1 In Korean learning journey (:

오늘의 배움: 속담과 문법 구조

Thinking of writing a review post at the end of each study day, to consolidate what I’ve learnt and also to share what I’ve learnt for the day. It will be a new category! I’ll be lying if I say I’ll do it everyday, but I’ll try to do it often! 😀 Hopefully my enthusiasm will prevail over my laziness.

NOTE: take whatever I write with a pinch of salt. Some of the examples are created by me. ^^ So they may be wrong!

-어/아/여야

1. Shows the importance/necessity of the first clause for the action in the second clause. Similar to ‘only… then…’

예) 열심히 공부해야 한국말 잘하죠.

2. Even though one did …., but… Similar to constructions like 아/어/여도 and 아/어/여 봤자

예) 부탁해야 들어주지 않을 거예요.

The second meaning is new to me, although I have guessed that it can also be used this way from the examples I’ve come across in my readings.

Learnt quite a few 속담s today.

1. 수박 겉 핥기

2. 믿는 도끼에 발등 찍힌다

3. 고래 싸움에 새우 등 터진다

I’m particularly fond of number 1.

수박 겉 핥기식으로 한국말을 배우면 잘 못할 것이다

I’ve learnt another expression too.

엎친 데 덮치다 which means ‘to make matters worse’.

그 사람은 며칠 전에 이혼했다. 엎친 데 덮친 격으로 직장까지 앓었다.

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1 Comment

  • Reply
    lyrynne
    28 October, 2010 at 7:22 PM

    This is interesting. I never thought -어/아/여야 can be used at the middle of a sentence.

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