What does it mean word for word?
The expression is derived from the verb stem 참다, which means to endure, bear or hold back an emotion or physical sensation.
Which one should you use?
While 참아 is used to tell someone to endure a difficult situation, the word 기다려 is used specifically for the act of waiting for time to pass.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you are addressing someone you are familiar with, you might use 조금만 기다려. For a polite way to ask someone to wait a little, you can use 조금만 기다려 주세요.
How does it change in a sentence?
Depending on the social context, there are several ways to express this command. The polite form is 참으세요, meaning "please be patient" or "please endure it". The plain or authoritative form is 참아라, which is used when giving a command to someone younger or of lower status.
How do you pronounce it?
chama
Did you know?
- A common idiom for extreme patience is 참을 인 자 셋, meaning 'write the character for endurance three times', suggesting that repeating the word helps one stay calm.
- In Korean, there is a specific cultural concept called 한 ('han'), which describes a collective feeling of unresolved grief and patient endurance of suffering.
- The verb 참다 is used to describe the act of suppressing a sneeze, a cough or a laugh.
Examples in context
- 참아.Be patient.This sentence is useful for practicing the command 참아.Tatoeba #8368205 by Eunhee, translation #1486456 by Spamster
- 조금만 더 참아.jogeumman deo chama.Just be patient a little longer.
- 너무 화내지 말고 참아.neomu hwanaeji malgo chama.Don't get too angry and be patient.
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo are waiting in a very long line at a restaurant.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우야, 배고파도 조금만 참아.hyunuy-a, baegopado jogeumman chama.Hyunwoo, even if you are hungry, be patient a little bit.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo너무 오래 기다려야 해서 힘들어.neomu orae gidaryeoya haeseo himdeureo.It is hard because we have to wait so long.
- 수빈 Su-bin곧 우리 차례니까 참아.got uri charyenikka chama.It is almost our turn, so be patient.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo알았어, 조금만 더 참을게.arasseo, jogeumman deo chameulge.Okay, I will be patient a little longer.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
