Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

Let's take a closer look at the conversation.
Do you remember how Ms. Yu asks,
"Are you Korean?"
한국인이에요? (Han-gug-in-i-e-yo?)
First is 한국인 (han-gug-in) "Korean," as in a Korean person. 한국인 (han-gug-in).
There are two components.
This starts with 한국 (han-guk), "Korea." 한국. 한국.
After this is 인 (in), "person." 인. 인.
Together, 한국인 (han-gug-in) literally means "Korea person," but translates as "Korean" as in a Korean person. 한국인.
Note: 한국인 (han-gug-in) is a noun, not an adjective.
Next is 이에요 (i-e-yo). Here, it’s like the "are" in "are you." 이에요. 이에요.
Note: the word "you" is understood from context, as this is a two person conversation.
In addition, 이에요 (i-e-yo) follows words that end in consonants, as in 한국인 (han-gug-in).
All together, it’s 한국인이에요? This literally means "Korea person [you] are?" but it translates as "Are you Korean?" 한국인이에요?
Note the question is formed by the rising intonation. Listen again,
한국인이에요? (Han-gug-in-i-e-yo?)
한국인이에요? (Han-gug-in-i-e-yo?)
Let's take a closer look at the response.
Do you remember how Ji-yeong Ju says,
"Yes, I'm Korean."
네, 저는 한국인이에요. (Ne, jeo-neun han-gug-in-i-e-yo.)
The first part is 네 (ne), meaning, "yes." 네. 네.
It answers Ms. Yu’s yes-or-no question, "Are you Korean?"
한국인이에요? (Han-gug-in-i-e-yo?)
First is 저 (jeo), meaning "I." 저. 저.
This is the humble word for “I.”
Next is 는 (neun), the topic-marking particle. 는. 는.
It marks "I" as the topic of the sentence. Think of it like "as for" in the expression "as for me…."
Together, it’s 저는 (jeo-neun). "As for me...." 저는.
Next is 한국인 (han-gug-in), "Korean," as in a person from Korea. 한국인 (han-gug-in).
After this is 이에요 (i-e-yo). Here, it’s like the "am" in "I am." 이에요 (i-e-yo).
All together, it’s 네, 저는 한국인이에요. (Ne, jeo-neun han-gug-in-i-e-yo.) This literally means "Yes, as for me, Korea person am," but it translates as "Yes, I’m Korean."
네, 저는 한국인이에요. (Ne, jeo-neun han-gug-in-i-e-yo.)
The pattern is
저는 {NATION}인이에요. (Jeo-neun {NATION}-in-i-e-yo.)
I'm {NATIONALITY}.
저는 {NATION}인이에요.
To use this pattern, simply replace the {NATION} placeholder with the country you're from.
Imagine you’re from the United States of America. 미국 (min-guk), an abbreviated form of "the United States of America." 미국. 미국.
Say
"I'm American."
Ready?
저는 미국인이에요. (Jeo-neun mi-gug-in-i-e-yo.)
"I'm American."
저는 미국인이에요. (Jeo-neun mi-gug-in-i-e-yo.)
In the conversation, the response to the yes-no question was "yes."
In the case the answer were "no," the corresponding Korean response would be 아니요 (a-ni-yo), meaning, "no."
아니요.
아니요.
For example, if Ms. Yu asks
미국인이에요? (Mi-gug-in-i-e-yo?)
"Are you American?"
Ms. Ju would answer
아니요, 저는 한국인이에요. (A-ni-yo, jeo-neun han-gug-in-i-e-yo.)
"No, I'm Korean."

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