WeeklyKorean podcast

Quick mac tip: on hover Korean to English translation

admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:09:13 +0800

On hover translation:

You can learn a language from a textbook, but having real conversations speeds up your learning efforts a lot. This is why I decided to change the primary language of my computer to Korean. Now, most websites and programs greet me in Korean, and I read and interact a whole lot more!

However, I noticed that I seldomly look up new words, slowing down my work and thus became frustrated with my latest language experiment.

I found that many of my Korean friends use windows PC’s, which provide real time translation of the word they point at with their mouse. Holy moly, that’s amazing! This is very useful because you read the active word and can see a active translation in a small on-screen widget. You are forced to think in the foreign language first, then you have your dictionary immediately ready to refer to. They tell me they learn English quickly using this system, i’m jealous!

I had been looking for an app for macintosh OSX for some time but without luck, until I came across TranslateIt! today. It’s exactly what I had been looking for! Let me show you an example:

OSX programs including Finder:

and web browsing:

How to set it up:

1. Download and install the translateit! app from their website. (I choose without popular dictionaries)

2. Download a dictionary, i got this one but there are many mentioned on the translateit website. (bottom)

3. locate the downloaded dictionary by clicking ‘dictionary’ -> ‘+’ and then ‘install from local directory’.

4. Lastly, change your primary language to korean (한국어) and restart/relogin to your MAC OSX account.

Done!

PS: we are not affiliated by creator of the translatit! program, or the dictionary. We just think it’s awesome!

A few important sentences for survival in Korea

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:14:25 +0800

Study these flash cards

Exam words 1/5 – Places

admin — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:06:45 +0800

Hi weeklykorean fans. I’m having an exam on the 25th. Hopefully passing my beginner course and moving further in the Korean language sphere. I will make flash cards (online) to study the required for the test and will post them on weekly korean for the interested people. i will double check the flash cards with google translate so they should be perfect. By any case, if you do find a problem, let me know!

Study these flash cards

Object Particles – 을/를

admin — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:21:12 +0800

을 (eul) and 를 (reul) are the last postposition we’ll cover. As said before, postpositions change the noun into the subject of the verb.

When the noun ends in a consonant, you will use “을”.

When the noun ends in a vowel, you will use “를”.

신문을 봅니다 – I read a newspaper.
커피를 마십니다 – I drink a cup of coffee.
수영을 합니다 – I swim
지우개를 삽니다 – I buy an eraser.

Head, shoulders, knee and toe – 머리 어깨 무릎 발

admin — Mon, 30 May 2011 22:32:03 +0800

Head, shoulders, knee and toe is a famous children song. The children song is combined with a ‘dance’, where the children would point at the body parts. Do it one time, and you’ll never forget these words! Oh, the intro of the song is in English, second time switch to Korean.

머리 어깨 무릎 발 무릎 발 (meoli eokkae muleup bal muleup bal) – Head, shoulders, knee and foot, knee and foot

머리 어깨 발 무릎 발 (meoli eokkae bal muleup bal) – Head, shoulders, foot, knee and foot

머리 어깨 무릎 코 귀 입 (meoli eokkae muleup gwi ko
ib) – Head, shoulders, knee, ear
, mouth, nose.

The difference between 은 (eun) and 는 (neun)

admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 23:06:23 +0800

The 은 (eun) and 는 (neun) are postpositions. Postpositions are used to define the case of a noun, or the grammatical relation between the words. Postpositions do not exist in the English language so this will be an abstract description.

은 (eun) and 는 (neun):

There are at least two applications for 은 (eun) and 는 (neun): contrast and topic marker. In short, contrast defines the sentence style (Question or answer) and topic marker defines the subject in a sentence. Just like before; if there is a batchim, use 은, if not, use 는.

In practice – contrast:

The question uses 이/가 and the answer 은/는.

수나가 학교를 갑니까? (sunaga haggyoleul gabnikka) – Is Suna going to school?

수나는 학교를 갑니다. (sunaneun haggyoleul gabnida) – Suna is going to School.

In practice – topic marker:

Noun’s with a 은 (eun) and 는 (neun) in the end become the topic of the sentence. With every sentence about a persons action, use 은 (eun) and 는 (neun). Otherwise use 이/가 .

저는 읽고 있습니다. (jeoneun ilg-go issseubnida.) - I am reading

The difference between 가 (Ka) and 이 (i)

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 22:44:02 +0800

Today we will cover the first postpostions: 가 (Ka) and 이 (i).

What are postpositions?

Postpositions are used to define the case of a noun, or the grammatical relation between the words. Postpositions do not exist in the English language so this will be a abstract description.

가 (Ka) and 이 (i):

Both these postpositions are used to define the subject in the sentence. Just glue it to the end of a noun and you are all set. The difference between the two is defined by the ending of noun – note that you would use 가 (Ka) without a batchim, and 이 (i) when there is a batchim :

For the geeks in the front raising their hands: There is never a space between postpositions and the attached word.

Examples:

저기가 우체국입니다. (jeogiga uchegug-ibnida) – There is the post office.
저기 (There) is marked with 가 (ka) to make it into a subject. In this case it’s 가 (ka) because the character in front doesn’t contain a batchim.
이름이 뭐에요? (ileum-i mwo-eyo?) – What’s your name?
이름 (Name) is marked with (이) i to make it into a subject. In this case it’s 이 (i) because the character in front does contain a batchim.

(subject in red, predicate in purple, copulate in orange)

With all the logic in place, I think it just sounds better too. The sentence ‘rolls’ more don’t you think? Without it, it wouldn’t sound smooth: 이름 뭐에요 (ileummwo-eyo?), instead of 이름이 뭐에요 (ileum-i mwo-eyo). Furthermore, saying (ileum-ka mwo-eyo?) would just sound silly so don’t get me started!

Main take away: Stick a ‘KA’ behind if there isn’t a batchim, use a good old ‘I’ if there is!

Wat is a Batchim? (받침)

admin — Tue, 24 May 2011 23:17:36 +0800

받침 (Batchim) is a reference to a the final consonant in a Korean syllable.

Simply said, when you look at a korean syllable, the 받침 (Patchim) comes last; usually the case when when the noun ends in a consonant.

Every final consonant is '받침'

The word 받침 (Patchim) means tray, just like you would put your lemon juice on a tray, also Korean letters can lay on a tray.

Sources:
Koreanwikiproject

Korean learning charts

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 23:22:30 +0800

The uncle of Suna compiled these neat colorful charts for learning Korean, which proved useful when I mastered my intonations. I decided to share his work for others that want to learn as well! Note: The grey characters indicate low usage. You’re invited to leave a “thank you” in the comments when you use them!

The pictures are A4 sized, click on them for full view.

Some words to study

admin — Sun, 22 May 2011 12:44:13 +0800

Study these flash cards | Study korean flash cards