Archives For November 30, 1999

Are the slang, sounds, and syntax of black English a kind of lingua franca for America’s youth?

World Cup is coming so some useful Korean for the match next Tuesday vs Russia.

아리랑 (Ah-ri-rang)

아리랑 아리랑 아라리요

Ah-ri-rang ah-ri-rang ah-ra-ri-yo

아리랑 고게로 넘어 간다

Ah-ri-rang ko-ke-ro neom-uh kan-da

나를 버리고 가시는임은

Nah-reul bu-ri-ko ka-shi-neun im-eun

십리도 못가서발병난다

ship-ri-do mot-ka-seo bal-byung nan-da

Deferential: 저는 지난 3년간 서울에서 살았습니다.

Polite: 저는 지난 3년간 서울에서 살았어요.

Translation: I’ve been living in Seoul for 3 years. 

저 = I (you can also use the contraction 전 = 저는)

-는 = topic marking particle

지난 = last

년간 = years

서울 = Seoul

-에서 = location marking particle used for places where actions are taking place (in this case the act of living)

살다  = to live, be alive

았 = past tense verb ending (either 았 or 었)

습니다 = deferential verb ending

요 = polite verb ending

Deferential: 그들은 지난 달부터 사귀기 시작했습니다. 

Polite: 그들은 지난 달부터 사귀기 시작했어요.

Intimate: 그들은 지난 달부터 사귀기 시작했어. 

Translation: They started dating last month.

그들 = they, their, them

은 = topic marking particle

지난 = last

달 = month

부터 = from, since

사귀다 = to date, to go out, to get close

-기 = verb ending meaning doing, being, to do, to be (example: 읽기 시작하다 = begin to read, start to read, to read)

시작  = start, beginning, begin

하다 = to do (했다 = past tense)

습니다 = deferential verb ending

요 = polite verb ending

Deferential: 이따 오후에 직원회의가 있습니다.

Polite: 이따 오후에 직원회의가 있어요.

Translation: There’s a staff meeting later on this afternoon.

이따: later, after a while

오후: afternoon 

에: location marking particle meaning at or to. used only for inanimate objects

직원: employee

회의: meeting, conference

therefore 직원 + 회의 = 직원회의 or staff meeting

가: subject marking particle

있다: to have or to be

ㅂ니다: deferential verb ending

요: polite verb ending

Perfunctory

October 30, 2013 — Leave a comment

Word: Perfunctory [ Per-fungk-tory]

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Done routinely with little interest or care; Acting with indifference; showing little interest or care.

Origin: Late 16th Century from Latin perfungi- to get through with

Example Sentence: The violinist delivered a perfunctory performance that displayed none of the passion and warmth he was once known for.

Derivatives: Perfunctorily (adverb), Perfunctoriness (noun)

Deferential: 저는 피아노를 잘 칩니다.

Polite: 저는 (or 전) 피아노를 잘 쳐요.

Intimate: 나는 (or 난) 피아노 잘 쳐.

Translation: I play the piano well.

저 = formal “I”

나 = informal “I”

는 = topic marking particle

피아노 = piano

을/를 = object marking particle

잘 = well

치디 = to hit, to play by hitting (such as sports)

ㅂ니다  = deferential verb ending

요 = polite verb ending

Deferential: 저는 여권을 갱신해야 합니다.

Polite: 저는 여권을 갱신해야해요.

Intimate: 난 여권 갱신해야해. 

Translation: I need to renew my passport.

저 = formal “I”

는 = topic marking particle

여권 = passport

을 = object marking particle

갱신하다 = act of renewing (갱신 – renewal + 하다 – to do)

야하다 = have to or must do something

니다 = deferential verb ending

Avaricious

October 17, 2013 — Leave a comment

Word: Avaricious [ Ah-ver-ishis]

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Immoderately desirous of wealth or gain; greedy. Characterized by avarice; greedy; covetous.

Origin: Mid 15th Century

Example Sentence: They are avaricious and will do anything for money.