한국어 Korean

1. Particle? Postposition? Although 조사 is often translated into a particle, I prefer the term postposition. I think the word particle focuses on its meanings while postposition on its functions. Particle means an adverb or preposition that forms a verb phrase together with a verb. However, 조사s are mainly attached after 체언(nouns, pronouns, and numerals), and they are not adverbs. In contrast, pos..

나는 사서 고생을 하는 경향이 있어. I tend to ask for trouble. [Words] 사다: buy 고생하다: go through hardship, have difficulty (고생 = hardship, trouble, or difficulty) 경향이 있다: tend to-v (경향: tendency or inclination) [Phrase Analysis] 나는 { (사서 고생을 하는) 경향이 있다 }. 나는: first-person pronoun 나(I) + auxiliary particle 는 → subject of the whole sentence 사서: 사다(buy)'s stem 사- + a connective ending -아서(expresses method) → 사아서 →..

The concept of adverbs is quite similar to that in English, so they are easy to understand. In Korean Language, adverbs modify verbs(동사), adjectives(형용사), determiners(관형사), other adverbs(다른 부사), or a whole sentence(문장 전체). 빨리 가자. Let's go in a hurry. (modifies a verb) 꽃이 정말 예쁘다. This flower is so beautiful. (modifies an adjective) 너무 헌 물건은 좀 버려라. Throw away things that are too old. (modifies a d..

점점 and 서서히 both stand for 'gradually'. However, they are not a synonym. 점점: 점(漸)+점(漸). 漸 = progress toward a certain direction little by little 서서히: 서(徐)+서(徐)+-히(adverbial suffix). 徐 = (go) slowly Therefore, 점점 more focuses on 'little', while 서서히 on 'slow'. When things progress little by little, then they will do so slowly. That's why the two words can be used interchangeably, but the nuance is ..

There are 3 subclasses of 관형사, which are demonstrative(지시 관형사), numeral(수 관형사), and adjective(성상 관형사). Is it necessary to know to which category a determiner belongs? Unless you are going to major in the Korean Language, not really. Nevertheless, taking a look at its subclasses will help you understand this part of speech even more. 1. Demonstrative Determiners(지시 관형사) The most basic demonstrati..

관형사 is translated into the determiner, but they are not precisely the same. 관형사 is a unique part of speech in Korean, and its role is to modify the following noun, pronoun, or numeral(the three of them are subclasses of 체언). It unconditionally comes before 체언, and cannot be used without it. 관형사 has three characteristics. 1. It can neither conjugate nor be used as a predicate. This distinguishes ..

In order to make a concessive sentence, there are many options to use in Korean expressions. -아/어도, -지만 and -ㄴ/는데 are among them, and they are nearly interchangeable. Therefore, even if you use it without division, it matters little. However, there is a subtle difference in nuance, which is the subject of this post today. Among the three expressions, -아도/어도 is the most similar to the expression ..

Sino-Korean Numerals and Determiners 1. Quantifiers Sino-Korean numerals and numeral determiners have the same form. Quantifier Numerals/Determiners 1 일 2 이 3 삼 4 사 5 오 6 육 7 칠 8 팔 9 구 10 십 11 십일 12 십이 13 십삼 14 십사 15 십오 16 십육 17 십칠 18 십팔 19 십구 20 이십 21 이십일 22 이십이 23 이십삼 24 이십사 25 이십오 26 이십육 27 이십칠 28 이십팔 29 이십구 30 삼십 31 삼십일 32 삼십이 33 삼십삼 34 삼십사 35 삼십오 36 삼십육 37 삼십칠 38 삼십팔 39 삼십구 40 사십 41 사십일 42 ..

Pure Korean Numerals and Determiners 1. Quantifiers - Numerals and Numeral Determiners *The blue and red determiners are those which have different forms than numerals. Quantifier Numerals Numeral Determiners 1 하나 한 2 둘 두 3 셋 세 4 넷 네 5 다섯 다섯 6 여섯 여섯 7 일곱 일곱 8 여덟 여덟 9 아홉 아홉 10 열 열 11 열하나 열한 12 열둘 열두 13 열셋 열세 14 열넷 열네 15 열다섯 열다섯 16 열여섯 열여섯 17 열일곱 열일곱 18 열여덟 열여덟 19 열아홉 열아홉 20 스물 스무 21 스물하나 스물한 22 스..

The Number System in the Korean Language can confuse you since there are various forms and types of them. It is mainly related to the following matters. 1. A matter of the origins of the words There are two origins for Korean words: pure Korean words and Chinese-origin words(Sino-Korean words). The usage of the two is different, which is the point you have to memorize. 2. A matter of parts of sp..