sister
* In Korea, how you address somebody depends on gender, age, and how well you know the person, who may not necessarily be a blood relative. The first meaning of hyeong (hyeong) 형 and oppa (o-pah) 오빠 is “brother.” Only males use hyeong to call their elder brother, and females use oppa for their elder brother. To address an older sister, males use nuna (nuu-na) 누나, and females use eonni (un-ni) 언니. However, you will find that in Korean dramas, men address other older men, and a young lady, her boyfriend oppa, even though they are not related. Koreans view this as a sign of a close relationship and respect. In other words, it is impolite to address others who are older than you only by their names.
This is my husband.
Ibunun chohi nampyonieyo. (Ee-buu-nuun choh-hee nahmp’yohn ee-eh-yoh)
이분은 저희 남편이에요.
This is my younger sister.
Chohi yodongsaengieyo. (Choh-hee yuh-dong-sang ee-eh-yoh)
저희 여동생이에요.
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Hyeongjae chamaega issuseyo? (Hyeong-jae chah-mae-gah ee-suu-say-yoh?)
형제 자매가 있으세요?
21 | Children Chanyo (Chahn-yuh) 자녀 |
daughter | ddal (ddahl) 딸 |
son | adul (ah-duhl) 아들 |
grandchildren | sonju (soan-juu) 손주 |
Do you have any children?
Chanyo-ga issuseyo? (Chah-yuh-gah ee-suu-say-yoh?)
자녀가 있으세요?
How many children do you have?
Chanyo-ga myon-myong iseyo? (Chah-yuh-gah m’yuhnm’yuhng ee-seh-yoh?)
자녀가 몇 명이세요?
I have one daughter.
Cho egenun ddal hana-ga issumnida. (Choh eh-geh-nuhn ddahl hah-nah-gah ee-sume-nee-dah)
저에게는 딸 하나가 있습니다.
We don’t have any children.
Ajig upssumnida. (Ah-jeeg up-sume-nee-dah)
아직 없습니다.
Do you have grandchildren?
Sonju issu seyo? (Sohn-juu ee-suh-say-yoh?)
손주 있으세요?
22 | Who? Nugu (Nuu-guu) 누구 |
Who are you?
Nugu shimnikka? (Nuu-guu sheem nee-kah?)
누구 십니까?
Who is that?
Nugujiyo? (Nuu-guu-jee-yoh?)
누구지 요?
Who is it?
Nuguseyo? (Nuu-guu-say-yoh?)
누구세요?
Who is that man?
Chobunun nugu shimnikka? (Choh-buu-nuun nuu-guu sheem-nee-kah?)
저분은 누구십니까?
23 | What? Muot (Mwaht) 무엇 |
What is this?
Igosun muoshijiyo? (Ee-guh-suun mwah-she-jee-yoh?)
이것은 무엇이지요?
What is that?
Chogosun muoshijiyo? (Choh-guh-suun mwah-she-jeeyoh?)
저것은 무엇이지요?
What is the price?
Olma jiyo? (Ohl-mah jee-yoh?)
얼마지요?
What is your phone number?
Chonhwa bonhoga muoyeyo? (Chune-hwah bahn-hoh-gah mwah-yah-yoh?)
전화번호가 뭐 예요?
What did you say?
Muorago hasyotchiyo? (Mwah-rah-go hah-shoat-cheeyoh?)
뭐 라고 하셨지요?
What does ______ mean?
______ ga musun ddushieyo?
(______ gah muu-suhn dduu-she eh-yoh?)
______ 가 무슨 뜻이에요?
What are you doing?
Mwo haseyo? (Mwoh hah-say-yoh?)
뭐 하세요?
What is this called in Korean?
Hangung-mal lo meorago haeyo? (Hahn-guug-mahl loh mwah-rah-go hay-yoh?)
한국말로 뭐라고 해요?
24 | When? Onje (Ahn-jeh) 언제? |
When?
Onje? (Ahn-jeh?)
언제?
When shall we leave?
Onje ttonalkkayo? (Ahn-jeh tohn-ahl-kah-yoh?)
언제 떠날까요?
When do you have time?
Onje shigan issuseyo? (Ahn-jeh she-gahn ee-suu-say-yoh?)
언제 시간 있으세요?
When will it start?
Onje shichak hajiyo? (Ahn-jeh she-chack hah-jee-yoh?)
언제 시작하지요?
When will it end (be over)?
Todaeche onje kunnajiyo? (Toh-day-chee ahn-jeh kuhn-nah-jee-yoh?)
도대체 언제 끝나지요?
When is your birthday?
Saengile onjeyeyo? (Sang-eel-ee ahn-jeh-ye-yoh?)
생일이 언제예요?
When is Korean Thanksgiving day?
Hanguk chusoki onjeyeyo? (Hahn-guuk chuu-soak-ee ahnjeh-ye-yoh?)
한국 추석이 언제예요?
When does the bus come?
Bosuga onje wayo? (Bah-suu-gah ahn-jeh wah-yoh?)
버스가 언제 와요?
25 | Where? (in/to what place) Odiro (Ah-dee-ruh) 어디로 |
Where are you going?
Odiro kashim nikka? (Ah-dee-ruh kah-sheem nee-kah?)
어디로 가십니까?
Where do you want to go?
Odiro kago shipueusseyo? (Ah-dee-ruh