Language/Korean/Grammar/Describing-Things
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| ◀️ Describing People — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Comparatives and Superlatives ▶️ |
Introduction
In this lesson, we will focus on Korean vocabulary related to describing things. Being able to describe the size, color, and shape of objects is essential for effective communication in Korean. We will also learn how to form sentences using adjectives and other descriptive words. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to describe various things in detail and with accuracy. This will greatly enhance your ability to communicate and understand Korean.
Vocabulary
To effectively describe things in Korean, we need to learn vocabulary related to size, color, and shape. Here are some important words and phrases you need to know:
Size
To describe the size of an object, we use the following words:
- 큰 (keun) - big
- 작은 (jageun) - small
- 중간의 (junggan-ui) - medium-sized
- 매우 큰 (maeu keun) - very big
- 아주 작은 (aju jageun) - very small
Here are some examples:
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 큰 | keun | big |
| 작은 | jageun | small |
| 중간의 | junggan-ui | medium-sized |
| 매우 큰 | maeu keun | very big |
| 아주 작은 | aju jageun | very small |
Color
To describe the color of an object, we use the following words:
- 빨간 (ppalgan) - red
- 파란 (paran) - blue
- 노란 (noran) - yellow
- 초록 (chorok) - green
- 검은 (geomeun) - black
- 흰 (hwin) - white
- 분홍 (bunhong) - pink
- 보라 (bora) - purple
- 갈색 (galsaek) - brown
- 회색 (hoesaek) - gray
- 주황 (juhwang) - orange
Here are some examples:
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 빨간 | ppalgan | red |
| 파란 | paran | blue |
| 노란 | noran | yellow |
| 초록 | chorok | green |
| 검은 | geomeun | black |
| 흰 | hwin | white |
| 분홍 | bunhong | pink |
| 보라 | bora | purple |
| 갈색 | galsaek | brown |
| 회색 | hoesaek | gray |
| 주황 | juhwang | orange |
Shape
To describe the shape of an object, we use the following words:
- 둥근 (dunggeun) - round
- 사각 (sagak) - square
- 삼각 (samgak) - triangular
- 긴 (gin) - long
- 짧은 (jjalbeun) - short
- 고른 (goreun) - flat
Here are some examples:
| Korean | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 둥근 | dunggeun | round |
| 사각 | sagak | square |
| 삼각 | samgak | triangular |
| 긴 | gin | long |
| 짧은 | jjalbeun | short |
| 고른 | goreun | flat |
Forming Sentences
Now that we have learned the vocabulary related to describing things, let's understand how to form sentences using adjectives and descriptive words.
In Korean, adjectives are used differently compared to English. They come before the noun they describe. For example:
- 큰 고양이 (keun goyang-i) - big cat
- 작은 차 (jageun cha) - small car
- 빨간 사과 (ppalgan sagwa) - red apple
To make a sentence negative, we add the word "안 (an)" before the adjective. For example:
- 안 큰 집 (an keun jip) - not a big house
- 안 예쁜 드레스 (an yeppeun deureseu) - not a pretty dress
- 안 좋은 날씨 (an joh-eun nalssi) - not good weather
We can also use the word "너무 (neomu)" to express "too" or "very" before the adjective. For example:
- 너무 큰 상자 (neomu keun sangja) - too big box
- 너무 예쁜 꽃 (neomu yeppeun kkot) - very beautiful flower
- 너무 많은 사람들 (neomu manh-eun salamdeul) - too many people
To ask a question about the size, color, or shape of an object, we simply add a question mark at the end of the sentence. For example:
- 이거 큰 사과예요? (igeo keun sagwa-yeyo?) - Is this a big apple?
- 그거 빨간 펜이에요? (geugeo ppalgan pen-i-e-yo?) - Is that a red pen?
- 이 옷 짧아요? (i os jjal-assoyo?) - Is this dress short?
Cultural Insights
In Korean culture, the size, color, and shape of objects can hold symbolic meanings. For example, the color white is often associated with purity and innocence, while the color red can symbolize passion and vitality. Traditional Korean pottery, known as "백자 (baekja)" or white porcelain, is highly valued for its simplicity and elegance.
In terms of size, Koreans often prefer smaller and more compact objects, as they are seen as more practical and space-saving in the crowded urban areas. This is reflected in the design of Korean furniture and household items.
Additionally, the shape of objects can also carry cultural significance. For example, the traditional Korean roof tile, known as "기와 (giwa)", is curved and has a distinctive shape, which is believed to bring good luck and protect the house from evil spirits.
Practice Exercises
Now, let's practice what we have learned. Translate the following sentences from English to Korean:
1. The big house 2. The small cat 3. The red car 4. The round table 5. The long bridge
Answers: 1. 큰 집 (keun jip) 2. 작은 고양이 (jageun goyang-i) 3. 빨간 차 (ppalgan cha) 4. 둥근 테이블 (dunggeun teibeul) 5. 긴 다리 (gin dari)
Now, let's translate the following sentences from Korean to English:
1. 작은 사과 (jageun sagwa) 2. 흰 우산 (hwin usan) 3. 삼각 꽃병 (samgak kkotbyeong) 4. 안 좋은 날씨 (an joh-eun nalssi) 5. 너무 큰 가방 (neomu keun gabang)
Answers: 1. Small apple 2. White umbrella 3. Triangular vase 4. Not good weather 5. Too big bag
Conclusion
In this lesson, we have learned how to describe things in Korean using adjectives and descriptive words. We explored vocabulary related to size, color, and shape, and practiced forming sentences to accurately describe various objects. We also gained cultural insights into the symbolic meanings associated with size, color, and shape in Korean culture. Keep practicing and incorporating these descriptive skills into your daily Korean conversations.
Videos
How to Describe Tastes in Korean! - YouTube
Other Lessons
- Plurals
- Conditional Mood
- Negation
- Nouns
- Comparatives and Superlatives
- Describing People
- Basic Verb Conjugation
- Conditional Sentences
- How to Use Have
- Gender
| ◀️ Describing People — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Comparatives and Superlatives ▶️ |