Wally Nes’ Blog

So we’ve stuck a toe into the pool that is the Korean language.

We’re at a point where we can make a sentence. Though we have to sorta mumble the last bit as Korean end with all it’s honorifics at the end and . . .well, we’re confused. We don’t actually know how to properly conjugate verbs because the end of the verb is too cluttered up by honorifics. That -i before the honorific we know could be an indicator of past tense, plural form or could be a different honorific. Just because you’ve had one already doesn’t mean we’re done with the honorifics, you silly waegook (foreigner).

So we’ll focus our attention on numbers. I mean, after Japan, how bad can it be.

Let me state first, that when I wrote the post I link to above, I was not as versed in Japanese as I am now so I will elaborate on Japanese counting first.

The Japanese have 2 counting systems. The Japanese, and the Sino-Japanese (which is what I described in that post). Both are relevant to other things. Now, the counters I hinted at in the post above, are quite numerous, and depending on what you are counting you use that suffix together with either the Sino-Japanese counters or the Japanese counters. Ordering futatsupon(Japanese counter – long, this, cylindrical things counter) beer will get you frowned upon and if there’s two of you, you’re futari(Japanese counter – counter for something or other), not niri(Sino-Japanese counter – counter for something or other).

So please, dear Deity, let Korean numbers be easier.

The Koreans have two counting systems. Damn

The reason for the last column isn’t numerical but due to pronunciation rules in Korean. End a word with s and it’s pronounced t. Which, as you can tell by the Korean number of 4 makes it hard to understand my name.

The Koreans use different counter suffixes for everything. Not looking good.

Now, the Japanese use one of the two to count with one counter. Let’s see how the Koreans do that:
Counter: Day

Counter: None (which is something you can do in Korean, but you just say “The First” in Sino-Korean. Wrong counter )

Now ain’t that just clear as day.

I’ll leave you with this little gem:
The time, here is currently, Yeolhan shi (11 hours) sibil bul (11 minutes)
Tell me if you get that.
Yeol = 10 (Korean)
Han(a) = 1 (Korean)
Sib = 10 (Sino-Korean)
Il = 1 (Sino-Korean)
Shi = hour, Bul = minute

You count hours in Korean, and minutes in Sino-Korean.

Not only are the Koreans as annoying as the Japanese in counting, THEY MAY ACTUALLY BE WORSE.

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Quote of the day:

This blog is definitive. Reality is frequently inaccurate

- Wally, blatantly ripping off Douglas Adamn

Deze post is ook te lezen in: Dutch

This entry was posted on Friday, June 11th, 2010 at 9:19 am and is filed under Korea (Language). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.