Learn Korean

Introduce Yourself Part 1 : ~?/? | ~???/?? | ~?

Getting use to Korean word order is one of two things depending on the person:

1. A walk in the park (Usually people who know a language of a similar word order, or just true geniuses)

2. A walk over a mountain in a vigorous winter (Everyone else)

If you're a #2, don't worry I was one too. You'll get use to it, you just can't give up!!!!

The initial word order of Korean is:
S-O-V
(Subject-Object-Verb)

Compared to English:
S-V-O
(Subject-Verb-Object)

Here are some actual comparisons for the ones who are lost:

Basic English sentences:
I drink juice.
I ate oranges.
I am pretty
A happy dog
I like dogs
I like happy dogs
The girl that gave me that note wants to be my friend.

The same sentences, but in the Korean way:
I juice drink.
I oranges ate.
I (am) pretty
(A) happy dog.
I dogs like.
I happy dogs like.
Me gave note that girl my friend be wants.

Yes, a bit different. Lmao, and the last one, I was just  playing around with you guys. By the time you learn to make those sentence, it won't be hard or complicated as it seems at all, trust me (<-SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN THERE)

(Korean does not have articles: A/an/The)

I just want to state this, like I said, before we go on. You don't have to be a master at it lol, just know as you continue so you're not confused.

~은/는
As I teach you this, I want you to read carefully. This is often confused with something else that is actually very different from it. But from poor explaining from other people, people are often left confused.

First of all, what is a particle? A particle is found in few languages. It is something you add directly onto a word to give it more meaning.

Let me tell y'all this right now, this particle does NOT exist in English. That means that nothing in the English language has something of equal meaning to this.

~은/는 is attached to a noun to indicate it is the topic of the sentence.

~은 is attached to words that end in a consonant:
이름 + 은 = 이름은

~는 is attached to words that end in a vowel:
저 + 는 = 저는

Let's go into details about ~은/는: A very easy way to understand the feeling that comes with ~은/는 is that it means almost the exact same as saying, "As for ____" or "When it comes to ____". The only thing is that it is not included in the translation. For example:

저는 = I
(NOT, "As for me"/"When it come to me")

You see, it just has that feeling.

~의
This particle is the ownership particle. It is probably one of the most easiest particles you will learn. It is the exact same as " 's " or more distant, "of". It is attached directly to a noun followed by what it is owning, for example:
저의 이름 - My name (The name of me)
지민의 이름 - Jimin's name (The name of Jimin)
(지민 is a common uni-sex name)

This particle is almost always pronounced as "에" instead of "의". So 저의 would sound more like 저에.

~이에요/~예요
This means "to be" in Korean. Also this is in Polite speech, so you can use it freely. In Korean "to be" doesn't change depending on who you are talking about, it all stays the same, for example:

I am = (~이에요/~예요)
You are = (~이에요/~예요)
She is = (~이에요/~예요)
He is = (~이에요/~예요)
They are = (~이에요/~예요)
We are = (~이에요/~예요)

~이에요/~예요 is attached directly to the word you are describing (is/am/are) something.

~이에요 is attached to words that ends in a consonant:
지민 + 이에요 = 지민이에요

~예요 is attached to words that end in a vowel:
저 + 예요 = 저예요 (<- This alone would mean,         "It's me")

Closing
Let's put everything we just learned to use. First let's get our introductions down:

I am ____ = 저는 ____이에요/예요

My name is Lauryn, but I go by my nickname in Korean (Lola). So if I introduce my self, this is how it would go:

저는 롤라예요.
I am Lola.

More examples:

저는 지민이에요.
I am Jimin.

저는 존이에요.
I am John.

My name is _____ = 저의 이름은 ____이에요/예요

Examples:

저의 이름은 롤라예요.
My name is Lola.

저의 이름은 지민이에요.
My name is Jimin.

저의 이름은 존이에요.
My name is John.

Here's how a conversation could go going by what we learned (translation at the end):

- 안녕하세요, 저는 지민이에요.
- 안녕하세요, 저의 이름은 존이에요.
- 만나서 반가워요.
- 네, 만나서 반가워요.

That's the end of this lesson. Yes, the beginning can be very boring, slow, and basic. But I encourage you to not give up because it is worth it in the end.

Practice what you learned by using it with others/friends. Or make scenarios, or do what ever you want. Just practice!

Lesson 2 will be out shortly, if it's already out, please continue!

You can watch this video if you want to. I suggest it, even though it's so basic, it is good to see natural conversation.

Here is how to say "What is your name" in polite speech even though you don't know the grammar behind it:

이름이 뭐예요?

Translation:

- Hello, I am Jimin.
- Hello, my name is John.
- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you too.
(^ including 네 has the feeling of "too" as translated above. It is not the word for "too" but since you're "agreeing" it is more appropriate to translate it like that instead of "Yes, nice to meet you.")