Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zyzyfer]

[Privateer]

I was hoping people would number their entries.

[Privateer]

In the interests of trying to get a definitive list going, I think we need some rules. The object is to identify words, phrases or collocations that have a meaning in English which Koreans seem generally unaware of, rather than a list of all common errors. In other words, something like a dictionary.

Both misunderstood words and errors more generally more often than not result from literally translating from Korean a.k.a. language interference. In fact, we could probably give a Korean word or phrase for each piece of warped English. But I want to focus as far as possible on (English) words and their correct meanings or usages rather than branch off into grammar (as the thread title suggests). Mainly just so as to have a focus.

Rules:
(suggestions for improvement and sharp-edged criticisms both welcome!)

a.) Stick to the format: give your entry a number, give the Kdef, and the Edef.
b.) Try to give definitions, rather than generalized observations.
c.) Give a specific word, phrase, or collocation. This is not meant to be a list of common grammatical errors.
d.) Only enter words that exist in English. Konglish words or expressions or combinations of words that do not exist in English do not belong here.

The List

1.) Body language. They think it means gestures, i.e. using your body to talk. It actually means what your body says whether you mean it to or not.

2.) Famous. Kdef: having a good reputation or name. Edef: when a good many people have heard of something.

3.) Funny. Kdef: fun or interesting. Edef1: amusing. Edef2: peculiar.

4.) Crazy. Kdef: a severe insult referring to a mental disorder. Edef1: mad or insane. Edef2: a slang word referring to something you admire.

5.) Ballad. Kdef: a folk song. Edef: it has a wider meaning.

6.) Soso. Koreans think it means OK. In reality westerners rarely say this and if they do, it means very mediocre.

7.) Glamour. kdef: big breasts. edef: um...

8.) Oh you are so poor. Kdef: an expression of sympathy, e.g. if you are sick. Edef: an observation that you have no money. 'You poor thing' would be the correct phrase.

9.) Expect. Kdef: look forward to something. Edef: expect something.

10.) Hard. Kdef: difficult or arduous, but also the feeling of suffering you get in a difficult or tiring situation. Edef1: difficult or arduous. Edef2: firm.

11.) Prepare an item. Kdef: get an item you need in order to get ready for something else, e.g. prepare spoons (for a picnic) Edef: make an item ready, e.g. prepare sandwiches (which need work, as opposed to spoons, which don't).

12.) Nice to meet you! Kdef: a phrase you use whenever you see someone you know. Edef: a phrase you use the first time you meet someone.

13.) Hometown. Kdef: your place of origin, including town, area, district, or neighbourhood. Edef: Your town of origin only.

14.) Outside. Kdef: any place outside your home. Edef: anywhere out in the open. If you were working in an office all day, you were not 'outside'.



Items pruned from the list: (in no particular order)

1. that situation Particularly when "it" or "that" would suffice. Pronoun problem rather than a misunderstood word.

2. Today one of my student asked me "What does your cup contain?" I guess that's not technically wrong, but it is weird as hell. Register problem, i.e. formal rather than conversational. A whole 'nother are.

2. I agree on the "two years later" thing, even with advanced students, but again it's more the fault of English than anything else....why do we say "a little later", or just "later" but not "[specific duration of time] later"? We do use 'later' in that way but only in narratives set in the past. Perhaps this could go on the list but not as is.

3. "My body is sick" Student is using the wrong subject. Debatable whether this should be on the list.

4. "I wanna lose my weight" Incorrect interpolation of 'my' in the collocation 'lose weight' but doesn't really affect meaning.

5. "marry with..." Badly phrased, but the meaning is not misunderstood.

6. arbeit - to mean pt work Doesn't exist in English.

7. good - to mean im finished Plz explain further?

8. pervert (beyontae) to mean just about everything (im amazed that such small children bandy the word pervert about). Alternative definitions please.

9. time - to mean wait, please. im sure this came from a song a few years back and just stuck Maybe they just haven't learned the word 'wait' yet?

10. Comfortable and convenient I always hear being mixed up. A mix-up rather than a misunderstanding I think.

11. Boring Commonly misused. "I went to the movie but I was boring" Student needs a lesson on the ~ed/~ing adjective distinction.

[mnjetter]

[alongway]

[Old fat expat]

service: Kdef-to give extra items. Edef-to do something/your work; does not require giving of items.

not that I'm complaining about the extras.

[mnjetter]

[alongway]

[nicwr2002]

[nautilus]

[le-paul]

arbeit is used in korean to say part time work. no further expalnation needed there.
good- when a teacher is finished checking some work ( myself for example) i often comment that the work was 'done well', so i will say 'good' as in that was some good work. i have noticed in a few places that people will say ' good' when finished as if to say ' im finished' not realizing that they are commenting on their own work. maybe nicwr is correct, ill have to check that. maybe i have misunderstood too.

time - most korean students will be able to translate gida rida or chomshimman ya into ' wait' or 'wait please' if you ask them. they just seem to prefer saying 'time' sometimes. like i said, i think there was a song (or maybe a tv ad.) a few years back that kept saying time instead of wait and people latched onto that.

beyontae - i hear children as small as 4 years old accusing each other of being a pervert for mentioning any body part or as much as showing a sock. i was just more surprised with this one than thinking it was misused (over used maybe) as when i was a child, i had mo idea about the word pervert. everyone seems to use it quite liberally.

i hope that satisfies you privateer.

[SMOE NSET]

I thought when they use "time" it is referring to a "time out." So, maybe it is a sports reference?

[jvalmer]

For Koreans:
hometown = birthplace

And often they will assume you grew up there.

[Sister Ray]

[le-paul]