Korean Job Discussion Forums

[raewon]

I thought I had asked this before, but I searched and couldn't find anything.

She is wearing Hanbok.
Mother is wearing pink Hanbok.

I actually have three questions
1. Whether it's "Hanbok" or "hanbok"
2. Whether or not the article "a" is needed.
3. What the correct plural form is. Is it "hanbok" or "hanboks"?

I can't find "hanbok" listed in any reliable dictionary. On various Internet sites, both "Hanbok" and "hanbok" are used. Although the above sentences sound odd to me without using "a", I can't seem to find any reliable sites on the Internet that DO use the article.

In the case of "kimono" - it's listed in the dictionaries without a capital. It's fairly easy to find sentences on the Internet that use the article "a". And the plural is listed in the dictionary as "kimonos". However, I don't want to simply take these and apply them to "hanbok" if that's not correct.

Thanks for any help with these three.

[SeoulNate]

1. hanbok
2. yes, you need 'a'
3. hanboks

[denverdeath]

Try "traditional Korean garments", or whatever, and it makes it easier to see what's right. "Hanbok" aint English which is why you may've been having trouble finding good references for your specific question.

Granted, kimono aint English either, but Westerners have been exposed to more Japanese stuff for a longer time. Even though Japan is pretty much in the crapper now, they weren't for a REALLY long time. Korea, and its phones and panels, has only really been in the spotlight for the past 10(maybe a BIT more) years.

So...basically reiterating what the previous poster already said....

I'm wearing a hanbok.
I'm wearing a traditional Korean garment.

They're wearing hanboks.
They're wearing traditional Korean garments.

"Hanboks" would never have its H put in the uppercase unless it began a sentence.

[raewon]

Thanks for both of your replies. They make sense, and the sentences sound best to me the way you have suggested.

I just found a sentence that does use "a hanbok" - it was on the official Korea Tourism site. However, that site also has sentences with "Hanbok" and seems to use "hanbok" as the plural form.

For example:
Although hanbok have become the ritual dress of choice worn only on traditional holidays, Koreans' love for hanbok is tremendous.

If any Internet site used the correct form, I thought that it would be that one.

Thanks a lot and happy Thanksgiving.

[Fallacy]

How is this job-related discussion? Is your employer requiring that you wear one to work?

[denverdeath]

[drcrazy]

[quote="denverdeath"]

Granted, kimono aint English either,



Your an english teecher? This gramer is shoking. In good english it is" kimono ain't english neither"

[Fallacy]

Ha! That was great. Made me laugh, so thanks for the comedy.

[drcrazy]

[denverdeath]

Ha har hee ha haaaah!

You guys are SO funny and SO intelligent!

Really!

So glad you contributed SO much to the op's thread!!!



p.s.

DBs.

p.p.s.

5uck it.