always begin by introducing the junior to the senior, and then you tell the junior who you’re introducing him or her to. If the senior person is your senior as well, make sure you use the appropriate politeness markers. The following examples show you what I mean: i buneun uri eomeoniseyo ( ee-boon-eun oo-ree uh-muh-ni-sae-yo; This person our my mother; Literally: This is our mother.) For more information on why Koreans use our instead of my, see Chapter 2.
i bunkkeseo siripdaehak gyosunimisin hong gyosunimisimnida.
( ee-boon-kkae-suh shi-rip-dae-hak gyo-soo-nim-ee-shin hong gyo-soo-nim-ee-sim-ni-da; This person is Professor Hong from Sirip university.) In Korean, you call your mother eomeoni ( uh-muh-ni; mother) and your father abeoji ( a-buh-ji; father). You can call your friend’s mother and father ajeossi ( a-juh-sshi; Mr.) and ajumma ( a-joom-ma; Ms./Mrs.), but you can also call them eomeoni and abeoji, just as you do your parents. Calling them your mom and dad doesn’t mean that you’re abandoning your parents. If you’re around a group of parents, you want to be more specific. For example, if you’re talking about your friend Lola’s mom and dad, say lola eomeonim and lola abeonim. By adding [someone’s name] nim ( [someone’s name] nim; more respectfully calling someone) after someone’s name or position, you are showing more respect to that person. However, if you want to sound more formal, call them Lola ssi eomeoni and Lola ssi abeonim.
07_037188-ch03.qxp 6/24/08 11:07 PM Page 59
Chapter 3: Introductions and Greetings
59
Usually, when your friends introduce you to their parents, they don’t tell you their names. You’re just going to have to call them mom and pop. When children introduce their parents or grandparents to other elders, they spell out their names, letter by letter. So, if your father’s name is Choe Nam Hyun, you say uri abeoji jonhameun Choe ja, Nam ja, Hyun ja simnida ( oo-ree a-buh-ji jon-ham-eun Choe-ja Nam-ja Hyun-ja-shim-ni-da ; My father’s name is the letter Choe, the letter Nam, and the letter Hyun.) Talkin’ the Talk
Jessica wants to introduce her boyfriend Eric to her mother,
Amanda Im.
Jessica:
eomeoni, je namjachingureul sogaehageseoyo.
uh-muh-ni, jae-nam-ja-chin-goo-reul so-gae-ha-get-
ssuh-yo
Mom, I’ll introduce you to my boyfriend.
Amanda:
o, geurae.
oo-geu-rae
Oh, sure.
Jessica:
ireumeun erigieyo.
ee-rum-eun erig-ee-ae-yo
His name is Eric.
Eric:
annyeonghaseyo eomeonim.
cheoeumboepgetseumnida
an-young-ha-sae-yo uh-muh-nim. chuh-eum-boep-
get-sseum-ni-da
Hello, mom. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Amanda:
o, geure, erigeun mwohani?
oo-geu-rae, erigeun-mo-ha-ni?
Oh, sure, Eric, what do you do?
Eric:
a, ye, daehagwon gongbuhamnida.
a-ye, dae-hak-won gong-boo-ham-ni-da
Ah, yes, I’m studying in graduate school.
07_037188-ch03.qxp 6/24/08 11:07 PM Page 60
Part I: Getting Started
60
Words to Know
abeoji
a-buh-ji
Father
ajeossi
a-jo-sshi
Mr
ajumma
a-joom-ma
Ms/Mrs
bumo
boo-mo
Parents
byeonhosa
byun-ho-sa
Lawyer
daehagwon
dae-hak-won
Graduate school
eomeoni
uh-muh-ni
Mother
gongbu
gong-boo
Study
siheom
shi-hum
Test/exam
yeonpil
yuhn-pil
Pencil
You can usually think of the following people as your seniors:
sangsa ( sang-sa; your superior, your boss)
seonsaengnim ( sun-sang-nim; teacher; you can also use this term as a sign of respect)
gyosunim ( gyo-soo-nim; professor)
sonnim ( son-nim; a client)
sajangnim ( sa-jang-nim; business owner; use this word to show respect)
hyeong ( hyung; older brother; use this term if you’re male)
nuna ( noo-na; older sister; use this term if you’re male)
eoni ( un-ni; older sister; use this term if you’re female)
oppa ( op-pa; older brother; use this term if you’re female 07_037188-ch03.qxp 6/24/08 11:07 PM Page 61
Chapter 3: Introductions and Greetings
61
Asking for Names
Before you ask someone her name, break the ice by saying a quick joesonghamnida (
i bunkkeseo siripdaehak gyosunimisin hong gyosunimisimnida.
( ee-boon-kkae-suh shi-rip-dae-hak gyo-soo-nim-ee-shin hong gyo-soo-nim-ee-sim-ni-da; This person is Professor Hong from Sirip university.) In Korean, you call your mother eomeoni ( uh-muh-ni; mother) and your father abeoji ( a-buh-ji; father). You can call your friend’s mother and father ajeossi ( a-juh-sshi; Mr.) and ajumma ( a-joom-ma; Ms./Mrs.), but you can also call them eomeoni and abeoji, just as you do your parents. Calling them your mom and dad doesn’t mean that you’re abandoning your parents. If you’re around a group of parents, you want to be more specific. For example, if you’re talking about your friend Lola’s mom and dad, say lola eomeonim and lola abeonim. By adding [someone’s name] nim ( [someone’s name] nim; more respectfully calling someone) after someone’s name or position, you are showing more respect to that person. However, if you want to sound more formal, call them Lola ssi eomeoni and Lola ssi abeonim.
07_037188-ch03.qxp 6/24/08 11:07 PM Page 59
Chapter 3: Introductions and Greetings
59
Usually, when your friends introduce you to their parents, they don’t tell you their names. You’re just going to have to call them mom and pop. When children introduce their parents or grandparents to other elders, they spell out their names, letter by letter. So, if your father’s name is Choe Nam Hyun, you say uri abeoji jonhameun Choe ja, Nam ja, Hyun ja simnida ( oo-ree a-buh-ji jon-ham-eun Choe-ja Nam-ja Hyun-ja-shim-ni-da ; My father’s name is the letter Choe, the letter Nam, and the letter Hyun.) Talkin’ the Talk
Jessica wants to introduce her boyfriend Eric to her mother,
Amanda Im.
Jessica:
eomeoni, je namjachingureul sogaehageseoyo.
uh-muh-ni, jae-nam-ja-chin-goo-reul so-gae-ha-get-
ssuh-yo
Mom, I’ll introduce you to my boyfriend.
Amanda:
o, geurae.
oo-geu-rae
Oh, sure.
Jessica:
ireumeun erigieyo.
ee-rum-eun erig-ee-ae-yo
His name is Eric.
Eric:
annyeonghaseyo eomeonim.
cheoeumboepgetseumnida
an-young-ha-sae-yo uh-muh-nim. chuh-eum-boep-
get-sseum-ni-da
Hello, mom. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Amanda:
o, geure, erigeun mwohani?
oo-geu-rae, erigeun-mo-ha-ni?
Oh, sure, Eric, what do you do?
Eric:
a, ye, daehagwon gongbuhamnida.
a-ye, dae-hak-won gong-boo-ham-ni-da
Ah, yes, I’m studying in graduate school.
07_037188-ch03.qxp 6/24/08 11:07 PM Page 60
Part I: Getting Started
60
Words to Know
abeoji
a-buh-ji
Father
ajeossi
a-jo-sshi
Mr
ajumma
a-joom-ma
Ms/Mrs
bumo
boo-mo
Parents
byeonhosa
byun-ho-sa
Lawyer
daehagwon
dae-hak-won
Graduate school
eomeoni
uh-muh-ni
Mother
gongbu
gong-boo
Study
siheom
shi-hum
Test/exam
yeonpil
yuhn-pil
Pencil
You can usually think of the following people as your seniors:
sangsa ( sang-sa; your superior, your boss)
seonsaengnim ( sun-sang-nim; teacher; you can also use this term as a sign of respect)
gyosunim ( gyo-soo-nim; professor)
sonnim ( son-nim; a client)
sajangnim ( sa-jang-nim; business owner; use this word to show respect)
hyeong ( hyung; older brother; use this term if you’re male)
nuna ( noo-na; older sister; use this term if you’re male)
eoni ( un-ni; older sister; use this term if you’re female)
oppa ( op-pa; older brother; use this term if you’re female 07_037188-ch03.qxp 6/24/08 11:07 PM Page 61
Chapter 3: Introductions and Greetings
61
Asking for Names
Before you ask someone her name, break the ice by saying a quick joesonghamnida (
Similar Books
