The words "plan" and "scheme" are similar. Kinda.
The word plan isn't difficult to understand when it means to prepare or a preparation. It can both be a noun or a verb, and translates most simply to 준비 in Korean. In Korean also, 준비 is the root of either a noun or a verb. In English and in Korean, the word is basic and simple.
"Scheme" Has A Slightly Different Meaning in British English
When someone has a specific plan to save money in a fund, or a bank, with a plan to withdraw that money at a later date, that is frequently called a scheme. A scheme would, in that case would be very similar to the word plan. The British would not consider it to be anything which may be illegal or one party taking advantage of another.
"Scheme" Has A Negative Implication in American English
To Americans, the word scheme has a slightly different implication. When a con man has a plan to take money from the unsuspecting victim, then the con man has a scheme, or is scheming something. While this is not always the case, the scheme is not frequently used in everyday language. The word plan, however, can be heard or read daily.
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Showing posts with label 영어 Hint of the Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 영어 Hint of the Day. Show all posts
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
영어 Hint of the Day #34: "To be honest with you..." the word "Candidly" is better
"To be honest with you..." is a frequently used phrase
Admittedly, this has always been a strange phrase. It is quite common. When you are talking about a topic in which there may be a difference in opinion, or when the facts may be unknown, then people frequently use the phrase "to be honest with you."
Examples:
A. To be honest with you, I think that black doesn't look good on you.
B. To be honest with you, I think that the KARA is better than SNSD.
Actually, I try to avoid this phrase. Why? The reason that I do not use this phrase is because then there may still be doubts about my sincerity. For example, if I said "To be honest with you, this option is best." Well, does that mean that there was even the possibility that I would not have advised you of this option otherwise? When someone else says this phrase, I wonder to myself, "Was he not being honest earlier?"
Instead, I prefer to say "candidly," or "frankly." You can use either word instead of the phrase "to be honest with you."
(o) Candidly, I think that black doesn't look good on you.
(o) Frankly, I think that KARA is better than SNSD.
Notes:
This could have been a phrase in "Slang of the Day," but it is now established as a phrase which cannot be called slang. Most native English speakers will know the meaning of this phrase. That said, the phrase isn't appropriate for formal writing. It could be said that it shouldn't be used in formal speaking, like a presentation, but the fact is that listeners probably will not be affected.
Admittedly, this has always been a strange phrase. It is quite common. When you are talking about a topic in which there may be a difference in opinion, or when the facts may be unknown, then people frequently use the phrase "to be honest with you."
Examples:
A. To be honest with you, I think that black doesn't look good on you.
B. To be honest with you, I think that the KARA is better than SNSD.
Actually, I try to avoid this phrase. Why? The reason that I do not use this phrase is because then there may still be doubts about my sincerity. For example, if I said "To be honest with you, this option is best." Well, does that mean that there was even the possibility that I would not have advised you of this option otherwise? When someone else says this phrase, I wonder to myself, "Was he not being honest earlier?"
Instead, I prefer to say "candidly," or "frankly." You can use either word instead of the phrase "to be honest with you."
(o) Candidly, I think that black doesn't look good on you.
(o) Frankly, I think that KARA is better than SNSD.
Notes:
This could have been a phrase in "Slang of the Day," but it is now established as a phrase which cannot be called slang. Most native English speakers will know the meaning of this phrase. That said, the phrase isn't appropriate for formal writing. It could be said that it shouldn't be used in formal speaking, like a presentation, but the fact is that listeners probably will not be affected.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
영어 Hint of the Day #1: What is an "Ugly American?" (Update 1)
Only in America, does someone get her own National Anthem WRONG
Last night, in front of 111,000,000 fellow Americans, Christina Aguilera sang the wrong words to the Star Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the U.S.A. Now THAT is UGLY (and I am a fan).
Another example of why there exists a phrase called an "ugly American."
Question: Do you think that Rain knows the words to the Korean national anthem? My guess is YES.
Note: The original post of "What is an 'ugly American'" is here.
Please "Like" this post and/of follow me on Twitter!
Last night, in front of 111,000,000 fellow Americans, Christina Aguilera sang the wrong words to the Star Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the U.S.A. Now THAT is UGLY (and I am a fan).
Another example of why there exists a phrase called an "ugly American."
Question: Do you think that Rain knows the words to the Korean national anthem? My guess is YES.
Note: The original post of "What is an 'ugly American'" is here.
Please "Like" this post and/of follow me on Twitter!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
영어 Hint of the Day #32: You have a wonderful "command of the obvious." Who Me?
"Command of the obvious" is a sarcastic way of saying "everyone knows that, you dummy."
Sometimes, a person you know may say something that is very obvious. It may be so obvious, you may wonder why that person said it at all. On certain occasions, it may be because that person likes to impose his/her air of authority or superiority. When this occurs, you, as the listener, may not be very happy. You might say that the speaker has demonstrated an excellent "command of the obvious."
Example: OECD Reports Korea #2 in Food Inflation
The other day, this article on food inflation in Korea appeared. Readers of the Seoul Gyopo Guide have known, for months, that inflation is problem for everyday Koreans. The idea of a USD $4 gallon of milk has not been news to nearly anyone living in Korea. The continuing pressure of food prices due to rising energy prices, continually increasing demand from China and emerging markets nations has made this a problem for everyone. However, this is hardly newsworthy: it is, and has been, painfully obvious to Koreans living in Korea. You can say The Korea Herald has a very good "command of the obvious."
Note: This phrase is very sarcastic. It is essentially ridiculing the speaker/writer. It may also imply that the obvious is the only thing that the speaker/writer knows at all. If you use this phrase, use it carefully.
Sometimes, a person you know may say something that is very obvious. It may be so obvious, you may wonder why that person said it at all. On certain occasions, it may be because that person likes to impose his/her air of authority or superiority. When this occurs, you, as the listener, may not be very happy. You might say that the speaker has demonstrated an excellent "command of the obvious."
Example: OECD Reports Korea #2 in Food Inflation
The other day, this article on food inflation in Korea appeared. Readers of the Seoul Gyopo Guide have known, for months, that inflation is problem for everyday Koreans. The idea of a USD $4 gallon of milk has not been news to nearly anyone living in Korea. The continuing pressure of food prices due to rising energy prices, continually increasing demand from China and emerging markets nations has made this a problem for everyone. However, this is hardly newsworthy: it is, and has been, painfully obvious to Koreans living in Korea. You can say The Korea Herald has a very good "command of the obvious."
Note: This phrase is very sarcastic. It is essentially ridiculing the speaker/writer. It may also imply that the obvious is the only thing that the speaker/writer knows at all. If you use this phrase, use it carefully.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
영어 Hint of the Day #31: Pretend YOU Are a KPop Star...and Sing a Song
KPop Singers Are Using the Oldest Trick in the Book: Singing in English
The Lost Seoul knows very little about KPop. However, one thing is for certain: the singing and rapping in English by KPop stars is impressive, maybe. Why only "maybe?" It is because singing in a foreign language is a one way to improve your English pronunciation.
Try going to a karaoke bar and singing a song in English. You will find that your pronunciation improves a lot. This is not your imagination, and not the effect of alcohol on your hearing. In fact, singing is scientifically proven to improve speech, so much so that singing is therapy for stroke victims who cannot remember how to speak.
Now, you may not look like Sohee of the Wonder Girls (안소희), but you can certainly pronounce "I want nobody, nobody but you" like her....just sing in English and your pronunciation is sure to improve.
The Lost Seoul knows very little about KPop. However, one thing is for certain: the singing and rapping in English by KPop stars is impressive, maybe. Why only "maybe?" It is because singing in a foreign language is a one way to improve your English pronunciation.
Try going to a karaoke bar and singing a song in English. You will find that your pronunciation improves a lot. This is not your imagination, and not the effect of alcohol on your hearing. In fact, singing is scientifically proven to improve speech, so much so that singing is therapy for stroke victims who cannot remember how to speak.
Now, you may not look like Sohee of the Wonder Girls (안소희), but you can certainly pronounce "I want nobody, nobody but you" like her....just sing in English and your pronunciation is sure to improve.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
영어 Hint of the Day #30: "The Jury is Still Out." What Jury?
The jury is still out is a very useful way of saying that no conclusion has yet been reached.
Perhaps the most direct translation would be "아직도 몰릅니다." The key point is the word "yet." It implies that the final answer has not yet been found and the outcome is uncertain.
In legal systems, trials are often determined by a jury. When deliberating which side has won, the jury generally leaves the courtroom to debate the issues outside a courtroom. They usually do not return until a final verdict is reached. The saying "the jury is still out" originates from that situation.
Examples.
(o) Is Lee Myung-bak a great president? Well, the jury is still out on that.
(o) The jury is still out on whether or not she will fully realize her potential.
Comments are appreciated.
Please "Like" this post and/or follow me on Twitter!
Perhaps the most direct translation would be "아직도 몰릅니다." The key point is the word "yet." It implies that the final answer has not yet been found and the outcome is uncertain.
In legal systems, trials are often determined by a jury. When deliberating which side has won, the jury generally leaves the courtroom to debate the issues outside a courtroom. They usually do not return until a final verdict is reached. The saying "the jury is still out" originates from that situation.
Examples.
(o) Is Lee Myung-bak a great president? Well, the jury is still out on that.
(o) The jury is still out on whether or not she will fully realize her potential.
Comments are appreciated.
Please "Like" this post and/or follow me on Twitter!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
영어 Hint of the Day #29: "Salvation" doesn't mean "Survival"
Salvation is Delivered By a God, Not a Nation
In today's Korea JoongAng Daily, this was the final sentence in this editorial regarding the upcoming North Korean-South Korean negotiation:
(x) It must be remembered that South Korea holds the key to its (North Korea's) salvation.
The point being made here is that North Korea's economy is in tatters, and as a result, desperately needs economic assistance. However, salvation is not really the correct word here. A more appropriate word would be survival.
Salvation is defined as being the deliverance from the power and effects of sin.
Survival is defined as being the act or fact of living or continuing longer than another person or thing, or the continuation of life or existence.
The implication of the word salvation is that the one that is giving salvation is a deity, a god. It is a word that commonly has religious overtones. In other words, the final sentence above implies that South Korea holds the key to some sort of economic deliverance from the power and effects of sin. Either this editorial is comparing South Korea to a god, or the choice of the word salvation is incorrect. The correct sentence should be:
(o) It must be remembered that South Korea holds the key to its (North Korea's) economic survival.
Please "Like" this post and/or follow me on Twitter.
In today's Korea JoongAng Daily, this was the final sentence in this editorial regarding the upcoming North Korean-South Korean negotiation:
(x) It must be remembered that South Korea holds the key to its (North Korea's) salvation.
The point being made here is that North Korea's economy is in tatters, and as a result, desperately needs economic assistance. However, salvation is not really the correct word here. A more appropriate word would be survival.
Salvation is defined as being the deliverance from the power and effects of sin.
Survival is defined as being the act or fact of living or continuing longer than another person or thing, or the continuation of life or existence.
The implication of the word salvation is that the one that is giving salvation is a deity, a god. It is a word that commonly has religious overtones. In other words, the final sentence above implies that South Korea holds the key to some sort of economic deliverance from the power and effects of sin. Either this editorial is comparing South Korea to a god, or the choice of the word salvation is incorrect. The correct sentence should be:
(o) It must be remembered that South Korea holds the key to its (North Korea's) economic survival.
Please "Like" this post and/or follow me on Twitter.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
영어 Hint of the Day #28: Well, it's "tit for tat." What's that?
"Tit for tat" is a Phrase to Describe a Strategy Used in Many Situations
"Tit for tat" is a strategy used when one person responds to something in the equal and opposite direction. Perhaps the best way to describe this strategy is by example.
Min Ho: I think that Min-Ah was wrong, so I decided to tell her mother.
Young-Ah: Well, Min-Ah won't be happy when she hears that. I think that she will also tell your father.
In the example above, Min-Ah is going to react to Min-Ho's actions by deploying the same strategy in a proportionate amount. In other words, Min-Ah will be using the "tit for tat" approach. If Min-Ah told the entire neighborhood, then she would not be using the "tit for tat" approach. The key point is that the response (Min-Ah telling Min Ho's father) is the same in severity as the original action (Min Ho telling Young-Ah's mother).
The phrase "tit for tat" is a strategy most famously used when there are going to be a large number of interactions among people, or groups of people. It is famously referred to in simulations of a game called the Prisoner's Dilemma, a game played to measure people's cooperation with and trust in one another. "Tit for tat" produced the highest average score in computer simulations of the Prisoner's Dilemma.
The reason that the Prisoner's Dilemma is so well-known is because of its application in any situation where human cooperation and trust are necessary. Well, that pretty much means it applies in every situation that anyone can imagine. That "tit for tat" was the strategy that resulted in the highest average score is interesting indeed.
Perhaps this "Hint of the Day" belongs in the "Advanced Hint of the Day" category....
"Tit for tat" is a strategy used when one person responds to something in the equal and opposite direction. Perhaps the best way to describe this strategy is by example.
Min Ho: I think that Min-Ah was wrong, so I decided to tell her mother.
Young-Ah: Well, Min-Ah won't be happy when she hears that. I think that she will also tell your father.
In the example above, Min-Ah is going to react to Min-Ho's actions by deploying the same strategy in a proportionate amount. In other words, Min-Ah will be using the "tit for tat" approach. If Min-Ah told the entire neighborhood, then she would not be using the "tit for tat" approach. The key point is that the response (Min-Ah telling Min Ho's father) is the same in severity as the original action (Min Ho telling Young-Ah's mother).
The phrase "tit for tat" is a strategy most famously used when there are going to be a large number of interactions among people, or groups of people. It is famously referred to in simulations of a game called the Prisoner's Dilemma, a game played to measure people's cooperation with and trust in one another. "Tit for tat" produced the highest average score in computer simulations of the Prisoner's Dilemma.
The reason that the Prisoner's Dilemma is so well-known is because of its application in any situation where human cooperation and trust are necessary. Well, that pretty much means it applies in every situation that anyone can imagine. That "tit for tat" was the strategy that resulted in the highest average score is interesting indeed.
Perhaps this "Hint of the Day" belongs in the "Advanced Hint of the Day" category....
Thursday, January 13, 2011
영어 Hint of the Day #27: Watch "The Good Wife"
영어 Hint of the Day #27: Watch "The Good Wife" to Improve Your English
One good way to learn English is to watch TV. The problem is that sometimes, the actors and actresses, slang is heavily used, or the talking is too fast to understand. Sometimes, the topic matter is strange, or the twists and turns of the show are too difficult to understand. Comedies are very difficult, because humor relies on innuendo, sarcasm or puns (word-play).
The CBS TV show "The Good Wife" is a very good show to watch in order to learn English. The show is popular and well-reviewed in the United States. It stars Julie Margolies, who has been a star actress since the beginning of ER, which stands for emergency room (of a hospital). The speed of talking on "The Good Wife" is pretty slow. The amount of slang used is kept at a minimum. The stories are not too difficult to understand, and the story twists are not too difficult to understand. The accent (바름) is neutral, which means that it can be easily understood.
If you are inside the U.S., then you can watch reruns on www.cbs.com. There are ways to download files on the internet in order to get these files as well. New programs are broadcast on Tuesdays at 10PM EST (NYC time). That means the files are usually available on Wednesday evenings in Korea on (www.p i r a t e b a y.org), and that they are free to download. These are not confirmed facts: it is "rumored" that TV show files are available on that site regularly.
One good way to learn English is to watch TV. The problem is that sometimes, the actors and actresses, slang is heavily used, or the talking is too fast to understand. Sometimes, the topic matter is strange, or the twists and turns of the show are too difficult to understand. Comedies are very difficult, because humor relies on innuendo, sarcasm or puns (word-play).
The CBS TV show "The Good Wife" is a very good show to watch in order to learn English. The show is popular and well-reviewed in the United States. It stars Julie Margolies, who has been a star actress since the beginning of ER, which stands for emergency room (of a hospital). The speed of talking on "The Good Wife" is pretty slow. The amount of slang used is kept at a minimum. The stories are not too difficult to understand, and the story twists are not too difficult to understand. The accent (바름) is neutral, which means that it can be easily understood.
If you are inside the U.S., then you can watch reruns on www.cbs.com. There are ways to download files on the internet in order to get these files as well. New programs are broadcast on Tuesdays at 10PM EST (NYC time). That means the files are usually available on Wednesday evenings in Korea on (www.p i r a t e b a y.org), and that they are free to download. These are not confirmed facts: it is "rumored" that TV show files are available on that site regularly.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
영어 Hint of the Day #26: How to Correctly Use the Phrase "set out"
영어 Hint of the Day #26: How to Correctly Use the Phrase "set out"
The phrase "set out" isn't difficult to understand. "출발하다" is pretty accurate and literal. It can certainly mean to begin, as in a trip, or a journey. The point of the phrase is that there is a specific destination. That destination can be either literal (a specific place) or figurative (success).
Examples:
a. Min-ho set out on his way to work.
b. Hee-Young set out on her way to success by entering Brown University.
c. The Lost Seoul has set out to create a useful blog for Koreans and non-Koreans alike.
Notes:
The subject that "sets out" is almost always an animate object. It can a person, or group of people. While it may not be technically wrong for an inanimate object to be the subject that "sets out," The Lost Seoul cannot think of any examples in which the subject in inanimate.
The phrase "set out" isn't difficult to understand. "출발하다" is pretty accurate and literal. It can certainly mean to begin, as in a trip, or a journey. The point of the phrase is that there is a specific destination. That destination can be either literal (a specific place) or figurative (success).
Examples:
a. Min-ho set out on his way to work.
b. Hee-Young set out on her way to success by entering Brown University.
c. The Lost Seoul has set out to create a useful blog for Koreans and non-Koreans alike.
Notes:
The subject that "sets out" is almost always an animate object. It can a person, or group of people. While it may not be technically wrong for an inanimate object to be the subject that "sets out," The Lost Seoul cannot think of any examples in which the subject in inanimate.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
영어 Hint of the Day #25: Buy vs acquire. Trickier than it seems
영어 Hint of the Day #25: Buy vs acquire. Trickier than it seems
The other day on http://www.twitter.com/, I saw a question and responded to it. The question was, "What is the difference between buy and acquire?"
Answer:
You can buy something with money or in a barter/trade.
You can acquire something in the same way, but in addition, you can acquire something abstract. You cannot buy something that is abstract (like wisdom).
Examples:
(o) I am going to buy a new mobile phone for 500,000 won.
(o) I am going to acquire a new mobile phone.
(o) I have acquired wisdom through my hard work and dedication.
(x) I have bought wisdom through my hard work and dedication.
The other day on http://www.twitter.com/, I saw a question and responded to it. The question was, "What is the difference between buy and acquire?"
Answer:
You can buy something with money or in a barter/trade.
You can acquire something in the same way, but in addition, you can acquire something abstract. You cannot buy something that is abstract (like wisdom).
Examples:
(o) I am going to buy a new mobile phone for 500,000 won.
(o) I am going to acquire a new mobile phone.
(o) I have acquired wisdom through my hard work and dedication.
(x) I have bought wisdom through my hard work and dedication.
Friday, November 19, 2010
영어 Hint of the Day #24: RT @Fr33S0ul: "건성으로 듣다. I listen to someone in an absent sort of way." Wrong.
Recently, I read this on Twitter.
RT @Fr33S0ul: 건성으로 듣다. I listen to someone in an absent sort of way.
This is a gramatically incorrect sentence. As has been posted here, and here, learning English via Twitter doesn't always work. That is particularly true when the teacher is not fluent.
Correct translations of "건성으로 듣다" would be:
(o) I am only partially paying attention to what is being said.
(o) I am only partially listening.
The reason that the sentence "I listen to someone in an absent sort of way" is that the word "absent" is an adjective which only describes nouns. However "건성으로 듣다" requires a description of the word "listen," which is a verb. In order to describe a verb, the word must be an adverb, not an adjective. Therefore, the use of the word "absent" in the translation, "I listen to someone in an absent sort of way" cannot be correct.
As usual, you can expect loud tirades (with no reasoning attached ) in response to this blog entry. The Lost Seoul's response?
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." -W. Shakespeare
RT @Fr33S0ul: 건성으로 듣다. I listen to someone in an absent sort of way.
This is a gramatically incorrect sentence. As has been posted here, and here, learning English via Twitter doesn't always work. That is particularly true when the teacher is not fluent.
Correct translations of "건성으로 듣다" would be:
(o) I am only partially paying attention to what is being said.
(o) I am only partially listening.
The reason that the sentence "I listen to someone in an absent sort of way" is that the word "absent" is an adjective which only describes nouns. However "건성으로 듣다" requires a description of the word "listen," which is a verb. In order to describe a verb, the word must be an adverb, not an adjective. Therefore, the use of the word "absent" in the translation, "I listen to someone in an absent sort of way" cannot be correct.
As usual, you can expect loud tirades (with no reasoning attached ) in response to this blog entry. The Lost Seoul's response?
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." -W. Shakespeare
Friday, November 5, 2010
영어 Hint of the Day #23: Don't use the word "because" to start a sentence unless you are an expert
영어 Hint of the Day #23: Don't use the word "because" to start a sentence unless you are an expert
Today, I read this on http://www.twitter.com/. It is a common error, and can be corrected easily.
(x) Because the test is an important step to make my life happy.
Sentences should not begin with the word "because." Why is that? Read the sentence above again. There is no subject or verb. The word "because" is the first word of a clause, which answers the question "why?" In verbal (spoken) English, it is common to begin a sentence with the word "because."
For example, this is in spoken English.
Question: Why do you think that Shin Min-a is pretty?
Answer: Because she has large dimples.
Strictly speaking, the answer is grammatically incorrect (even if factually correct). In this case, the person giving the answer has shortened the sentence. If the person giving the answer spoke correctly, it would've been this:
Answer: She is pretty because she has large dimples.
If you are an advanced English speaker or writer, there is a correct way of beginning a sentence with the word "because."
(o) Because she has large dimples, Shin Min-a is pretty.
(o) Because I am ugly and have bad breath, I don't have a girlfriend.
In these cases, there are subjects and verbs, and therefore, the sentences are grammatically correct. Remember that The Lost Seoul is trying to advise native Korean speakers to use simple sentence structure correctly first, and then make it more complicated after you have mastered the simple cases. One way to make it easy and correct: don't use the word "because" as the first word in a sentence, especially in written English.
Today, I read this on http://www.twitter.com/. It is a common error, and can be corrected easily.
(x) Because the test is an important step to make my life happy.
Sentences should not begin with the word "because." Why is that? Read the sentence above again. There is no subject or verb. The word "because" is the first word of a clause, which answers the question "why?" In verbal (spoken) English, it is common to begin a sentence with the word "because."
For example, this is in spoken English.
Question: Why do you think that Shin Min-a is pretty?
Answer: Because she has large dimples.
Strictly speaking, the answer is grammatically incorrect (even if factually correct). In this case, the person giving the answer has shortened the sentence. If the person giving the answer spoke correctly, it would've been this:
Answer: She is pretty because she has large dimples.
If you are an advanced English speaker or writer, there is a correct way of beginning a sentence with the word "because."
(o) Because she has large dimples, Shin Min-a is pretty.
(o) Because I am ugly and have bad breath, I don't have a girlfriend.
In these cases, there are subjects and verbs, and therefore, the sentences are grammatically correct. Remember that The Lost Seoul is trying to advise native Korean speakers to use simple sentence structure correctly first, and then make it more complicated after you have mastered the simple cases. One way to make it easy and correct: don't use the word "because" as the first word in a sentence, especially in written English.
Monday, November 1, 2010
영어 Hint of the Day #22: "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." 그 말이 아시겠십니까? 참 재미있어요.
영어 Hint of the Day #22: "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." 그 말이 아시겠십니까? 참 재미있어요.
From Wilkopedia.com:
The quotation "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, scene II. The phrase has come to mean that one can "insist so passionately about something not being true that people suspect the opposite of what one is saying."
The phrase is often misquoted as "Methinks the lady doth protest too much." and is commonly used in the second person as "Methinks thou dost protest too much."
The phrase means that when someone insists or complains about a statement excessively, the statement itself is probably true.
For example, in response to the 영어 선생 Hall of Shame Entry #3, the recipient of the award sent 17 insults to The Lost Seoul. It is a perfect example of when this phrase is applicable. If the statements were not true, would it really be suitable for 17 responses to be written? The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Indeed.
By the way, "Konglish" is when English words are translated using 한글. During that process, the sounds are not exactly alike. That makes the pronunciation difficult to understand by native English speakers. The point of the pronunciation hints are to help your spoken words to be understood by fluent English speakers. If that is NOT your goal when speaking in English, i.e. to be understood by native English speakers, then feel free to ignore The Lost Seoul's suggestions. It is of course your right to reject the opinion expressed in the Seoul Gyopo Guide. Even better: leave a comment on the website if you do not agree.
For those of you that have sent me messages of support, thank you. You have joined readers from over 45 countries around the world in the two months since the inception of the Seoul Gyopo Guide.
The Lost Seoul
From Wilkopedia.com:
The quotation "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, scene II. The phrase has come to mean that one can "insist so passionately about something not being true that people suspect the opposite of what one is saying."
The phrase is often misquoted as "Methinks the lady doth protest too much." and is commonly used in the second person as "Methinks thou dost protest too much."
The phrase means that when someone insists or complains about a statement excessively, the statement itself is probably true.
For example, in response to the 영어 선생 Hall of Shame Entry #3, the recipient of the award sent 17 insults to The Lost Seoul. It is a perfect example of when this phrase is applicable. If the statements were not true, would it really be suitable for 17 responses to be written? The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Indeed.
By the way, "Konglish" is when English words are translated using 한글. During that process, the sounds are not exactly alike. That makes the pronunciation difficult to understand by native English speakers. The point of the pronunciation hints are to help your spoken words to be understood by fluent English speakers. If that is NOT your goal when speaking in English, i.e. to be understood by native English speakers, then feel free to ignore The Lost Seoul's suggestions. It is of course your right to reject the opinion expressed in the Seoul Gyopo Guide. Even better: leave a comment on the website if you do not agree.
For those of you that have sent me messages of support, thank you. You have joined readers from over 45 countries around the world in the two months since the inception of the Seoul Gyopo Guide.
The Lost Seoul
영어 Hint of the Day #21: It's been one of those days. I got stood up from my tutee. Almost correct, but...
영어 Hint of the Day #21: "It's been one of those days. I got stood up from my tutee." Almost correct, but...
Today, on me2day.net, I found the following comment, which is almost correct.
"It's been one of those days. I got stood up from my tutee."
The word "tutee" isn't common. It may have been that the person making the comment was the teacher, and the "tutee" was the student. If that was the case, then the correct word would have been "student," and not "tutee." "Tutee" isn't a widely used word. Remember, The Lost Seoul believes that native Korean speakers do not need to emphasize vocabulary. Just concentrating on widely-used words, and use them correctly.
The correct way to use "stood up" is through the word "by."
(x) I got stood up from 신미나.
(o) I got stood up by 신미나.
Note: the phrase "stood up" may have the implied meaning of something that was done out of rudeness. While it does not necessarily imply rudeness, more neutral ways exist to express this.
(o) My student didn't show up at the agreed time.
(o) I may have miscommunicated with my student. He/she didn't show up.
The Lost Seoul
Today, on me2day.net, I found the following comment, which is almost correct.
"It's been one of those days. I got stood up from my tutee."
The word "tutee" isn't common. It may have been that the person making the comment was the teacher, and the "tutee" was the student. If that was the case, then the correct word would have been "student," and not "tutee." "Tutee" isn't a widely used word. Remember, The Lost Seoul believes that native Korean speakers do not need to emphasize vocabulary. Just concentrating on widely-used words, and use them correctly.
The correct way to use "stood up" is through the word "by."
(x) I got stood up from 신미나.
(o) I got stood up by 신미나.
Note: the phrase "stood up" may have the implied meaning of something that was done out of rudeness. While it does not necessarily imply rudeness, more neutral ways exist to express this.
(o) My student didn't show up at the agreed time.
(o) I may have miscommunicated with my student. He/she didn't show up.
The Lost Seoul
Saturday, October 30, 2010
영어 Hint of the Day #20: "I don't believe you." "미들 수 없." 근데 "You are lying" 말하지마세요
영어 Hint of the Day #20: "I don't believe you.""미들 수 없." 근데....
It is a direct, and very literal translation. "I don't believe you" is correctly translated to "미들 수 없읍니다." Depending on the tone of voice, and your relationship with the listener, there can be many implications.
For example, if the listener is a close friend, then there are many other, nicer ways (perhaps as a joke) to say this in English.
(o) You must be kidding me. (장난 친다)
(o) Are you pulling my leg? ("Pulling my leg" is slang, and I don't know the origin so don't ask me!)
(o) Give me a break.
(o) Really? Seriously? (찐자?)
There are more phrases like this in English, just as there are many more in Korean (웃기지마 and others).
Note: The specific word "lie" has a particularly strong meaning in English. The Lost Seoul recommends NOT using the word 'lie" unless you are intentionally attempting to use the strongest language possible.
(o) You are lying.
(o) You are a liar.
These are gramatically correct, but if you speaking to someone who is already angry, then you may find yourself involved in a fight, so be careful.
The Lost Seoul 와 Seoul Gyopo Guide 믿으시면 좋겠습니다.
http://www.seoulgyopoguide.com/
www.twitter.com/thelostseoul
It is a direct, and very literal translation. "I don't believe you" is correctly translated to "미들 수 없읍니다." Depending on the tone of voice, and your relationship with the listener, there can be many implications.
For example, if the listener is a close friend, then there are many other, nicer ways (perhaps as a joke) to say this in English.
(o) You must be kidding me. (장난 친다)
(o) Are you pulling my leg? ("Pulling my leg" is slang, and I don't know the origin so don't ask me!)
(o) Give me a break.
(o) Really? Seriously? (찐자?)
There are more phrases like this in English, just as there are many more in Korean (웃기지마 and others).
Note: The specific word "lie" has a particularly strong meaning in English. The Lost Seoul recommends NOT using the word 'lie" unless you are intentionally attempting to use the strongest language possible.
(o) You are lying.
(o) You are a liar.
These are gramatically correct, but if you speaking to someone who is already angry, then you may find yourself involved in a fight, so be careful.
The Lost Seoul 와 Seoul Gyopo Guide 믿으시면 좋겠습니다.
http://www.seoulgyopoguide.com/
www.twitter.com/thelostseoul
Friday, October 29, 2010
영어 Hint of the Day #19: 촌놈처럼 말하고 싶습니까? "She don't know where it's at."
영어 Hint of the Day #19: 촌놈처럼 말하고 싶습니까? "She don't know where it's at."
Today, I was talking with someone, and he said that. I couldn't believe it. I could not believe that a native English speaker actually made not one, but two, grammatical errors in one short sentence. To me, he sounded like an uneducated person from the countryside.
What were the errors?
1. Number agreement. The words "She don't" cannot ever be used together.
(x) She don't....
(o) She doesn't....
2. Sentences should not end in a preposition. Sometimes, this rule is difficult to follow. That is particularly true in English. However, in written English, prepositions should not be the last word in a sentence.
(x) "...where it's at."
(o) "...where it is."
So what should the sentence be?
(x) She don't know where it's at?
(o) She doesn't know where it is.
Good Luck
www.twitter.com/thelostseoul
http://www.seoulgyopoguide.com/
Today, I was talking with someone, and he said that. I couldn't believe it. I could not believe that a native English speaker actually made not one, but two, grammatical errors in one short sentence. To me, he sounded like an uneducated person from the countryside.
What were the errors?
1. Number agreement. The words "She don't" cannot ever be used together.
(x) She don't....
(o) She doesn't....
2. Sentences should not end in a preposition. Sometimes, this rule is difficult to follow. That is particularly true in English. However, in written English, prepositions should not be the last word in a sentence.
(x) "...where it's at."
(o) "...where it is."
So what should the sentence be?
(x) She don't know where it's at?
(o) She doesn't know where it is.
Good Luck
www.twitter.com/thelostseoul
http://www.seoulgyopoguide.com/
Thursday, October 28, 2010
영어 Hint of the Day #18: (x) I am John, and I approve this message. Why? The word "approve" isn't that easy.
In the U.S., the first Tuesday of November is Election Day. If you watch TV in the U.S. these days, the airwaves are filled with politicians who are campaigning. I just saw a commercial, and was appalled to hear a grammatical error..
(x) My name is John, and I approve this message.
This is wrong.
(o) My name is John, and I approved this message.
(o) My name is John and I approve of this message.
(o) My name is John, and I am in approval of this message.
Each of these three alternatives is correct, and I think that the one that you should try to learn is second example. It is the most consistent of the three.
www.twitter.com/thelostseoul
thelostseoul@gmail.com
(x) My name is John, and I approve this message.
This is wrong.
(o) My name is John, and I approved this message.
(o) My name is John and I approve of this message.
(o) My name is John, and I am in approval of this message.
Each of these three alternatives is correct, and I think that the one that you should try to learn is second example. It is the most consistent of the three.
www.twitter.com/thelostseoul
thelostseoul@gmail.com
Sunday, October 24, 2010
영어 Hint of the Day #17: "I love you so much." 생각보다 단어가 "so" 조금만 더 힘들다
The word "so" is a little trickier than it may seem.
When you use the word "so" in a sentence, it usually implies an emotional attachment. The best analogy that I can draw would be to the Korean phrase "죽겠어" (an almost impossible phrase for a non-native Korean speaker to both pronounce and use correctly).
(o) Shin Mi-Na is so beautiful. (That's a fact, right?)
(o) 신미나가 너무 예쁩니다. (There are about 100 ways to call Shin Mi-Na beautiful in 한국말. 안그래?)
While the translations of the two sentences above are correct, the English version, "Shin Mi-Na is so beautiful" has an extra emphasis, which is not objective. The sentence in Korean is a bit less emotional.
In short, use the word "so" when you mean something that has a strong emotional attachment. Use a different word, such as "very," which means almost the same thing, but it would have slightly less emphasis. The word "so" should probably be avoided in strict academic or business communication, whereas "very" is probably more acceptable. That does NOT mean that "so" is erroneous, but there is a slightly different meaning attached with the word "so."
One very good thing about English: once you have the command of two simple words like "so" and "very," then you do not need to learn, use, or think of, other descriptive language. As I mentioned above, one reason that Korean is more difficult than English is that there are hundreds of ways to say the same thing in Korean, those ways are always changing, and sometimes if the pronounciation is wrong (as in 죽인다), the meaning can be totally different. In English, everyone will understand "so" and "very" easily.
Good Luck.
http://www.seoulgyopoguide.blogspot.com/
www.twitter.com/thelostseoul
When you use the word "so" in a sentence, it usually implies an emotional attachment. The best analogy that I can draw would be to the Korean phrase "죽겠어" (an almost impossible phrase for a non-native Korean speaker to both pronounce and use correctly).
(o) Shin Mi-Na is so beautiful. (That's a fact, right?)
(o) 신미나가 너무 예쁩니다. (There are about 100 ways to call Shin Mi-Na beautiful in 한국말. 안그래?)
While the translations of the two sentences above are correct, the English version, "Shin Mi-Na is so beautiful" has an extra emphasis, which is not objective. The sentence in Korean is a bit less emotional.
In short, use the word "so" when you mean something that has a strong emotional attachment. Use a different word, such as "very," which means almost the same thing, but it would have slightly less emphasis. The word "so" should probably be avoided in strict academic or business communication, whereas "very" is probably more acceptable. That does NOT mean that "so" is erroneous, but there is a slightly different meaning attached with the word "so."
One very good thing about English: once you have the command of two simple words like "so" and "very," then you do not need to learn, use, or think of, other descriptive language. As I mentioned above, one reason that Korean is more difficult than English is that there are hundreds of ways to say the same thing in Korean, those ways are always changing, and sometimes if the pronounciation is wrong (as in 죽인다), the meaning can be totally different. In English, everyone will understand "so" and "very" easily.
Good Luck.
http://www.seoulgyopoguide.blogspot.com/
www.twitter.com/thelostseoul
Monday, October 18, 2010
영어 Hint of the Day #16: "I could not care less" OR "I could care less." 상관 있어요?
영어 Hint of the Day #16: I could not care less OR I could care less. Which one is right?
"I couldn't care less" translates to 상관 없어요, except that it is used in situations when it really doesn't matter.
When something does not matter to the speaker, than the speaker could say:
(o) It does not matter to me.
(o) I don't care.
(o) I couldn't care less.
(x) I could care less.
This phrase should not be used when speaking to people that you respect. It is used is a very negative way. For example, it is not appropriate when choosing choosing something to eat. It is usually a phrase used when you may strongly dislike all of the options. In that way, it is a bit stronger than 상관 없어요. Neither phrase is used when speaking in formal situations, and not when the speaker wants to speak politely.
Many native English speakers actually use this phrase incorrectly, and say "I could care less." There isn't any real reason that this occurs, other than the fact that someone has learned incorrectly, developed a bad habit, and continues to use the wrong phrase. Now, the fact is that "I could care less" could also mean "I care more." So logically, the phrase does not make sense when spoken as "I could care less."
If you think that you have heard someone say "I could care less," the speaker really meant "I couldn't care less."
www.twitter.com/thelostseoul
thelostseoul@gmail.com
http://www.seoulgyopoguide.blogspot.com/
"I couldn't care less" translates to 상관 없어요, except that it is used in situations when it really doesn't matter.
When something does not matter to the speaker, than the speaker could say:
(o) It does not matter to me.
(o) I don't care.
(o) I couldn't care less.
(x) I could care less.
This phrase should not be used when speaking to people that you respect. It is used is a very negative way. For example, it is not appropriate when choosing choosing something to eat. It is usually a phrase used when you may strongly dislike all of the options. In that way, it is a bit stronger than 상관 없어요. Neither phrase is used when speaking in formal situations, and not when the speaker wants to speak politely.
Many native English speakers actually use this phrase incorrectly, and say "I could care less." There isn't any real reason that this occurs, other than the fact that someone has learned incorrectly, developed a bad habit, and continues to use the wrong phrase. Now, the fact is that "I could care less" could also mean "I care more." So logically, the phrase does not make sense when spoken as "I could care less."
If you think that you have heard someone say "I could care less," the speaker really meant "I couldn't care less."
www.twitter.com/thelostseoul
thelostseoul@gmail.com
http://www.seoulgyopoguide.blogspot.com/
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