|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
JollyJekins
Joined: 16 Aug 2006
Location: Yorkshire Pudding
|
 Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:57 am Post subject: Problems learning Korean |
 |
|
I been getting some strange reactions at from people lately. I have been using a book and other sources to learn Korean. My pronunciation isn't very good, so often I make mistakes. But, I do learn from my mistakes. Since many everyday words here can be or sound like bad words, you can learn from my mistakes 2.
"6" pronounced like yuck = six, pronounced like yoke = *beep*
18 is also the f word.
Puppy, or "kese*i" = *beep*
Gochu, the pepper = *beep*
Jotkara, the chopsticks pronounced the wrong way = *beep*
2 years = female *beep*
Why are the bad words so close to the regualr words? I know in Britain bloody means *beep*, but you rarely use it in another context and certainly not while counting. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
But english words like folk, sheet, or beach are just a vowel slip away from more colorful words. How about the Brit pronunciation of can't?
A common children's word for cat is *beep*. We call a rooster a cock. Peter, Willy, & Dick (short for Richard) get on with their lives.
Then theres all the sex terms like come, blow, head, etc, not to mention 69.
So whats this about korean? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
Here's a funny word with two meanings: 기생
1. a gisaeng(-girl);a singing and dancing girl
2. parasitism ―하다 be parasitic 《on》;live upon;be a parasite 《on |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jeonnam Jinx
Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Location: Jeonnam
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
"6" pronounced like yuck = six, pronounced like yoke = *beep*
18 is also the f word.
Puppy, or "kese*i" = *beep*
Gochu, the pepper = *beep*
Jotkara, the chopsticks pronounced the wrong way = *beep*
2 years = female *beep*
|
I'm not really meaning to flame you or to cast any aspersions on what you're written. I wish half this kind of information was available to me when I first came here (instead of having the teachers giggle and refuse to answer any question that could potentially put Korea in a bad light). I like that more people seem to be much more open-minded these days. Or, maybe I've been here so long they think I've seen and heard it all. In either case...
Yes, the pronunciation of some of these words is similar to the profane ones, and some of them can have different meanings based on context, but it is based on context, for sure.
Can't figure out what the "6" reference could be. Maybe I have to study more myself.
Yeah, the pepper refers to the male anatomy.
18 (십팔) does not sound like "beep" (frack) (시빨) If you hear someone using it, it won't sound like "18" and if you're telling someone the #18, they're not going to automatically assume you're cursing on them. Although, I've heard that in some regions' dialects (사투리), it is more similar than in others'.
OK, Puppy could literally be 개새끼, but again, it's similar to the Western usage of "b-i-tch" to describe a female dog or something. Most people will use 강아지 to refer to a puppy. I remember (I think) reading that if you put "새끼" after the animal, it has a negative connotation, but if you put it before the name of the animal, (새끼개) for a dog, it has no a positive bent.
If someone asks you how long you've been in Korea, and you repeat 이년, they won't (again) automatically think you're calling them a female beep. It is contextually-based.
You are right that, sometimes, people should be careful, but unless your Korean is good enough to carry on a detailed, full-length conversation, I think most people would give you (a second language learner) the benefit of the doubt, even if did sound like a bad word. I would like to believe that most people here would prefer to think the foreigners they meet are not being disingenous about the language. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jeonnam Jinx
Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Location: Jeonnam
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Here's a funny word with two meanings: 기생
1. a gisaeng(-girl);a singing and dancing girl
2. parasitism ―하다 be parasitic 《on》;live upon;be a parasite 《on |
Well, depending on the circumstances, these may not necessarily be mutually exclusive definitions, depending on what kind of "singing and dancing" girl one is referring to.
Sorry... couldn't resist.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
peony
Joined: 30 Mar 2005
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
| jotkkara is a bad word, jut ga rak is the word for chopsticks, its not the same at all |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Jeonnam Jinx wrote: |
| Quote: |
Here's a funny word with two meanings: 기생
1. a gisaeng(-girl);a singing and dancing girl
2. parasitism ―하다 be parasitic 《on》;live upon;be a parasite 《on |
Well, depending on the circumstances, these may not necessarily be mutually exclusive definitions, depending on what kind of "singing and dancing" girl one is referring to.
Sorry... couldn't resist. |
Yes.. that's exactly what I was saying. 
I think the 6 reference is that 욕 means "bad word" or "curse". What I find confusing is the transliteration used for 육: Yuck. Wha-wha-WHAAAT!?
Btw, 씨발, not 시빨. Wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself in the future. 
EDIT: I just talked to my director and got some interesting history about that word, 씨발. It originally started as 십할, 십 having the same meaning as "f uck" and 할 of course meaning "doing". Over time, since it's meant to be a coarse word, it became 씹할. Eventually, the ㅂ was moved over to replace the ㅎ and thus we have 씨발. Sometimes, the ㄹ is dropped, and people just say 씨바.
The more you know... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jeonnam Jinx
Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Location: Jeonnam
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Yes.. that's exactly what I was saying. |
OK, I wasn't sure. I had my suspicions, but...
| Quote: |
| Btw, 씨발, not 시빨. Wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself in the future. |
Kinda too late for that now, isn't it? LOL. Oh well, yup as Qinell and NBC say, "The more you know..." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cheonmunka
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My favorite phrase, full of lilting assonance and flowing ebullient character from the mouth:
야 이놈 새끼야
Say it faster and faster and loudly...
Learn to swear like a trooper using this technique.
Yah E nom saek gi yah |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hater Depot
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 5:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I think "6" is about 육 (6) and 엿, which is the candy that also means *beep* you somehow. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jeonnam Jinx
Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Location: Jeonnam
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I think "6" is about 육 (6) and 엿, which is the candy that also means *beep* you somehow. |
Yeah, I had thought about that, as in 엿 먹어, but I dismissed it because they really sound dissimilar. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
