively uses Korean. That makes it really hard to learn Korean. If we wanna learn, we have to speak Korean. Seriously.

It wasn’t until I spoke to native Korean speakers that I actually learned Korean easily. Everyday, I would learn grammar or vocab but it would mean nothing to me if I didn’t use it. I would forget it. I used to think, “Writing and reading are the easiest,” but I never practiced speaking and listening. I’ve been learning since I was 16!!! I’m 22 now!! Why couldn’t I speak Korean comfortably???

It’s literally because I never spoke in Korean.

This is my advice. If you want to be comfortable in Korean (with or without a dictionary), use it. Learn the vocab and grammar, but you HAVE to speak Korean. Even if it’s just for 5m a day.

I hope this helped! Happy Learning :)

~ SK101