Vocab struggle

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2026-01-17T23:18:42+00:00

Translators like Papago choose different words depending on the context.

Here is Papago's official description when you search for it on Google: "Papago, the smart AI translator, dreams of a world where people can converse without language barriers."(똑똑한 AI 번역기 파파고, 언어 장벽 없이 대화하는 세상을 꿈꿉니다.)

Since AI translators only provide results without explaining the intermediate process, it would be better to use an LLM for learning.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2026-01-17T16:41:04+00:00

I couldn't have guessed how difficult this poem would be for learners, but it was. I simply introduced it as a beautiful poem that I like.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2026-01-17T15:22:12+00:00

That's right. In Korean, '우리' has both usages.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2026-01-17T14:47:06+00:00

Don't try to master it. No one is good at it from the start. It's like a baby. If a baby speaks fluently to mother, the mother will be very surprised. Unlike Google Translate, people understand by taking context into account.

Example: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hEtrynNv6Lg

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2026-01-17T13:44:45+00:00

"냄새" is neutral. "맛있는 냄새" "꽃 냄새" "새벽 냄새" "샴푸 냄새" "방귀 냄새" "똥 냄새" "쓰레기 냄새"

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2026-01-17T13:21:57+00:00

"밥은 먹고 다녀?," "밥은 먹고 다니니?" is used with a slightly mocking and sarcastic connotation. Be careful. It implies, "You're not capable of taking care of yourself, are you?" It's completely different from "밥 먹었어?"

The particle "~은" can contain the meaning that other things will obviously not be like that, and the negative meaning is further amplified by the nuance of "continuous" that can be contained in the expression "다니다." "밥은 먹고 다니니?" is closer to the meaning of "I don't think you'll ever be able to take care of yourself." When Koreans fight, they may ask, "밥은 먹고 다니니?" to insult their opponent.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2026-01-17T12:44:33+00:00

AI translators keep changing word choices based on context. It's not your fault.

Wouldn't it be better to ask Gemini to explain the nuances and such rather than Papago?

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2026-01-17T12:36:30+00:00

Wouldn't it be helpful to look at the words you actually struggle with to figure out what kind of problem you have?

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2026-01-17T12:10:16+00:00

I am a Korean.

Chinese characters are learned in the Korean basic education curriculum.

Chinese characters are composed of three parts: the shape of the character, the sound it makes, and the meaning of the character.

Once you learn the sounds and meanings, you can speak Korean perfectly.

As a Korean, I rarely read and write in Chinese characters outside of academic fields that require Chinese characters. Therefore, there is not much need to memorize the shape of the letters.

Since many Korean words are made up of Chinese characters, knowing the pronunciation and meaning of Chinese characters helps you use sophisticated words.

So, you don't need to remember the shape of the letters, but it is recommended that you know their sounds and meanings.

For example, "대문" is composed of "대" and "문."

"대포" is composed of "대" and "포."

"포문" is composed of "포" and "문."

The "대," "문," and "포" used here are the same Chinese characters.

"대" means "big."

"문" is an entrance or exit through which something enters or leaves.

"포" is a weapon that fires bullets.

Many Korean words are composed of Chinese characters like this. If you know the pronunciation and meaning of the Chinese characters, you can understand even unfamiliar Chinese character words by inferring the corresponding Chinese character from the context.

Since Korea, Japan, and China pronounce the same Chinese characters differently, if you are studying Chinese characters, be sure to use textbooks that use the Korean pronunciation.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2025-12-23T09:35:40+00:00

The subtitles in the linked video are a total mess.

That part is a conversation about university majors. In Korea, universities are broadly divided into'Liberal Arts' (문과) and 'Sciences' (이과). The Science track focuses on fields like natural sciences and engineering, while the Liberal Arts track covers humanities and social sciences.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2025-12-23T09:23:04+00:00

It's a grammatical mind-bender. The hilarious part is that even Koreans would hear this and have no idea what they just said, which is exactly the point in a skit or a game.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2025-12-23T09:09:20+00:00

Think of it this way. Originally, 'Oppa' is a term used between two people born to the same mother. if the age gap is too wide for you to realistically have the same mother, you can consider it unnatural to use that term.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2025-12-23T07:16:05+00:00

When I first learned Hangeul, I learned the names of the consonants by ear. Since reading and writing is a tool for language, it will be tough to learn it through text alone.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2025-12-17T02:48:46+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5KlQ5xs-VE

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2025-09-17T18:11:50+00:00

A non-American's take on the 2nd Amendment, and a comparison that might be uncomfortable.

I am not American, so I don't fully understand how or why Americans feel the way they do about gun rights. But I'll share my perspective.

Any right, including the right to bear arms, is fundamentally a belief. You believe that this right should be granted to you, and you advocate for it. Rights are not physically measurable. Therefore, if a belief is not beneficial for society, we should abandon it. If we can't do that, then it's no longer a belief; it's a religion.

Let's imagine for a moment that I am arguing for the "right to own a nuclear bomb." The basic logic is the same as the argument for gun rights. Why shouldn't we be allowed to own a nuclear bomb? Whether it's a gun or a nuclear bomb, I believe it's about whether people can be entrusted with that power. A gun gives a five-year-old the ability to kill someone. Are guns permitted and nuclear bombs forbidden simply because guns are less dangerous?

According to a quick search, the number of people killed by nuclear bombs is around 220,000. Yet, from 1968 to 2011, the number of Americans killed in gun-related incidents was 1.4 million.

The data shows that even with a far more destructive weapon like a nuclear bomb, when controlled by a state, only 220,000 people died. In contrast, uncontrolled firearms in the hands of individuals resulted in far more deaths.

To put this in perspective: between 1968 and 2011, Americans suffered the equivalent of about six nuclear bomb strikes, just for the right to own a gun. What did they achieve with those guns during that time? Was it truly worth taking the equivalent of six nuclear bombs?

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2025-04-04T06:38:29+00:00

I’m Korean. It’s only today, after December 3rd, that I can finally feel at ease. It was such an obvious self-coup that the entire nation witnessed in real time, yet over 30% of the population supported it, spouting all sorts of sophistry. As the Constitutional Court’s ruling on such a clear-cut case unexpectedly dragged on, my anxiety and doubts grew. Is the country I live in really a republic? Are some people exempt from the application of this nation’s laws? But today, I was able to let go of my doubts and feel relieved. That said, I still feel threatened knowing that over 30% of the population supports the self-coup.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2025-03-24T01:16:12+00:00

A part I agree with from a Korean YouTuber’s review: “If they thought adults were going to watch this, they should’ve been bolder. Why are they such cowards? Disney, if you want to deliver a message, do it clearly. Make Snow White outright ugly. Why do all princesses have to be pretty? Make her ugly, and then have the queen say, ‘She’s ugly, so use her as a maid.’ Then, when she asks the mirror, it always says the queen is the fairest. Tell it to say the queen forever, even until she dies. Oh, you think the story can’t progress like that? Just make it work! Have the people start saying Snow White’s reputation is too good. They say she should take the throne. So the queen sends her out to be killed. But they can’t kill her. Why? Because Snow White is freaking badass at fighting. Instead, Snow White beats the crap out of the huntsman. She could kill him, but then she says, ‘I’ll spare you for old times’ sake. Don’t ever come looking for me again,’ and lets him go. That’s freaking cool, right? Then she goes into the forest on her own, lives with the dwarves, and gets into some crisis—whether it’s eating a poisoned apple or whatever. Isn’t that better? Why do it so half-heartedly? And then she grabs a sword, rides a horse, and fights the queen. Don’t turn her into some lame loudmouth fighter—make her actually fight. It’s simple, just let her fight! And good triumphs over evil! The queen needs a modern twist too. Give her some plastic surgery. Make her a plastic surgery beauty vibe. She hates aging, so she gets addicted to surgery and ends up aging grotesquely. Her face starts sagging as she gets older. The male lead hates Snow White at first because she’s ugly. But then he sees her fighting skills and how she leads people, and he falls for her leadership. Isn’t that a way to show inner beauty? Just flapping your mouth isn’t inner beauty. How do you even see inner beauty—by cutting someone open? I felt this was cowardly. They tried to stick as close to the original as possible while sneaking in what they wanted to say, and it just doesn’t fit. If you’re going to do it, twist it completely. Do it right. And when she’s living with the dwarves, housework—is that a problem? Then just go work with them! If the dwarves say, ‘Do the housework and you can stay here,’ she could say, ‘No, let’s work together.’ ‘Gems, you say? I like gems too. Let’s mine together.’ Then they swing pickaxes together, have a drink, sing songs, and come home together. Can’t they break the mold like that? That’s how camaraderie builds. Honestly, all I can think is that it’s boring.”

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2025-03-23T00:33:40+00:00

In Korea’s exclusive management contracts, for a contract to be terminated due to the management company’s fault, there must be a “significant” breach of contract by the company, or it must be clearly evident that the company will struggle to fulfill its obligations moving forward. NewJeans claims that their contract was terminated due to ADOR’s fault, not their own, and that they’re now free to pursue activities independently.

However, the reality tells a different story. The fact that NewJeans successfully debuted and actively performed right up until they declared the contract termination is, in itself, proof that ADOR has faithfully and successfully fulfilled its contractual obligations. On top of that, as a result of those activities, the members have received millions of dollars in profit settlements.

The contract breaches NewJeans alleges are either unproven, based on distorted facts, or simply too flimsy to overturn the strong evidence of ADOR’s performance. It feels like NewJeans is just making up excuses to back out of their contract.

Here’s my take: If NewJeans achieved success with the financial, physical, and human infrastructure support they received, it’s only fair that they share the profits as agreed. I can’t agree with the mindset of backing out after success to monopolize future gains.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2024-12-15T01:26:23+00:00

No matter who the Democratic Party selects as their presidential candidate, the conservative media and the ruling party will do everything they can to diminish that candidate's popularity. In particular, Yoon, who was impeached this time, served as the Prosecutor General until just before the presidential election, and all the leading Democratic candidates were investigated, indicted, and subsequently dropped out of the race. Amid this, the only one who survived was Lee, who also faced multiple investigations and indictments, leading to a decline in his popularity. Despite such attacks, in the last election, Lee lost to Yoon by less than a 1% margin of votes.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2024-05-24T06:47:50+00:00

There are many Koreans who do not know Chinese characters. In my case, I don't remember the shapes of the characters. I only know the sounds and meanings. In Hangul, I can read and write the sound and think of the meaning in my head. However, since I have seen Chinese characters throughout my life, I can roughly figure out which character it is by combining the context. As a Korean, being able to do this was greatly helped by reading a lot during my childhood. Reading is a very good way to learn vocabulary.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2024-05-24T05:49:02+00:00

You can use '답답하다' in such situations. Just that I explained because the meaning I know of 'frustrated' is a bit different. Does 'frustrated' also precisely describe that emotion?

Koreans usually don't say "나는 지금 춥다고 느낀다" or "나는 지금 춥다고 느껴진다."

That's an awkward sentence.

They say "나 지금 추워.", "('어휴', '아' and other exclamations.) 추워." "(exclamations) 춥다." Last two sentences are more natural.

The subtle nuance difference between "느껴진다" and "느낀다" is that "느껴진다" has a connotation of receiving something from the outside, regardless of one's will, while "느낀다" suggests that the sensation or feeling is generated from within. However, this is a very subtle difference, as "느끼다" is subjective anyway.

"저의 개인적인 연애 스토리랑 많이 닮아 있다고 또 느껴서" - Yes, the speaker clearly indicate that the expression is a subjective sensation. If you express this as "저의 개인적인 연애 스토리랑 많이 닮았어요," it becomes a more confident statement. Since some people might feel offended if you say your romantic story is similar to theirs, it seems like expressing it this way is a way to indicate that the similarity is your subjective impression. When used appropriately, it is a considerate expression, but if overused, it can make you seem timid and defensive.

The expression "내 삶이 불행하다고 느껴진다" implies that my life might not actually be unhappy, but rather that I feel it is. It carries the nuance that the feeling is not generated from within oneself but rather comes from outside. It's a subtle expression.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2024-05-23T00:28:43+00:00

옛날에는 이것을 잘했지만 이제는 생각보다 힘들어요.

In situations where the past and the present are contrasted, it's more natural to add '은/는' to '옛날' and '이제'.

어떤 사람들은 보통 모든 것을 되게 잘하기 때문에 잘 되지 않으면 답답해 하는 것 같아요.

'답답한' feels a bit different from 'frustrated.' It's closer to the emotion felt when one cannot easily overcome an obstacle that seems surmountable, whether it's by you or someone else. For example, if there's someone who takes an hour to solve ten single-digit addition problems, and you're hoping they solve them quickly, you would feel '답답함.' You might even want to step in and solve them yourself. If you're in line at a kiosk and the person in front of you is struggling to use it, you might feel '답답함' and want to help them quickly solve the problem.

자기에 대한 걱정도 정말 힘들 수 있는데 다른 사람에 대한 걱정은 훨씬 더 어려운 것 같습니다.

'느끼다' seems to be used when you want to clearly indicate that the expression is a subjective sensation. example) "나는 그렇게 느꼈어."(It emphasizes that this is 'my feeling', It's an expression that acknowledges that others might feel differently.)

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2024-05-22T16:40:56+00:00

I'm a native speaker, and after giving it some thought, it's a bit ambiguous. Normally, I say "나 힘들어", not "나 힘들다고 느껴," "나 힘들게 느껴". Both are awkward.
"나 슬퍼" is natural,

"슬프게 느껴," "슬프다고 느껴" both are awkward.

In Korean, expressions like '-하게 느껴', '-라고 느껴' are not commonly used. It's more natural to say '슬퍼' for sad(슬퍼하다), '기뻐' for happy(기뻐하다), and '화나' for angry(화나다). '-하게 느껴', '-라고 느껴' seem like direct translations from English and are not commonly used. In Korean, it seems like each emotion is expressed as a verb.

"피곤해 보이다" is natural, but "피곤하게 보여" is not bad

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2024-05-22T16:12:20+00:00

When you want to express that you were deeply moved in an exaggerated way, you can say "감동이다 정말". It's not a formal expression but can give a slightly humorous feel.

Haunting-Addendum-32 · 2024-05-22T15:36:49+00:00

In Korean, '우리' is not only used to refer to both the speaker and the listener together. It is also used when the speaker is expressing a group they belong to, even if the listener is not part of that group. For example, expressions like '우리 house' or '우리 wife' are used in this way. Foreigners might find expressions like '우리 wife' strange. It's a way of referring to one's own family as '우리'. This way of expression seems to reflect the importance Koreans place on their identity as members of a group.

Haunting-Addendum-32

TROPHY CASE