Korean for Dummies (2 page)

Chapter 10: At the Office and Around the House .......................................................165

Part III: Korean on the Go .........................................189

Chapter 11: Money, Money, Money ..............................................................................191

Chapter 12: Asking Directions ......................................................................................203

Chapter 13: Staying at a Hotel.......................................................................................215

Chapter 14: Transportation ..........................................................................................233

Chapter 15: Planning a Trip...........................................................................................247

Chapter 16: Handling an Emergency ............................................................................263

Part IV: The Part of Tens ...........................................277

Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Get a Quick Handle on Korean ..........................................279

Chapter 18: Ten Things to Avoid Doing in Korea .......................................................283

Chapter 19: Ten Favorite Korean Expressions............................................................289

Chapter 20: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Korean ...........................................293

Part V: Appendixes ...................................................301

Appendix A: Korean Verbs ............................................................................................303

Appendix B: Mini-Dictionary.........................................................................................307

Appendix C: Answer Key ...............................................................................................331

Appendix D: On the CD ..................................................................................................337

Index .......................................................................341

02_037188-ftoc.qxp 6/24/08 11:05 PM Page x

02_037188-ftoc.qxp 6/24/08 11:05 PM Page xi

Table of Contents

Introduction..................................................................1

About This Book...............................................................................................1

Conventions Used in This Book .....................................................................2

Foolish Assumptions .......................................................................................3

How This Book Is Organized...........................................................................3

Part I: Getting Started ............................................................................4

Part II: Korean in Action ........................................................................4

Part III: Korean on the Go ......................................................................4

Part IV: The Part of Tens........................................................................4

Part V: Appendixes.................................................................................4

Icons Used in This Book..................................................................................5

Where to Go From Here...................................................................................5

Part I: Getting Started ...................................................7

Chapter 1: Getting Down the Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Getting the Basic Sounds ..............................................................................10

The Basic Vowel Sounds................................................................................10

Distinguishing among vowel sounds .................................................12

Pronouncing eu and ui.........................................................................12

The Basic Consonant Sounds .......................................................................13

Pronouncing jj, kk, pp, and tt..............................................................14

Telling the difference between s and ss ...........................................15

Pronouncing the Korean r,l sound .....................................................16

Muting consonants at the end of a syllable ......................................16

Sounding Fluent..............................................................................................17

Don’t stress ...........................................................................................17

Pronounce each syllable .....................................................................17

Speak in a steady rhythm ....................................................................18

Basic phrases ........................................................................................18

Saying It with Body Language.......................................................................21

Beckoning ..............................................................................................21

Bowing ...................................................................................................21

Nodding .................................................................................................22

Shaking hands .......................................................................................22

Chapter 2: The Nitty-Gritty: Basic Korean Grammar and Numbers . . .25

Speaking Politely ............................................................................................25

Knowing the Basic Parts of Speech .............................................................27

Nouns .....................................................................................................28

Pronouns ...............................................................................................29

02_037188-ftoc.qxp 6/24/08 11:05 PM Page xii

Korean For Dummies

xii

Verbs ......................................................................................................31

Adjectives ..............................................................................................36

Suffixes...................................................................................................37

Adverbs..................................................................................................37

Particles.................................................................................................38

Asking Questions............................................................................................40

Counting Korean Style ...................................................................................41

Native Korean numbers .......................................................................42

Sino-Korean numbers...........................................................................43

Counters ................................................................................................44

Chapter 3: Introductions and Greetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Making Introductions.....................................................................................49

Greetings and salutations....................................................................50

Bowing and shaking hands..................................................................51

Getting formal or informal...................................................................51

Introducing yourself.............................................................................55

Introducing a friend or a peer.............................................................57

Introducing a senior or your parents.................................................58

Asking for Names ...........................................................................................61

Giving Thanks and Saying Sorry ..................................................................64

Saying Goodbye..............................................................................................65

Part II: Korean in Action..............................................69

Chapter 4: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Asking Questions with Essential Words and Formal Usages ....................71

“Where Are You From?” .................................................................................73

Describing your home community.....................................................74

Talking about where someone lives ..................................................76

Discussing ethnicity and citizenship .................................................77

The Weather, the Seasons, and Everything In Between ............................80

Talking About Jobs and Occupations ..........................................................83

Describing the Members of Your Family .....................................................87

Exchanging Contact Information..................................................................90

Chapter 5: Eating and Drinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93

Dig In! Let’s Eat! ..............................................................................................93

Understanding meal time ....................................................................94

Satisfying your hunger.........................................................................95

Sitting down to eat ...............................................................................95

Practicing good table manners...........................................................98

02_037188-ftoc.qxp 6/24/08 11:05 PM Page xiii

Table of Contents

xiii

Getting to Know Korean Cuisine ..................................................................98

Popular dishes ......................................................................................99

Setting time for a meal .......................................................................100

Liking and disliking with adjectives .................................................100

Dining Out .....................................................................................................101

Understanding what’s on the menu .................................................101

Ordering at a restaurant ....................................................................102

Ordering at a roadside shop .............................................................103

Chatting with the waitstaff ................................................................106

Finding restrooms ..............................................................................106

Paying for your meal ..........................................................................106

Drinking, Korean style .......................................................................107

Chapter 6: Shopping Made Easy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Navigating Stores .........................................................................................111

Visiting department stores, markets, and small shops .................112

Browsing around ................................................................................114

Asking for help....................................................................................115

Comparing Merchandise .............................................................................116

Comparing several items...................................................................117

Pointing out the best item.................................................................117

Shopping for Clothes ...................................................................................117

Checking for sizes ..............................................................................118

Asking about colors ...........................................................................119

Trying on clothes ...............................................................................120

Shopping for Specific Items ........................................................................121

Groceries .............................................................................................122

Electronics...........................................................................................122

Antiques and souvenirs .....................................................................122

All About Buying: Pricing, Bargaining, Purchasing, Refunding ..............123

Chapter 7: Exploring the Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125

Knowing the Time and Day .........................................................................125

Days, weeks, months .........................................................................126

Telling time..........................................................................................126

Telling time relative to now...............................................................127

Exploring Fun Places ...................................................................................129

Visiting museums and galleries ........................................................130

Going to concerts, theatres, and performances.............................130