Day: January 30, 2009

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Ways to Say: Concerning, About

There are two ways to express what in English means about, with respect to, concerning etc.  This is through the use of the following postpositional phrase:

  • -에 대해서  (-e daehaeseo)
  • -에 관해서 (-e gwanhaeseo)

Of these two, the second one tends to mean more formal or bookish.  I just realized that my other site about my favorite Korean artist is actually using this postpositional phrase  in the tag line 왭사이트 휘성에 관한  at (http://wheesung.wordpress.com).   I wrote this tagline over a year ago using my dictionary and some early learnings on particles.

Here are some other examples:

  • 어빠는 자동차에  대해서 많이 알고 있어요.  (Oppaneun chadongcha daehaeseo manhi alko isseoyo.)  My brothers knows a lot about cars.
  • 필리핀사람들은 언제나 정부에 관해서 이야기를 해요.  (Pilipinsaramdeuleun onjena jeongbue gwanhaseo iyagi haeyo.)  The Filipinos always talk about the government.
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Exaggeration with Descriptive Verb Infinitive + -서 죽겠어요

This expression is very handy for someone who wants to add lively mood to describe a mental  state or physical sensation.  A descriptive verb is added to the expression죽겠어요 (literally means I could die) and its equal to the English expression I feel so…I could die or I am incredibly or terribly so…so…

Here are some examples on the use of this expression:

  • 아버지가 보고 싶어서 죽겠어요.  (Abojiga bogo shipeoseo chukkesseoyo).  I miss my father terribly.
  • 배가 아바서 죽겠어요. (Baega apaseo chukkesseoyo)  I have a terrible stomach ache.
  • 기분이 나빠서 죽겠어요. (Kibuni nappaseo chukkesseoyo).  I’m in a foul mood.
  • 내가 너무 슬픈해서 죽겠어요.  (Naega nomo seulpeunhaeseo chukkesseoyo).  I am so sad I could die.

This expression according to the book ,Continuing Korean,  is widely used colloquially.