Category Vocabulary

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…

마지못하다 (ma-ji-mo-ta-da) – to be forced to do something against one’s will Examples: 그 남자는 여자친구의 부탁마다 마지못해 승낙해서 자주 싸워. That man is forced to agree to every request his girlfriends makes so they fight often. 한생들은 숙제를 마지못해 하면 공부하는 것에…

꼼짝도 못 하다 (ggom-jjak-do mo-ta-da) – come to a standstill/unable to move at all This phrase can be used to express physical immobility or metaphorical immobility. 꼼짝 here kind of means “move”, which explains the translation. Examples: 아까 어린들이 너무…

연달아 (yeon-da-ra) – continuously one after another This word might seem like it needs to be conjugated or there is a plain form but it works just like any other adverbs. Therefore, you can just attach 연달아 to any verb…

시들해지다 (si-deu-rae-ji-da) – to wane/wear off/fade You realise that there is a “지다” at the end of this word, which has the meaning of “to become”. 시들다 by itself means “to wither (away)” or “to slowly die off”. Therefore, we…