To You, Who Love the Korean Language
Ninth Letter
안녕하세요! 학생 여러분^^ 이번 주도 잘 지냈어요? 한국은 7월 말부터 8월 초가 본격적인 여름 휴가철이에요. 저는 날씨가 조금 선선해지는 가을쯤에 ‘늦휴가’를 가려고 해요. 여러분의 나라에서는 보통 언제 휴가를 가나요? 다들 여름 휴가 때 무엇을 하면서 시간을 보내는지 궁금해요.
✅ 진이 선생님이 직접 뽑은 자주 쓰는 단어 5개
본격적이다 = In full swing / Officially starting
→ 본격적인 장마가 다음주부터 시작될 거예요. (The rainy season will start in earnest next week.)
휴가철 = Vacation season / Peak holiday season
→ 휴가철에 숙소를 잡기가 어려워요. (It is difficult to book accommodations during the peak vacation season.)
선선하다 = Cool / Breezy / Refreshing
→ 선선한 바람에 잠이 솔솔 왔어요. (The cool breeze made me feel drowsy and lulled me to sleep.)
언제 = When / About what time
→ 어제 언제쯤 집에 들어갔어요? (Around what time did you get home yesterday?)
궁금하다 = To be curious / To wonder
→ 너무 궁금했지만 묻지 않았어요. (I was very curious, but I didn't ask.)
[ENG]
Hello, everyone! Hope you all had a great week! In Korea, the peak summer vacation season usually starts between late July and early August. As for me, I’m planning to take a ‘late vacation’ in autumn when the heat cools down. When is the summer vacation season in your country? What do you usually like to do during summer break?
생동감을 더하는 의성어
I often suggest that students read short, simple stories (traditional folk tales for children, as they are a great way to learn both the Korean language and its culture. These stories often include many onomatopoeic words. In this section, I will introduce 10 of them to you, with an example for each one.
콜록콜록 = coughing sound
→ 어젯밤에 콜록콜록 기침을 많이 하던데 괜찮아요? (You were coughing so much last night. Are you okay?)
두근두근 = heart throbbing / pit-a-pat
→ 내일이 첫 출근이라 너무 두근두근해서 잠이 안 와요. (Tomorrow is my first day at work, and my heart is pounding so much that I can’t sleep.)
보글보글 = bubbling / simmering sound
→ 보글보글 끓기 시작하면 면을 넣으세요. (Once it starts bubbling, put the noodles in.)
바삭바삭 = crispy / crunchy
→ 겉은 바삭바삭하고 안은 촉촉해요. (It’s crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.)
토닥토닥 = pats on the back/shoulder
→ 어머니가 방에 들어오셔서 어깨를 토닥토닥 두드려주셨어요. (My mother came into my room and gently patted me on the shoulder.)
매끈매끈 = smooth / silky
→ 때를 2시간동안 밀었더니 피부가 매끈매끈해졌어요. (After scrubbing off dead skin cells for two hours, my skin became smooth and silky.)
쫄깃쫄깃 = chewy
→ 개인적으로 저는 쌀떡보다 밀떡이 더 쫄깃쫄깃한 것 같아요. (Personally, I think wheat rice cakes are chewier than rice cakes.)
바스락바스락 = rustling / crunching sound
→ 바스락바스락 거리는 소리에 과자를 몰래 먹다가 선생님께 걸렸어요. (I got caught by the teacher while secretly eating snacks because of the rustling sound.)
투덜투덜 = muttering / grumbling
→ 동생이 집까지 오는 길 내내 투덜투덜거렸어요. (My younger sibling grumbled all the way home.)
엉엉 = sobbing / crying loudly
→ 제 직장 동료가 책상에 엎드려서 엉엉 울고 있었어요. (My coworker was slumped over their desk, crying hysterically.)
비슷하지만 다른 단어: 보통 vs 평소
In one of my classes this week, I had to explain these two Korean words that both mean “usual” in English. 보통 is used to describe what is generally or typically true for most people or situations, or to indicate that something is just “average” (neither bad nor exceptionally good). On the other hand, 평소 refers to “ordinary times” or one’s “usual daily routine,” especially when contrasting it with an unusual event or someone’s behaviour today. Let’s take a look at some examples for each.
보통 = Generally / Typically / Average
보통 아침에는 밥을 잘 안 먹고 출근해요. (Usually, I don't eat breakfast before going to work.)
옛날에 한국 사람은 보통 키가 크지 않았어요. (In the past, Koreans were generally not very tall.)
저희 어머니는 보통 감정을 잘 들어내지 않아요. (My mother usually doesn't express her emotions much.)
평소 = Usual times / Everyday routine
평소와 다르게 기분이 우울했어요. (Unlike usual, I felt depressed today.)
재료가 소진돼서 평소보다 일찍 문 닫았습니다. (We closed earlier than usual because we ran out of ingredients.)
재고를 정리하기 위해서 평소보다 더 싸게 팔고 있어요. (We are selling these cheaper than usual to clear out inventory.)
이번 주말도 한국어 공부를 틈틈이 하면서 재미있게 보내고, 다음 주 뉴스레터를 통해 만나도록 해요.
[ENG]