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    Korean Made Easy
    Korean Made Easy
    Korean Made Easy
    Ebook265 pages2 hours

    Korean Made Easy

    By Chris Backe

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Whether you're teaching English in Korea, starting a corporate job, or serving as a soldier, knowing a bit of Korean will make your life in Korea that much more awesome - guaranteed.

     

    Hi, I'm Chris Backe (rhymes with hockey). When I moved to Korea, I wasn't sure I'd ever pick up Korean.

     

    Why?

     

    Every book that taught you Korean did the same thing: they spent about five seconds on the basic parts of the language, then jumped right into full phrases and lecturing about boring points of grammar. Did you really enjoy conjugating verbs in high school?

     

    Yawn.

     

    Chapters are broken down into simple, easy-to-digest chunks - less thinking required!

    Sure, I ended up learning Korean - and I realized you will never need to know the phrase 'I am wearing a green sweater', so why learn it? You will need 'Where is the bathroom?' and 'One beer, please!', so you'll learn those two.

     

    Learn the Korean you're actually going to use while in Korea.

    We're going to use words and phrases, not dialogues. We'll pair up the words and phrases you're going to use, show you what it looks like in Korean, then show you how to say it in simple English syllables. It's as simple as that.

     

    This e-book is not a dictionary or quick-study book for tourists - it's written specifically for people coming to or living in Korea.

     

    You'll start with hangeul, the Korean alphabet. You'll learn the letters, how to put them together to make syllables, and how to make sounds with them. We'll look at some real world examples – a hint that there are thousands of English words secretly disguised as Korean words. Later on, we'll talk about everything from Korean alcohol to getting off the beaten path.

     

    So what else are we going to talk about?

    • Getting the pronunciation right - the locals are picky about this.
    • About formalities and honorifics - a big deal in this Confucian-based society.
    • Getting to know people - everyone from co-workers to your students
    • The holidays Korea really celebrates - including the ones you won't find on most calendars
    • Eating - with a special section for vegetarians and those with allergies
    • Korean alcohol - some of the most potent stuff around
    • Curses - the words and phrases that'll make the old people blush
    • Handling your students (if you're an English teacher)
    • Talking to your boss and co-workers (using the formal tense)
    • Traveling around Korea - how to read the maps, get help, and get around without a guidebook
    • What to say when you feel like crap
    • Korean expressions and slang - stuff some locals have never heard from a foreigner's mouth.

    And plenty more.

    Version 6.0 was updated January 2020, and plays nice with any modern device (some older e-book reader device won't display Korean characters, though)

     

    IMPORTANT: the audio track is not embedded in the e-book file. Instead, head to https://is.gd/kmeaudio2 for MP3 tracks to go with the book. Load them up on your MP3 player or device and hit play - there's at least one track per chapter.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWorthy Go
    Release dateJan 1, 2020
    ISBN9781519974709
    Korean Made Easy

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      Book preview

      Korean Made Easy - Chris Backe

      Other itineraries in the Worthy Go series

      Cities: Amsterdam, Bangkok, Bogota, Bucharest, Budapest, Chiang Mai, Istanbul, Lima, Medellin, Quito, Seattle, Seoul, Tallinn, Toronto, Vientiane, Zagreb

      Countries / regions: Laos, Central Thailand, Northern Thailand, South Korea

      More info at worthygo.com.

      Other guidebooks by Chris Backe

      48 Daytrip Destinations From Seoul

      Becoming a Digital Nomad

      An Introduction to Thailand

      Korean for Tourists

      Korean Made Easy

      Offbeat Korea

      Offbeat Thailand

      What the Florida

      Introduction

      ●  Coming to Korea?

      ●  Want to teach English in Korea?

      ●  Want to do business in Korea?

      ●  Want to really understand the way the locals think?

      ●  Want to chat with a cute / handsome Korean at the club?

      ●  Want to do more than just order a beer?

      Along with languages like Arabic, Cantonese, and Mandarin, Korean is considered one of the hardest languages for a native English speaker to learn by the US Department of State. Whether you're coming to Korea as an English teacher, a businessperson, a soldier, or something else altogether, it’s time to learn Korean.

      But I HATE learning languages! you might be saying. I understand that — it takes too long, there's too much to learn, or whatever. Here, you’re learning the words and phrases you’ll actually use. This e-book will highlight literally thousands of words and phrases you're definitely going to use in Korea. Everything from ordering a beer to telling the doctor where it hurts is here — and logically organized to help you find things later on. This e-book is not a dictionary — it's designed specifically for people coming to Korea or wanting to learn words you’ll actually use. No BS. No fluff. No messing around with conjugating verbs (shudder!) or trying to remember obscure words (meh). A few cultural tips along the way are here to give the language some context, of course.

      There are five sections in the book — each written with the aim of being easy to read. Fully one-fifth of the book is dedicated to learning the Korean alphabet and how it's put together — something most other books breeze through on the way to teaching grammar or fancy sentences. Take your time through each section, and move on to the next when you feel you’re ready. The last section is dedicated to Korean grammar, and is saved for last intentionally — I want you to gain some confidence and practice before jumping into that.

      If you're coming as a tourist, you'll probably find my other book, Korean for Tourists, more helpful. It's a pared-down version of this book and doesn't aim to be as comprehensive.

      Download the audio guides!

      Go to https://is.gd/koreanmadeeasy for a direct download of the MP3's in a ZIP file. Each audio file corresponds with a specific chapter.

      Disclaimer

      Although the author has made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at publication time (© January 2020), the author does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

      Be aware that traveling in a foreign country has inherent risks, and seemingly anything can change overnight. Places may close, admission fees may rise, drivers will drive crazy, and public transportation routes can be altered. Stay aware of your surroundings, employ street smarts and common sense, and in general be suspicious of locals that approach you speaking English.

      Unless otherwise noted, all material in this book is the legal property of the author and may not be reprinted or republished without the author's express written consent, with the exception of short quotes for academic or review purposes.

      Table of Contents

      Introduction

      Download the audio guides!

      Section 1 — getting started with hangeul

      The good news about Korean

      Some examples of how the blocks look

      Chapter 1 — the consonants

      Chapter 1a — The doubled / tensed consonants

      Chapter 2 — Time for the vowels!

      Chapter 2a — Combination vowels: 1 + 1 = 2

      Chapter 3 — Consonant + vowel = syllable!

      Chapter 3a — the A-Z of hangeul

      Chapter 4 — About padchims — the final consonant sound (받침)

      The slideover

      Chapter 5 — Let’s make some Korean syllables with padchims

      Chapter 5a — the double padchim — wait, what?

      Chapter 5b — Sounds Korean doesn’t have

      Chapter 6 — Some real world examples

      Chapter 7 — Advanced pronunciation rules

      Chapter 7a — One final note regarding pronunciation

      Chapter 8 — A little note about your Korean computer

      Section 1 review!

      Section 2 — more of the basics

      Chapter 9 — The five Korean phrases you HAVE to know

      Chapter 10 — About formalities and honorifics

      Chapter 10a — The four honorific forms you'll actually use

      Chapter 10b — Informal and formal questions and answers

      Chapter 11 — Numbers in the Korean universe

      Chapter 12 — Numbers: the alternative, Chinese universe

      Chapter 13 — About fractions (분수, bun-su)

      Chapter 14 — About decimals (소수, so-su)

      Chapter 15 — Dates and times

      Chapter 15a — Example time!

      Chapter 16 — A few more survival phrases

      Chapter 17 — Showing up

      Chapter 18 — Leaving

      Chapter 19 — Yes and no

      Chapter 20 — Basics — rapid-fire round 1

      Chapter 21 — Basics — rapid-fire round 2

      People you know:

      Chapter 22 — Show me the MONEY!

      Section 2 review!

      Section 3 — meeting people and enjoying life

      Chapter 23 — Nice to meet you!

      Chapter 23a — Countries and cities

      Chapter 23b — More getting to know you

      Chapter 23c — What do you do for a living?

      Chapter 23d — Relationship statuses

      Chapter 24 — Educational background

      Chapter 24a — Blood type

      Chapter 24b — Getting more casual

      Chapter 25 — Religion

      Chapter 26 — Zodiac signs (eastern)

      Chapter 26a — Zodiac signs (Western)

      Chapter 27 — People you'll meet

      Chapter 27a — the twists of gender and age

      Chapter 28 — Moving in

      Chapter 28a — What to ask the realtor

      Chapter 28b — Things found around the house

      Chapter 28c — In the kitchen

      Chapter 28d — In the bathroom

      Chapter 29 — Going shopping

      Chapter 29a — More about clothes

      Chapter 29b — More about sizes and shopping expressions

      Chapter 30 — Four distinct seasons — and plenty more holidays

      Chapter 30a — Korean holidays

      Chapter 31 — Talking about the weather

      Chapter 32 — Around town

      Chapter 32a — Movies and genres!

      Chapter 33 — Sports and sporting events

      Chapter 34 — When it’s time to eat

      Chapter 34a — Restaurant questions and requests

      Chapter 34b — Pattern recognition

      Chapter 35 — Ordering delivery

      Chapter 35a — Getting groceries

      Chapter 36 — So, what to eat?

      Chapter 36a — Common Korean food vocabulary

      Chapter 37 — Vegetarians and people with allergies

      Chapter 37a — Special notes

      Chapter 38 — Enjoying adult beverages: Korean style

      Chapter 38a — Know your beverages!

      Chapter 38b — What to say while you’re drinking

      Chapter 38c — How to get other people to buy your drinks

      Chapter 39 — LGBT slang

      Section 3 review!

      Section 4 — Traveling and life in Korea

      Chapter 40 — Planes, trains, automobiles, and buses

      Chapter 40a — More about trains

      Chapter 40b — If you’re lost...

      Chapter 40c — About the T-Money Card / smart traffic cards

      Chapter 41 — About bus tickets and terminals

      Chapter 42 — About train tickets and stations

      Chapter 43 — Taxis

      Chapter 43a — Talking to the taxi driver

      Chapter 43b — Help, my taxi driver sucks!

      Chapter 44 — Hotels, or where to sleep while traveling

      Chapter 44a — A quick note on ‘love motels’

      Chapter 45 — Places, people! Know where to go

      Chapter 45a — Provinces

      Chapter 46 — After you arrive...

      Chapter 47 — Korean addresses

      Chapter 47a — who ya gonna call?

      Chapter 47b — Korean area codes

      Chapter 48 — How are you feeling?

      Chapter 49 — Describing people

      Chapter 50 — When you feel like crap (or, at the pharmacy)

      Chapter 50a — Things you might need at the pharmacy

      Chapter 51 — Visiting the doctor

      Chapter 52 — Getting a haircut

      Chapter 53 — While you’re at the club — OR — socializing with good-looking people:

      Chapter 53a — Getting personal

      Chapter 54 — Getting down to business

      Chapter 55 — About Korean job titles

      Chapter 55a — Job titles, part 2

      Chapter 56 — Checking out the jjimjilbang

      Chapter 56a — FAQ about the jjimjilbang

      Chapter 57 — Taking charge in the classroom

      Chapter 57a — more about the classroom and supplies

      Chapter 57b — Students you may have

      Chapter 58 — Curses! — or — dealing with old people

      Chapter 59 — Emergencies!

      Chapter 60 — Korean expressions

      Chapter 61 — Korean slang (속어, sok-eo)

      Chapter 62 — About hanja

      Section 4 review

      Section 5 — Korean grammar

      Chapter 63 — A closer look at Korean grammar

      Chapter 64 — Topics and subjects: 는,은, 가 and 이

      Chapter 65 — Objects: 를 and 을

      Chapter 66 — Where are ya, and what are ya doing? Using 에 and 에서

      Chapter 67 — And theeeennn...?

      Chapter 68 — Conjunction junction: what’s your function?

      Chapter 69 — Nouns — the easy part

      Chapter 70 — Verbs — the required part

      Chapter 71 — Adjectives — the descriptive part

      Chapter 72 — It’s mine! No, it’s MINE!

      Chapter 73 — Past tense

      Chapter 74 — Future tense

      Finally, the progressives!

      Chapter 75 — This, that, and over there — 이, 그, and 저

      Chapter 76 — A mixed bag of grammar points

      Chapter 77 — What's next

      Appendix A — Answers

      Section 1 review answers

      Section 2 review answers

      Section 3 review answers

      Section 4 review answers

      Appendix B — Sizing chart

      About Chris

      Other books

      Other titles by Chris Backe

      Section 1 — getting started with hangeul

      The good news about Korean 

      Let’s get one thing straight. I am not a professional Korean teacher, nor do I have any plans to be. That means I’m not going to throw any fancy language terms like ‘fricative’ or ‘nasal consonant’ at you, so relax. We’re going to use plain language — simple enough for a ten-year-old to understand. Also, this is NOT a dictionary; it’s a collection of several hundred words and phrases that will come in handy during your time in Korea. Whether you’re a tourist, coming to Korea for business, or becoming an English teacher, there’s something to help everyone.

      The good news about learning Korean is two-fold: it’s phonetic, so a given letter will sound the same 98% of the time. Second, it was intentionally designed to be easy to learn. Go back to the early 15th century and the days of King Sejong. The average Korean couldn’t read the hanja, or the Chinese symbols the the elite (and literate) people used. In his infinite wisdom, Sejong got his people working on an alphabet that could be learned in a matter of hours. I’m serious here — you can start reading Korean words after 2-3 hours of study. You may not know what it means, but you can read any Korean you see, anywhere in the world.

      There’s a bonus built in here: literally thousands of Korean words sound similar or identical to the English words you already know. The word for ‘Coca-Cola’ is 코카-콜라, or ‘Ko-ka-kol-la’. Learning how to read the Korean alphabet means being able to read English words you already know.

      To go from the Korean alphabet to the English alphabet, we need to do something called transliteration. (That's the longest word in this book, I swear.) Transliteration is when we convert from one alphabet (such as Cyrillic, Greek, or Korean) to another language's alphabet (such as the Latin-based system you're reading right now). When a Korean sees the letter ㅏ, they make a sound like the 'a' in 'father'. Therefore, the letter ㅏ gets transliterated as 'a' and is (theoretically) pronounced the same in either language — ‘ah’. We'll always transliterate sounds, not letters. In English, the letter 'i' can be pronounced like 'ee', 'ah-ee', or 'ih'; in Korean, there's a different way of writing each of these sounds — as you transliterate, sound it out slowly as you go!

      The system of transliteration you’ll see in this e-book is called Revised Romanization, and was established by the Korean government in 2000. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s the official system of transliterating Korean by the United States and other Western countries. It’s better compared to the

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