Korean Job Discussion Forums

[some waygug-in]

I am trying to explain to a student the correct usage for the word,"inconvenient", but I seem to be having some difficulty as both our dictionaries seem to be saying the same thing.

He told me the Korean word is "ah kkap da" or "ah shin da", when I look it up I get inconvenience.

But somehow I know this isn't quite what he's trying to say. He explained to me a situation where he would want to use the word as follows:

He just finished his final exam, he got 99%, but he wanted 100%. So he says "this is inconvenient".

Or

The Korean soccer team was better than the German team, but they lost the game anyway. He says "it is inconvenient for Korea".

Some how in the back of my mind I can see that inconvenient is not really the right word here, but I can't seem to find what he's looking for.

Anyone out there come across this one before?

I suggested "unfortunate" and "annoying", but he insists that inconvenient is the right word.

[Gord]

"Inconvenient" would apply if the test score needed to be 100% for some reason. If there is no hinderance to having a 99% instead of 100%, then it would not apply. But if he wanted a perfect test record, for example, then inconvenient can be used.

[riverboy]

Dissapointing seems to be the word. Some words just can't make the translation

[jajdude]

What about a convenience store or "Pyun ee jum"? It's convenient because it's always open and they're all over the place and you don't have to wait long to buy things. But then I guess this doesn't necessarily make all other stores inconvenient.

[dogbert]

I've always thought that "convenience" referred to the items sold in the stores and not the store itself.

[some waygug-in]

Thanks guys,
I guess I can't really remember how he put it in situation #1,

But he gave me another one:

If he were running in a race and was just about to cross the finish line, but the time expired just before he made it across. (this is how he explained it to me)

He said this is inconvenient to me.

I guess "dissappointing" would be the best choice.

Thanks again

[Ya-ta Boy]

I've never run into that problem with 'convenient' with a student.

But I have difficulty trying to get them to separate 'convenient' and 'comfortable'.

I tell them that I live in an apartment only 2 minutes from school. That is convenient. But I have to carry water from the well 3 blocks away. That is inconvenient.

My teacher's chair is soft. That's comfortable. The students' chairs are wood...and uncomfortable.

The words I can't successfully explain are 'disappoint' and 'frustrate'. Anyone have a good way to explain the difference between these two?

[Zyzyfer]

He should be saying inconvenience. "The test was an inconvenience to me"...it's really awkward spoken (or written, really) English, but it does make sense.

Some synonyms would probably be:

bugger
a bit disappointing
I was this close
it sucked
nice try, but no cigar
other random little idioms that imply what he means

Sometimes you don't want to find that singular word that fits perfectly. This doesn't always work when translating Korean into English.

Also, I looked up "inconvenient" on www.bluedic.com and it gave me some crap that was nothing like the romanization you posted. Same with inconvenience...bluedic.com isn't the end-all-be-all, but still.

Edit: Just looked it up in the paper dictionary...perhaps he means "regrettable"? That's what my dictionary said for that aggapda business.

[Zyzyfer]

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

Seeing as how the Korean word for convenience (as in "convenience store") is pyeon eui, may I suggest ahn pyeon eui, or pyeon eui ji ahn ah

That should straighten him out

Sparkles*_*

Incidentally, I'll be taking a driver's test next week, but I'm afraid I'll Mini Stop it. That'd suck.

[some waygug-in]

Thanks again,
Methinks "regretable" is what he was after.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[mack the knife]

I believe the word "cheesed" would fit nicely into this equation.

[Juggertha]

[J.B. Clamence]

I've always explained it this way:

convenient: makes something easier

inconvenient: makes something more difficult

It may not stand up to every little scrutiny, but I think it's a good general guide.