Korean lesson 26: Let's take a taxi.

택시를 타기로 해요
[taeksireul tagiro haeyo.]
Let's take a taxi.

A: 비가 너무 많이 오는데요?
[Biga neomu mani oneundeyo?]
A: It's raining a lot.

B: 그러게요, 어떻게 하죠?
[Geureogayo, eotteoke hajyo?]
B: Really, what should we do?

A: 버스는 너무 오래 기다려야 되니까 택시를 타기로 해요.
[Beoseuneun neomu oraw gidaryeoya hanikka taeksireul tagiro haeyo.]
A: We have to wait a long time for the bus, so let's take a taxi.

B: 좋아요. 어서 택시를 잡읍시다.
[Joayo. Eoseo taeksireul jabeupsida.]
B: Okay, let's get one.

The verb `-기로 하다 [-giro hada]' is used to convey one's decision or determination to act or a promise made. For example, 우리는 내일 떠나기로 했다. [urineun naeil tteonagiro haetda.] (We decided to leave tomorrow),' `내일 다시 만나기로 하자.[naeil dasi mannagiro haja.](We decided to meet again tomorrow),' `제가 직접 거기에 가기로 했어요. [jega jikjeop geogi gagiro haesseoyo] (I decided to go there myself.)'

Korean lesson 27: Change

잔돈
[Jandon]
Change

A: 아저씨, 경희대학교 정문 앞에 세워 주세요.
[Ajeossi, KyungHee Univ. jeongmun ape sewo juseyo.]
A: Let me get off in front of the Kyunghee University's school gate.

B: 다 왔습니다. 1900원입니다.
[Da watseumnida. Cheongubaek wonimnida.]
B: Here we are. It's 1,900 won.

A: 여기요. (만 원짜리 지폐)
[yeogiyo. (man wonjjari jipye)]
A: Here you go (10,000 won note)

B: 잔돈 없으세요?
[Jandon eopseuseyo?]
B: You don't have change?

A: 잔돈이요?
[Jandoniyo?]
A: Change?

` 잔돈[jandon]' refers to the smaller units of money. It also refers to change you get after paying for something. If you don't own a public transportation card, it's a good idea to keep change handy, even for vending machines. Shopping at supermarkets might be convenient to obtain smaller bills or change since they readily accept large bills.

Korean lesson 26: I messed up on the exam.

시험을 망쳤어요.
[Siheomeul mangcheosseoyo.]
I messed up on the exam.

A: 시험 어땠어요? 잘 봤어요?
[siheom eottaesseoyo? Jal bwasseoyo?]
A: How was the exam? Do you think you did well?

B: 잘 보긴요. 다 망쳤어요.
[Jal boginyo. Da mangcheosseoyo.]
B: No. I screwed up.

A: 왜요? 정말 열심히 했잖아요.
[Waeyo? Jeongmal yeolsimhi haetjanayo.]
A: Why? You've studied extremely hard for it.

B: 감기에 걸려서 집중할 수가 없었어요.
[Gamgie geollyeoseo jipjunghal suga eopseosseoyo.]
B: I just couldn't concentrate because I had a cold.

` 망치다[mangchida]' of `시험을 망쳤어요[siheomeul mangcheosseoyo.]' conveys the idea of spoiling or making a mess of things. It's also used when referring to a poor performance on a test.

Korean lesson 25: I messed up on the exam.

시험을 망쳤어요.
[Siheomeul mangcheosseoyo.]
I messed up on the exam.

A: 시험 어땠어요? 잘 봤어요?
[siheom eottaesseoyo? Jal bwasseoyo?]
A: How was the exam? Do you think you did well?

B: 잘 보긴요. 다 망쳤어요.
[Jal boginyo. Da mangcheosseoyo.]
B: No. I screwed up.

A: 왜요? 정말 열심히 했잖아요.
[Waeyo? Jeongmal yeolsimhi haetjanayo.]
A: Why? You've studied extremely hard for it.

B: 감기에 걸려서 집중할 수가 없었어요.
[Gamgie geollyeoseo jipjunghal suga eopseosseoyo.]
B: I just couldn't concentrate because I had a cold.

` 망치다[mangchida]' of `시험을 망쳤어요[siheomeul mangcheosseoyo.]' conveys the idea of spoiling or making a mess of things. It's also used when referring to a poor performance on a test.

Korean lesson 24: I tossed and turned all night.

잠을 설쳤어요.
[Jameul seolcheosseoyo.]
I tossed and turned all night.

A: 제니 씨, 어디 아파요? 안색이 안 좋아 보여요.
[Jeni ssi, eodi apayo? Ansaegi an joa boyeoyo.]
A: Are you ill Jenny? You don't look so good.

B: 그래요? 어제 잠을 좀 설쳐서 그런 것 같아요.
[Geuraeyo? Eoje jameul jom seolcheoseo geureon geot gatayo.]
B: Really? I tossed and turned last night.

A: 왜 잠을 설쳤어요?
[Wae jameul seolcheosseoyo?]
A: Why? What happened?

B: 다음 주에 중요한 시험이 있어서 그런지 요즘 계속 잠을 설쳐요.
[Daeum jue jungyohan siheomi isseoseo geureonji yojeum gyesok jameul seolcheoyo.]
B: I have an important exam next week. It's been like this for some time.

When one worries over an important matter or an upcoming event, can't sleep because of noise or for no apparent reason, `잠을 설쳤다[jameul seolcheotda]' is used to convey the idea that s/he did not sleep well. The verb `설쳤다[seolcheotda]' conveys the idea of a restless night, the feeling of ``being caught in limbo.'

Korean lesson 23: Very

되게
[doege]
Very

A: 어제 명동에서 우연히 제니 씨를 만났어요.
[Eoje myeongdongeseo uyeonhi jeni ssireul mannasseoyo.]
A: I accidentally ran into Jenny yesterday in Myeongdong.

B: 그래요?
[Geuraeyo?]
B: Really?

A: 제니 씨 남자 친구도 봤어요.
[Jeni ssi namja chingudo bwasseoyo.]
A: I met her boyfriend, too.

B: 정말이요? 어땠어요?
[Jeongmariyo? Eottaesseoyo?]
B: Really? How was he?

A: 키도 크고 목소리도 좋고 되게 멋있었어요.
[Kido keugo moksorido joko doege meosisseosseoyo.]
A: He was tall and had a nice voice, and he was very good-looking.

There are many Korean words with the meaning `very'.

Today we'll look at the word `되게[doege]' which means `아주 몹시[aju mopsi] (very much).' Of all the colloquial expressions of its type, it is the most commonly used expression.

Why don't you practice these with a Korean friend today: `오늘 날씨 되게 덥다.[oneul nalssi doege deopda.] (It is extremely hot today)', `되게 맛있다.[doege maditda.] (It is very tasty)', `되게 예쁘다.[doege yeppeuda.] (It is very pretty).'

Korean lesson 22: No, not quite there yet.

아직 멀었어요.
[ajik meoreosseoyo.]
No, not quite there yet.

A: 제니 씨는 한국어를 배운 지 얼마나 됐어요?
[Jeni ssineun hangugeoreul baeun ji eolmana dwaesseoyo?]
A: How long have you been studying Korean?

B: 일 년 반 정도 됐어요.
[Il nyeon ban jeongdo dwaesseoyo.]
B: A year and a half.

A: 그런데 한국어 실력이 정말 대단한 것 같아요.
[Geureonde hangugeo sillyeogi jeongmal daedanhan geot gatayo.]
A: But your Korean is so good.

B: 아니에요. 아직 부족한 게 얼마나 많은데요.
[Anieyo. Ajik bujokan ge eolmana maneundeyo.]
B: No, not really. There's still much more to learn.

A: 하지만 정말 한국사람 같아요.
[Hajiman jeongmal hanguksaram gatayo.]
A: But you speak like a Korean...

B: 아니에요. 아직 멀었어요.
[Anieyo. Ajik meoreosseoyo.]
B: No, not quite there yet.

What do you say to convey the idea that your skills are still far from a certain standard? `멀다[meolda]' is often used to describe distance, but it's also used in `다 -하려면 멀었어요.[da -haryeomyeon meoreosseoyo.] (still long way to go...).' To convey the idea that there's much more to be learned before one can say s/he has reached a certain level or standard, `아직 멀었어요.[ajik meoreosseoyo.]' is used.