Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Hey, geniuses!

I've been told that "burowayo" and "jiltuwayo" are same/same but different, even opposite. Please enlighten me. My sajon translates them both as "envy:jealousy" and that's how I've always understood them.
This is where I am: Jiltu is higher than burowayo but has to do with envying a thing you can never become whereas burowayo has to do with envying someone's possessions? Jiltu is for very very bad actions but burowa is for daily occurences? How does the expression "Olma geum burowayo?" come into this? How much envy did you have? How many levels of envy? What about the phrase "jukae ta!" That means I envy something so much it kills me? Maybe one day I should open one of those Korean textbooks I have somewhere.

[Gwangjuboy]

The former is often used in girlfriend/boyfriend situations. The latter is more lighthearted, and can often be loosely translated as "you are lucky." For example,

Me - I am going to the sea this weekend for a trip.

Co-worker - Ah! burowayo!

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Ok. But I went to a Korean wedding once and was asked "Olma geum burowayo?" afterwards by my students. How jealous were you because some other guy was getting married and you weren't, you lousy single bum you?

[peony]

i would say that bu-luh-woh/ bu rup ta is closer to 'envy' not jealousy
- i'm envious, how envious are you? - as in your case above, etc

also you cannot say jiltu-woh yo as its not used that way, you would say jiltu nanda - getting jealous, jiltu handa - being jealous, jiltu ga man-ta - has a lot of jealousy.. etc

[Gwangjuboy]

[Pyongshin Sangja]