한국어 배우기는 어려워요
hangugeo baeugineun eoryeowoyo
The English phrase 'learning korean is hard' is expressed in Korean as 한국어 배우기는 어려워요 (hangugeo baeugineun eoryeowoyo).
A statement used to express that the process of acquiring the Korean language is difficult.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase 한국어 배우기는 어려워요, 배우기는 means 'learning (as a subject)', which is formed from the verb '배우다' (to learn) combined with the nominalizing suffix '-기' and the topic marker '-는'. The word 어려워요 means 'is difficult' and is the polite form of the adjective '어렵다' (to be difficult).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
한국어 배우기는 어렵습니다 is a highly formal version used in presentations or official settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 한국어 배우기는 어려워요, the topic marker '-는' is used. Replacing this topic marker with the subject marker '-가' to form 한국어 배우기가 어려워요 changes the focus slightly from 'as for learning Korean' to simply 'learning Korean' is hard.
How do you pronounce it?
hangugeo baeugineun eoryeowoyo
Did you know?
- In many Korean social contexts, instead of saying 'learning is hard', people might say 한국어가 안 늘어요 (hangugeo-ga an neureoyo), which literally translates to 'Korean is not growing'.
- The formal version 어렵습니다 uses the -습니다 ending, which is so strictly polite that using it with a close friend could actually make them feel offended or distant.
- While 한국어 is the name of the language, the writing system itself is called 한글 (Hangeul). Many learners mistakenly use the word for the language when they are actually referring to the alphabet.
Examples in context
- 솔직히 한국어 배우기는 어려워요.soljikhi hangugeo baeugineun eoryeowoyo.Honestly, learning Korean is hard.
- 혼자서 한국어 배우기는 어려워요.honjaseo hangugeo baeugineun eoryeowoyo.Learning Korean by oneself is hard.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their language studies at a cafe.
- 도현 Do-hyeon지은 씨, 요즘 공부 어때요?jieun ssi, yojeum gongbu eottaeyo?Jieun, how is your studying going lately?
- 지은 Ji-eun한국어 배우기는 어려워요.hangugeo baeugineun eoryeowoyo.Learning Korean is hard.
- 도현 Do-hyeon맞아요, 문법이 정말 복잡해요.majayo, munbeobi jeongmal bokjaphaeyo.True, the grammar is really complex.
- 지은 Ji-eun그래도 계속 노력할 거예요.geuraedo gyesok noryeokhal geoyeyo.Still, I'm going to keep trying.
