All Questions
Tagged with word-choice word-usage
43 questions
11
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Responding to unfortunate news in Korean
When I lived in Korea, a lady told me her mother had died a few days before. Being very new to the country and language, I told her "죄송합니다."
This works in English to say "I'm sorry" in such a ...
- 3,989
8
votes
2
answers
514
views
What's the difference between 특징 and 특점?
I tried using 특점 in a sentence but was told 특징 might be more appropriate. Is there a difference? Here are the definitions from Naver's dictionary:
특점: [명사] 특별히 다른 점.
특징: 다른 것에 비하여 특별히 눈에 뜨이는 점....
- 1,165
8
votes
1
answer
182
views
What is the difference between 도수 versus 빈도?
What is the difference between 도수and 빈도? In an example like this,
제가 단어의 나타나는 도수로 공부하고 있었어요.
, I learned that 빈도 was more appropriate but still don't have a clear understanding of the difference.
- 1,165
7
votes
2
answers
5k
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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 ...
- 2,291
7
votes
1
answer
467
views
Examples to explain difference between 족보 and 계보
In Google Translate it appears that sometimes both 족보 and 계보 translate to Geneology. I fooled around with it a bit and got Google to give me pedigree for 족보 and lineage for 계보.
In Daum the number 1 ...
- 3,283
6
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Difference between 대해서 and 대한?
I know there that:
~ 에 대해서 + noun or verb
~ 에 대한 + only noun
but when I used: "인터뷰에 대해서 소식이 없어요?"
my friend edited it like this:" 인터뷰에 대한 다른 소식 없나요?"
While due to the above rule, I have used 대해서 ...
- 874
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
모두 versus 다 as an adverb. What is the difference in this practical example?
Is there any difference in nuance between 모두 and 다? Are there times when it is more appropriate to use one over the other?
Here is a practical example I have been looking at:
재료는 모두 준비되어 있습니다.
...
- 1,165
5
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What is the difference between 스스로 and 자기?
What is the difference between 스스로 and 자기?
I recently wrote the following sentence:
그냥 자기의 도전이라고 생각하고 있다.
I am thinking of it as just a challenge for myself.
A helpful soul helped me correct it ...
- 1,165
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Are 씨 or 님 appropriate name suffixes to be polite in an Internet forum?
If one wishes to be polite in reference to another user met in an online forum (e.g., StackOverflow or a Facebook Group), is it appropriate to add 씨 or 님 to the other user's name?
- 1,165
5
votes
2
answers
20k
views
How to decide which to use from 라고 and 다고?
I have read the following sentences:
의사가 뭐라고 말했어요?
이 약을 하루에 두 번 먹어야 한다고 말했어요
Why does the former sentence use 라고 while the latter uses 다고? My dictionary says both functions like a conjunction that ...
- 2,291
5
votes
3
answers
12k
views
difference between 잘자요 and 굿나잇
When translating 잘자요 and 굿나잇 they both come up as meaning "Good night".
Is there a contextual difference between them, if so what is this difference and when do I have to use which one?
- 153
5
votes
1
answer
513
views
Is there a difference between 물결 and 파도?
I understand them both as wave, but I'm not sure if there's a difference in nuance.
- 1,165
5
votes
1
answer
466
views
How can I say "You must not do it" as imperative
I learned that the only Korean grammar that can express the meaning "must" :
(으)면 안 되다.
But I am not so sure if this can mean an absolute "must" in this case as the meaning for it should be "If..., ...
user237
4
votes
2
answers
109
views
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”?
- 41
4
votes
2
answers
767
views
What is the difference between 사업 and 기업?
I understand them both as enterprise or business, but I am wondering about the difference and nuance and usage.
One question might be why are the big corporations called 대기업 and not 대사업?
- 1,165
4
votes
2
answers
360
views
Is there an opposite expression for 괜히?
I feel like I learned a word that’s somewhat an opposite for 괜히 but I cannot remember what it was.
The specific situation is...
For 괜히... after being invited by a friend to a party and realizing it ...
4
votes
3
answers
145
views
하지만 이겨내야 해 and 하지만 이겨내고야 difference
In the Dungeon Fighter Soundtrack I recently listened to both by Dazbee and Hyukso Kwon, I notice that they use different word choices.
While Hyukso Kwon used 하지만 이겨내야 해, Dazbee used 하지만 이겨내고야. ...
- 41
4
votes
1
answer
686
views
Use of the pseudo-noun 한
So, this word, according to some Korean grammar books, means "situation", and is similar to 경우, as in this:
... 법과 어긋나지 않는 한 기꺼이 양보합니다
However I am not sure when exactly this word is used, and its ...
user237
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
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 ...
- 279
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the difference between 현실 and 실제?
I wrote this sentence,
스크린 골프는 스크린에 치는 거라서 현실 골프랑 많이 다른데 생각보다 비슷한 점이 너무 많이 있었어요.
, and was told that 실제 was more appropriate than 현실. What is the difference between the two and when is one used ...
- 1,165
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
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 ...
- 2,291
3
votes
1
answer
8k
views
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 /...
- 233
3
votes
1
answer
265
views
When would I use the following interrogatives of quantity: 몇, 얼마나 and 얼마?
I'm a French really really beginner Korean learner, but I'm trying to add more content to the French Korean wikibook.
At this point, I'm working on the interrogative words, but I find the question ...
- 31
2
votes
1
answer
225
views
What's the difference between 최저시급 versus 최저임금?
I've recently been talking with people about the rising minimum wage in Korea and colloquially heard them refer to it as 최저시급.
I looked this phrase up in the dictionary, however, and couldn't find ...
- 1,165
2
votes
1
answer
136
views
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 ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
304
views
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 ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
7k
views
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.
- 2,291
2
votes
2
answers
5k
views
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?
- 2,291
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
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
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How to translate 눈빛은 elegantly?
눈빛은 roughly translates to "the look of the eye"; partially, 눈빛 means look/glance (noun)
It's used when saying "sharp eye glances", e.g.
그댈 보는 나의 눈빛은
Literally, it means "you looking my nunbich-eun"...
- 347
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the difference between ‘만’, ‘뿐’, ‘밖에’?
What is the difference in part of speech, meaning, and usage between ‘만’, ‘뿐’, and ‘밖에’?
- 2,840
2
votes
3
answers
116
views
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, ...
- 21
1
vote
2
answers
126
views
1
vote
1
answer
103
views
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.
- 13
0
votes
2
answers
51
views
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 ...
- 220
0
votes
1
answer
121
views
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.
- 121
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
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 ...
- 2,291
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
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. ...
- 2,291
0
votes
1
answer
154
views
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?
- 220
0
votes
1
answer
95
views
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)
- 3
0
votes
2
answers
3k
views
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 ...
0
votes
1
answer
828
views
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 ...
- 121
-2
votes
1
answer
526
views
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 ...
- 220