What does 聖人吾不得而見之矣 mean?

These days I have become interested in learning to read classical Chinese and have been looking around the Internet for some good sites discussing the grammar. Today, I came across THIS FORUM, which has some interesting posts on classical Chinese grammar. However, in one of the posts, I came across a translation that does not really make sense to me and am wondering if it might be a mistranslation. The following is the Chinese sentence and the translation in question:

聖人吾不得而見之矣 (성인오부득이견지의)

"A sage, I shall not get to see." (ex. 292, Analects)

聖人(성인) - sage

吾(오) - I

不得(부득) - not get

而(이) - ??

見(이견) - to see

之(지) - him

矣(의) - (doesn't it indicate past tense?)

The thing I do not understand about the above translation is that the translator seems to have ignored the characters 而(이) and 矣(의). What is the purpose of 而(이) in the above sentence? Wouldn't it make better sense if it were not there? Also, doesn't 矣(의) indicate an action has already been completed? If so, then why wasn't the sentence translated in the past tense? Is it possible that the above translation is wrong?

In Korean, the word 부득이 (不得已) means "unavoidably" or "obliged," which just happens to have the same pronunciation as the 不得而 (부득이) in the sentence above. Isn't it possible that the 不得而 in the above sentence was meant to mean "obliged," and that the sentence was meant to be in the past tense? Also, wasn't he addressing the sage, instead of referring to him?

Consider my suggested translation:

聖人吾不得而(已?)見之矣 (성인은, 내가 그를 부득이 봤어요.)

"Sage, I was obliged to see him."

I am afraid I am ignorant of the text in question, so my translation may not make any sense in the context of things, but, if so, could someone please explain to me the meaning of 而(이) and 矣(의) in the original sentence? Is it just a conincidence that 不得已(부득이) and 不得而(부득이) have the same pronunciation in Korean?

Why?

It is a sad time in South Korea because South Korea's former president, Roh Moo-hyun (노무현), has apparently committed suicide by jumping off a cliff behind his house. I also feel sad. Though I did not like him as a president, he was still a likeable man.

When a person dies in Korea, it is common to see the Chinese characters 謹弔 (근조) written on banners, flower arrangments, and envelopes in the mourning areas, as in the second picture below. The characters mean 삼가 조상하다, which means, "I respectfully offer my condolences." 謹 (근) means "삼가" (respectfully), and 弔 (조) means "조상하다" (offer one's condolences).

Since I do not know the family, I offer my condolences to the Koreans who visit this blog for the loss of their former president. Also, though I am not a practicing Christian, I was raised one, so I ask God to take his soul into heaven.

Link

Do you get the joke behind the words in these pictures?

I get the joke behind some of the words, but not all.

Do you know any good Korean slang?

UPDATE: I have received an e-mail from a Dr. Byung-Joon Lim (임병준), who claims to be the original author of the list of slang expressions listed below. He said he complied the list with his students in a Business Korean (KREN 4001) class at the University of Georgia in 2001. He also said that I could continue to post the list as long as I identified the source. Well, I think that is a small price to pay for such a useful list, so here is the link to Dr. Lim's Web site, which, itself, looks quite interesting:

http://english60.com/

Thank you, Dr. Lim.
________________________________________

I plan on refining the list, so if you have suggestions for changing or adding to it, please let me know in the comments section. Please include the English equivalent for any slang you might suggest:

1. 됐거든.Please don't say anything more. (Used to show that you are tired of hearing someone's excuses.)
2. 낚였어.You got me. You had me going there.
3. 낚았지?I got you, didn't I. I had you going, didn't I?
4. 당근이지.
   You bet./ Absolutely.
5. 썰렁하군.That's a lame joke.
6. 분위기 망치게 (조지게) 하지마. / 초치지마.
   Don't spoil the mood.
7. 너나 잘 해.None of your business. Mind your own business.
8. 내성질 건드리지 마.
   Don't get on my nerves.
9. 뒷북치지마.Thanks for the history lesson. Hindsight is 20/20.
10. 잘났어 정말. / 너 잘났다.
    You are somethng else.
11. 어제 필름이 끊겼어.
    I blacked out (from drinking) last night.
12. 그 사람 그거 참 잘~ 됐다. / 쌤통이다.
    He deserves it. Serves him right.
13. 그래 니 팔뚝 (또는 니 X) 굵다.Yes, you're the man!
14. 죽을만큼 마셔보자.Let's drink ourselves into stupor.
15. 니가 나한테 어떻게 그럴 수 있니?
    How could you do that to me?
16. 놀구 있네~~ 삽질 하네~~
    Yeah. Right~
17. 거기 물 좋다
    That place rocks! That place kicks!
18. (문제의 답 등이) 너무쉽네/애걔(걔) 그게다야?
    That's it? /Is that all?
19. 너도 내 입장이 되어봐
    Put yourself in my shoes.
20. 저리 가. 꺼져!Take a hike.
21. 너 정말 치사하다.
    You're so cheap.
22. 음식 잘 먹었습니다.I've never eaten better.
23. 이 짓이 지겨워 죽겠어.
    This sucks!
24. 몇 시에 퇴근해요?What time do you call it a day?
25. 야, 친구 좋다는 게 뭐야?Come on, what are friends for?
26. 너무 감격해서 눈물이 난다.It was so touching, I almost cried.
27. 미안해 할 것까지는 없어.There's nothing to be sorry about.
28. 내게 고마워할 것까지는 없어.There's no need to thank me.
29. 이보다 더 좋을 순 없다.It couldn't be better than this!
30. 메롱Neh Neh Neh Boo Boo
31. 섭섭(실망)하지않게 해드리겠습니다!You won't be disappointed!
32. 나를 만만하게 보지마.Don't think I am that easy.
33. 니가 하는 일이 다 그렇지 뭐.That's what you always do.
34. 분위기 파악 좀 해라, 인간아.Consider your surroundings, you fool.
35. 두고보자.
    Just wait! I'll get (또는 pay) you back.
36. 가만히 있으면 중간이나 가지.
    You should've kept quiet
37. 이번 한 번만 봐준다.I'm gonna let it slide only this time.
38. 쟤는 어디가도 굶어죽진 않겠다.No matter where he goes, he'll do just fine.
39. 너무많은걸 알려고하면 다쳐.Knowing too much will only hurt you.
40. 제발 잘난 척 좀 그만해.Stop acting like you're something special.
41. 네가 없으니 뭔가 허전한 기분이야.
    I feel like something is missing when you're not here.
42. 장난이 좀 심하군.
    Your joking is going a little too far.
43. 말장난 그만 합시다.
    Let's stop playing word games
44. 내가 만만하게 보여?Do I look that easy?
45. 다 엎어버리고 뛰쳐 나가고싶다.
    I just want to drop everything and run away.
46. 여기 분위기 엄청 살벌하다. (삭막하다)The atmosphere here is very tense (hostile).
47. 몸이 찌뿌둥하다
    I feel heavy.
48. 오해 하지 마세요.Don't get me wrong.
49. 몸이 날아갈 것 같애. /가뿐해.I feel light as a feather. I feel good.
50. 기가막혀 말이 안나오네.It's so upset I'm speechless.
51. 니 맘대로 하세요.Suit yourself.
52. 괜히 나만 실없는사람 되었잖아.It just made me look irresponsible.
53. 허리가 삐걱했어.I hurt my back.
54. 허리를 다쳤어요.I threw out my back.
55. 아직 옛날 실력 안 죽었어.I've still got it.
56. 넌 이제 죽었어.You're dead meat!
57. 너 들으라고 한 소리 아냐.Don't take it personally.
58. 까꿍!Peekaboo!
59. 알랑거리지마.Don't try to butter me up.
60. 배째
    Sue me!
61. 그게 어딘데?That's better than nothing
62. 머리뚜껑이 열렸다.My head is about to split.
63. 그녀는 이중 성격을 가졌어.She has a multiple personality (split personality)
64. 어디론가 멀리 훌쩍 떠나고 싶다.I just want to go somewhere far away.
65. (나에게) 너무 심한 것 아니예요?Don't you think you're being too harsh (on me)?
66. 그렇게까지 할 필요는 없어.You don't have to do all that
67. 나도 맘이 편하지는 않아.I don't feel good about it, either.
68. 그다지 썩 내키지는 않는데.
    I don't really feel like doing it
69. 생각보다 '별로'인데.
    It's not as good as I expected.
70. 몸살에 걸려 온몸이 쑤신다.My whole body aches.
71. 그 사람 똥배가 나왔어.
    He has a big belly.
72. 넌 내 밥이야.
    You're mine now! I've got you just where I want you.
73. 저 사람은 인간이 왜 저래?What's his problem? What's wrong with him?
74. 바늘로 꼭꼭 찌르는 것 같다.It feels like a needle poking me
75. 걔 원래 그런 애야.He's usually like that.
76. 너 삐졌니?Are you mad at me? Are you pissed off?
77. 이 싸가지 없는 녀석아 (싸가지 means 싹수.)You're a hopeless case.
78. 그는 밥만 축낸다.Food is wasted on him.
79. 그는 성격이 털털하고 시원시원하다.
    He has an easy-going and cool attitude.
80. 있는 척 좀 하지 마.Stop acting (Don't act) like you are rich.
81. 사람보면 아는척 좀 해봐라.Why are you acting like you don't know me?
82. 쟨 정말 짜다! 어떻게 밥 한번 안사니?
    He's so cheap. How can he not buy lunch even once?
83. 너 공주병이구나.You think you're special, don't you?
84. 저 애는 내가 찍었어.That boy (girl) is mine. He (She) is on my list.
85. 쟤는 날라리야.He's a player (with the girls).
86. 그는 앞뒤가 꽉 막혔어.
    He is so stubborn.
87. 내 입장이 정말 난처해.My position is very uncomfortable.
88. 그 사람은 건방지게 굴어.He acts like he's something special.
89. 쟤 손 좀 봐 줘야겠다.
    He needs a lesson.
90. 잘난체 하는 걸 아니꼬와서 못 보겠군!
    I can't stand watching him acting like he is something special.
91. 그녀는 마음을 잘 주지 않고 튕겨.She's playing hard to get.
92. 그는 뒤로 호박씨 깐다.He does things behind people's backs
93. 야~~. 신난다.Yeah! This is fun!
94. 놔둬! 그냥 그러다가 말겠지 뭐.Leave him alone. He'll stop it eventually.
95. 이 숙제 정말 짜증난다.This homework is very tedious.
96. 그 사진 너무 야하다.That picture is too sexy.
97. 너무 오바 하지마. (오바 is Konglish for "'over' exaggerate.")
    Stop exaggerating. Don't over do it.
98. 쟤랑 걔랑 그렇고 그런 사이래.They are said to have a relationship.
99. 걘 늘 요리조리 빠져나간단 말이야.He always gets away with stuff.
100. 그냥 그렇다고 해, 뭘 자꾸 따져?Just say it. Don't argue.
101. 넌 왜 맨 날 그 모양이니?Why are you always like that?
102. 뭐 이런 놈이 다 있어~!What kind of person is this! / I can't believe this guy!
103. 저 사람 변태 아니야?
     Is he a pervert or something?
104. 보자보자 하니 해도 너무 한다.I've tried to be patient, but this is going too far.
105. 애들은 싸우면서 크는 거야.Fighting is a part of growing up.
106. 어휴~ 난 이제 죽었다.Man.. I'm dead now.
107. 걔 생각하면 지금도 가슴이 아프다.When I think about him, it still hurts.
108. 옷이 촌스럽다.
     Those clothes are out of style.
109. 기본부터 돼 먹지 않았다.It was wrong from the beginning.
110. 지나가던 개도 웃겠다.A passing dog would even laugh.
111. 나 나이 헛 먹은 거 아냐!Do you think I was born yesterday?
112. 누구 맘대로?With whose permission?
113. 니가 잘나면 얼마나 잘났니?If you've special, how special could you be?
114. 아! 사는 게 왜 이럴까.Why is my life like this?
115. 그 여자는 너무 코가 높아 (콧대가 세다/도도하다).She's too snobby.
116. 내 일은 내가 알아서 다 할거야.
     I'll take care of my own business.
117. 뭐 찔리는 거라도 있는 거야?
     Do you feel guilty about something?
118. 니 입만 입이냐?You're not going to share your food?
119. 내 방은 지저분해서 발 디딜 틈이 없어.My room is so messy, there is no place to step.
120. 좋은 게 좋은 거지.If it's nice, it's nice.
121. 넌 꼭 그런 말만 골라 하는군.Why do you always say things like that?
122. 찍어둔 사람 있습니까?Do you have someone in mind?
123. 너 시치미 떼지마.Don't you try to lie. (you 에 강세)
124. 그거 수상한 냄새가 나는데.There's something fishy about it.
125. 느낌이 오는데. / 감이 잡히는데.I got a hunch.
126. 그는 자신감으로 똘똘 뭉쳤다.He is full of self-confidence
127. 좋은 사람 있으면 소개 시켜 줘.If you know someone good, hook me up.
128. 팀웍이 중요하다. 혼자 너무 튀지 마라.Teamwork is important, so don't try to stick out.
129. 난 쓸데없는 오해받기 싫어.I don't want to risk being misunderstood.
130. 네가 보고 싶으면 어떻게 참지?What do I do if I start missing you?
131. 우정이 갈수록 부실해진다.Friendship fades with time.
132. 모든 게 귀찮아.Everything is a hassle.
133. 누가 니 성격을 받아주겠니.Who would put up with your attitude?
134. 감쪽같이 (사귀는 관계를) 속이다니.How could you hide your relationship from everyone!
135. 결코 고의가 아니었다.
     I didn't mean to do that. / It's not what I mean.
136. 넌 배신자다.You are a traitor!
137. 다 티 난다.Everything shows./ It's too obvious. / You can't hide it.
138. 과연 얼마나 버틸 수 있을까?How long could it last?
139. 좀 봐 주면서해라. (불쌍하다)Be a little gentle with him.
140. 너하곤 게임이 안 된다. (상대가 안 된다)You are no match for me.
141. 그래서?내가 어떻게 하길 바라니?So? What do you want me to do?
142. 이젠 돌이킬 수가 없다. (소용없다)There is no turning back now.
143. 농담도 (장난도) 사람 봐가면서 해라.
     Don't take a joke too far.
144. 네게 섭섭하다.I"m disappointed with you.
145. 사랑이 식었구나
     The love is gone.
146. 우리 사이가 애매하다..
     Our relationship is confusing.
147. 이 엄살쟁이.
     You big baby.
148. 너의 잘못을 남에게 떠넘기지 마.Don"t try to put your mistakes on others.
149. 까불고 있어. 다음부터는 까불지마.Don't try joking anymore.
150. 야! 너 인물이 훤해졌구나.Hey, your face looks a lot better.
151. 도대체가 끝이 안 보이네, 끝이....I don't see the end of this.
152. 귀가 멍멍하다. (비행기를 탔을때)My ears are muffled.
153. 얌전한 남자아이.Calm and reserve boy. Sissy boy.
154. 화장 잘 받았다!Your makeup looks good!
155. 너, 화장 떳어!Your makeup doesn't look good!
156. 내 말 안 듣더니, 그래 꼴 좋다.You didn't listen to me, so now look at you!
157. 그렇게 함부로 말하면 안 돼.You shouldn't talk like that
158. 전 간지럼을 잘 타요.I am ticklish.
159. 마음이 붕 떠 있어서 일이 손에 안 잡혀.I'm so excited, I can't work.
160. 행복한 고민 하시네요.You have pleasant worries.
161. 잔머리 돌리지 마.Don't try to take the easy way out.
162. 친구 지간에 그런 게 어딨니?How could you do that to a friend?
163. 어휴! 넌 아무도 못 말린다니까~~~!
     You're hopeless. What am I going to do with you.
164. 입에 침이나 바르고 거짓말해라.If you are going to lie, at least do a better job of it.
165. 그 사람 참 분위기 있더라.He has a lot of charisma. / She has class.
166. 그 놈은 화를 자초했군.He asked for it!
167. 외유내강.A steel hand in a velvet glove.
168. 무게 잡지마. (최민수 같이)Don't try to act tough.
169. 내 모든 걸 걸었어.I put everything into it.
170. 골라먹는 재미가 있다.It's fun picking out my favorite.
171. 너에겐 내가 있잖아.But you've got me.
172. 원샷!Bottoms up!
173. 강심장이군.His heart is made of stone.
174. 오늘은 내가 쏜다.Today, it's on me! I'll pay.
175. 왜 너 찔리니?Why? You feel guilty?
176. 여기서 지척에 살아.I live a stone's throw away from here.
177. 그녀에게 뿅갔어.I got a crush on her!
178. 왜 나한테 화풀이야?Why are you taking it out on me?
179. 말이 청산유수로군.He's a good talker.
180. 내숭 떨지마.Don't play innocent!
181. 흔들리면 안돼.Don"t waffle.
182. 남자는 여자하기 나름이야.The woman makes the man.
183. 쪽 팔리는 줄 좀 알아라.Shame on you!
184. 그래도 그만하길 다행이다.It could've been worse.
185. 그는 골칫 덩어리야.He's a pain in the neck.
186. 모든 일엔 다 때가 있다.There is a time for everything.
187. 그걸 꼭 말로 해야되니?Do I really have to say it?
188. 좀 책임감을 가져라.Try to be more responsible.
189. 너 많이 컸다!You've come a long way!
190. 기분 짱인데.I feel like a million dollars.
191. 난 타고난 체질이야.I was born for this.
192. 아까워라!What a waste!
193. 음매 기죽어!That hurts! What a blow to the ego!
194. 맞장구 좀 쳐 주라.Back me up here.
195. 괴롭히지 좀 마세요!Hey, get out of my hair!
196. 잠깐만 시간 좀 내주실 수 있으세요?Have you got a minute to spare?
197. 너 제정신이니?Are you out of your mind?
198. 너 뭔가 믿는 구석이 있구나.You've got "an ace in the hole" (a card up your sleeve), right?
199. 이거 장난이 아닌데!Man, this isn't a joke!
200. 간뎅이가 부었군.What a nerve!
201. 벌써 김샜어.
     I've already lost interest.
202. 돈은 문제가 아니에요.
     Money is no object.
203. 그냥 몸만 와라.Just bring yourself!
204. 나 거지 됐어!I'm flat broke!
205. 말도 안 되는 소리야.
     It doesn't make any sense.
206. 꿈 깨Get real! / Not in your life time!
207. 얼굴이 많이 부었어요.Your face looks puffy.
208. 아직도 다 하려면 멀었어.I have still got a long way to go.
209. 내 곁에 있어줘.
     Keep me company.(Stay with me.)
210. 점심때 뭐 먹었니?What did you have for lunch?
211. 안타깝게도...
     Regretfully,...
212. 밑져봐야 본전이다.It doesn't hurt to try. You've got nothing to lose!
213. 내 맘대로 하도록 내버려 둬!Let me do it my way! Let me live my own life.
214. 벼룩의 간을 내먹어라.
     You're trying to get blood from a stone.
215. 거의 다 왔어.We are almost there.
216. 날 물로 보지마.Who do you think you're talking to?
217. 지킬 건 지켜야지.Let's be responsible!
218. 쟤네들 닭살이야!
     Those guys are too lovey-dovely!
219. 닭살 났어.I've got goose bumps.
220. 닭살 커풀a lovey-dovey couple.
221. 너무 심하군/엽기적이야
     That's gross! That's cultic!
222. 우리 그냥 친구로 지내자.Let's just be friends.
223. 그건 내가 할 소리야.Those are my words. That's what I was going to say.
224. 너는 사진보다 실물이 더 예뻐.You look much better in person.
225. 내 방문이 안에서 잠겼어.I'm locked out of my room.
226. 하루 쉬겠습니다.I'm taking the day off.
227. 내 맘대로 되는 게 또 있네.Another thing that's going my way.
228. 집에 바래다줄게.I'll see you home.
229. 내가 그걸 어찌 아니?How am I supposed to know?
230. (야구장에서) 파도타기 하자
     Let's do the wave thing. (씽기: 아이들이 많이 씀)
231. 좋은 기억만 간직할게.I'll always remember the good times.
232. 물 흐리고 있네!You're ruining our image. (Stop dirtying our image.)
233. 사랑은 움직이는 거야.Love is always on the move.
234. 입장 바꿔 생각해봐.Put yourself in my shoes.
235. 난 그렇게 씀씀이가 헤픈 여자가 아냐I don't waste money like that.
236. 흥분하지마.Chill out! Just relax!
237. 너 하나도 겁 안나!You don't scare me!
238. 오리발 내밀지마.Don't try to get out of it. (빠져나갈 생각 마)
239. 난 맥주병이에요.I swim like a rock.
240. 나 그런 쪽으로 빠삭해 (잘 알아).I've been down that road before.
241. 내가 모르는 뭔가 새로운 것 좀 알려주세요.Tell me something I don't know.
242. 대체 그런 얘기를 어디서 들었니?
     Where did you hear such a thing?
243. 그건 아무 것도 아냐 더 심한 것도 있는데.That‘s nothing. I know worse than that.
244. 깜박 하고 잊었어요.It slipped my mind.
245. 나를 바람 맞혔어요.She stood me up.
246. 딱지맞았어.She turned me down.
247. 너 맛이 갔구나.
     You look trashed! (너 꼭 쓰레기 같구나)
248. 지금 가는 중이야. 곧 도착해.I'm on my way. I'll be there soon.
249. 그냥 지나갑시다.Let's skip that topic. (콩글리쉬: 패스 패스)
250. 따져보길 잘했어.
     I was right to be picky. (꼼꼼히 실리를 따지다)
251. 너한테 딱 안성맞춤이네.
     It's perfect for you! / It's a perfect fit. (안성맞춤)
252. 나 지금 저기압이야.
     I'm in a bad mood now!
253. 마음이 탁 놓인다!It is such a weight off my shoulders!
254. 입맛 맞추기 힘드네.
     It's hard to satisfy your taste buds.
255. 음식을 가리는군.
     You're a picky eater.
256. 지킬 수 있는 약속만 해라!
     Only make promises you can keep!
257. 네 맨 얼굴을 보고싶어!I wanna see the real you! (정관사 the 필수)
258. 그러면 그렇지I expected as much. / It never fails!
259. 정말 재밌었어I had such enormous fun.
260. 나는 노는 물이 달라!I'm into different things! We're not in the same league.
261. 넌 그 바탕으로 사니?
     How can you walk around with a face like that?
262. 감이 잡았어.I've got the picture.
263. 넌 양이 그렇게 중요하니?Is quantity all that you think about?
264. 라면이 불었습니다.The noodles are overcooked.
265. 에이, 좋다 말았네!Oh, I almost had it!
266. 야, 밥이나 먹겠냐?You can't be a bread winner if you act like that!
267. 넌 물먹은 거야.You're stuck in second gear. You've been set back.
268. 네 마음의 창이 되어줄께.I'll be the window to your heart.
269. 넌 국물도 없어.Sorry, not today.
270. 딴 여자들한테 한 눈 팔지마.Keep your eyes off other women!
271. 민박 있어요?Do you have any cabins?
272. 넌 양이 그렇게 중요하니?Is quantity all you think about?
273. 사기가 하늘을 찌르는구나.
     You're so fired up!
274. 너 통 크다.You're a big spender.
275. 너 통 정말 작구나
     You're so cheap!
276. 세상을 다 가져라.
     The world is at your door's step.
277. 엎어지면 코 닿을 데야.It's just around the corner.
278. 어머, 부끄러워.
     Oh, I'm so embarrassed.
279. 아이고, 진짜 웃긴다.That's so stupid / ridiculous
280. 아름다웠던 시절로 돌아가고 싶어.
     I want to go back to the good old days.
281. 내 모든 걸 걸었어.I put everything into it.
282. 나 여기 7 년 동안 단골이야.I've been a regular here for 7 years.
283. 와우, 몸매 죽이는데!Wow! She's got some curves.
284. 자알 빠졌다.
     Wow! She's got some curves.
285. 반말하지마.
     Don't use that impolite tone with me.
286. 미운 정 고운 정 다 들었다.I've got mixed feelings for her.
287. 그의 인기는 시들지 않아.His popularity never goes down!
288. 당당하게 살아라.
     Stand tall!
289. 저 여자 끝내주는데!She's really something!
290. 따라 올테면 따라와 봐라.
     Catch me if you can. (공원에서 슬로우 모션으로)
291. 날씬한 게 좋죠!The thinner the better!
292. 폼 잡지마!Get real!! Get a job! Get a life! (싸울 때 쓰는 말)
293. 너 참 귀가 엷구나!
     You're so gullible!
294. 너 좀 너무 심한 거 아냐?Don't you think you're over-reacting a little?
295. 왜 사서 고생하니?
     Why go through all the troubles?
296. 속이 울렁거린다.
     I'm feeling a little queasy.
297. 너 돈독이 올랐구나!
     You are too money hungry.
298. 잘 자. 내 꿈꿔.Sleep tight. Dream of me.
299. 너무 지나치게 멋 부리지마!
     Don't overdress.
300. 세상에 공짜가 어딨어?
     There's no such thing as a free lunch!
301. 한 번만 봐주세요.Give me a break!. (Look at me once: 콩글리쉬)
302. 등 떠밀려 할 수 없이 그렇게 됐어.
     I was dragged into doing it.
303. 잠깐 숨 좀 돌리자!Let's take a breath! (우리말과 발상이 똑 같음)
304. 뒷일은 내가 책임질게!Just do it, I'll smooth everything over.
305. 너 얼굴 반쪽이 됐어.You look like you're about to drop.
306. 너, 철 좀 들어라!Why don't you act your age?
307. 너랑 안 어울려.That doesn't go well with you.
308. 게임은 계속되어야 한다.The game must go on.
309. 말꼬리 잡지마.Stop twisting my words around.
310. 지퍼 열렸어요.Your fly is open.
311. 남대문 열렸어요.Your fly is open.
312. 넘겨 집지마.Don't jump to the conclusion.
313. 뭘 그리 꼬치꼬치 따지니?You're so nitpicky.
314. 왜 꼬치꼬치 캐물어?Why are you being so inquisitive?
315. 너 얼굴 참 두껍다.You're so brash.
316. 우린 천생연분이야.We're made for each other.
317. 너 눈 너무 높아.You're way too picky.
318. 왜 나한테 그래?
     Why are you accusing me?
319. 헌팅하러 가자.Let's pick up some chicks (guys: 남자를 헌팅할 때).
320. 비행기 태우지 마Stop trying to flatter me!
321. 오리발 내밀지마.Don't try to get out of it.
322. 나를 꼭 좀 도와줘야 해요.You've gotta help me out.
323. 그냥 놓칠 수 없어요.I'll never let it go.
324. 뭐라고 감사를 드려야 할지 모르겠습니다.
     I can't thank you enough.
325. 그는 항상 한 발 늦어요.
     He is always running behind.
326. 그 놈은 버릇없는 놈이야.He's really rude.
327. 이거 정말 끝내준다.This is totally awesome. (쥑여주는군)
328. 황당하군.It leaves me speechless. (기가 막히는군)
329. 애기처럼 징징거리지 마.Stop whining like a baby. (짜증내다 to whin)
330. 우리 정리 좀 합시다.
     Let's all get on the same page.
331. 난 이 일에 재주가 있어.I got knack for this.
332. 두고 보자.You'll get yours. You'll be sorry for this.
333. 너도 만만치 않아.
     You're just as bad as me.
334. 거봐, 내가 뭐라고 그랬어.
     See, what did I tell you?
335. 농땡이 치지마!
     Don't goof off!
336. 너 개기니?Are you goofing off?
337. 똑바로 얘기해 주세요.Give it to me straight. (더함과 덜함 없이)
338. 내게 그런 핑계 대지마.Don't give me any excuses.
339. 마음에 여유가 있을 때 하겠어요.
     I'll do it when I'm ready.
340. 걱정 마. 내가 있잖아.I've got your back. / I'll be behind you.
341. 집들이 할거예요.I'm going to have a house warming party.
342. 머리를 좀 써봐.Use your head.
343. 정말 놀랐어요.You nearly gave me a heart attack. (과장법)
344. 좀 비켜 주세요!Please make way! (짐이요, 생선이요!)
345. 왜 사니?What's on your mind?
346. 정신을 어디다 두고 사니?What's on your mind?
347. 음악 좀 크게 들읍시다!Crank up the tunes!
348. 엄살 좀 피우지 마.Stop exaggerating. It didn't hurt that much.
349. 넌 대책이 없어.
     You are helpless. (콩글리쉬: You have no big book)
350. 니가 먼저 시작했잖아!
     You started it!
351. 니 팔뚝 니 흔들고, 내 팔뚝 내 흔들자.
     You go your way, I'll go mine.
352. 너 때문에 피곤해 죽겠어.I'm drained because of you.
353. 이번에는 정말 잘 됐으면 좋겠어.I really want it to happen this time.
354. 당신의 18번이 뭡니까?Which song can you sing the best?
355. 난 누구한테든 갈 수 있어!I could be with anyone!
356. 날 소유하려 하지마.Don't try to own me.
357. 면목 없습니다.Sorry, I have no excuse.
358. 너 이빨사이에 뭔가가 끼었어.You've got something between your teeth.
359. 너무 기뻐 죽겠어요.I'm so happy, I could die.
360. 가위 눌렸다.I had one of those nightmares where you can't move.
361. 난 정신없이 바빴어.I've been busy as a bee!
362. 눈 코 뜰 새 없이 바빴어.I've been busy as a bee!
363. 나 회사에서 짤렸다.I got canned.
364. 물 먹었다.I was fired.
365. 눈썰미가 있구나.You pick things up quickly.
366. 당신과 연락하려면 어떡해하죠?How can I get a hold of you?
367. 글쎄? 도통 모르겠어I haven't the slightest idea. (“왜 전화 했어?“란 질문에)
368. 그냥....Just because....... (그냥 전화 했어. 그냥 왔어)
369. 이름 값 좀 해라.Live up to your name.
370. 가위, 바위, 보.Paper, rock, scissors.
371. 어리광 부리지 마.Don't play the baby.
372. 기말 시험을 망쳤어.I bombed my final exam.
373. 그녀는 정말 여우야.She is as sly as a fox.
374. 김밥 옆구리 터지는 소리 하고있네!That's just ridiculous!
375. 가끔은 별 일이 없을 때가 좋습니다.
     Sometimes no news is good news.
376. 사각거리는 시원한 사과 먹었으면 좋겠다.
     I'd love to eat a refreshing crunchy apple.
377. 너 그거 진짜 할거야?Are you really going to do it?
378. 그거 할거야, 말거야?Are you gonna do it or not?
379. 관계를 더욱 돈독히 해야합니다.We've got to cement our relationship.
380. 벌써 다 끝내다니!You can't be done already!
381. 왕입니다요
     You're the man.
382. 건방지게 행동하지마.
     Don't be so arrogant.
383. 국물이 끝내줘요.Good to the last drop. (맥스웰 커피 광고 카피)
384. 상사병에 걸렸어요.The love bug has bitten me.
385. 속이 거북하다.My gut is killing me. / My stomach is funny.(약한 통증)
386. 그는 진짜 부자다.He is rich with a capital R.
387. 자판기가 돈을 먹어버렸어요.The vending machine ate my money.
388. 백지장도 맞들면 낫다.Two heads are better than one.
389. 내게 행운을 빌어 줘.Wish me luck.
390. 왜 안가고 서성대고 있어?Why are you lingering around?
391. 버스 떠난 뒤에 손 흔들어 봤자야.That ship has already sailed.
392. 다리 떨지마. 복 나가.It's unlucky to shake your foot.
393. 그저 이런 저런 잡담이나 하고 싶어.
     I just wanna shoot the breeze.
394. 어떻게 될지 누가 알겠니?No one can say how it'll turn out.
395. 일찍 와도 안 잡아먹어.It wouldn't hurt to come early.
396. 숨이 차 죽겠어.
     I'm out of breath.
397. 그 사람 가까이 가지마.Stay clear of that guy. / Stay away from him.
398. 제발 나를 괴롭히지 마.Hey, just lay off me.
399. 내 컴퓨터가 다운되었어.My system crashed.
400. 너 지금 까불고 있는 거니?Are you being a wise guy?
401. 너 완전히 오해했구나!You really missed the point!
402. 마음 한 구석이 좀 불편하다.It doesn't settle well with me.
403. 이제 속이 시원하다.It doesn't get on my nerves anymore. I feel much better!
404. 그 사람은 너무 튀어.That guy is a real odd ball.
405. 나름대로는 열심히 했어.I think I did my best./ I did the best I could.
406. 한 입으로 두 말 하지 마세요.Don't go back on your word.
407. 사람을 외모만 보고 판단하지 마라.Don't judge a book by its cover.
408. 늦었다고 생각할 때가 가장 빠를 때다.Better late than never.
409. 난 추위를 잘 타요.The cold really gets to me.
410. 이 책은 내용이 정말 알차다.
     This book's got it all.
411. 야, 네가 못하는 게 뭐니?You can do anything you set your mind to.
412. 우왕! 진짜 짜증나.Man, I'm so ticked. (tick은 모기처럼 무는 벌레)
413. 네가 보고싶어 죽겠어.I'm dying to see you!
414. 일을 하려면 제대로 해!If you're going to do, do it right!
415. 야, 대체 비결이(요령이) 뭐야?Hey, what's the secret?
416. 넌 빠져.Don't get nosy (코를 들이밀지 마 = 간섭 마)
417. 가문에 먹칠하다.Give someone's family a bad name.
418. 혈통 문제로군.It runs in the family.
419. 나이 값을 좀 해라.Act your age!
420. 엎어지면 코 닿을 데야.It's just around the corner.
421. 어머, 부끄러워.I'm so embarrassed.
422. 세상에 공짜가 어딨어?There's no such thing as a free lunch!
423. 잠깐 숨 좀 돌리자!
     Let's take a breather.
424. 뭐라고 감사를 드려야 할지 모르겠습니다.I can't thank you enough.

Is there anything better than the "small comforts" in life?

Is there anything better than the "small comforts" in life?

Yes, of course, the large comforts.

The Chinese character 便 (편) means "편하다," which means "comfortable" or "easy." The character can also be pronounced as "변," but then the meaning changes to "urine" or "feces."

Is it just a coincidence that the literal meanings of 소변 (小便 - urine) and 대변 (feces) are "small comfort" and "large comfort"?

The pure Korean for urine and feces are 오줌 and 똥, respectively, but 소변 and 대변 sound more refined, for some reason.

By the way, if you want to tell a friend that you "want to take a piss" or " want to take a dump," it would be better NOT to say 오줌(소변)을 싸고 싶다 or 똥(대변)을 싸고 싶다 since that would imply that you want to piss in your pants or take a dump in your pants. Even many Koreans mistakenly say 오줌(똥) 싸고 싶다. Instead, you should say 오줌 (소변)을 누고 싶다 and 똥(대변)을 누고 싶다. Also, instead of 누다, you can use the verb 보다.

What's the difference between 굶다 and 주리다?

굶다 seems to mean "to go hungry," while 주리다 seems to mean "to be hungry." In other words, 굶다 seems to be the more serious situation since one does not have or cannot afford the food to eat. Therefore, if you wanted to say that someone "died from hunger," you would say, 굶어죽었다, not 주려죽었다.

Also, 주리다, not 굶다, is used in the figurative sense. See the following examples:

• 사랑에 주리다 - be hungry for affection
• 지식에 주리다 - be hungry for knowledge

굶다 and 주리다 also combine to form the word 굶주리다, which seems to have the implied meanings of both words. For example, 굶주리다 can mean literally "starving" or it can mean "hungry" in the figurative sense. See the following examples:

• 가뭄 때문에 많은 사람이 굶주렸다.
  Many people starved during the drought.
  .
• 그는 지식에 굶주리고 있었다.
  He was hungry for knowledge.
  .
• 병사들은 피에 굶주리고 있었다.
  The soldiers were thirty for blood.

I like the simplicity of the following proverb:

주린 고양이가 쥐를 만났다.
A hungry cat met a mouse.

It means, "It looks like this is my lucky day."

Hear about Naver's New Chinese Character Dictionary?

Naver has updated its online Chinese Character Dictionary, and it is good. Not only does the dictionary have a new look and new functions, but the number of characters in the dictionary has increased from 7700 to 28,000. Here are the new functions:

• Drawing Recognition (필기인식기): This allows you to search for a character by drawing it with your mouse.
  .
• Shape Search (모양자 찾기): This allows you to search by only knowing one portion of the character. For example, if you search on 乙, it will show you all the characters with 乙 in them, regardless of whether 乙 is the radical for that character or not. This function is great and long overdue.
  .
• Auto Completion (자동완설기능): This offers suggestions even before you press the "Enter" key.

I love this new dictionary.

What are Korea's Irregular Verbs?

The following is the start of a list of Korean irregular verbs and their conjugations. I will build the list and add to it when I have the time.

• 가늘다 [adj] - 1) small; thin, slender; 2) narrow 3) weak; feeble; faint
  
  An irregular ㄹ verb
  
  가늡니다 / 가늘었습니다 / 가늘고 / 가는 / 가는데 / 가느니까 / 가늘더니 / 가늘면 / 가늘어서 / 가늘어야 / 가늘어요
  .
• 가르다 [v] - 1) cut ; divide 2) separate; sort out; classify 3) share with; divide among 4) cut off; sever; separate
  
  An irregular 르 verb
  
  가릅니다 / 갈랐습니다 / 가르고 / 가르는 / 가르는데 / 가르니까 / 가르더니 / 가르면 / 갈라서 / 갈라야 / 갈라요 / 가르십시오
  .
• 가볍다 [adj] - 1) light ; not heavy 2) light ; slight 3) rash; thoughtless; frivolous
  
  An irregular ㅂ verb
  
  가볍습니다 / 가벼웠습니다 / 가볍고 / 가벼운 / 가벼운데 / 가벼우니까 / 가볍더니 / 가벼우면 / 가벼워서 / 가벼워야 / 가벼워요
  .
• 1 거르다 [v] - 1) filter; strain (out); percolate; leach 2) select; choose; pick out
  .
  2 거르다 [v] - skip (over); go without; dispense with
  
  An irregular 르 verb
  
  거릅니다 / 걸렀습니다 / 거르고 / 거르는 / 거르는데 / 거르니까 / 거르더니 / 거르면 / 걸러서 / 걸러야 / 걸러요 / 거르십시오
  .
• 걷다 [v] - walk; go on foot; tramp; step; hike
  
  An irregular ㄷ verb
  
  걷습니다 / 걸었습니다 / 걷고 / 걷는 / 걷는데 / 걸으니까 / 걷더니 / 걸으면 / 걸어서 / 걸어야 / 걸어요 / 걸으십시오
  .
• 1 고르다 [v] - choose; select
  
  2 고르다 [v] - level ; smooth; make even
  
  3 고르다 [adj] - 1) even; uniform; equal; regular 2) equal; fair; impartial 3) seasonable; favorable
  
  An irregular 르 verb
  
  고릅니다 / 골랐습니다 / 고르고 / 고르는 (v); 고른 (adj) / 고르는데 (v); 고른데 (adj) / 고르니까 / 고르더니 / 고르면 / 골라서 / 골라야 / 골라요 / 고르십시오 (v)
  .
• 고맙다 [adj] - 1) grateful; welcome; blessed; appreciated; gracious 2) thankful; appreciative; gratefully acknowledged; obliged; indebted
  
  An irregular ㅂ verb
  
  고맙습니다 / 고마웠습니다 / 고맙고 / 고마운 / 고마운데 / 고마우니까 / 고맙더니 / 고마우면 / 고마워서 / 고마워요
  .
• 고프다 [adj] - hungry; famished
  
  An irregular 으 verb
  
  고픕니다 / 고팠습니다 / 고프고 / 고픈 / 고픈데 / 고프니까 / 고프더니 / 고프면 / 고파서 / 고파야 / 고파요
  .
• 곱다 [adj] - 1) beautiful; lovely; fine; nice; handsome 2) sweet ; gentle; pure-minded 3) sweet ; charming; soft 4) fair ; fine
  
  An irregular ㅂ verb
  
  곱습니다 / 고왔습니다 / 곱고 / 고운 / 고우데 / 고우니까 / 곱더니 / 고우면 / 고와서 / 고와야 / 고와요
  .
• 굽다 [v] - 1) roast; broil; bake; toast 2) bake (pottery); fire; burn ; produce
  
  An irregular ㅂ verb
  
  굽습니다 / 구웠습니다 / 굽고 / 구운 / 굽는데 / 구우니까 / 굽더니 / 구우면 / 구워서 / 구워야 / 구워요 / 구우십시오
  .
• 그렇다 [adj] - so; such; like that; that way; Yes, No
  
  An irregular ㅎ verb
  
  그렇습니다 / 그랬습니다 / 그렇고 / 그런 / 그런데 / 그러니까 / 그러더니 / 그러면 / 그래서 / 그래야 / 그래요 / 그러십시오*
  
  * 그렇다 is an adjective, so it should not have an imperative form. Therefore, 그러십시오 probably comes from 그러다, which is an abbreviation of 그렇게 하다.

Am I wasting my life away?

The following is a poem I wrote about a woman's decision to leave her husband, which she later regrets. I wrote the poem because the first two lines came into my head and I couldn't get them out of it. It has nothing to do with Korean.

Brief Infatuations

Do you sometimes fake orgasm?
Do you sometimes use sarcasm?
Do you sometimes come home late
And deny it was a date?

Do you sometimes look at him
And wish he were more like them?
Do you sometimes go to bed
And imagine he were dead?

Now you want to let him know
That it’s time for you to go.
Yes, he will most likely cry,
And ask you to tell him why.

Say you’re bored and want to live
While you’ve still got love to give
He won't know that you have lied,
And had others on the side.

Years later you’re still alone.
He found new love and a home.
Now you’re sitting wonder’n why
You ever left him for that guy.

Is life now trying to say
It's your fault you ran away?
Have you already missed your chance
In this world to find romance.

by Gerry Bevers

Is this the way to Amarillo?

I was feeling a little homesick, so I decided to learn the Korean lyrics for the following song, but I couldn't find them, so I decided to make my own. Do not expect a word-for-word translation.

"Is this the way to Amarillo"

When the day is dawning,
On a Texas Sunday Morning

일요일 아침에
텍사스 하늘이 밝아질 때

How I long to be there
with Marie who's wait'n for me there

거기 있고 싶어요
날 기다리는 여자랑

Every lonely city
where I hang my hat

쓸쓸한 도시에
많이 갔는데도

Ain’t as half as pretty
as where my baby’s at.

내 여자 도시는
훨씬 더 예뻐요.

Is this the way to Amarillo
Every night I’ve been hugging my pillow
Dreaming dreams of Amarillo
And sweet Marie who waits for me

앰마렐로 이 쪽인가요?
밤마다 베게 꼭 껴안아요
꿈에서 나타나요
그 도시와 내 여자요.

Show me the way to Amarillo
I’ve been weeping like a willow
Crying over Amarillo
And sweet Marie who waits for me

앰마렐로 길을 보여줘요.
버들처럼 계속 울어요.
생각나면 꼭 울어요.
그 도시와 내 여자요.

Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
And Marie who waits for me.

샤라라라라라라라
샤라라라라라라라
샤라라라라라라라
기다리는 내 여자요.

There’s a church bell ringing
hear the song of joy that it’s singing
For the sweet Maria
and the guy who’s coming to see her

성당 종이 우네요
그 행복한 소리 들어요.
내 작한 여자와
보러 가는 나를 위하여.

Just beyond the highway
There’s an open plain
and it keeps me going
Through the wind and rain

앞길 조금 넘어
평야 있는데
계속 가겠어요
폭풍 있어도요.

Is this the way to Amarillo
Every night I’ve been hugging my pillow
Dreaming dreams of Amarillo
And sweet Marie who waits for me

앰마렐로 이 쪽인가요?
밤마다 베게 꼭 껴안아요
꿈에서 나타나요
그 도시와 내 여자요

Show me the way to Amarillo
I’ve been weeping like a willow
Crying over Amarillo
And sweet Marie who waits for me

앰마렐로 길을 보여줘요.
버들처럼 계속 울어요.
생각나면 꼭 울어요.
그 도시와 내 여자요.

Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
And Marie who waits for me.

샤라라라라라라라
샤라라라라라라라
샤라라라라라라라
기다리는 내 여자요.

Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
And Marie who waits for me.

샤라라라라라라라
샤라라라라라라라
샤라라라라라라라
기다리는 내 여자요.

Here are links to a few more versions:

• Bristish Comedian Peter Kay's Version
• The British Army Version
• A Jazzed Up Version
• British School Kids' Version

Why do they call it 단청(丹靑)?

The above picture shows the colorfully painted eaves of a traditional Korean building. Koreans call this type of decoration 단청(丹靑), which literally means "red & blue." 단 means "red," and 청 means "blue." The name comes from the fact that red (which includes orange) and blue (which includes green) are the representative colors used in the painting.

By the way, 단 (丹) is not the only Chinese character that means "red." There are, at least, four others that represent different shades of red. Also, there are, at least, five Chinese characters for blue. Here is a list of the characters that mean "red," starting with the lightest red and progressing to the darkest.

Shades of Red in Chinese Characters

1. 홍(紅) - pinkish red
2. 적(赤) - red
3. 단(丹) - red
4. 주(朱) - vermilion; cinnabar
5. 강(絳) - crimson

Shades of Blue (green) in Chinese Characters

1. 청(靑) - dark blue
2. 창(蒼) - azure (sky blue)
3. 벽(碧) - greenish blue
4. 록(綠) - (grassy) green
5. 취(翠) - jade green

The Five Cardinal Colors in Korea (오색)

• 청(靑) - blue
• 적(赤) - red
• 황(黃) - yellow
• 백(백) - white
• 흑(黑) - black

Colors of the Rainbow

• red - 빨강색
• orange - 주황색
• yellow - 노랑색
• green - 초록색
• blue - 파랑색
• indigo - 남색
• violet - 보라색

Names of Colors (unfinished) *

• amber (pumpkin) - 호박색
• amethyst - 자수정빛
• apricot - 살구빛
• aqua (greenish blue) - 녹청색 (more green than blue)
• aquamarine (light aqua) - 연한 녹청색
• auburn (redish brown) - 고동색 (적갈색)
• azure (sky blue) - 하늘색
• baby blue - 연한 청색
• black - 흑색; 검은 색
• blue - 푸른색; 파랑; 청색
• blue-green (turquoise) - 청녹색 (more blue than green)
• brass (yellowish copper) - 황동색
• bronze - (bluish copper) - 청동색
• brown - 갈색
• Burgundy - 버건디색; 짙은 홍색
• cardinal red - 진홍색
• celadon - 청자색
• chestnut (maroon) - 밤색; 적갈색
• cinnabar - 주홍색
• cinnamon - 육계색
• copper - 동색; 구릿빛
• cream - 크림색
• crimson (ruby red) - 심홍색
• cyan - 시안색
• dark (deep) blue - 검푸르다; 암청색 (심청색)
• dark (deep) green - 암녹색 (심녹색)
• dark (deep) red - 검붉다; 암홍색; (심홍색)
• dark yellow - 검누렇다
• eggplant - 가지색
• emerald - 선녹색
• flax - 아마색
• flesh color - 피부색; 살빛
• gold - 금색; 황금색
• green - 녹색
• grey - 회색
• indigo (deep blue) - 남색
• ivory - 상아색 (아이보리)
• jade - 옥색
• khaki - 카키색 (황갈색)
• lavender - 라벤더색
• maroon (chestnut) - 밤색; 적갈색
• mauve - 담자색
• moss green - 이끼 녹색
• mustard - 겨자색
• navy blue - 감청색
• olive - 올리브색
• orange - 주황색; 오렌지색
• orchid - 연보랏빛; 난초색
• peach - 복숭앗빛
• pink - 분홍색
• platinum - 백금색
• pumpkin (amber) - 호박색
• purple - 자주빛
• rose - 장밋빛
• ruby red (crimson) - 심홍색; 홍옥색
• salmon - 연어 살빛
• sapphire - 청옥색; 사파이어색
• saffron - 사프란색 (농황색)
• silver - 은색; 은빛
• sky blue - 하늘색
• turquoise (blue-green) - 청녹색; 터키옥색
• violet - 보라빛; 제비꽃색
• white - 하얀색
• yellow - 노란색; 황색

What is the opposite of 태양(太陽)?

태양(太陽) is the sino-Korean word for "the sun." It literally means "big star." 태(太) means "big," and 양(陽) means "star. 양(陽) can also mean "bright." The pure Korean word for "the sun" is 해.

The opposite of 태양(太陽) is 태음(太陰), which is a sino-Korean word for "the moon." It literally means "big shadow." 태(太) means "big," and 음(陰) means "shade" or "shadow." The pure Korean word for "the moon" is 달.

The Chinese characters 양(陽 - light) and 음(陰 - dark) form the word 음양(陰陽), which refers to the philosophy that everything in the universe has an opposite. The Chinese call it "yin-yang."

Here are more words that use the Chinese characters 음(陰) and 양(陽):

1. 양력(陽曆) - solar calendar
   음력(陰曆) - lunar calendar
   .
2. 양지(陽地) - a sunny place
   음지(陰地) - a shady place
   .
3. 양성(陽性) - positive
   음성(陰性) - negative
   .
4. 양수(陽數) - a positive number
   음수(陰數) - a negative number
   .
5. 양극(陽極) - a positive pole (electricity)
   음극(陰極) - a negative pole (electricity)
   .
6. 양각(陽刻)하다- emboss (carve in relief)
   음각(陰刻)하다 - engrave

If anyone can think of more words, I will add them to the list.

"독도," by Gerry Bevers

독도는 우리 땅
문서, 지도 없어도
무조건 우리 땅.

삼국사기에 의해
우산국 있었는데
울릉도이었지만
그냥 독도라면 돼.

독도는 우리 땅
문서, 지도 없어도
무조건 우리 땅.

세종기록에 의해
울진현의 동쪽에
우산울릉 안 멀어
좋은 날에 보인대.

방향, 거리 있어야
위치 알 수 있는데
방향 없는 거린데
그냥 독도라면 돼.

독도는 우리 땅
문서, 지도 없어도
무조건 우리 땅.

우리 고도에 의해
우산도 있었는데
울릉 서쪽 있어도
그냥 독도라면 돼.

독도는 우리 땅
문서, 지도 없어도
무조건 우리 땅.

성종기록에 의해
삼봉도 있었는데
울릉도를 무시해
그냥 독도라면 돼.

독도는 우리 땅
문서, 지도 없어도
무조건 우리 땅.

숙종기록에 의해
안용복 있었는데
울릉도에 갔을때
일본 손님 됐는데

안용복의 주장는
송도가 자산도다
어딘지는 몰라도
그냥 독도라면 돼.

독도는 우리 땅
문서, 지도 없어도
무조건 우리 땅.

천칠백십일년에
삼척영장 박석창
울릉 지리 다 보고
지도를 그렸는데

울릉도의 동쪽에
우산도를 썼는데
대나무밭 있어도
그냥 독도라면 돼.

독도는 우리 땅
문서, 지도 없어도
무조건 우리 땅.

정조때 한창국이
울릉도에 나가고
가지도의 강치는
두 마리를 잡았대.

가지도 앞 계곡은
십리 깊이 있는데
그런 계곡 없어도
그냥 독도라면 돼.

독도는 우리 땅
문서, 지도 없어도
무조건 우리 땅.

우리 많은 고도에
울릉 바로 동쪽에
둘 아닌 한 섬으로
우산도를 그렸네.

울릉도의 동쪽에
작은 죽도 있는데
그 사실을 무시해
그냥 독도라면 돼.

독도는 우리 땅
문서, 지도 없어도
무조건 우리 땅.

천구백년에 고종은
울릉, 죽도, 석도를
모두 합해가지고
한 군으로 지셨네.

죽도, 관음 외에도
많은 석도 있는데
그 사실을 무시해
그냥 독도라면 돼.

독도는 우리 땅
문서, 지도 없어도
무조건 우리 땅.

by Gerry Bevers

숨어 있는 바퀴벌레, 아이까지 싹 없어집니까?

There is an exterminating company here in Korea called CESCO that runs a commercial on TV that I find unbelievably shocking. In what apears to be a desperate attempt to get more customers, a guy in the commercial makes the following promise:

숨어있는 바퀴벌레, 아이까지 싹 없어집니다.

We completely get rid of not only the hidden cockroaches, but even your kids.

Do you enjoy watching non-Koreans speak Korean?

I enjoyed these videos, and thought it would be interesting to ask students of Korean to introduce themselves in Korean on video. I just got these videos off YouTube, but if you would like me to post your video, just link to your YouTube video in the Comments section.

What's the Korean for "Like talking to a brick wall"?

If you look up the Korean equivalent for "It's like talking to a brick wall," you commonly get the expression "쇠귀에 경 읽기 같군요," but I wonder if that really conveys the exact same meaning?

I am asking because there is another Korean expression that seems to have a very similar meaning. Do the following two expressions have the same meanings or are there nuances?

• 쇠귀에 경 읽기 같군요.
  .
• 담벼락하고 말하는 셈이다.

I do not have the answer, just the question; however, the second one seems to be a direct translation of the English expression.

Are tulips (鬱草) depressing?

우울하다 (憂鬱) means "depressed," melancholy," or gloomy." I think 우울하다 is a good word since it even sounds "depressing," but even more depressing than the sound is the Chinese character for the "울" in 우울하다, which is depressingly complex and can mean "depression" or "gloom." Why would someone make a character that looks like this?

Notice that it is not only complex, but it is also ugly. A person would have to be pretty damned depressed to make a character that ugly, right? If you would like to learn all seventeen meanings for this depressing character, you can go to Naver's Chinese character dictionary HERE. By the way, 울울하다 (鬱鬱) also means "depressed," melancholy," or gloomy."

I am so depressed by this character that I do not even want to write about it anymore, except to say the following three things.

The radical for this character is also depressing since the only two characters listed under it is 鬱 (울), and the radical, itself, 鬯 (창), which is the name of some kind of Chinese liquor. Why even bother with a radical if you are only going to put one other character under it?

Also, strangely, the Chinese names for "tulip" are 鬱金香 (울금향) and 鬱草 (울초), which, I guess, could mean "depressing, golden fragrance" and "depressing grass," respectively. However, that seems a little strange to me because I do not find tulips depressing. Do you? Of course, THIS SONG about tulips is a little depressing.

It is possible, I guess, that the 鬱 (울) in 鬱金香 (울금향) and 鬱草 (울초) meant "beautiful" instead of "depressing" since "beautiful" is one of the other meanings of the character. If that is the case, then I guess the meanings of the Chinese names for tulip would be "beautiful, golden fragrance" (鬱金香) and "beautiful grass" (鬱草), which sounds a little better to me.

Finally, the character 鬱 (울) can also be found in the name of the Korean island of Ulleungdo (鬱陵島 - 울릉도). Since 陵 (릉) means "hill" and 島 (島) means "island," wouldn't that mean that Ulleungdo (鬱陵島) means "Depressing Hill Island"? Well, probably not since 鬱 can also mean "luxuriant," as in luxuriant foliage. Therefore, it is more probable that the originally meaning of the name "Ulleungdo" was either "Luxuriant Mountain Island" or "Beautiful Mountain Island," which describe the island quite well.

What is the opposite of 낙제 (落第)?

The Korean word 낙제 (落第) means "to fail an exam." The Chinese character 落 (낙) means "to fall," and the character 제 (第) means "order" or "exam." It seems a little strange that a word that means "order" could also mean "exam," but maybe it is based on the fact that an exam helps determine your ranking or "order" among a group of people?

The opposite of 낙제 (落第) is 급제 (及第), which means "to pass an exam." The Chinese character 及(급) means "to reach" or "to attain."

I am interested in the Chinese character 及 (급) and how it combines with other characters to make certain words. For example, the Korean word 가급적 (可及的) means "as ... as possible" or "as much as possible." The character 可 (가) means "possible," and 及 (급) means "to reach" or "to attain," so it literally means "the quality of being able to reach or attain as much (of something) as possible."

The following are some other words that include the character 及 (급):

• 미급 (未及) - unattainable
• 역불급 (力不及) - beyond one's power or ability
• 소급 (遡及) - retroaction; retroactivity (遡 means "to oppose" or "to go against")
• 불소급 (不遡及) - not retroactive
• 과불급 (過不及) - excess or deficiency
• 추급 (追及) - overtake; catch up with
• 파급 (波及) - extend or spead (like a wave)
• 논급 (論及) - reference; mention
• 보급 (普及) - diffusion; spread (普 means "wide")
• 언급 (言及) - reference; mention

By the way, do not confuse the character 第 (제) with 弟 (제), which means "younger brother."

What do these Chinese expressions mean?

The following is a list of expressions that I come across in my very unsystematic attempt to learn to read and understand Chinese expressions. I will be adding to the list as I come across expressions I find interesting or difficult to understand. By the way, I do not have English translations of these expression, so I am coming up with my own, which means there are probably better translations out there.

• 靑出於藍 (청출어람) - Blue (靑) comes (出) from (於) an indigo plant (藍).
  .
  Supposedly the dye that comes from an indigo plant is bluer than the plant, itself, so this expression supposedly implies that "a disciple is better than his teacher."
  .
• 富潤屋 德潤身 (부윤옥 덕윤신) - Riches (富) give luster to (潤) a house (屋); virtue (德) gives luster to (潤) a body (身).
  .
  I do not think there is a hidden meaning in this expression since it seems self-explanatory.
  .
• 子欲養而 親不待 (자욕양이 친부대) - A son (子) wants (欲) to serve his parents (養), but (而) his parents (親) do not (不) wait (待).
  .
  This sentence seems to be saying that sons who intend to care for his parents often do not get a chance because their parents die. I am not sure what this sentence had intended to teach, but I would guess that it was warning children not to wait, or wait too long, to serve their parents. By the way, in this expression, 養 (양) means 奉養하다 (봉양하다), which means "to serve (support) one's parents."

What was Ulleungdo like in 1899?

For anyone who might be interested, below is a translation I did of a September 23, 1899 article from the Korean newspaper Hwangseong Sinmun (皇城新聞), which described the Korean island of Ulleungdo and the problems it was having with Japanese settlers and merchants coming to the island at the time.

It was a difficult but interesting translation for me, so there may be some mistakes, but I am posting it here to give you an idea of how Koreans wrote their language more than 100 years ago. If you find any mistakes, please let me know. And if you would like to look at the original article, it is posted below the translation. You can enlarge the article by clicking on it twice.

Special Report (別報)
Ulleungdo Situation (鬱陵島 事況)
There is an island in the sea east of Uljin called "Ulleung" (蔚珍之東海에 一島가 有하니 曰鬱陵). Among its six, small neighboring islands (其附屬한 小六島中에) the most prominent one (最著者는) is Usando/Jukdo (于山島竹島이니). According to the Daehanjiji (大韓地誌에 曰), Ulleungdo is the old country of Usan (鬱陵島는 古于山國이라). It has an area of 100 ri (地方이 百里오) and three peaks that stand out (三峰이 律兀한되). 

Its products are (所産은) siho (柴胡 – bupleurum root), gobon (藁本 Ligusticum sinense Oliv. root), seoknam (石楠 – Photinia serrulata Lindl), wisteria (藤草), juniper (香木), zelkova (槻木), and nojuk [(蘆竹 - a reed-like bamboo)이오]. The land is suitable for barley (土性은 宜麥하고). In the past (古에), there were water animals that looked like cows without horns that were called “gaji” (牛形無角한 水獸가 有하니 名曰可之오). There are also seabirds that are called "gwakjo" (海鳥가 有하니 名曰 霍鳥러라).
There are few people on the island (島中에 人烟이 稀少하야), so the government exempts them from paying tax (國家에서 公稅를 免徵하고). Every three years (每式年에), the authority in the neighboring region (附近地方官으로) selected and sent emissaries (差使員을 定送하야) to inspect the situation on the island (島中情形도 査察하고) just bring back juniper and nojuk to present to the king (香木과 蘆竹을 裁還하야 御貢할 뿐이러니). 

In 1883 (癸未年에), the royal court (朝廷에서) appointed Kim Ok-gyun as the Southeast Islands Development & Whaling Official (金玉均으로 東南諸島開拓史兼捕鯨使를 任하고) and appointed Baek Chun-bae as his assistant (白春培로 從事官을 任하야). They were given the task of settling the island (該島開拓事務를 辦理케하였더니), but because of the Gapshin Coup the following year (翌年 甲申의 變을 因하야), they could not achieve much (泰效치못하였고). 

Afterwards, in 1888 (其後戊子年에), island resident Seo Gyeong-su was appointed Wolsong Commander and given the duty of increasing the island’s population and preventing the illegal harvesting of the island’s forest by foreigners. (島民徐敬秀로 越松萬戶를 差定하야 該島人民을 繁殖하고 外國人의 樹木侵伐하는 弊를 防禦케 하였더니), but Seo Gyeong-su died the following year before completing the job (翌年에 徐敬秀가 身死未遂하였고).  

In 1895 (開國五百四年에), the Ministry of the Interior appointed island resident Bae Gye-ju as the Island Supervisor and had him manage the island (內部에서 本島民 裵季周로 島監을 任하야 島務를 管理케하였더니).  

In the spring of this year (1899), Bae Gye-ju reported to the Ministry of Interior that Japanese had recently been arriving in large numbers and were cutting down trees, encroaching on residents, and causing disturbances (本年春에 裵季周가 內部에 來報하되 近者에 日本人이 夥數流入하야 樹木을 斫伐하고 居民을 侵擾하니), and requested that the government establish law and order (政府에서 設法防護하기를 請함의), which prompted the Interior Ministry to request Sir John McLeavy Brown, chief commissioner of the Korean Customs Service, to dispatch one Westerner to the island to investigate the situation there (內部에서 海關總稅務士 柏卓安에게 委託하야 西人一員을 派送하야 該島情形을 査報케 하였더니). A summary of the report follows (其報告의 槪況이 如左하니): 

Ulleungdo is about 200 ri from land (鬱陵島는 距陸二百餘里오). It has an area estimated to be about seventy-five square ri (面積은 約計 七十五方里니). The entire island had little cultivated land (遍嶋中에 耕植하는 地는 不多하고), and there was a thick forest of trees from the seashore to the mountain ridge (樹木이 海濱으로 從하야 山嶺까지 鬱密하였는되). The height of the mountain is calculated to be 4,000 English feet (山高는 計有四千英尺이오). The depth of the water within three ri of the shore is between 6,000 and 9,600 English feet (距岸三里內의 水深은 自六千至九千六百英尺이라).  

There are about 300 families of men and women living on the island (居民은 男女 約 三百口이니). Over the past couple of decades (數十年來로), shipbuilders/merchants and fishermen/farmers have gradually come to live together on the island. (漸次 船匠商客과 漁人耕夫가 相隨而至하야 居生하는되). Since the water is extremely deep, it is said that fishing is unprofitable, but annual shipments of seaweed reach as much as 2,000 dam (海水가 太深하야 魚産은 未益하고다만 海菜의 運出이 每年에 二千 擔에 多至하고).  

The land is fertile, so fertilization with night soil is unnecessary (土質은 膏沃하야 糞漑 를 要치아니하고), but wood ash is plowed into the fields to achieve two harvests a year (樹叢燼灰로 覆耕하야 一年兩熟을 得하니). Barley and wheat are planted in the spring (春季에는 大小麥이오), and potatoes and beans in the fall (秋季에는 薯와 豆인 되). Last year’s harvest was 20,000 po of potatoes, 20,000 po of barley, 10,000 po of yellow beans, and 5,000 po of wheat (上年所穫이 薯 二萬包, 大麥 二萬包, 黃豆一萬包, 小麥五千包이오). The incline of the land is too steep to grow rice (地勢가 太斜하야 禾穀은 耕作지 못 하고). There are many wood products, including old, large Japanese cedar and a variety of rare, valuable trees (材木은 老年巨杉과 各種貴重寶木이 亦多하고). There are zelkova, juniper, pine nut, and Integra holly (槻木 香木 柏子木 甘湯木이 産有하어라).  

Trade with the mainland is extremely rare, but they occasionally get a shipment of only a few po of such things as foodstuff, tobacco, and cotton cloth (大陸과 通商이 極少한 되 往往히 商簇의 輸入하는 物貨는 食物烟草布疋 等數包 뿐이오.) The goods they ship out is mainly seaweed, but also lumber, and occasionally clothes (其 載出하는 物品은 海菜가 居多하고 板木 間或 裝 運하더라).  

Among the confusion of seal peaks and rock cliffs along the shoreline (嶋邊海狗峯石壁亂叢中에), there is a small inlet about 100 English feet wide (一小灣이有하니 約闊一百 英尺이라), where Japanese ships loaded with such imports as rice, salt, pottery, Japanese wine, wool, cotton cloth, kerosene, matches, and umbrellas trade with the locals using the barter method (該灣으로 日本船商의 輸入品은 米 塩 瓷器 日本酒 洋布 木綿 火油 火柴 雨傘等件인되 土民으로더부러 交易하는 法은 物로物을易하고). Besides beans and barley, the exported goods include wood that is cut indiscriminately from all over the mountain, loaded onto ships, carried away--the price is insufficient (其輸出品은 豆麥外에 満山材木을 亂斫鋸削하야 船隻에 載往하는者--其値가 不實하고). 

There are places on the island where about 200 Japanese have built houses and are living temporarily (本嶋中에 築室旅居하는 日本人이 二百餘名인되). They encroach on the locals and have inappropriate relations (土民을 侵凌하야 相関하는 弊가 有하어라). The farmers and merchants are originally not taxed 農民商民의 公税는 原定함이 無하고), but, the island supervisor is collecting one-tenth of the seaweed (但 嶋監이 海菜에는 十分의一을 徵하고) and a wood charge of 100 ryang per ship (木料에는 毎船一隻에 葉一百 兩을 徴하여). When the Japanese sell goods, they paid only a negotiated fee of two percent, but no tax (日本人은 賣貨時 口文（百抽二）外에는 納税함이 無하더라). 

In September of this year, the Interior Ministry (本年九月에 内部에서), based on the above report (右項報告을 等因하야), requested that the Foreign Ministry request the head of the Japanese mission in Korea (外部에 照會하였더니 外部에서 駐京日本公使에게 照會하야) to promise to correct the situation and remove the Japanese trespassing on the island and (該嶋에 潜越한 日本人을 訂期刷還하고)  prohibit and stop smuggling on the shores of ports not open to trade (不通商港口岸에 密行買賣함을 禁戢케하라하였더라).