Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Medic]

Have noticed a lot of words Koreans use that are a mix of Korean and English like "same, same"

" she's a talent" and others

Have also noticed that young students perception of how English is supposed to be used is sometimes very unique but still gramatically correct.

I have had young elementary students describe a fruit as being gold outside and white inside. For the life of me I couldn't figure it out, until someone said "pear"
Their interpretation of the way colours are to be used can be quite original. Everyone seems to know what sky blue is. Silver too

Had another elementary student describe an animal as being big and grey with sharp teeth. Thought it was an elephant(two long sharp teeth), until the rest of the class said it was a shark. In all my days I have never heard of a shark described as a big grey animal.

Some one described a strawberry as red and triangular shaped.

Another student described a monkey as an animal with red hips

Anyone else out there come across unique uses of English by Korean students

[ulsanchris]

i find the korean use of the word fighting to be interesting. In one korean movie i watched one guy said fighting, and it was translated as victory.

[Paji eh Wong]

My favorite is "�ye shopping". It's konglish for window shopping.

I'm in Thailand right now, and I think the Thai's invented same same. Everyone uses it all the time.

[katydid]

LOL The word "hips" to a Korean generally means what Westerners would call someone's um...backside.

Kind of funny...a guy I once knew said he couldn't text message me any more saying "I pressed into my cell phone with my hips." I was a bit confused for a bi and then the light bulb went off: "You SAT on it???'
Embarrassed he said yes that is what happened.

Heh heh.

[peppermint]

It's no secret around my school that I'm a fan of Konglish. My policy is that it's fine under two conditions:
1. The student knows that it's not standard English.

2. The student can also explain the word in standard English

Anyway, just this morning, I had a Korean teacher ask me for five Konglish wordsor phrases.

I told her:
-"countrytique" (sort of backwards, out of date, or out of style)

-"arbeit"(a part time job)

- "double date" (dating two girls/guys at the same time or cheating)

-"M.T. or Membership Training" (orientation for univeristy students)

-"I have a promise" ( I have plans)

[kimcheeking]

[peppermint]

I know it's borrowed from German, but the meaning has changed, much like the meaning of "Fighting!" has changed.

Arbeit is a verb, meaning to work, it's not related specifically to a part time job. . Just cause it's not a borrowed English word, does not mean it is used correctly when used in Korea. .

[kimcheeking]

if its from German then it isn't exactly Konglish is it?

[jajdude]

To point out the obvious, there are places to find Konglish on the web. Just search "konglish"....interesting to know these terms and their meaning as used by Koreans.

[Ghostinthemachine]

What do 'same same' and 'she's a talent' mean? I couldn't find them on the net.

[kimcheeking]

[Len8]

So when some young kid pokes you up the you know what, we should say "please stop poking my hips"

[ajuma]

"Eye-shopping" is my favorite, but the best one that came from a kid was "rainbow colored." What ELSE would you call some of the things they wear here???

[Len8]

It's interesting that the phrase "I love you" in Korea doesn't carry the same amount of significance as it does in western countries. They use it often, and seems to be done in jest. I use it too with korean ladies, and they just treat it as a nice compliment.

They also call both men's and ladie's underware panties. Heard a student in one of my classes say to a girl jokingly that she isn't wearing panties. I had to cover my mouth to stop from laughing, but the episode didn't phase anyone.

[waterbaby]

How about "service" meaning for free. I hear that a lot, though it's more like "ser-berss".