What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase 한국어를 배워요, the particle 를 is an object marker that follows the noun 한국어 to indicate it is the object being learned.
Which one should you use?
While 한국어를 배워요 is the standard polite form, you can use 한국어를 배워 for casual situations with close friends or people younger than you. For highly formal settings like job interviews or speeches, use 한국어를 배웁니다. You can also say 한국어 배우고 있습니다 to express "I am learning Korean" in a formal and respectful manner, or 공부하고 있어요 as a polite way to say "I am learning."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 한국어를 배워요 uses the polite ending –요, which makes it appropriate for speaking to strangers or people older than you. For a casual register used with close friends or younger people, use 한국어를 배워. In highly formal settings, use 한국어를 배웁니다 or 한국어 배우고 있습니다.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 배워요 is the polite present tense of the verb 배우다 (to learn).
How do you pronounce it?
hangugeo-reul baewoyo
Did you know?
- Even though you are the one performing the action, you can omit the word 'I' from the phrase 한국어를 배워요 without changing the meaning. In Korean, if the context is clear, including the subject can actually make you sound strangely repetitive or overly dramatic.
- In Korean, the word for 'language' in 한국어 is 어, which is actually a Hanja character derived from Chinese. This makes the term more formal and academic compared to the more colloquial 한국말, which uses a native Korean word for 'speech'.
- When speaking to a teacher or someone much older, you should replace the word for 'I' with the humble version 제. Using the standard 'I' can make you sound unintentionally impolite in a formal learning environment.
Examples in context
- 저는 한국어를 공부하고 있어요.I am learning Korean.
- 나는 한국어 배워.I learn Korean.
- 나는 한국어 공부 중이야.I am studying Korean.
- 요즘 한국어를 배워요.yojeum hangugeoreul baewoyeo.I am learning Korean these days.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their current interests.
- 지훈 Ji-hun수빈 씨는 요즘 뭐 해요?subin ssineun yojeum mwo haeyo?Subin, what are you doing these days?
- 수빈 Su-bin저는 한국어를 배워요.jeoneun hangug-eoreul baewoyo.I am learning Korean.
- 지훈 Ji-hun정말요? 멋지네요!jeongmallyo? meotjineyo!Really? That's cool!
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈 씨도 같이 배워요.jihun ssido gachi baewoyo.Jihoon, you should learn it too.
