너무 많이
neomu mani
The English phrase "too much" is translated into Korean as 너무 많이 (neomu mani).
The phrase is used to mean "excessively". While 너무 많이 is used for quantity or degree, 너무 alone can be used as an intensifier for adjectives (e.g., 너무 커요 for "it is too big").
Meaning: excessively (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverb 너무 (too/excessively) and the adverbial form of 많다 (to be many/much).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Korean, 너무 많이 is an adverbial phrase that typically precedes a verb to describe the degree of an action.
How do you pronounce it?
neomu mani
Did you know?
- Historically, the word 너무 was strictly negative, but in modern spoken Korean, it is frequently used as a positive intensifier meaning 'so' or 'very', such as saying someone is 너무 예뻐요 ('so beautiful').
- While 너무 많이 describes quantity, Koreans often use the expression 적당히 ('moderately') as a subtle social warning to tell someone they are doing 'too much' of something.
- The word 너무 is derived from the verb 넘다, which means 'to cross over' or 'to surpass' a boundary.
Examples in context
- 어제는 너무 많이 먹었어.I ate too much food yesterday.This sentence shows how to use 너무 많이 to describe the amount of food eaten.Tatoeba #1209924 by Brian255, translation #244618 by CK
- 어제 너무 많이 먹어서 이제 난 병이 나요.Yesterday I ate too much and now I feel sick.This sentence uses 너무 많이 to explain a cause-and-effect relationship regarding feeling sick.Tatoeba #1211625 by Brian255, translation #1023554 by Narda
- 왜 안되는지 설명할려면 시간 너무 많이 걸리겠다.It would take me too much time to explain to you why it's not going to work.This sentence demonstrates using 너무 많이 to describe the amount of time an action would take.Tatoeba #5388 by cueyayotl, translation #1496 by Zifre
- 오늘 일이 진짜 많아.There is just too much work today.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Minji are talking about their shopping trip.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 쇼핑 너무 많이 했어요?Minji ssi, syoping neomu mani haesseoyo?Minji, did you shop too much?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 너무 많이 사서 걱정이에요.Ne, neomu mani saseo geokjeongieyo.Yes, I'm worried because I bought too much.
- 지훈 Ji-hun물건이 너무 많이 들어있네요.mulgeoni neomu mani deureoinneyo.There are too many items in there.
- 민지 Min-ji지훈 씨가 좀 도와주세요.Jihoon ssi ga jom dowajuseyo.Jihoon, please help me.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 너무, 많이, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
