부족한
bujokhan
In Korean, "not enough" is expressed as 부족한 (bujokhan).
This phrase is used to describe a quantity or quality that is less than what is needed.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form of this adjective is 부족하다 (bujokhada). The form 부족한 is the adjectival form used to modify a noun directly, such as "insufficient time". Additionally, the formal term 미흡하다 (miheophada) can be used to describe something that falls short or is not up to an expected level of sufficiency.
How do you pronounce it?
bujokhan
Did you know?
- The word 부족 has a second meaning referring to a 'tribe' or 'clan'. While it sounds the same as the word for 'insufficient', it uses different Chinese characters.
- When someone praises a Korean person, the culturally expected response is often to use 부족하다 to deny the praise. A person might say they are 'still lacking' to show respect to the speaker.
- In Korean, one might say they are 부족한 사람 (a lacking person) to show extreme humility. This is a common way to speak about oneself in formal introductions to signal that one still has much to learn.
Examples in context
- 시간이 충분하지 않아서 못 가겠어요. (Sigani chungbunhaji anaseo mot gakessoyo.)I can't go because there isn't enough time.
- 학생들의 능력이 미흡합니다. (Haksaengdeurui neungryeogi miheophamnida.)The students' abilities are not enough.
- 자료가 충분하지 않아서 보완이 필요합니다. (Jaroga chungbunhaji anaseo bowani piryohamnida.)There is not enough data, so we need to supplement it.
- 시간이 부족해서 못 왔어. (Sigani bujokhaeseo mot wasseo.)I couldn't come because there wasn't enough time.
- 오늘 시간이 부족해서 숙제를 다 못 했어. (Oneul sigani bujokhaeseo sukjereul da mot haesseo.)I couldn't finish all the homework today because there wasn't enough time.
- 잠이 부족한 느낌이에요.jami bujokhan neukkimieyo.I feel like I haven't had enough sleep.
- 준비가 부족한 것 같아요.junbiga bujokhan geot gatayo.I think the preparation is not enough.
- 경험이 부족한 학생이에요.gyeongheimi bujokhan haksaengieyo.He is a student who lacks experience.
Example conversation
Ji-eun and Ji-hun are discussing their project progress.
- 지은 Ji-eun지훈 씨, 준비가 다 됐어요?Ji-hun ssi, junbiga da dwaesseoyo?Ji-hun, is everything ready?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니요, 아직 부족한 부분이 많아요.aniyo, ajik bujokhan bubuni manayo.No, there are still many parts that are not enough.
- 지은 Ji-eun제가 좀 도와줄까요?jega jom dowajulkkayo?Shall I help you a bit?
- 지훈 Ji-hun네, 정말 고마워요 지은 씨.ne, jeongmal gomawoyo Ji-eun ssi.Yes, thank you so much, Ji-eun.
