Korean Weekly Expressions (Week 2)
…거든 [A] if… [A]
* The phrase or sentence [A] is to make someone to do an action (suggestion/advice)
비가 오거든 우산을 가져 가세요. If it rains, please bring your umbrella.
그 사람을 만나거든 안부를 전해 주세요. If you meet the person, say hello to him/her.
불이 나거든 이 비상문으로 탈출하세요. If there is a fire, please escape through this emergency door.
아이가 아프거든 병원에 데려 가세요. If the child is sick, take him/her to a hospital, please.
…거든요 It is because… (in a spoken language)
I am telling you that … (assertion, emphasis)
* Used to explain a reason or to emphasize/assert one’s point, often in a conversational or slightly defensive tone.
A. 그가 아직도 이유를 모르더라고요. I found out that he still doesn’t know about the reason.
B. 그가 모르는 이유는 제가 말 안 했거든요.
The reason he doesn’t know is because I didn’t tell him.
A. 아저씨 맞죠? You're an older man, right?
B. 저 아저씨 아니거든요. I’m telling you I’m not an older man.
거의 almost, nearly (in positive statements)
Rarely, barely (in negative statements)
저는 거의 아홉 시간 일했어요. I worked for almost nine hours.
그녀는 거의 아침을 안 먹어요. She rarely eats breakfast.
그는 컴퓨터 게임을 거의 안 해요. He rarely plays computer games.
저는 한국어를 거의 두 시간 동안 공부하고 있어요. I’ve been studying Korean for almost two hours.
거기에 거의 안 가요. I rarely go there.
집에 거의 없어요. I’m rarely at home.
거의 다 almost all, nearly everything
* Refers to something being nearly complete or fully done
숙제를 거의 다 했어요. I almost finished my homework
바빠서 일을 거의 다 못 했어요. I could barely do the work because I was busy.
거의 다 한국어로 말했어요. I spoke almost everything in Korean.
거의 대부분almost all, nearly everyone
* refer to a majority of people or things
요즘 학생들 거의 대부분은 핸드폰이 있어요. These days, almost all students have cell phones.
현대인들은 거의 대부분 바빠요. Modern people are almost always busy.
거의 매일 almost every day
* refers to actions that occur frequently, nearly on a daily basis
계란을 거의 매일 먹어요. I eat eggs almost every day.
거의 매일 밤 한국 드라마를 봐요. I watch Korean dramas almost every night.
거침없이 without hesitation
* Used when someone acts or speaks boldly or without restraint.
Synonym) 주저없이
그는 거침없이 말해요. He speaks without hesitation
거침없이 썼어요. I wrote it without hesitation
겨우 barely, just that’s it
* Describes situations where something was achieved with great difficulty or minimal result.
많은 숙제 중에 겨우 수학 숙제 한 개를 끝냈어요.
Out of a lot of homework, I barely finished one math assignment.
겨우 그게 다야. That’s all you’ve got.
격주로every other week
* Refers to something occurring once every two weeks.
격주로 그녀를 만나러 다른 도시에 가요. I go to another city to meet her every other week
격주로 잡지를 받아요. I receive a magazine every other week.
겪어보다 to go through, to experience personally
* Describes learning through firsthand experiences.
그와 같은 상황을 겪어 봐서 그를 이해할 수 있어요.
I can understand him because I went through a similar situation.
그 상황을 겪어보지 않으면 절대 모를 거예요.
You’ll never know unless you go through it.
겸 both A and B, and also
* when combining two roles or purposes.
저희는 출장 겸 여행 갔어요. We went on a trip that was also a business trip.
백화점에 기분전환 겸 쇼핑하러 갔어요.
I went to the department store for shopping and to refresh my mood, as well.
결국 finally, in the end
결국 그들은 싸우고 말았어요. They ended up fighting.
저희는 결국 결혼했어요. We finally got married.
경력을 쌓다 to build up one’s career
경력을 쌓기 위해 열심히 일해야 해요. I need to work hard to build my career.
전문가가 되기 위해서는 그 분야에서 꾸준히 경력을 쌓아야 해요.
To become an expert, you need to consistently build experience in that area.