Essential Korean Vocabulary. Kyubyong Park
그는 훌륭한 청년으로/젊은이로 자라났다. geuneun hullyunghan cheongnyeoneuro/jeolmeuniro jaranatda. He has grown into a fine young man.
신사 숙녀 여러분! sinsa sungnyeo yeoreobun! Ladies and gentlemen!
그 말괄량이 아가씨가 아름다운 숙녀가 되었군요. geu malgwallyangi agassiga areumdaun sungnyeoga doeeotgunnyo. The tomboy has grown up into a beautiful lady.
마음은 아직 청춘이에요. maeumeun ajik cheongchunieyo. I am still young at heart.
여기에 젊은 연인들이 많이 옵니다. yeogie jeolmeun nyeonindeuri mani omnida. A lot of young couples come here.
아줌마/아주머니, 여기가 어디예요? ajumma/ajumeoni, yeogiga eodiyeyo? Ma’am, where am I?
그는 열다섯 살이지만, 아저씨처럼 보인다. geuneun nyeoldaseot sarijiman, ajeossicheoreom boinda. Though he is fifteen, he looks like a middle-aged man.
한국의 지하철에는 노인들을 위한 자리가 따로 있다. hangugui jihacheoreneun noindeureul wihan jariga ttaro itda. The subways in Korea have special seats for senior citizens.
그 사람은 나이보다 늙어 보인다. geu sarameun naiboda neulgeo boinda. He looks old for his age.
어떤 유명인들은 늙지 않는 것 같다. eotteon nyumyeongindeureun neukji anneun geot gatda. Some celebrities don’t seem to age.
아버지는 내년이 환갑이세요/회갑이세요. abeojineun naenyeoni hwangabiseyo/hoegabiseyo. My father will turn sixty next year.
Traditionally, Koreans have believed in a 60-year life cycle, giving the 60th year its own importance and significance. Thus, a person's 60th birthday is a very important time of celebration.
칠순 chil·sun the age of seventy
이번 주 일요일에 할머니 칠순 잔치를 합니다. ibeon ju iryoire halmeoni chilsun janchireul hamnida. We’re having my grandmother’s 70th birthday party this Sunday.
팔순 pal·sun the age of eighty
아버지는 팔순이 넘으셨지만 아직 정정하세요. abeojineun palsuni neomeusyeotjiman ajik jeongjeonghaseyo. My father is still very vigorous, even though he’s over 80.
담배를 계속 피우면 젊은 나이에 죽을지도 몰라. dambaereul gyesok piumyeon jeolmeun naie jugeuljido molla. Keep smoking and you’ll probably die young.
결국 그는 숨진 채 발견되었다. gyeolguk geuneun sumjin chae balgyeondoeeotda. In the end, he was found dead.
그는 교통사고로 사망했다. geuneun gyotongsagoro samanghaetda. He died young in a car accident.
돌아가시다 do·ra·ga·si·da to die, pass away
부모님은 두 분 다 돌아가셨어요. bumonimeun du bun da doragasyeosseoyo. Both of my parents have passed away.
In Korean, there are many expressions for to die. 죽다 is the generic word and is used for people, plants and animals. 사망하다 is a formal, legal term. 숨지다 is mostly used to describe death from an accident. Finally, 돌아가시다 is a euphemism for death. The last three terms are used for people only.
고인 go·in the dead, the deceased
유서 yu·seo will, last will and testament
고인은 유서를 남기지 않았습니다. goineun nyuseoreul lamgiji anatseumnida. The deceased didn’t leave a will.
유언 yu·eon will, testament
그녀는 자신의 재산을 딸에게 모두 남긴다는 유언을 남겼다. geunyeoneun jasinui jaesaneul ttarege modu namgindaneun nyueoneul lamgyeotda. She made out a will leaving everything to her daughter.
(초)상 (cho·)sang sb’s death; funeral
저 집에 초상이 난 모양이야. jeo jibe chosangi nan moyangiya. It looks like someone died in that family.
여러 장관들이 장례식에 참석했다. yeoreo janggwandeuri jangnyesige chamseokaetda. Several ministers were present at the funeral.
애도 | ~하다 ae·do | ~·ha·da condolences, mourning | to lament, mourn
진심으로 애도의 말씀을 드립니다. jinsimeuro aedoui malsseumeul deurimnida.