我是韩国人
wǒ shì hánguórén
The English phrase "I am korean" is translated into Chinese as 我是韩国人 (wǒ shì hánguórén).
This phrase is a statement used to identify one's nationality as being from Korea.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 我 (wǒ) meaning 'I', 是 (shì) meaning 'am', 韩国 (hánguó) meaning 'Korea' and 人 (rén) meaning 'person'.
Which one should you use?
The phrase 我来自韩国 is a formal way to express 'I come from Korea'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Chinese, nationality is expressed by adding the character for 'person' (人) after the name of the country. Additionally, unlike English, the verb 'to be' (是) is not required to be changed for different subjects in this simple declarative structure.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ shì hánguórén
Did you know?
- If you were speaking about a person from North Korea, you would replace 韩 with 北, making the phrase 我是朝鲜人.
- In Chinese, 人 is a pictograph that originally depicted a person standing on two legs, which is why it looks like a simple inverted 'V'.
- The name for Korea, 韩国, translates literally to 'Han Kingdom'.
Examples in context
- 我是韩国人。Wǒ shì Hánguórén.I am Korean.
Example conversation
Two students are introducing themselves at an international student party.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你好，我是志强。你是哪国人？Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì Zhìqiáng. Nǐ shì nǎ guórén?Hello, I am Zhiqiang. What is your nationality?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我是韩国人，我叫佳怡。Wǒ shì Hánguórén, wǒ jiào Jiāyí.I am Korean, my name is Jiayi.
- 志强 Zhiqiang很高兴认识你，佳怡。Hěn gāoxìng rènshì nǐ, Jiāyí.Nice to meet you, Jiayi.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我也很高兴认识你。Wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng rènshì nǐ.Nice to meet you too.
