Korean Job Discussion Forums

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

I've been told several times by the teachers in my school that they have been told by other foreigners that "so-so" is a legitimate and grammatically correct designation for a feeling (most specifically "I'm so-so"....that makes me cringe).

But I just can't believe that. I think back to my time in Canada amongst my friends, and i cannot recall a time in my LIFE when someone had ever said they felt so-so. Period!

I used to think, waygooks'd have to be CRAZY to be using so-so for that reason. I can understand them using it to describe their OPINION of something (the pizza was so-so.....King Kong was so so)... but that's about it....

So help me solve this effing debate once and for all:
When is "so-so" okay?

zappadelta · Joined: 31 Aug 2004

Ha, I had this exact conversation with my coteacher today. I told her we shouldn't let so-so fly as an emotion. How are you? Soso.
No No.
I told her the only possible time we use it is describing something. "Hey, how's that new pizza place?" "Oh, just so-so."

mithridates · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 11:34 pm Post subject:

As an adjective it's okay. "The project started with large expectations but only turned out so-so results..." "Teen abstinence vows get so-so results" - that sort of thing.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I try to discourage its use.

robot · Joined: 07 Mar 2006

so-so is infamously overused in korea

it's ok in many situations, even personal feelings -- A: "how are you feeling today?" B: "so-so. no more headaches, but that diarrhea just won't go away." -- but i just get my students to reduce reliance by banishing it to our list of boring words and providing alternative words and phrases.

speakers from some other countries also rely it too heavily, probably because their languages also have flip-flop words for mediocrity: "ma ma" and "comme ci, comme ca" parallel "kujo kuraeyo" and "so-so" in the ease with which they roll off the tongue. anyone know of any others?

ROBT.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

"Okay" in English.

Another word I discourage overuse of is a single "so." Koreans use it a lot in writing as an intensifier (I am so tired). It's technically correct but "very" is better.

shortskirt_longjacket · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:25 am Post subject:

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

So-so is overused here, that's for sure, but according to dictionary.com, it's perfectly fine to use it to describe one's mood.

so-so (ss)
adj.

Neither very good nor very bad; passable: a so-so performance; feeling so-so.

"Feeling so-so".

Personally, I can't recall a time I've ever said it. Not that I haven't ever said it, but just that it must've been so long ago, before my vocabulary expanded, that I can't remember now. I usually try not to speak like a kindergartener.

Q.

Privateer · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Easy Street.

I would discourage it because it's overused and said wrong but I've found it's in the book I'm using!

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

I can't recall a single time I have ever used it. Question

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

peppermint · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:35 am Post subject:

I suppose it's okay, but I'd never admit that to my students. If I can break them of that an "fine thank you and you?" I'll leave Korea feeling like the greatest teacher ever

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

peppermint · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:04 am Post subject:

Well that's a tall order in two weeks. I don't think the kids pick up "of course!" until they're a bit older though

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea