몇몇
myeonmyeot
The English phrase 'a few' is expressed in Korean as 몇몇 (myeonmyeot).
몇몇 is used to refer to a small, indefinite number of people or things.
Which one should you use?
While 몇몇 acts as a noun or formal adjective meaning 'a few', the single syllable 몇 is more commonly used in spoken Korean as a question word meaning 'how many' or as a modifier meaning 'a few' in casual speech.
How do you pronounce it?
myeonmyeot
Did you know?
- Korean uses a specific set of 'native' numbers and 'Sino-Korean' numbers. When using 몇 to ask 'how many', the answer is almost always given using the native Korean number system.
- To avoid being rude when talking about 'a few' people, Koreans often change the noun being described to an honorific version instead of changing the word 몇몇 itself.
- The structure of 몇몇 is a case of reduplication, where a single syllable is doubled to create a new meaning. This pattern of repeating a word to change its nuance is a common way to create emphasis or specific quantities in Korean.
Examples in context
- 조금 더 시간이 필요합니다.I need a little more time.
- 아침에 약간만 먹었어요.I ate only a little for breakfast.
- 조금만 더 기다려 볼까요?Shall we wait just a little bit more?
- 몇몇 사람들은A few people
- 몇몇 사람들은 그 소식을 들었습니다.myeotmyeot saramdeureun geu sosigeul deureotseumnida.A few people heard the news.
- 몇몇 친구들이 파티에 왔어요.myeotmyeot chingudeuri patie wasseoyo.A few friends came to the party.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Seoyeon are discussing a group project.
- 도현 Do-hyeon서연 씨, 팀원들 모두 왔어요?Seoyeon ssi, timwondeul modu wasseoyo?Seoyeon, did all the team members come?
- 서연 Seo-yeon아니요, 몇몇 명은 아직 안 왔어요.aniyo, myeotmyeot myeongeun ajik an wasseoyo.No, a few people aren't here yet.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그럼 언제쯤 다 올까요?geureom eonjejjeum da olkkayo?Then around when will everyone arrive?
- 서연 Seo-yeon곧 오겠지요. 조금만 기다려요.got oketjiyo. jogumman gidaryeoyo.They'll probably be here soon. Let's wait a bit.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 몇몇, CC BY-SA 4.0.
