Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Swiss James]

There's this fella who works as a manager in my office and when he says goodbye to the whole team he users the banmal form of that phrase that means "Keep working hard"

Sounds something like:
"Sugo hae"

Is this OK? Pretty rude? Over-compensation for the fact he's 5 foot tall?

[xtchr]

What is banmal?

[mithridates]

He's probably just trying to keep the atmosphere a little informal. But it also depends on how old he is.

[tzechuk]

If he is the manager and the team is his subordinates, then it's ok.. he is in a senior position... so he doesn't need to be *polite*.

[Chillin' Villain]

[Swiss James]

ah well it sounds OK then- he's kind of a weird guy, sometimes very formal he complains if I don't shave, makes the other guys tuck their shirts in, has a go if I'm wearing what he considers autumn clothing in the winter time

but then when I go to England he asks me to bring him back viagra, and he once challenged me to an arm wrestle.

Strange guy.

[tzechuk]

SJ, you are dealing with Korean men here.. strange is their middle name!!!!!!! (yeah that includes my husband too - he hates kimchi.. that IS strange for a Korean, no?)

[casey's moon]

[Bunnymonster]

[HapKi]

sugo-haseyo is better for all around use (cashiers, taxi drivers), though sugo hae is fine for your secretary. It means "work hard.'
I've heard, though, that its not good in any form, even the ultra polite one, when talking to doctors, your school's president, etc.. as if they don't want you telling them what to do.

[tzechuk]

You don't generally use it on someone you have to respect or revere (!)... So yeah, you won't use it on the doc or the school prez... but you would use it on the postmen/ delivery men etc.

[shakuhachi]

[bosintang]

[mithridates]

I remember living with a Korean roommate back in Vancouver. One day I came home and he said �����߾��. I thought he said sugoissuyo (�������ê��裩so I said "Nani ga?" ����������and he was like "what?!"

[Ya-ta Boy]