My Hangeul

ENGLISH

Colloquial Korean - the complete course for beginners [AUDIO]

Integrated Korean - Level 1 [AUDIO]

Integrated Korean - Level 2 [AUDIO]

Teach Yourself Korean [AUDIO]

Seoul National University - Korean 1

Seoul National University - Korean 2

Seoul National University - Korean 3 [AUDIO]

Seoul National University - Korean 4 [AUDIO]

Korean for dummies [AUDIO] [CHEAT SHEET]

My Korean 1 [AUDIO]

My Korean 2 [AUDIO]

Korean Advanced Course. Level 1

Korean Advanced Course. Level 2

Active Korean 1 [AUDIO]

Frequently Used Korean Dialogues 2000 Sentences [AUDIO]

College Korean

Beginner’s Korean [AUDIO]

Basic Korean - A grammar and workbook

Intermediate Korean - A grammar and workbook

Korean Through English 1 [AUDIO]

Living Language Korean Course [AUDIO]

Modern Conversational Korean

Hanyang Korean 1 [TEXTBOOK - GRAMMAR&PATTERNS - WRITING PRACTICE]

Essential Korean [AUDIO]

Pathfinder in Korean - Beginner [STUDENT BOOK - WORKBOOK]

Continuing Korean [AUDIO]

Korean Grammar for International Learners

The sounds of Korean - a pronunciation guide [AUDIO]

Using Korean: A Guide to Contemporary Usage

The Korean Language Structure, Use and Context

Tense and Aspect in Korean

Korean Honorifics and Politeness in Second Language Learning

A Korean Grammar on Semantic-Pragmatic Principles

Korean (London Oriental and African Language Library)

The Korean Language (Cambridge Language Surveys)

A History of the Korean Language

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A Korean-English dictionary

Collins Korean Phrasebook

Easy to learn Korean Language

In-Fight Korean [AUDIO]

VocabuLearn Korean [LEVEL 1 | LEVEL 2]

Slang dictionary

Dirty Korean Everyday Slang

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Korean Headstart Cultural Notes

Frommer’s South Korea Travel Guide

An Illustrated Guide to Korean Mythology

Korean Folk Tales

The Korean Wave: a New Pop Culture Phenomenon

A Brief History of Korea

The Rough Guide to Seoul

Culture and Customs of Korea

North Korea though the Looking Glass

Foods of Korea

A History of Korea from Antiquity to the Present

RUSSIAN

Корейский язык Вводный курс [AUDIO]

Корейский язык. Вводный курс (Вон Гван) [AUDIO]

Корейский язык. Основной курс (Вон Гван) [AUDIO]

Начальный курс корейского языка

Пособие по корейскому языку для начинающих [AUDIO]

Китайские иероглифы в корейском языке

Корейский язык Курс для продолжающих (Вон Гван)

Пособие по переводу с русского языка на корейский

Учебник корейского языка. Средний уровень 

FRENCH

Manuel De Coréen Volume 1

Grammaire coréenne

SPANISH

El coreano básico

SLOVENIAN (not sure, please corect me if i’m wrong)

Uchebnik Koreyskogo Dialoga 1

Uchebnik Koreyskogo Dialoga 2

GERMAN

Kauderwelsch Koreanisch Wort für Wort [AUDIO]

BOOKS

Harry Potter series

Children books (post by myhangeul)

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Just wanted to let you guys know that I’m in a really good place. I’ve never been happier and content. Plus my friend just got a new kitty.

I’ve taken pictures like this

Traveled to places like this

stayed up all night studying the milky way like this

Dabbled in mind bending creativity like this

Even visited different countries like Italy

But none of my posts have ever been as successful as this selfie with a cat

Conclusion; The internet is a weird place and every body definitely needs more kitties in their life. Feel free to check out my original photography and shoot me a question if you want anything answered. 

belly rubs

이제 and 지금 both translate to “now” in English, but they have slightly different meanings in Korean.

이제 has more of a meaning of “from now on,” as in now and the time going forward (now compared to before now).

Ex. 저는 이제 대학생이에요. I am a college student now.

지금 means right now or at this moment.

Nominative

-가 (for words ending with a vowel)

-이 (for words ending with a consonant)

-께서 (honorific form)

These particles mark the subject of a sentence. In colloquial speech, -가/-이may be omitted when the subject of the sentence is obvious.

자동차가 트럭 앞에 있어요. The car is in front of the truck

아직 돈이 있어요. I still have money. (Although not clear in the english translation, 돈 (money) is the subject, because literally it says “money still exists”)

저는 모기가 싫어요. I hate mosquitoes. (lit: For me, mosquitoes are hateful)

Note:

나 (I) turns into 내가

저 (I,humble) turns into 제가

너 (you, often avioded) turns into 네가

누구 (who?) turns into 누가

이거 (= 이것, this thing) turns into 이게

Accusative

-를 (for words ending with a vowel)

-을 (for words ending with a consonant)

These particles mark the direct object of a sentence. In colloquial speech, -를/-을 may be omitted when it is obvious that the noun in question is the object. In colloquial speech -를 is sometimes abbreviated to -ㄹ, especially in common expressions. For example: 나 + -ㄹ = 날 and 이거(= 이것) + -ㄹ = 이걸

사과를 먹었어요. I ate an apple.

저는 칫솔을 사고 싶어요. I want to buy a toothbrush.

Genitive

-의

This particle marks a noun as modifying another noun. Most often, as the possessor of another noun. It is frequently omitted in spoken language; more frequently than any other particle. 나의 can be abbreviated to 내. 저의 can be abbreviated to 제. 너의 can be abbreviated to 네.

파리는 프랑스의 정치와 경제의 중심이다. Paris is the center of politics and economy of France.

Dative

- 에게 (for nouns denoting something animate)

- 께 (honorific form)

- 에 (for nouns denoting something inanimate)

- 한테 (animate, used in spoken language)

These particles mark the indirect object of a sentence. 에게/ 한테 are used when talking about giving or otherwise conveying something to a person or an animal. Ask your self “whom?”

미나가 민수에게 선물을 주었어요. Mina gave Minsu a gift.

고릴라에게 수화를 가르쳐요. I teach sign language to Gorillas.

친구한테 물어봤어요. I asked a friend.

이 드레스는 미나에게 어울리지 않아요. This dress doesn’t suit Mina.

그는 소매치기를 하다가 경찰에 붙잡혔다. He was caught picking pockets by the police.

Topic

-는 (for words ending with a vowel)

-은 (for words ending with a consonant)

These particles can follow other particles like 에, 에서, 에게/ 한테, 에게서/ 한테서 and 으로/ 로, but never the subject and object particles. In a casual conversation, -는 can be abbreviated especially with common expressions: 나 - 난. 이것 - 이건. 

어머니에게서는 아이들이 선물을 주었어요. From their mother, the children received their presents.

In most cases, the topic markers are attached to the subject, however. Subject and topic are two different things. When choosing weather to mark the subject with 는/은 or 가/이, it is of importance weather the noun has already been mentioned. If it hasn’t been mentioned before, 가/이 is used in most cases. 는/은 are used used when something is common sense:

지구는 둥글어요. Earth is round.

자전거는 싸고, 작고, 조용하다. Bicycles are cheap, small, and silent.

Comitative

-와 (for words ending with a vowel!)

-과 (for words ending with a consonant!)

-하고 (less formal than -와/ -과, used in everyday speech)

-랑 (for words ending in a vowel, colloquial)

-이랑 (for words ending in a consonant, colloquial)

All of them translate to “and” or “with” in English. When they mean with (with a person or an animal), they are often followed by 같이 or 함께.

부모님과 조부모님과 함께 살아요. I live with my parents and grandparents.

-과/ -와 비교하- “compared with” 그것은 다른 것과 비교할 수가 없다. It can’t be compared with others.

-과/ -와  비슷하- “similar to” 그것은 큰 고양이와 비슷해요. It is similar to a large cat.

-과/ -와  같-  “the same as”

-과/ -와  다르- “different from” 동물들의 삶의 방식은 인간과 달라요. The aminals’ way of life is different from that of humans.

도, 만 and 는 can be added to -과/ -와

Locative

-에

-에서

에 can be translated as “to”, “in” or “at”. It is also used to indicate a time. 에서 can be translated as “from“ but also as “in” or “at”. The difference between 에 and 에서 is that 에 is used when talking about something statically “happening” in a place.

우리는 집에 있어요. We are at home.

오늘 왜 학교에 안 갔어요? Why didn’t you go to school today?

이 꽃은 가을에 핀다. This flower blooms in the fall.

독일에서 왔어요. I’m from Germany. (lit.: I come from Germany)

Vocative

-야 (for words ending with a vowel)

-아 (for words ending with a consonant)

The vocative identifies a person being addressed. These particles can not be used in honorific speech, but can be used when addressing younger people, children and people of the same age who are close to the speaker. They may also be used with kinship terms when the relation between the speaker and the adressed person is close. 아/ -야 can also appear with playful uses of derogatory expressions.

미나야, 너 지금 뭐하니? Mina, what are you doing?

자기야, 감자 샐러드 좀 건네줄래? Honey, could you pass the potato salad?

바보야, 왜 울어? Hey, you fool, why are you crying?

Note that the vocative exists outside of the grammatical structure of a sentence.

Instrumental

-로 (for words ending with a vowel or with -ㄹ)

-으로 (for words ending with a consonant)

These particles mark the noun with which the subject achieves an action. They can be translated as “by”, “with” or “as”. 로/ 으로 can also have a translative  meaning, which can be translated as “turn into”. These particles can also express the reason for a state or action, usually with a negative consequence.

포크로 바나나를 으깨라. Mash the bananas with a fork.

이글루는 얼음으로 만들어진 집이에요. Igloos are houses made of ice.

오래된 기차역이 박물관으로 바뀌었다. The old train station was turned into a museum.

이 책은 두 권으로 나누어져 있다. The book is divided into two volumes.

암으로 늙은 남자는 죽었다 . The old man died of cancer.

-로서/ -으로서 = as

-로써/ -으로써 = by means of (unlike 로/으로 not used for means of transportation and -써 makes it sound more formal)

Important: after expressions ending in 쪽, 로/ 으로 is used: 이쪽으로 오세요. Come this way.

Plural -들 

When the number is specified, 들 can only be used with human nouns and if that is the case, it’s optional and rare. In general, 들 can be omitted when plurality is obvious or irrelevant.

사람들이 많아요. There are many people. (optional)

When the noun is preceded by demonstratives 이, 그, 저, plurality has to be marked. 이 엔진들은 증기로 움직인다. These engines are driven by steam.

들 can be used with words other than nouns when multiple hearers are addressed and it’s like adding “everyone” or “guys” to the end of an English sentence.

어서들 오세요. Welcome, everyone!

내 늪에서 뭣들하고 있는거야? What are you guys doing in my swamp? (What are you doing in my swamp?!)

들 can also be attached to a word other than a noun when the noun that is being talked about was marked with 들 in the previous sentence: 친구들이 어디에 있어요? Where are you friends? - 부엌에들 있어요. They’re all in the kitchen.

도

This particle tranlates to “also”, “as well” or “even”

이것도 사전입니다. This is also a dictionary.

하나도 없어. There isn’t even one.

“Only”

Only is translated as -만. It can occur after other particles but it precedes 이, 을 and 은, but in this case they are usually omitted.

난 작년에 두명만 고용했어요. I only hired two people last year.

뿐 is another way of saying only, but it is attached to verbs. 뿐만 is attached to nouns and translates to “it is not just”.

“From”

-부터 (used with temporal expressions or numbers)

3월 25일부터 31일까지 봄 세일을 실시합니다. We are having a spring sale from March 25 to 31.

부터 can be attached to 에서 and becomes 에서부터, which can be abbreviated to 서부터.

-까지

This particle is the opposite of -부터. It can be tranlated as “until”, “to” or “by” when talking about time or numbers.

나는 그것을 아주 최근까지 몰랐었다. I did not know it until quite recently.

“indeed“

-야말로

-이야말로

These particles can be translated as “indeed”, “this very one” or “exactly“

My Korean professor gave us advice on how to practice our speaking skills outside of class:

Use the “Voice Typing” feature under the “tools” menu on a Google doc. Choose your target language from the dropdown menu next to the microphone button, and speak. Then check what you said against the words that show up on the document.

Particles come after the part of speech they’re indicating. Some of them (such as 은/는 or 이/가 or 의) are dropped when speaking in 반말, but they must be used when speaking in 존댓말.

은/는 – indicates the subject (who is doing the verb, what/who specifically are you talking about). Can also be used for comparison or emphasis.

오늘은 날씨가 아주 좋네요. – The weather’s so nice today. (compared to recent/other days)

을/를 – indicates the direct object (what is being acted upon).

난 아까 김밥을 먹었어요. – Earlier I ate kimbap.

이/가 – indicates the topic (clarifies the who/which/what). *Used in negative sentences!

커피가 좋은데 난 마시면 머리가 좀 아파요. – Coffee is nice/good but if I drink it my head hurts. 저는 미국 사람이 아니라 캐나다 사람이야. – I’m not American, I’m Canadian.

도 – ‘also,’ ‘even though.’ Can also be used for emphasis.

난 대학생이에요. 오빠도 대학생이죠. – I’m a college student. You’re also a college student, right? 아직도 안 시작했어? – You still haven’t started? 매워도, 엄청 맛있네. – Even though it’s spicy it’s really delicious.

께서 – honorific topic; can replace 은/는 or 이/가.

선생님께서 왔어요. – The teacher came.

에 – at/to (time or place); per (time).

학교에 가야 되지. – I have to go to school. 오후 3시에 집으로 돌아갈게. – I’ll return home at 3pm. 이 약을 하루에 2번 먹어요. – Take this medicine twice a day.

에서 – at (where the action happens); from.

미국에서 왔어. – I came from America. 인천공항에서 만나자. – Let’s meet at Incheon Airport.

부터 – from (time or place).

이비행기는 부산부터 제주도까지 가고 있어요. – This plane is going from Busan to Jeju Island. 오후 4시부터 공부했어. – I’ve been studying since 4pm. 그 학생은 나를 처음부터 싫어했어요. – That student hated me from the beginning.

까지 – all the way up to (time or place).

삶이 힘들어도 끝까지 보기 마세요. – Even though life is hard, don’t give up until the end. 머리부터 발끝까지 예뻐. – You’re pretty from head to toe. 4시까지 기다릴게. – I’ll wait until 4pm.

의 – possession. my, her, his, etc. *저 + 의 = 제,  나 + 의 = 내

그 학생의 가방은 멋있지. – That student’s bag is awesome. 오바마께서는 미국의 대통령이에요. – Obama is America’s president.

들 – plural.

여러분들 (everyone), 학생들 (students), 그들 (them), 애들 (kids)

만 – only (usually replaces 을/를).

어제 공부만 했어. – Yesterday all I did was study. 난 아침에 우유만 마셔요. – In the morning I only drink milk.

하고 / (이)랑 / 와/과 – and/with (between two nouns). (*와/과 is formal, 하고 is more informal, (이)랑 is more conversational)

저는 지난 주에 친구와 해변으로 갈 겁니다. – Next week I’m going to the beach with my friend. 엄마랑 셀카를 찍었어. – I took a selfie with mom. 김치하고 고추장을 사야 돼. – I have to buy kimchi and pepper paste.

(으)로 – by means of; in the direction of; asking for a favor.

인터넷으로 찾는 중이에요. – I’m looking on the internet. 산으로 갑시다. – Let’s go to the mountain. 그건 영어로 말해도 돼요? – May I say that in English? 창가 자리로 예약해 주실 수 있어요? – Can you reserve a window seat for me?

에게 / 한테 / 께 – to. (*에게 is polite, 한테 is more conversational, 께 is very respectful)

아버지는 언니한테 돈을 줬어. – Dad gave my sister money. 선생님에게 다 이야기해요. – I tell everything to the teacher.

에게서 / 한테서 / (으)로부터 – from. (*에게서 is polite, 한테서 is more conversational)

오늘은 내 생일인데 남자친구한테서 꽃다발을 받았어. – Today is my birthday and I got a bouquet from my boyfriend. 선생님에게서 많이 배웠어요. – I learned a lot from my teacher.

(이)나 – gives the impression of “good enough.” Replaces 이/가 or 을/를.

What you should read really depends on what you like. Here’s the bulleted version, with more details on some of the works (links lead to Amazon pages, not my reviews) below:

If you like family tear-jerkers, you must read Please Look After Mom by Shin Kyun-sook. A second good choice is Who Ate Up All The Shinga, by Park Wan-so.

If you like your novels modern and existential, you should read I Have the Right to Destroy Myself (quite short) or Your Republic is Calling You by Kim Young-ha

If you like womyn’s lit, check out Words of Farewell: Stories by Korean Women Writers or consider There a Petal Silently Falls which contains three stories from the priceless Ch’0e Yun.

For modernish exploration of the cost of development, in a novel of linked short stories, read the The Dwarf by Cho Se-hui, a powerful story of a family crushed by economic development.

If you like short stories, Waxen Wings is the new standard. Another old reliable is  Land of Exile (make sure to get the new edition). A different approach would be to read all 25 of the short Jimoondang/KLTI booklets in the Portable Library of Korean Literature series.

For humor, you can’t miss with Kim Young-ha’s Whatever Happened to the Guy in the Elevator, which can be found paired with Photo Shop Murder, in one of those short Jimoondang/KLTI books I just mentioned. Another Jimoondang/KLTI publication is My Innocent Uncle by Ch’ae Man-shik and finally, Camellias by Kim Yu-jeong is a bit blunted in translation, but has an amusing story of young love.

There’s more.. tons of it, and if you browse through the reviews available through the “Reviews” tab at the top of this page, you can check some of it out. If you have any specific comment, questions, or recommendations, feel free to email me here!