7.4 Conjunctions Part 1
Language & Culture Lessons
In almost every sentence you speak, there are little words like "but, or, and" that help you to link ideas. They're called conjunctions, and
they're the subject of this lessons' grammar section. Our cultural section will cover the infamous drinking culture of Korea.
Language
Conjunctions I
Conjunctions are words that connect two or more expressions in a language. The main conjunctions in English are “and”, “but” and “or”.
Now we’ll have a look at their corresponding Korean words.
"But"
"지만/jiman" & "그렇지만/geurutjiman"
Let's start from “but”, the easiest one among the three in Korean.
그렇지만
geurutjiman
but
지만
jiman
but
As you can see from the chart above, there are two ways to say “but” in Korean, “지만/jiman” and “그렇지만/geurutjiman”. They are
used in different cases. “지만/Jiman” is used within a sentence, after an action word of the first part of the sentence, followed by “,”, a
comma, plus the second part of the sentence. Whereas “그렇지만/geurutjiman” is used between two sentences, at the beginning of the
second sentence.
Here are two sample sentences to help you understand that:
사탕은 맛있지만, 몸에 안 좋아요
Satang-eun mat itjiman, mom e an jowayo
Sweets are delicious, but not good for the body
영화는 재미있다. 그렇지만 너무 길다
Younghwaneun jaemi itda. Geurutjiman numoo gilda
Movies are fun. But they are too long
사탕은 맛있지만, 몸에 안 좋아요 - Sweets are delicious, but not good for the body
"And"
"와/Wa" & "과/Gwa"
와/과
wa/gwa
and
There are two different words for “and” in Korean as well, “와/wa” and “과/gwa”. They are both used to connect two or more nouns
together. If the previous word ends with a vowel, “와/wa” is used. If it ends with a consonant, “과/gwa” is used.
For example:
개와 고양이는 애완동물이다.
Gaewa goyang-i neun aewandongmool ida.
Dogs and cats are domestic animals
나는 수학과 국어를 잘한다
Naneun soohakgwa googuh reul jal handa.
I am good at math and Korean
"고/Go" & "그리고/Geurigo"
The above sentences show how nouns are connected together in Korean sentences. If we want to connect two or more action words,
we can't use “와/wa” or “과/gwa”, as they are just for nouns. In case of action words, we have to use “고/go” or “그리고/geurigo”.
and
고/그리고
go/geurigo
As the conjunctions for action words, “고/go” and “그리고/geurigo” are used in different ways, the same as “지만/jiman” and “그렇지
만/geurutjiman”, the two conjunctions meaning “but”. “고/Go” is used in a sentence, in between action words, whereas “그리고/geurigo”
is used between two sentences, at the start of the second sentence.
Have a look at the sentences below. I hope you can see the difference between the two.
나는 아침마다 씻고 아침을 먹는다
Naneun achim mada tsitgo achim eul mugneunda.
Every morning, I wash and eat breakfast
엄마는 요리하고 설거지했다
Ummaneun yori hago sulguji haetda
Mum cooks and does the dishes
More examples:
난 고기를 먼저 먹는다, 그리고 밥을 먹는다
Nan gogireul munjuh mugneunda,
geurigo babeul mugneunda.
I eat meat first, and then eat rice.
집 문 잠궜니? 그리고 열쇠도 잘 챙겨라?
Jib moon jamgwutni? Geurigo yulswedo Did you lock the front door and keep the
jal chaengyura?
keys in the safe place?
"Or"
"나/Na" & "이나/Ina"
Just like “but” and “and”, “or” has got two equivalents in Korean too, “나/na” and “이나/ina”. They can both be used to connect two nouns,
pronouns, or adverbs, meaning “or”.
or
나/이나
na/ina
If the previous word ends with a vowel, “나/na” is used. If the previous word ends with a consonant, “이나/ina” is used.
For example:
Korean
Romanized pronunciation
English translation
사과나 배
당근이나 무
sagwa na bae
dangeun ina moo
an apple or a pear
carrots or radishes
Here are some sentences where “나/na” and “이나/ina” are used to refer to “or”:
팝콘이나 사탕은 극장에서 자주 먹는 간식이다
Popcorn or candy is often eaten at theatres
Papkon ina satang eun geukjang esuh jajoo mugneun ganshik ida
Let’s drink beer or sojoo
맥주나 소주를 마시자
Maekjoo na sojoo reul mashija
"거나/Guna"
When we need to connect two or more action words, saying “do this or do that”, we have to use “거나/guna”.
or
거나
guna
나는 피곤하면, 자거나 쉰다 - When I am tired, I sleep or rest
Here are two sentences where “거나/guna” is used to connect two action words.
나는 피곤하면, 자거나 쉰다
Naneun pigon hamyun, jaguna shinda
When I am tired, I sleep or rest
주로 음악을 듣거나 영화를 본다
Jooro eumakeul deutguna younghwareul bonda
Usually, I listen to music or watch a movie
Culture
Drinking Manners
Sooner or later, once you are in Korea, there is no way out of having a drink. Korea is a country full of drinking culture and history. You
could ask anyone who knows about Korea, and they will tell you that a Korean’s favorite activity is drinking. Drinking is not considered
bad in many families in Korea but it must be done within a strict code of honor and respect for the others involved, and for the alcohol.
How to Drink?
Alcohol is called “술/sool” in Korean. From ancient Korean times, drinking has always been treated as a leisure activity. That is why most
alcohol drinking takes place served with dishes of food with people sitting down. Koreans find it hard to drink without having at least a
fried egg on the table. That is another reason why most restaurants serve alcohol and are only open after dark. Other than westernized
bars or pubs, in most Korean drinking places, you must order food.
Even if you are not a fan of drinking, it is good manners to receive the first glass someone offers you and drink it. Many Koreans
(especially businessmen) believe that friendship is built through drinking together. That is why many businessmen are required to drink
with other business partners and co-workers. That is something you must be aware of, and willing to engage in, if you are doing business
in Korea.
How Much to Drink?
So how much drinking is expected? In Korea, people describe the proper amount of alcohol by saying, “일불삼소오의칠과/ilbool samso
oeui chilgwa”, which means “don’t stop with one glass, three isn’t enough, five is proper and seven is over drinking”. Many elders think
that it is alright to be drunk but not alright to act drunk. That is why in a typical Korean family, the father is the person who has the first
drink with his sons. It is done so that the sons will not act foolishly in front of his own father when he is drunk and will be able to remain
courteous in front of others. It is important to be aware of expectations and to follow cultural norms when drinking in Korea, or in any
country.
How to Drink with Elders?
One thing that might be surprising is that Korean elderly people love pouring drinks for people. Here are some tips for good etiquette in
such a situation. When someone in a higher position than you offers to pour you a drink, you must go and sit next to him and receive the
alcohol with two hands, one holding the glass and the other supporting your hand or the glass. After receiving the drink, remember to pour
a glass for the other with two hands again. Do not drink until the oldest person or the person with the highest status raises his glass and
drinks. When drinking in front of someone older than you, you must drink it with two hands and with your head facing away from the elder.
It is bad manners to pour yourself a glass of alcohol or to drink alone.
Elders will often offer you something to eat when you are drinking, too. They will pick up a portion of the dish with their chopsticks. You
should eat the food off the chopsticks with one hand under the chin so as not to drop any food, and use the other hand to cover your
mouth when chewing.
Changes Underway
All of those traditions, especially those involving older generations, have been around for many, many years. They may seem unusual to
foreigners, but culture often does. Culture keeps traditions alive, and is an important part of any society. However, with people becoming
more open to western cultures, they, especially younger generations, are starting to break the rules when they drink.
Regardless of the changes, drinking is still involved in almost every activity in Korea. It is definitely a strong tradition in Korea and will
remain that way for many more centuries. So, when in Korea, drink up! Just be sure you follow the rules, and always remain courteous.
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