Classroom manners demand Polite Formal (to be continued)

Note: This post is based on Chapter 7 of Shin's textbook (see resources section)

This chapter feels a bit like a revision of school and classroom related terms first introduced in Chapter 4. The new additions include new expressions regarding 'classroom management' as well as some vocabulary linked to location and directions (not my 차전... I seriously hope this is at least a tiny bit correct). Additionally, this chapter's grammar section focuses on the conjugation of verbs using the Polite Formal Style which is dealt exclusively in a different post (found here).

Vocabulary

한국어 - Korean language

한글 - Hangeul

이름 - name

여러본 - Ladies and gentlemen! (interjection)
Break it down!
여러 - many
본 - respected people

선생님 - teacher
선생 - teacher
님 - honorific suffix

~씨 - Mr/Ms... (honorific)


다 같이 - All together! (da ga-chi)
다 - all
같이 - together

다시 한 번 - Once again!
다시 - again
한 번 - 하나 + 번 (counter for time). (See post on counters for explanation regarding 한 contraction)

네? - yes; Sorry?/ Pardon?

천천히 - Slowly!
(How to say 'Slowly or slower please?')

빨리 - Fast!

크게 - Loudly!

더 - more

더 팔리 - faster*

더 크게 - louder*

다 -  all

시작하다 - to start, to begin

- (으)ㄹ까요 - Shall we... ?, I wonder...

Expresson for Classroom activities

첫째 - the first

둘째 - the second

마지막 - the last, the end

줄 - line, row

오른쯕 - the right side

왼쯕 - the left side

가운데 - the middle

-에 - to (chapter 4); in, on at

-에서 - from

밑 - the bottom; below (preposition)... I think


Examples:

첫째 줄 왼쯕에 - on the left side of the first row
첫째 - the first
줄 - row, line
외쯕 - the left side
-에 - on

밑에서 둘째 줄 - the second last line (lit.) The second line from the bottom.
밑 - the bottom
-에서 - from
둘째 - the second
줄 - row, line

첫째 줄 왼쯕에 고양이 있어요. - (lit.) The first line on its left, there is a cat.

Pet peeve

I have a problem with this chapter and every other preceding it. Why haven't the VERB+하다 verbs been addressed? And, why haven't the subject and topic markers been properly addressed and explained? I deal with them in two different posts currently resting in the draft pile. I find it hard to accept how Korean textbooks aimed at English speakers neglect proper grammar explanations, especially because the Korean grammar really is very different! It it were a Spanish language textbook aimed at Portuguese speakers, ok, chill with that, BUT it ain't and this forces me to constantly look for answers and further information somewhere else. It sucks.

Ordinal numbers

Ordinal numbers in everyday Korean are used only within the context of finger counting. What this means is that, unlike English it is not used in dates. Not sure what the criteria is for kings, queens, popes, cardinals (and the rest of Catholic hierarchy) and for rappers' or Michael Jackson's offsprings.

첫째 - first

둘째 - second

셋째 - third

넷째 - fourth

다섯째 - fifth

More Useful Expressions (classroom related)

시작하세요. - Start (it) please! (In my infinite ignorance every time I heard this in Korean variety shows I thought it was a Konglish adaptation of "start". Sorry Korea!)

따라 하세요. - Repeat after me please!

잘 들어 보세요. - Listen carefully!

해 보세요. - Have a go!

질문 있어요. - I have a question.

...은/는 영어로 뭐웨요? - What is... in English?

맞아요? - It is correct?

모르겠어요. - I don't know.

잊어버렸어요. - I've forgotten.

아주 좋아요. - Very good!

잘 하셨어요. - Well done! (You did well!)

아주 잘 하솄어요. - Very well done! (You did extremely well!)


* See Talk To Me In Korean, Level 2, Lesson 29

Counters and Unit Nouns

NOTE: This post is based on Chapter 6 of Shin's textbook (see section on resources).

The novelty that are counters for English speakers deems the creation of a post solely dedicated to them absolutely necessary.

PK Counters

Note that the following set of counters is used with Pure Korean numbers.

개 - counter for things in general. Some of the least common counters can at times be replaced by this one without making the whole sentence incorrect. 개 also means dog and just like dogs are a man's best friend so is 개 a man's best counter.

병 - counter for bottles. Also means bottle, which makes things quite logical.

잔 - counter for glasses or cups. Thankfully, it also means cup or glass.

자루 - counter for long/thin things. Well, this is according to the textbook; however, according to other sources* this counter is also used for pens (makes sense), bags containing grains and knives. According to the same source, for these little peculiar uses 자루 can be replaced by the friendly 개.

대 - counter for machines and punches. This is a common counter, especially when used with cars, therefore it is best to use it instead of replacing it with
개. 대 also means large or big (I think) as in 대학교 meaning university or, literally, "large school".

마리 - counter for animals.

장 - counter for paper, pages and tickets.

통- counter for boxes or containers. Coincidentally it also means box or container.

권 - counter for books.

명 - counter for human beings. (WHY TWO??)

사람  - counter for human beings. Used when referring to a relatively small number of people without specifying who they are.* Question: how small is small? Is it culture specific? While on exchange I realised that an average number of people in a group of Dutch is about 4 to 5 people while in a group of Spanish is about 10-15 people. 사람 also means human being or person.

번 - counter for time (Chapter 7).

PK + counter + verb

So, to the question

몇 개(counter) 있어요?

책(NOUN) 몇 개(counter) 있어요?

The answer is

(책) 다섯(PK) 개 있어요. 

Examples:
개
아줌아 김치찌개 한 개 주세요.

병
소주도 한 병 주세요.
(What does the 도 mean after soju?)

명
몇 명 있어요?
열 명 있어요.

Counters and Numbers, slight adjustments

exceptions in PK 1, 2, 3, 4 and 20.

하나 + counter = 한 counter

둘 + counter = 두 counter

셋 + counter = 세 counter

넷+ counter = 네 counter

스물 + counter = 스무 counter

SK Counters

In the textbook the following set of counters is referred to as 'counters of foreign origin'. Counters related to money are also included.

킬로 - counter for kilograms

리터 - counter for litre

미터 - counter for metre

원 - won (ROK currency)

불 / 돌러 - dollar

센트 - cent

SK + counter + verb

So, to the question

알마예요?

책(NOUN) 알마예요?

The answer is

오만(SK) 원(counter)이에요.

(NOUN) + PK + counter 에 + SK + counter 예요/ 이에요

Example of this lovely interaction:

포도수(NOUN) 한(PK) 병에(COUNTER 에) 오만(SK) 원이에요(counter 예요/ 이에요)

포도수 한 병에 오만 원이에요

(NOUN) + SK + counter 에 + SK + counter 예요/ 이에요

Example of this lovely interaction:

일 리터에 천 원이예요.




* See: Talk To Me In Korean, Level 2, Lesson 9.

Numbers, also a Sino-Korean pain

NOTE: This post is based on Chapter 6 of Shin's textbook (see section on resources).


If only learning a new language were easy, if only that language at least belonged to the same linguistic clan as my own, if only numbers were my forte to start with... if only Korean fulfilled all this criteria I would pretty fluent by now but NO! In addition to having to get acquainted with a new language family, Korean is now forcing me to also memorise two numeric systems. Low blow, real low! Anyway... 화이팅!!

There must be someone capable of appreciating the reference.

When to use

Sino-Korean numbers are used when reading off numerals, for abstract counting such as mathematics, decimals, fractions, distances and money. I should also add measurements since its associated counters are followed by Sino-Korean numbers (litre, metre, kilogram, etc.)

0. 공 (is this not the same word as ball?)

1. 일

2. 이 (same as subject particle)

3. 삼

4. 사

5. 오 (also a verb, 오다)

6. 육

7. 칠

8. 팔

9. 구

10. 십

11. 십일

20. 이십

21. 이십일

30. 삼십

40. 사십

50. 오십

60. 육십

70. 칠십

80. 팔십

90. 구십

Basically only need to memorise 백, 촌, 만 and 억

백 - 100

천 - 1,000

만 - 10,000

십만 - 100,000 (10 x 10,000)

백만 - 1,000,000 (100 x 10,000)

촌만 - 10,000,000 (1,000 x 10,000)

억 - 100,000,000

Pronunciation notes!

11. 십일 (si-bil)

12. 십이 (si-bi)

15. 십오 (si-bo)

16. 십육 (sim-nyuk)

100,000. 십만 (sim-man)

1,000,000. 백만 (baeng-man)

This and that and a few stuff to pay for after a strenuous effort to understand the amount due

NOTE: This post is based on Chapter 6 of Shin's textbook (see section on resources).


This week I found out that the word effort comes from French. Relevance, none. Back to Korean!

이거 얼마예요?

How much are these?

가게 - shop
가게 주인 - shop owner

책 - book
볼펜 - ball-point pen
연필 - pencil
의자 - chair
책상 - desk
문 - door
창문 - window
사진 - photo
개 - dog
고양기 - cat
전와고 - telephone
휴대폰 - mobile phone
한드폰 - mobile phone
텔레비전 - television
돈 - money
불 - dollar (counter); fire

전통 - tradition, traditional

얼마예요 - how much it it/are they?
그럼요. - of course!

한개에 - per item, each
개 - counter (more in a different post)

이-, 그-, 저-

This and that and that over there

것 or, for simplicity sake, 거 means thing, object or item. Therefore...

이거 - this thing... called love, I just can't handle it, this thing woohooo... (Queen reference)

그거 - that thing near you, it, the. So close you can touch it if only you would make an effort

저거 - that thing over there, there!!! A few steps and you'll grab it, bum.

"이거 뭐예요?"
"이거 not what you are thinking!"

이, 그 and 저 can also be used before other nouns, for example:

"이 사람" or "그 새끼"

그 사람 학생이에요. - He/She/That person is a student.

Dialogue bits aimed at summarising the whole thing

이거 뭐예요? - What is this/ are these?

이 오렌지는 알마예요? - How much are these oranges?

~는 - topic particle

~예요/ ~이에요 - copula, meaning 'equal/ equivalent to'

한 개에 천원이에요. - It is/ They are one thousand won each.

몇 개 있어요? - How many are there?

다섯 개 있어요. - There are five.

TOPIK Exam, past papers

This blog has past exams AND answers ready for download!!!

This is help of biblical proportions for everyone studying for the exam. Thank you, good samaritan!

Numbers, a Pure Korean Pain

Pure Korean Numbers

Why are numbers a pure pain? Because, in addition to the pain that involves memorising numbers, Korean is kind enough to bless us with two, yes, TWO sets of numbers; one, the Pure Korean, and, the second, Sino-Korean. Let's start with the Pure Korean set.

Pure Korean numbers only range from 1-99, this obviously does not mean that for every other number we simply use the Sino-Korean set and that is how we explain the existence of two sets. NO! 아니요! While zero and numbers greater than 99 for lack of alternative fall under the Sino-Korean domain, there are a number of brain-wrecking rules that determine which system should be used in numbers ranging from one to 99.

Having said that, the general rule states that Pure Korean numbers are used to count a limited number (well, at least until 99) of objects or people. On the other hand, the Sino-Korean set is used for larger numbers (shall not they remain unaccounted for) and, in general (key word... GENERAL), for essentially abstract counting such as mathematics, decimals, fractions, distances and money.

In addition to the rules of usage, these numbers present yet another challenge for learners... pronunciation. There are a number of unconventional or new pronunciation rules that I will have to add to the existing list.

First things first, here are the Pure Korean ones:

1. 하나

2. 둘 

3. 셋 (set)

4. 넷 (net)

5. 다섯 (da-sot)

6. 여섯 (yeo-sot)

7. 일곱

8. 여덟 (yeo-deol)

9. 하홉

10. 열

The remaining are quite logical, it follows the rule (10+nr); therefore, once the first ten are mastered, these become easy.

10. 열

11. 열하나 (yeo-ra-na)

12. 열둘

13. 열셋

14. 열넷 (yeol-let)

15. 열다섯

16. 열여섯 (yeol-yeo-seot)

17. 열일곱

18. 열여덟

19. 열아홉 (yeo-ra-hop)

From here one the numbers do not follow such a simple logic (as in the Sino-Korean case)

20. 스물

30. 서른

40. 마흔

50. 쉰

60. 예순

70. 일흔 (i-reun)

80. 여든

90. 아흔

The end! 끝!


NOT SO FAST!
Mnemonic-ing...

First and foremost, I find it much easier to remember them if placed side by side since there is sometimes some phonetic continuity or connection.

하나 열 totally unrelated!
둘 스물 the 울 sound is still there, but there seems to be the need for two syllable from here forth
셋 서른 after the first two all numbers end with the nasal sound ㄴ, first letter still the same ㅅ. Not much logic but try not to feel too sore about it. Wow, fantastic.
넷 마흔 more complicated case in which the first letter changes, albeit it continues with a nasal sound. from net to ma-eun... men in nets, merman, mermale, oops not a mermaid.
다섯 쉰 swing, fifties... ㄴ. You feel sore because you got a merman but decide to dance swing so as not to waste a perfectly good opportunity to have fun.
여섯 예순 여, 예 and ㅅ remaining constant. change in sound from yeo to ye u. Yeah, son!! Or should I say "bloody sun!"
일곱 일흔 일still there but then it gets tricky. Causing me a headache and making me feel ill!
여덟 여든 여ㄷ...well, it has to end in ㄴso improvise whatever comes in between. You then... then what? disappear?
하홉 아흔 the trend to turn ㅂinto 은 remains a constant, strange disappearence of ㅎ for a first syllable!

Something 주세요. Give me something, please!!

NOTE: This post is based on Chapter 5 of Shin's textbook (see section on resources).

-으세요 / -세요

Verb ending used to issue commands or to make requests in the Polite Informal Style. If the verb stem ends in a consonant then 으 is added between the stem and -세요.

Example sentences:

주세요

앉으세요 (an-jeu-se-yo)

드세요 (들 + 세요)

~ 주세요!!!

The expression above is formed by the verb 주다 (to give) plus the verb ending used for commands or requests (세요). Therefore, ~ 주세요 means "Please, give me...." or "Can I have....?"

In order to request/ask for something all it is needed is to name the desired object and add the magic expression. It is polite to say this with a slight smile as the person you are requesting that something from will probably be more willing to be of assistance if you are nice. Koreans are weird.

~ 드세요

Expression used to offer something. Works in the exact same way as the previous.

Example sentences:
- 과일 드세요.
- 네, 감사합니다. / 아니요, 괜찮아요.

Vocabulary:

어서 오세요. - Welcome. (lit. Come (in) quickly.)

감사합니다. - Thank you.

괜찮아요. - It's ok. It's alright.

- Well, then, ...

여기 - here

들다 - to take, to take hold of

맛 있다 - to be tasty (ma sit-da)

맛 읎다 - to be unpalatable (mad eop-da)

앉다 - to sit (an-da)

종업원 - waiter, waitress and other similar employees in the service industry

Drinks:

물 - water

음료수 - drink, beverage

컬라 - cola (coke)

레모네이드 - lemonade

사이다 - lemonade (not to be confused with cider or "saída" (exit in Portuguese). Apparently the term comes from Japanese.)

주스 - (fruit) juice

차 - tea

녹차 - green (녹색) tea (차)

홍차 - black tea (홍 actually means red)

일삼차 - ginseng tea

커피 - coffee

우유 - milk

식혜 - (traditional) rice nectar

수정과 - (traditional) fruit punch

술  - liquor 

-주 - liquor

멕주 - beer

포도주 - wine (lit. grape liquor)

와인 - wine (Engrish)

소주 - soju/ distilled hard liquor (cult.: stuff Koreans get drunk on. Made from grain or potatoes.)

과일 - fruit

사과 - apple

배 - pear (same word also means boat)

포도 - grape

오렌지 - orange

귤 - mandarin

수박 - watermelon

자두 - plum

복숭아 - peach

딸기 - strawberry

감 - persimmon

참외 - yellow melon

키위 - kiwi

파인애플 - pineapple

매실 (주스) - plum juice

과자 - biscuits

사탕 - sweets

아이스크림 - ice cream

-으세요 / -세요

Verb ending used to issue commands or make requests in the Polite Informal Style. If the verb stem ends in a consonant, then 으 is added between the stem and 세요.

Example sentences:

주세요

앉으세요 (an-jeu-se-yo)

드세요 (들 + 세요)

-는 / -은

Topic particle. It simply casually appeared in the introductory dialogue of this chapter. I will deal with this separately since I have a love affair with particles. They rock my Korean linguistic world (it은 had to be a very specific one because I do have a life).

있어요 and 옶어요

The translation provided in the textbook for these two verbs is "There is.../ There are..." and "There isn't.../ There aren't..." respectively, however these verbs have a more extensive meaning that is not captured by their use in this chapter. A new post will be created dealing specifically with 있어요 and 없어요.

Example sentences:

- 콜라 있어요?

- 네, 있어요. / 아니요, 없어요.

- 소주 주세요?

- 네, 여기 있어요.

Pronunciation:

있다- pronounced as it-da

있어요 - pronounced as i-sseo-yo

없다- pronounced as eop-da

없어요 - pronounced as eop-seo-yo

*My way of memorising the meaning of 주다 is really not orthodox (well it could be, but it is definitely not politically correct), therefore I will try to come up with an alternative mnemonic device before adding it to the description in the vocabulary list.

Pesky Pronunciation Rules... Yes, that's how much I dislike them.

ㅅ and ㅆ

• pronounced as 'sh' and tensed 'sh' respectively when followed by the vowel romanised as i or a y-combined vowel.

ㅇ

• silent consonant when it is the initial consonant in a syllable, this happens every time the syllable starts with a vowel sound. Vowels at the beginning of the syllable must always be preceded by this consonant.
• pronounced as ng when it is the final consonant in a syllable.

ㄹ

• pronounced as r if it occurs in the beginning of the syllable
• pronounced as l if it occurs at the end of the syllable
• however, when the final syllable is ㄹ and the next syllable starts with ㄹ, then the two ㄹ should be pronounced as l
• additionally, if the following syllable starts with ㅇ and consequent vowel, then the final ㄹ is pronounced as r, except if followed by a vowel combined with the semi-vowel y
• pronounced as n in the example: 음료수. (So far not sure of the general rule)
• if the at the end of a syllable to which is added a verb ending or particle starting with 으, then the consonant ㄹ is dropped. Example: (들 + 세요 = 드세요)

ㄱ, ㄷ,ㅂ and ㅈ

• pronounced and romanised as g, d, b and j respectively when occurring after a vowel.
• however, pronounced and romanised as k, t, p and ch respectively when occurring at the beginning of the sentence
• pronounced as ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ and ㅊ when followed by ㅎ (Example 벡화점 pronounced as bae-k'wa-jeom) 
• (wiki) initial consonants are usually pronounced voiceless. For example, the ㅈ in the word 자 is  typically voiceless, especially as the first word of a sentence. That makes it sound more like che than j to an English speaker.

ㄱ, ㄲ, ㅋ and ㄷ, ㅌ and ㅂ, ㅍ

• ㄱ, ㄲ and ㅋ pronounced as unexploded k when occurring at the end of the syllable
• ㄷ and ㅌ pronounced as unexploded t when occurring at the end of the syllable (ㄸ does not occur as syllable-final consonant)
• ㅂ and ㅍ pronounced as unexploded p when occurring at the end of the syllable (ㅃ does not occur as syllable-final consonant)
• However, if the following syllable starts with ㅇ and consequent vowel, then the syllable-final consonant is pronounced as b, d and b respectively. (Example: 집 and 집에)

ㅂ, ㄷ, ㄱ

• pronounced as m, n and ng respectively. Part of a general assimilation rule within the Korean sound system whereby a non-nasal stop becomes nasalised. Examples: 감사합니다 and 미안합니다

ㅅ, ㅆ, ㅈ and ㅊ

• pronounced and romanised as unexploded t when occurring at the end of the syllable
• ㅅ, not ㄷ or ㅌ, is the most preferred letter for a syllable-final t sound when writing a foreign-loan word

ㅚ, ㅞ and ㅙ

• romanised as oe, we and wae respectively, has in the past differences in pronunciation that have since been lost or being lost in modern (standard spoken) Korean.

ㅎ

• becomes silent or weakly aspirated when occurring between two voiced sounds. Example: 괜찮아요 gwaen-cha-na-yo instead of gwean-chan-ha-yo.

More peskiness

to be added in regards to the rules pertaining to the cases of: -ㄴㅈ, -ㄹㄱ, -ㅎㄴ, - ㄹㅂ

* the changes in pronunciation depending on the following consonant is particularly important in the case of the addition of particles such as 에 since it changes the normal pronunciation of a known word.