Talking about how you feel

Vocabulary

Words expressing positive emotions

Korean	Romanized Korean	English
행복해요.	Haengbokhaeyo.	(I’m) happy.
사랑에 빠졌어요.	Sarang-e bbajyeosseoyo.	(I’m) in love.
살아있음을 느껴요.	Sara-isseumeul neukkyeoyo.	(I) feel alive.
기대 되요.	Gidae dwoeyo.	(I’m) excited.
놀라워요.	Nollaweoyo.	(I’m) amazed.
만족해요.	Manjokhaeyo.	(I’m) content.
균형 잡힌 느낌이에요.	Gyunhyeong jabhin neukkimieyo.	(I) feel balanced.
유치해요.	yuchihaeyo	(you are / this is) silly
자랑스러워요	Jarangseureowoeyo	(I am) proud
활기차요	Hwalgichayo	(I am) energetic
활발해요	Hwalbalhaeyo	(I am) lively

Words expressing negative emotions

Korean	Romanized Korean	English
피곤해요.	Pigonhaeyo.	(I’m) tired.
화가나요.	Hwaganayo.	(I’m) angry.
질투나요.	Jiltunayo.	(I’m) jealous.
걱정되요.	Gukjungdweyo	(I’m) worried.
몹시 화가나요.	Mobshi hwaga-nayo.	(I’m) furious.
창피해요.	Changpihaeyo.	(I’m) embarrassed.
긴장이 되요.	Ginjang-i dwoeyo.	(I’m) nervous.
무서워요.	Museo-weoyo.	(I’m) frightened.
바빠요.	Bappayo.	(I’m) busy.
슬퍼요.	Seulpeoyo.	(I’m) sad.
좀 바빠요.	Jom bappayo.	(I’m) in a hurry.
지쳤어요	Jichyeosseoyo	(I’m) exhausted
불만스러워요	Bulmanseureoweoyo	(I’m) unsatisfied
무서워요.	Museo-weoyo.	(I’m) frightened.
실망했어요	Silmanghetseoyo	(I’m) disappointed

Grammar Points

The personal pronoun “na”, meaning “I”, is not required in Korean as it is in English. However, if you want to emphasize something about yourself, you can add the “neun” subject particle after “I” : na-neun or jeo-neun (jeo is a more polite form of na). This is noted with the optional na-neun in parentheses in the pictures above.

그런데 but

It can be used when the second sentence is opposite or contrasting to the first sentence. It can also be used to explain in further detail the previous sentence. Also can be used in conversation to change the topic. 근데 is the contracted form of 그런데 and often used in spoken form.

E.g. 오늘 시험이 있어. 그런데 공부를 못 했어. I have a test today. But, I haven’t been able to study

그래서 so

The conjunction indicates the cause-and-effect relation between two sentences. Simply put, it is like saying “so” or “therefore.”

E.g. 오후에는 수업이 없어요. 그래서 테니스 쳐요. I have no class in the afternoon. So, I play tennis with Linda.

The short negative form 안 and 못 don’t & can’t

The short negative form in Korean can be easily constructed by putting the adverbs 안 or 못 before the verb. This negative form can indicate:

• 안 : Unwillingness to carry out an action
• 못: Impossibility of carrying out an action or inability to
  carry out an action

** Examples using the adverb 안 **

I don’t sleep. 잠을 안 자요.
I don’t read the newspaper. 신문을 안 읽어요.
I don’t eat food. 나는 음식을 안 먹어요.

With verbs ending with 하다 constructed with a direct object, the
adverb comes between the direct object and the verb. Don’t forget that there are some verbs that end in 하다, but which are adjectival verbs. With these adjectival verbs, the adverb comes before the whole verb.

(It) is not clean. 안 깨끗해요.
(He) is not clever. 안 똑똑해요.
(It) is not tedious. 안 지루해요.
(I) am not tired. 안 피곤해요.

** Examples using the adverb 못 **

The negative adverb 못 indicates the impossibility of carrying out an action due to reasons beyond the subject’s control.

I can’t eat. 밥을 못 먹어요.
I can’t go to school. 학교에 못 가요.
I can’t buy the book. 책을 못 사요.

 

Let’s listen

여자: 민수 씨, 무슨 일 있어요?
Woman: Mr. Minsoo, what’s going on?

남자: 네, 아주 좋은 일이 있어요.
Man: Yes, a good thing happened today.

여자: 기분이 좋아 보여요. 무슨 일이에요?
Woman: You look happy. What is it?

남자: 내일 제 생일이에요. 그런데 오늘 친구들이 선물을 줬어.
Man: My birthday is tomorrow, but today, my friends gave me gifts.

여자: 와, 축하해요. 그런데 왜 오늘 선물을 줬어요?
Woman: Wow! Happy birthday! But why did they give them today?

남자: 내일 회사에 일이 있어서 친구들을 못 만나요. 그래서 기분이 안 좋았어요. 그런데 친구들이 오늘 생일을 축하해 주고 선물도 줬어요. 그래서 기분이 좋아요.
Man: I can’t meet friends tomorrow due to work so I didn’t feel good, but today, they wished me a happy birthday and gave me gifts so I feel good.

Let’s practise!

(1) A : 오늘 영화를 봐요? Do you watch a movie?

B: 아니요,________________. No,

(2) A: 매일 운동해요? Do you exercise everyday?

B: 아니요, _________________. No,

(3) A: 물이 깊어요? Is the water deep?

B: 아니요, _________________. No,

 

(1) A: 숙제 다 했어요? Have you done with homework?

B: 아니요, ____________. 어려워요. No, _________. It’s difficult.

(2) A: 어제 영화 봤어요? Did you watch a movie yesterday?

B: 아니요, ____________. 표가 없었어요. No,________. There wasn’t a ticket.