Tag: asks

I have gone a long way into the Korean language. However, how I’ve started learning and how I know what I know is a bit scattered. Therefore, I’m not exactly sure what my level is and whatnot. I want to get a bunch of books and stuff for my bday, but the list I’ve compiled comes out to about $500. What do you recommend to someone who doesn’t know their level and wants to “finish” their Korean studies? I say “finish” because I want to become fluent, but of course, there is always more to learn.

Hi, just to clarify I’m no expert but I can give you some ideas. It might be good to get an idea of what level you’re at now, so you could take some TOPIK mock exams, look through the contents page of a grammar book or something like the TTMIK curriculum list to check which grammar points you know and don’t know. You could even get a teacher on Cafetalk or Italki to evaluate your level and areas you need to improve?  

The way I study is to consume and use Korean as much as possible and then check online for anything I come across that I don’t know. But if you prefer using books you can probably do the same if you have a big grammar reference book. I would just try to check your level and identify your needs. If it’s your grammar that’s scattered then go through lists and top up any grammar patterns you missed out on learning, or get books specifically focused on the skills you need to improve. Also maybe have a goal in mind. When you say “finish” and “fluent do you mean capable of in general conversation? academic Korean? Korean for working in your specific field? Then you can ‘top-up’ parts of your Korean that will be most helpful to you. 

hi! do you know what the punctuation rules are for titles? for example are movie titles italicized? is anything ever italicized? when are italics and quotation marks used? is the double quotation mark the standard or the single quotation mark, as in british english? (asking as english native speaker in the US) thank you in advance!!!!

Hi, what an interesting question! 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Korean italicized… I might just not remember though? Using this page on entertainment news as an example, you can see most of the movie, tv show, and album titles are just marked by single quotation marks. This might not be the same everywhere though! 

I feel like sometimes I’ve seen titles in news headlines marked by < > these guys but I can’t think of specific examples of that… If anyone knows specific rules for punctuating titles please let us know. 🙂 

Hey. I follow ur blog and i love it. Thanks for transplanting!!!! Im planning on getting a tattoo in korean and just wanted to comfirm it. Can you tell write down [self-love] in Korean??? Pls!!! Ty so much!!!

Hi, thank you so much for your nice message!! Sending you love ❤ 

Unfortunately, I am not a native speaker and I don’t feel I can ‘confirm’ any Korean words for you, especially not anything that’s going to be on your body forever! I would really hate to tell you the wrong thing lmao. I only know what I can see in the dictionary here. I would recommend asking native speakers on HelloNative or HelloTalk. 

I would also recommend doing some research on cultural appropriation with tattoos! Getting tattoos in non-native languages is something many people disagree with, so please do some research on the political issues surrounding such tattoos. But anyway good luck with your Korean studies and I’m so happy you like my blog.^^

습관

좋은 습관과 나쁜 습관은 무엇인가요? (What are your good and bad habits?)

이미 대답했지만 다시 해 볼게요. 좋은 습관 중에 하나는 잠자기 전에 꼭 화장을 지우고 피부 관리 해요. 술에 많이 취해도 화장을 지우고 세수하지 않다면 잠들 수가 없어요. 나쁜 습관은 일찍 잠 깨도 일어나기 싫어서 아침에 1-2 시간 누워요. 일찍 나가야 되는 날에 적어도 30분 눕기 위해서 일찍 깨요. 아침에 침대에서 일어나기 참 싫어요… 

I have answered this but I will again. One good habit is that I always, always remove my makeup and do a skincare routine before sleeping. Even if I’m really drunk I can’t go to sleep until I’ve removed my makeup and washed my face. A bad habit is that I hate getting out of bed, so even if I wake up early I will lie in bed for 1-2 hours. When I have to go out I will wake up early just so I can lie in bed for at least 30 mins. I really hate getting out of bed…

hi!! i’m also (very slowly) learning korean so i was wondering, what are your favorite tumblr blogs to follow that are also maybe studying it, have resources and the like, and talk about the language? (beside yours, of course, which i love!!!)

Hi thank you so much for your message! There’s actually a great community of Korean language blogs here so there a lot. Although I actually think a lot of the blogs I used to follow have gone inactive over the last year. Here are some that are active and that I love off the top of my head. There might be more I can’t remember, but pretty much anyone I reblog from!  

@klangpath @hwanghon @studiousbees @thekimchibear @koreangrumblings @nocturnalinseoul @hannah-dulset @hansuuki

If anyone else knows or has more active blogs with original content please do recommend! 

습관, 인용, 관습

습관: 좋은 습관과 나쁜 습관은 무엇인가요? (What are your good and bad habits?)

건강한 습과을 좀 쉽게 기르는 편이에요, 건강하게 먹고, 매일 같은 시간에 자고 일어나고, 기분 좋게 운동해요. 인가과계에선 안 좋은 습관이 있어요. 친구와 연락 잘 안 하고 감정을 잘 표현하지 않은 것 습관이예요.  

인용: 당신에게 중요한 인용구 중에 하나를 번역해 보세요. (Try translating one of your favourite quotes.)  

제가 인용을 좋아해서 Goodreads에서 많이 저장하는데 번역하기 제일 쉬을 것 뽑아야 겠어요 ㅋㅋ. 

“We are each responsible for our own life. If you’re holding anyone else accountable for your happiness, you’re wasting your time. You must be fearless enough to give yourself the love you didn’t receive.” Oprah

“우리는 각자 자기 인생에 책임이 있다. 남에게 당신의 행복에 대한 책임을 지운다면 시간을 낭비하는 거다. 자기가 못 받던 사랑을 자신에게 줄 용기내야 된다.”   

관습: 한국의 어떤 관습을 좋아하며, 그 이유는 뭔가요? (Which customs in Korea do you like and why?)   

관습인지 모르겠지만 최근에 한국인의 ‘정’을 느끼게 됐는데 아주 좋아요. 주변 사람들이 저를 착하게 대하는 것뿐 아니라 진짜 도와주려고 했어서 감동했어요.  

명사

명사: 행복하게 하는 10가지 (List 10 things that make you happy)

좋은

날씨, 맛있고 건강한 음식, 친구하고 쉬면서 이야기하는 것, 우리 가족 다 같이 모일 때, 누구랑 편하게 이야기하고 마음이 통할 때, 한국말로 대회 잘 할 때, 노력해서 뭔가 성공할 때, 몇년동안 내가 얼마나 많이 변했는지 생각하기, 꽃(!!), 산속에서 드라이브 ❤ 

Good weather, tasty and healthy food, relaxing and talking with friends, when my family are all together, talking to someone comfortably and connecting, having a good conversation in Korean, trying for something and succeeding, thinking how much I’ve changed over the past few years, flowers!, driving through the mountains. 

Hey, I have a question regarding pronunciation. I can’t hear a difference between ㅐ, ㅔ, ㅚ, ㅙ, ㅞ, as well as ㄱ, ㄲ, ㅂ, and ㅃ. I’m just starting out and trying to learn Hangul and the pronunciation. But to me the vowels sound the same, as well as the double consonants seem to be the same as the single consonants. I’m using a YouTube video from seemile to help with pronunciation. Thank you very much!

Hi! I’m afraid I’m… still struggling with pronunciation. As for the consonants, I think most native Koreans also say they are almost exactly the same and hard to distinguish between, but they have very subtle differences that you will pick up naturally on the more you speak and listen to Korean.

As for double consonants, I kinda need someone to tell me how to improve my pronunciation of these as well! I practice pronouncing double consonants a lot with my friends and for the most part I can’t even hear any difference between them when people speak. But try looking up some tips for pronouncing them (there are things like taking a small pause before a double consonant, not using your throat etc.) and asking people to correct/demonstrate pronunciation is always helpful!

Ive learned the hangul and some. I can read and write i dont know what to do next?? What can/should i do to get better at korean??

Now you can read and write make sure to get in some speaking and listening practice! It’s good to keep a balance of all four skills so i think it’s helpful to practice them all together, especially as most people find listening and speaking the hardest anyway. After you practice some reading or writing, have a conversation with a study buddy/record a monologue about the topic or try to find some listening materials. My advice to improve now is just 1. expose yourself to Korean 2. USE Korean and 3. enjoy your studies!!