vancewong

코 앞에 닥쳐도 (ko a-pe dak-cheo-do) – even as (something) is at one’s nose/even at the last minute/even at the eleventh hour This is a phrase taught to me by my teacher-cum-mentor. I feel that it’s a very useful phrase…

직성이 풀리다 (jik-seong-i pool-li-da) – to be satisfied While this phrase has the meaning “to be satisfied” or “to be gratified”, this phrase is usually used in negative situations. Examples: 우리 아빠는 뭐든지 자신이 직접 해야만 직성이 풀려. Only if…

집어 들다 (ji-beo deul-da) – take/pick up This phrase is usually used to describe physically taking/picking up something. Examples: 엄마와 아빠가 먹고 있을 때까지 우리는 음식을 젓가락으로 집어 들지 않아. We wouldn’t use our chopsticks to pick up any food,…

나란히 (na-ran-i) – (doing something) side by side This adverb is useful when describing any actions that are done by certain people while being side by side. 나란히 is usually used to describe physical situations but it can still be…

마찬가지 (ma-chan-ga-ji) – the same This word is quite similar to 처럼 and in the sense that you would use this to compare and relate two or more subjects The main difference is 처럼 is more like “similar” or ”…

싫증을 내다 (sil-jeung-eul nae-da) – to be sick of/tired of (something) You can use this phrase to describe your disgust/contempt/dissatisfaction about something that happened multiple or umpteen times. Examples: 우리 형은 모든 것에도 싫증을 내지 않아서 의지가 많은 편이다. My…

뜻밖에 (ddeut-bak-gge) – unexpectedly You can look at this word to have a very similar meaning to 갑자기, which means suddenly. In a way, both words can be used to describe surprise. However, you would usually only use 뜻밖에 if…

책임을 지다 = assume/bear/take/shoulder the responsibility This phrase can be easily understood when broken down. 책임 = responsibility 지다 = to have something on one’s back Examples: 모두는 남자나 여자도 용감히 자기의 실수에 대해 책임을 져야 하지. Everyone, regardles men…

덩달다 (deong-dal-da) – follow suit/do the same as (someone) This word is usually used to describe how a person would in a way have the same feelings/opinion about something, therefore doing the same action as another person. It can also…

이리저리 재 보다 (i-ri-jeo-ri jae bo-da) – to view (a matter) from various angles This phrase means to “look/view” a matter but it is more like “calculating different aspects” of a matter. It can have a negative connotation depending on…