Questions tagged [word-choice]
Making the most appropriate choice between words that have similar or overlapping meanings.
131 questions
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How can I say I am very out of practice or "rusty" on a skill?
Suppose I wanted to say
I can speak Korean, but I am very [out of practice/rusty]
Literally translated, this would be
저는 한국어를 할 수 있지만 매우 [연습이 부적해요/녹슬어요]
However, these feel a bit too literal and I ...
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How to say "Which city are you from?"
How do you say "Which city are you from?" Which one below is correct? Are there any other new sentences I can use?
어느 도시에 사세요?
어디 도시에 사세요?
어디에 도시 사세요?
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Moving Story Ending: 결말 or 엔딩
When referring to the "End of a movie or story", should I use 결말 or 엔딩 . I can't telling using Papago or Google translate. Also, how to refer to Beginning of Movie? Is it 시작?
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Difference between Seat: 자리 and 좌석?
What is the difference between 자리 and 좌석 ? They both mean seat in Korean dictionary. Are they used in different contexts?
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Is 다른 곳에서 본 a natural translation of "Seen Elsewhere"?
Is 다른 곳에서 본 natural when I just want to say simply "Seen Elsewhere" only? This is the translation in most translating apps (like google translate & Papago)
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Korean Sports: More commonly used Synonyms
In researching commonly used sports terms.
What is more commonly used for "Boxing" in Korea? 권투 or 복싱?
My teacher says 복싱 is used more these days. 권투 is more traditional.
How about ...
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What is the most common term for American football in Korean?
During a conversation with ChatGPT about American football, the tool warned me that the term 미식축구(美式蹴球) is not widely understood, and that I should prefer the word 아메리칸 풋볼, which could be more easily ...
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Terminology confusion: Basic vowels, complex vowels, etc
I've been taught that this is true about Korean:
10 basic vowels (기본모음): ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ, ㅣ
11 complex vowels (복합모음): ㅐ, ㅔ, ㅒ, ㅖ, ㅘ, ㅙ, ㅚ, ㅝ, ㅞ, ㅟ, ㅢ
14 basic consonants (기본자음) : ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ...
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What are the different ways to say "why, what, where, who " in Korean?
I want to learn the different ways to say what, where, why, and who. I know that for settings, formality, subjects, and other topics, These words can change a little bit, so I want to know more words ...
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Korea Counter for Pages and Chapters in a book
Is there a Number Counter for pages? I don't see it. I see one for Books, but not for Pages in a book. Also, is there a counter for Chapter in a book?
I want to refer to Chapter 5, Page 72 when ...
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What does "운전기사, 식모살이나 하는 주제에!!" mean?
I was reading a manhwwa when someone said "운전기사, 식모살이나 하는 주제에!" angrily to the protagonist.
The protagonist's parents are a chauffer and a maid, so I think she is saying "The driver, ...
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Thank you for your Patience to a Teacher
I have a Korean teacher that is very nice and Patient with me especially, as I'm trying to learn. How do I say, "Thank you for your Patience"
I read this, but this seems more like a ...
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humbly requesting feedback on poem translation!
I'm learning Korean and had to translate a poem for a translation class. the poem is 옛날의 노래 by Kim Myeongsoon. I would love to get some feedback from a Korean speaker on my translation! Here's the ...
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How to say "I work for" without implying "I work at"
My language buddy asked me what I did for a living, and I told her I was a company employee. Then she asked which company and I didn't know how to answer.
For context, I work for a large hospital ...
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Does this sentence sound natural? how can it be further improved?
남동생을하고 같이 공원에서 운동했어요.
I mean to say that my younger brother and I went to a park and exercised together.
Thanks sm!
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How often is “서바나” used to refer to Spain?
Naver lists “서바나” as a translation of Spain. Is this used at all in modern Korean? Is it archaic or frowned upon compared to “스페인”?
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What’s the difference between 뵙다, 뵈다, and 보다?
I’m pretty sure they all mean to see but is the difference just in formality? I’ve seen people say that 뵙다 is the most honorific and 보다 is the least, but I’ve seen those same people say that 뵙다 can ...
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Which personal pronouns should I use with the 요 form?
I know that when I use the ㅂ니다/습니다 form, if I want to say "I" I should say "저" and I know that when I speak in 반말 I should use "나" instead. But what about the ...
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Why this sentence are wrong?
I read in a Korean textbook the following sentence:
그는 대학교에 합격해서 정말 기쁘다
The textbook said this is correct. But to the next sentence
그는 대학교에 합격해서 정말 기뻤어?
This textbook said that the sentence is ...
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쓰다 + ㄴ 채 in use?
Can somebody help me with the translation of this sentence:
그런데 좀 급하게 보내느라고 모임 장소도 안 쓴 채 보냈어요.
I further do not quite understand the use of ㄴ채 with 쓰다 in this case.
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Historical Text: how to translate domesticated animals 謂牛馬雞犬
Sources of old Korean history tell the story of a monk named Won Gwang Beopsa who was approached by two youth, Gwisan and Chwihang. They ask him for advice, and he gives them five rules. Gwisan is ...
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which picture book translation is better?
I'm having a children's picture book translated into Korean. I have a couple questions about the translations for i) the title and ii) the first two sentences. I would appreciate any advice possible....
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What's the difference between 한국어 and 한국말?
From reading different textbooks and online courses, it seems like 한국어 and 한국말 both mean Korean (the language). What's the difference between them (if any) and when should I use one over the other?
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How do you know if 웃다 means 'to laugh' or 'to smile'?
(to) smile can be translated as 웃다 or 미소 짓다
(to) laugh can be translated as 웃다
So if I read/heard a sentence like 소피가 웃어요., how do I know if Sophie (소피) is laughing (out loud) or smiling? Do I have ...
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What is the dictionary form of 깁니다?
I'm learning on Duolingo, and the sentence is 영화가 깁니다. I also use a Memrise deck to help me remember the words, but I always put verbs in their dictionary form. To make sure I'm using the right ...
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Grammar: -러 가다 with 가러 가다?
I have a question about -러 가다 grammar. I wanted to write a small text and one sentence sounds 사람들은 바다에 가러 여행을 자주 가요.
Is this possible? or do I need to change the form of 가러 to 가려 and 가요 to 해요?
Thank ...
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What is the difference between "귀엽다" and "깜찍하다"?
A lot of people that I met have been calling me like this and I want to know the difference between them.
(I mean, I actually do look quite cute.)
user2563
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정말이 가족과 각정하요 사랑합니다 does this make sense?
I am trying to say 'I really do care and love this family'
I have also tried:
나는 정말로이 가족을 돌보고 사랑합니다
Tandem and google translate and naver all seem to have different ideas on how it should be spelt.
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Please Help Me Break Down This Sentence "엄마가 다그치는 바람에 어쩔 수 없이 사실을 털어놓았다"
i already know:
엄마 - mother
어쩔 수 없다 - inevitable/ can't be helped
사실 - the truth
what are:
다그치?
바람에 (the wind?)
털어놓았다?
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Translation check - exam question
I need to make sure I have translated this passage correctly. 잘 부탁드립니다!
How does this text explore the issue of discrimination?
이 텍스트는 차별 문제를 어떻게 탐구합니까?
Evaluate/explain the content of the article....
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When to use 되다 vs 돼다?
I often find myself pausing before deciding whether I should be using 되다 or 돼다 in a sentence.
Is there a simple rule to know when I should be using which?
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What term or terms are used for "at home worker"?
What term or terms are used for "at home worker" or "remote position"?
Some examples of desired usage include:
I work out of my home.
These days, it's hard to find a seat at the ...
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Reason for mix of 해체 and 하십시오체 in the phrase 만나서 반갑습니다
Why is it 만나서 반갑습니다 and not 만나니 반갑습니다? The verb is clearly in 하십시오체, so shouldn't the 'Cause/Reason Connective Form' (as wiktionary calls it) 서 also be of the form 니?
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What is the difference between 끊기다 and 끊어지다?
There are two similar words - 끊어지다 and 끊기다 in Korean. Both seem to be intransitive verbs and are different from 끊다.
But except that, is there any difference between them? I could not detect anything ...
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What is the difference between 빠져들다 and 빠지다?
I found out there are two similar words that mean "fall into" or "drowned". Both 빠져들다 and 빠지다 mean it, although in my dictionary there is no entry for 빠져들다 and I only saw it online.
But I don't ...
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What is the difference between 과의 and just 과?
I found that sometimes 과의 is used instead of 과. For example,
대통령과의 인터뷰
The meaning seems to be the same however, in that it means "and" or "with".
So what is the reason you use 과의, instead of ...
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What is the difference between 네 and 네요 to express admiration?
I'm learning about the usage of 네 to the stem of the verb to express admiration, but I don't understand the difference between 네 and 네요.
What is the difference between them? Is 네요 more formal much ...
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What is the difference between 삶다 and 끓다?
I think both mean "to boil" but what is the difference between them? Both seem to be used in the context of cooking.
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What is the difference between 섭섭하다 and 슬프다?
I found there are two adjectives to mean "sad" in Korean - 섭섭하다 and 슬프다. But I don't understand the difference between the two.
What is the difference and how can I use them apart properly?
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Is the compound verb used only for the third-person subject?
According to the following explanation on the compound verb section on Duolingo:
It can also mean "to act like..." For example, 슬프다="to be sad" while 슬퍼하다="to act sad." Usually this aspect of ~하다 ...
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When to use 별로 vs 그리?
In the following sentences (from duolingo):
그것은 그리 안 좋아요.
I used 별로 instead of 그리 and got wrong.
But I'm not sure what is the difference between them and when I should use one over the other. ...
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Can I use 안 negation along with 그리?
I found the following sentence is not correct on Duolingo:
뜨거운 아이스크림은 그리 안 맛없어요.
While the following is correct:
뜨거운 아이스크림은 그리 맛없지 않아요.
I wonder why the first sentence is not correct. The ...
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The difference between 너무 and 너무 많이?
In the following sentences:
손님, 너무 걱정하지 마십시오.
너무 많이 운동하지 마십시오.
These sentences mean:
Sir, don't worry too much.
Don't exercise too much.
But I don't understand then what is the difference between ...
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How can I translate 신화 향유집단 to English?
I'm translating a research paper about 설문대할망 and I encountered this term. I think it means "people who enjoy mythology" but it doesn't sound natural when I translate it like that. Is there a specific ...
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Why was 당연가입 used instead of 의무 가입?
I got a letter from the health insurance company. The Korean version contained "당연가입," which corresponded to "mandatorily [sic] subscribed" in the English version.
Although my native Korean friend ...
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Formal and informal words for sexual body parts
Which are the formal and the informal words for these parts?
(My dictionary gives me lots of words but I don't know which are the most frequently used ones and if they are polite or not)
Penis = 페니스 /...
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What is "top (women's type of clothing) called in Korean?
I would like to know how is "top" (see photo: women's type of clothing for upper part of the body) called in Korean.
I've searched in the dictionary, but the results don't match with what I want.
...
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Why do we have to say "들어가보겠습니다" when leaving the office?
I'm working in Korean Company, every worker says "들어가보겠습니다" when they are going to leave the office. In my head it is translated as "I will try to go outside". Why can't we use the more obvious words ...
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What is the difference between 살고있다 and 살다?
I suppose they either mean to live, but I can't seem to figure their difference in a sentence.
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