Korean Grammar for International Learners

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I am trying to fight my frustrations over learning Korean. It’s been four years and I feel like I am stuck in the Elementary level. I have recently downloaded the Talk to Me in Korean podcast and hopefully I could be better in pronunciation and spoken Korean.  I temporarily stopped reading Continuing Korean because I feel like I need to really fully understand the basics of the Korean grammar.

My sister recently got this book from a good harabeoji (grand father) in Korea.  Its called Korean Grammar for International Learners.

The book is published by Yonsei University and just like the Yale published books I hope that the perspectives provided in this book through explanation to a non Korean reader by a Korean and the way younger Koreans are thought Korean language using English as medium would help me achieve that full understanding of the basics.

Daebak: Something Great

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If you had a chance to see a Korean variety show, you might have heard or even read on screen this word — 대박 (daebak). It is a very common expression used to express something really awesome happened. Koreans love to put up words (flashing on screen) in their programs and you can often read it when a good performance happeneㅇ, when someone wins big time or someone threw a punchline that made everyone laugh.

There is even a song with this as title 대박이야 (Daebakiya – It’s a Big Hit). It is a song performed by 대성(Daesung), a member of a very famous Korean boy group called 빅뱅 (Big Bang). The song is classified as trot, an old Korean pop music or genre.

 

White Day Today!

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Happy White Day today to all Koreans out there! Same greetings extends to those who are celebrating this event as well such as Japan and Taiwan.

Exactly a month from Valentines day when worldwide couples are celebrating, girls in Korea are probably busy making or buying that chocolate for the special man in their life. Now is the time for the guys to give the gals chocolates =)

Love Is…Loving Korean Music

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One reason why I developed a strong desire to learn the Korean language is K-pop.  I love listening to Korean songs.  Se7en is the first Korean artist I have known and started to like listening to.  That was 2007 when I started blogging as well about Korean stuff and learning Hangul.  I enjoyed most of his songs, having that feeling I started looking for other artist by searching the net.

I listen to jazz, soul, hip hop and R&B music most of the time and listening to Se7en led me to a Korean singer named Wheesung (휘성).  Other than his profile saying he sings R&B, it was also mentioned how his song 안되나요 (Andwenayo- Can’t We) became so popular at the time when people in Korea are focused at the World Cup. I downloaded some of his popular songs and I then became a big fan.  My most favorite song from Wheesung is 사랑은 (Sangeun- Love Is).

This song is a collaboration with former Big Mama’s Lee Jiyeong (이지영).  I really like this song, the rhythm is soothing and the harmony of  Wheesung and Jiyeong’s voice is fantastic. The chorus lyrics goes this way:

luv is 내겐 꿈만 같은 것 (luv is naegen kkumman kateun kot)
luv is 그 꿈안에 있는 것 (luv is kkumane issneun kot)
luv is 눈을 뜨기만 해도 사라지지만 갖고 싶은 것 (luv is nun ddeukiman haedo sarajijiman katgo shipeun kot)

In my simple translation of the lyrics’ chorus it describes love as a like a dream (my dream) on the first line.  Then it says 그 꿈안에 있는 것 — love is that thing in that dream. Finally it says love is the thing that I want that disappears as soon as I open my eyes.

Such a lovely song.  Whenever I listen to beautiful Korean music, i get more inspired to learn about the Korean language and Hangul.

Updated Handy Expression

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I just updated the Handy Expression page. I have added phrases for the following circumstances:

  • Saying sorry or apologizing and admission of being wrong.
  • Asking and Answering ‘Who are you?’
  • Asking and Answering ‘Where are you from?’

Will try to update again in the future. 주말 잘 지냈어요!

Valentines Day

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Valentines is just around the corner.  February is the love month.  Most shops and restaurants are geared towards love celebration.  As they would usually say, the town is painted red during Valentines or the entire month of February.  Guys would give their loved ones flowers or chocolates.

I guess what makes Valentines celebration different in South Korea from the rest of the world (except maybe in Japan since they also have the same practice) is that the ladies would usually give chocolates to men.  Some would even exert the effort of hand making one or buying extra special one just like these chocolates:

Just in case you are curious i just got the picture from an online Korean store (I am not affiliated with it) if you are interested you can check it our from Korean Fashion Online. Yes, ladies are more busy looking for that sweet present unlike in our country where guys would typically be busy setting up a valentines date with their loved one.  In South Korea, ladies would normally receive something in return (from Valentines) during White Day which is held every 14th of March.

As for me,  I would be baking my own sweet chocolate treat for that special someone. The effort of doing something sweet makes it even sweeter :-)   I love baking and so i guess a perfectly baked chocolate krinkles will express that special thought:

The next thing to do is to write that short love note.  I love you is 사랑해요 (saranghaeyo) in Korean.  I think this is the most fitting way to say it to a lover or partner since 사랑합니다 (saranghamnida) tends to be formal. Young ones would even drop the polite ending 요 (yo) and just say 사랑해 (saranghae).  Here is a sample valentine note I made:

It reads:

  • 사랑하는 이켈씨 – saranghaneun ikel-sshi (dearest ikel).
  • 해피 발렌타인 데이 – haepi ballentain dei (happy valentines day).
  • 오빠 영원히 사랑해… – oppa yongwonhi saranghae (oppa i love you forever).
  • 사랑하는 마음으로, 제인 – saranghaneun maeumeuro, jane (much love, jane)

여러분 해피 발렌타인 데이. 하루 행복하세요! (Happy Valentines Everyone. Have a happy day!)

Expressing Rather and More Than in Korean

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I am back to reading Continuing Korean. I need to continue studying now otherwise my brain will get a little rustic. I have tons of things to learn more on Korean and this lesson that i just read is something that i have been curious about, how to express ‘rather or more than’ in Korean.

On the onset, i would tend to say 보다 is dictionary form of the verb look.  However, 보다 cannot be used as is to mean look or see, 다 has to be dropped and conjugated at that form.  For this lesson, I have learned that a noun followed by 보다 would mean rather or more than. Below are the noted use of this particle:

  • 이가방은 그가방보다 커요. (Ikabangeun gukabangboda keoyo).  This bag is bigger than that.  Literally this sentence would mean this bag, more than that bag is big.
  • 봄이 겨울보다 좋아요. (Bomi kyeoulboda choayo).  Spring is nicer than winter.  Literally this sentence would mean spring more or rather than winter is nice.

In sentences like this, using the adverb 훨씬 (hwolshin) would tend to express that something is:

  1. way more<verb> than
  2. <verb>er than
  3. by far much <verb> than

Here is an example: 프랑스는 스파인보다 훨씬 아름답지요. (Purangseuneun supainboda hwolshin areumdapjiyo).  This would mean France is way more beautiful than Spain or France is by far much beautiful than Spain.  This sentence is just an example and does not mean to offend people who like Spain more than France :-)

Another thing to note is that this particle can be followed by another particle, 는 (-neun) that is, to make extra contrast.  Here is an example: 지난 주 엄마보다는 아버지가 바쁘지요. (Jinan ju ommabodaneun abojiga pappeujiyo.)  Father is certainly more busy than mother the past week.

Lastly, 도 (-do) can also be attached directly after 보다 for more emphasis in a statement.  Here is an example: 우유보다도 커피가 먹고 싶어요.  (Uyubodado kopiga mokko shipeoyo).  I would rather have coffee (even more than) milk.

새 집 (New Home)

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Finally, i am done transferring to a new home.  I am starting to build up some of the items that i was forced to leave behind due to file import issues.  How do you find my new header?  It’s a picture that my 자기야 snapped when we visited last December.

This is inside Chakdeonggung or Chakdeong Palace.  This work of art is truly a cultural masterpiece. I wonder how they keep the skill and passed it on to newer generation.  I heard that Koreans who is knowledgeable in this old carpentry (대목장 – daemokjang) are considered as intangible cultural heritage.

I hope Koreans will continue to guard their cultural heritage despite their rapid modernization and globalization.  Such fusion in a busy street of Seoul is so pleasing to the eyes, it makes me feel like I am in another world.

My Favorite Korean Ramyeon (Ramen)

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Funny but with  my last visit to Seoul, I took home 3 packs of this containing 4 noodles each.  I really did not mind the space it will eat from my baggage allowance because this is not available back in my home town.   I discovered this noodles during my 2010 visit.   At that time, Nikhun of 2PM was endorsing this noodles.  I bought a pack and regretted just buying one.  I super love the cheese flavor and average spiciness of the noodles.

치즈 라면 (Cheese Ramyeon) is something that i only found in South Korea.  I haven’t seen one from Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau or Taiwan.  I think 오뚜기 (Ottogi) is the only noodle company that carries this noodle flavor.  I am not sure about this but when i went to Lotte, I have not seen any  other brands with cheese flavor.  I enjoy eating this with soda crackers.   I also love that the noodles is slightly thicker than the usual brand of noodles in our local market.

Cheese is spelled 치즈 in Korean.  Sometimes i wonder why it was not spelled 치스 (cheeseu) in my opinion this is nearer to the pronunciation of cheese.   Nevertheless 치즈 라면 is worth a try, I wish the Korean stores here start to include this in their product line.

The Fried of South Korea

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My mind is still filled with memories from last visit to Seoul so I am posting about this experiences from now.  It’s lunch time so I am craving for chicken.   I think fried chicken is a menu that exists in almost all country, there is always a version that each is proud of.   Though i have seen people eating fried chicken in Korean dramas, I always thought it was a western influence, I never thought there is Korean version.

I got introduced to Korean style fried chicken when 본천 (Bonchon) started franchising in the Philippines.  Their chicken wings with chili and soy are really good.  Then one time, my boss ordered for BBQ chicken with pickled raddish sidings.  I don’t eat radish but the it was such a perfect pair with Terri-Q wings.  I eventually learned to make one.

This year,  I made sure I can eat fried chicken Korean style.  We ended up having lunch on a small chicken HOF in Jongno.  The place is called 오복영양 치킨 (Obokyeongyang Chicken).  We ordered for fried and barbecued chicken.  To our surprise each order is one whole chopped chicken which costs only 6000KRW (about 6USD).  The chicken below is my order, the fried one.  It’s really perfect with that pickled radish on the upper right of the picture.

I tried to order for 밥 (rice) but they don’t serve.  I then realized that this place, which they call HOF, is actually a pub that serves beer and chicken.  So this explains why the 삼동치킨  (Samtong Chicken) near the hotel opens by 3pm.  Good thing there is no 밥 (bap) is available because i there was rice I won’t be able to finish my chicken.

The night before leaving Seoul, we looked for another chicken or HOF.  We really enjoyed our chicken the other day and we were craving for more.  All the HOFs are full and luckily we found this place named 치킨마니아 (Chicken mania). We actually didn’t have a choice but to enter this restaurant since most are really full.  Well i guess we were just lucky because after getting seated the place got crowded in a few minutes.  We ordered for 마늘 치킨 (maneul chicken) or garlic chicken.

As expected it came with pickled radish and that coleslaw type side dish.  Seems to be pretty standard among chicken HOFs :-)   I get to practice some Korean phrase during ordering and we learned our lesson from our previous HOF experience that is a single order is just too much for one person:

마늘 치킨 일 인분  주세요 (maneul chicken il inbun juseyo)

일 (il)  is one in Korean, 인분 (inbun) means serving or set while 주세요 (juseyo)  is verb used to request for something.  I think 주세요 has the same meaning as 부탁합니다 (putakhamnida).   The order came as expected so I guess i said the right thing.  Funny is the guy who seems to be the floor supervisor actually knows how to speak English, he is the one seating the guests.  We ordered beer and cider from him.

There is a laundry list of chicken menu in the HOFs we visited.  There maybe other variations that will surely tingle our taste buds.  I am saving it on my next visit ;-)