건강에 안 좋은
geongange an joeun
The English phrase "unhealthy" is translated into Korean as 건강에 안 좋은 (geongange an joeun).
건강에 안 좋은 is used to describe things or habits that are conducive to poor health.
Meaning: conducive to poor health (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 건강 (health), 에 (to/in), 안 (not) and 좋은 (good).
Which one should you use?
While 건강에 안 좋은 describes something not good for one's health, you may use 건강에 해로운 for a more formal or clinical way to say "harmful to health." If you want to describe a behavior or situation that is morally or socially unhealthy, use 불건전한. For a formal way to express that someone or something is physically unhealthy, use 건강하지 않은.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the adjective form 좋은 (good) modified by the negation 안 (not) to function as an attributive adjective describing a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
geongange an joeun
Did you know?
- In Korean, the word for 'healthy' 건강한 is rarely used to describe a 'healthy' relationship or a 'healthy' debate, preferring terms related to 'soundness' or 'constructiveness'.
- When describing an 'unhealthy' person, Koreans often use the phrase 몸이 안 좋다 meaning 'the body is not good' rather than calling the person themselves 'unhealthy'.
- The negation 안 found in this phrase has been used in the Korean language since at least 1447, appearing in the Yongbi eocheon'ga.
Examples in context
- 그는 건강하지 않은 생활을 해왔다.He has led an unhealthy lifestyle.
- 그 도박은 불건전하다.That gambling habit is unhealthy.
- 시험 때문에 몸 상태가 안 좋아.I am in poor health due to the exam.
- 건강에 안 좋은 음식은 피하세요.geongang-e an joheun eumsig-eun pihaese-yo.Avoid food that is unhealthy.
- 밤샘은 건강에 안 좋은 습관이에요.bamsaem-eun geongang-e an joheun seupgwan-ieyo.Staying up all night is an unhealthy habit.
Example conversation
Minjun and Subin are looking at a food menu together.
- 민준 Min-jun수빈 씨, 튀긴 음식 어때요?Subin ssi, twigin eumsik eottaeyo?Subin, how about some fried food?
- 수빈 Su-bin튀긴 음식은 건강에 안 좋은 것 같아요.twigin eumsigeun geongange an joeun geot gatayo.I think fried food is unhealthy.
- 민준 Min-jun그럼 샐러드를 먹을까요?geureom saelleodeureul meogeulkkayo?Then shall we have a salad?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 그게 훨씬 좋겠어요.ne, geuge hwolssin jokesseoyo.Yes, that would be much better.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 안, CC BY-SA 4.0.
