In Korean it’s generally very easy to tell where the sentence is going depending on the words they’re started with. Some words can elaborate the entire upcoming sentence, and help emphasize the message. In Korean these words are known as 문장 부사어 (sentence adverbs).
Let’s check some out,
과연 – indeed, really, sure enough. (also used to emphasize a question)
과연 듣던대로 잘 생기셨습니다.
Like I was told, you really do look handsome.
과연 이번 대통령은 누가 될까?
Who will REALLY become our president this time?설마 – No way / I couldn’t believe it (surprised statement or emphasizes a negative question [shows doubt])
설마했는데 설렁탕에 땅콩이 들어갈 줄이야.
I couldn’t believe it, but there were peanuts in the ox bone soup.
설마 내일 야외 결혼식에 비가 오지는 않겠지?
No way it’s gonna rain tomorrow during the outside wedding… right?만일 – if (similar to 만약)
만일 평생 한가지 음식만 먹어야 한다면, 뭐 먹을 거야?
If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would you eat?설령 – even if, even though (negative)
설령 지금부터 24시간 공부한다고해도 내일 시험은 망한거 같아.
Even if I study for 24 hours straight from now, it seems like I’m gonna fail the test tomorrow.설사 – even if, even though (negative)
내일 경기에서 이길 가능성이 설사 적더라도 최선을 다해 보자.
Even if we have the smallest possibility to win our match tomorrow, let’s try our best.비록 – even though, although
비록 내가 가진건 몸뚱아리 하나지만 나중에 꼭 부자가 될거다.
Even if the only thing I own at the moment is my body, I’m definitely gonna be rich later on.A lot of these words don’t have one exact translation, so it’s important to understand how and why they’re used. So make sure to study multiple examples rather than the direct translations.
As always, stay tuned for more 🙂
Tag: really
A/V ~다니(요)? – expresses surprise and disbelief
N ~(이)라니(요)?
~니(요)? for indirect quotation form.
내 눈마술이 진짜 추웠다니요? – Was my snow magic really cold?
그 눈괴물이 살아있다니요? – Is that snow monster really alive?
처음 만난 남자랑 사랑한다니요? – Are you really in love with a guy you just met?
아무 이유없이 퇴직이라니요? 말도 안됩니다 – how can you say that i’m fired? it’s nonsense.
~다니(요) – to think that, just imagine, can you believe it, what a shame, i regret, it’s a pity that,
옷 호사를 못 하다니 – what a shame that (she) doesn’t dress well …
이 많은 사람들이 한결같이 이 영화를 보러 몰려들다니 – to think that this many people would line up to see this film
아무도 없다니 – to think that there is nobody [here]
서방님이 오시다니 – I’m telling you that the young master has come!
on past bases
벌써 마흔 마리를 넘어 낚았다니 – Just imagine, [they have already] fished over 40 pairs [of shoes]!
그가 저 훌륭한 저택에서 살고 있다니 – Just think of him living in that fine residence!
그가 80세로 한라산을 오르다니 – How marvelous that he should climb Mt. Halla at eighty!
이런 곳에서 그를 만나다니 – Fancy meeting him here (of all places)!
Intensifiers
진짜 – real, really
정말 – really
진짜?/진짜요? – Really?
정말? – Really?
아주 – very, so, exceedingly
그는 아주 정직하고 사려가 깊다 – He is very honest and considerate
그녀는 연기를 아주 잘 했다 – She acted very well
매우 – very, extremely
대단히 – very much, extremely
대단히 미안합니다 – I am very sorry
극히 – extremely
참 – truly, very, so, extremely
세월 참 빠르다 – The years go by so quickly/Time flies.
그것 참 안됐다 – That‘s too bad/What a shame.
참 재미있었다 – I really enjoyed myself.
무한 – infinite, limitless
무한 감사 드려요 – Thank you so much
너무 – too much, excessively, very, quite
너무 졸려요 – I’m too sleepy/i’m very sleepy
너무 바빠요 – I’m too busy/i’m very busy
너무 보고 싶어요 – really miss you
너무 좋아요 – It’s really good
너무 잘 했어요 – really well done
한식이 너무 매워요! – Korean food is too spicy!
이건 너무 위험해 – It is very dangerous
저 사람 너무 멋있어요! – that guy is really cool
이거 너무 좋아요 – I really like this
여기 너무 시끄러워요 – it’s too noisy here
너무 좋아요. 그런데 너무 비싸요 – it’s really good. but it’s too expensive.
많이 – a lot (verbs)
꽤 – quite
조금 – a bit (adjectives or verbs)
특히 – especially/particularly
Sutdy-Korean 