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.

Basic Korean Expressions - Part I

Flashcards!!

Korean verbs flashcards!!!

I just discovered this website and could not help but create a set with 25 of the verbs from the previous post.

Here's the link: Flashcards!!