Korean Form Practice 23

아들은 공부하는 둥 마는 둥 컴퓨터만 했어요

My son was halfheartedly studying, and was just on his computer (form expresses the feeling of someone seeming to do something but also seeming not to do it. In a sense, the action occurring isn’t happening very well. It’s happening incompletely or halfheartedly. If it is a person doing the action, they are not taking it seriously. sentences usually finish by indicating, instead of the action that should be happening in the first clause, what is actually happening instead.)

그 총각은 결혼 준비를 하는 둥 마는 둥 하더니 결국 파혼하고 말았어요

That bachelor prepared for the wedding halfheartedly, and in the end, the engagement was called off

행사를 주최하는 둥 마는 둥 어영부영 넘어가니 참석자들의 불만이 컸어요

Since the event was hosted so sloppily, the participants were quite dissatisfied.

그는 저승에도 이승처럼 규칙이 있느냐는 둥 심판을 받느냐는 둥 이상한 질문만 물어봤어요

He kept asking weird things like whether the afterlife has rules like this world, or whether people get judged there (form can imply that the speaker is describing what somebody else says, often in a demeaning, complaining manner (one is making a direct complaint here). Typically, one type of complaint (in the form of a quote) describes one part, and then another version of the complaint describes another part again.)

선생님이 조용히 하라는 둥 줄을 잘 서라는 둥 사람들을 몰아붙였어요

The teacher kept barking orders, telling people to be quiet, to line up properly, and so on

애가 배가 아프다는 둥 숙제가 많다는 둥 계속 핑계를 댔어요

The kid kept making excuses, saying things like his stomach hurt or that he had too much homework

너희들을 숲에 버리고 온 뒤 한순간도 행복하지 않았단다

After abandoning you in the forest, I haven’t been happy for even a moment, my dear (form is a contraction of the two parts of the quotation form. It is usually used by an older generation speaking to a younger generation. For that reason, it can generate a more nurturing, motherly emotion when used. It is used often in children’s books and stories)

밥을 먹을 시간이란다

It’s time to eat now, my dear

말귀를 잘 알아듣는 아이가 결국에는 지혜롭게 자란단다

A child who understands what others mean grows up to be wise, you know

사탕 먹었으면 이빨 닦으렴

If you had candy, brush your teeth (form is a gentle, motherly way to make a command. This way of making commands is often used by the older generation (like parents or grandparents) when talking to younger people. You can think of it as a soft command like a suggestion or gentle encouragement.)

저상버스가 오면 탈 준비하렴

When the low-floor bus arrives, get ready to board

용돈 생기면 조금씩 저금하렴

When you get an allowance, save a little bit each time

외동이라 외로울 수도 있겠지만 친구들이랑 잘 지내렴

Being an only child might feel lonely, but get along well with your friends

그 아이는 귀엽기 그지없어요

That child is unbelievably cute

그 아이는 귀엽기 그지없어요

That child is unbelievably cute (form can be defined roughly as “to be beyond expression” or “to defy description.” form can express an extreme degree of a certain adjective.)

그는 기본적인 역사 지식조차 없어 무식하기 그지없다

He doesn’t even have basic knowledge of history, he’s utterly ignorant

그의 분노의 근원은 억울함이니 안타깝기 그지없다

The root of his anger is injustice, it is heartbreaking

그 정도 일도 못 하다니 한심하기 그지없다

Not being able to handle something that simple, truly pathetic

아무도 가지 않은 길을 개척한 그의 용기는 대단하기 그지없다

His courage to pioneer a path no one dared take is truly great

시간 겸 자금 부족이 절박한 상황을 만들어 냈어요

The lack of both time and funds created a desperate situation (form combines two things into one conjoint topic, thereby saying that two things can described and denoted as a conjoined one thing.)

오늘은 늦게 일어나서 아침 겸 점심으로 샌드위치를 먹었어요

I woke up late today, so I had a sandwich as both breakfast and lunch

갑작스러운 스트레스 겸 심장발작으로 그는 응급실에 실려 갔어요

Due to sudden stress and a heart attack, he was rushed to the emergency room

앞으로의 진로를 의논할 겸 오랜만에 친구를 만나기로 했어요

I decided to meet my friend, both to catch up and to discuss my future path.
(form can also be used to indicate that ones is doing two or more actions together/simultaneously. It can indicate that two actions are done, both of them being purposeful, or, indicate that one action is done in addition to other, unstated actions. In the second usage, it is particularly common to finish the sentence with 가다, 오다, 나가다 and 나오다 (and similar motion-related words). Separate purposes are happening together and not two actions happening at the same time)

운동할 겸 밖에 나갔어요

I went outside, partly to exercise

친구를 만날 겸 영화도 볼 거예요

I’m going to see a movie and also meet my friend

강 바람을 쐴 겸 둔치를 따라 산책을 나섰어요

I went for a walk along the riverside, partly to get some fresh air

친구 만나러 나갔다가 겸사겸사 산책도 했어요

I went out to meet a friend, and while I was at it, I also took a walk (form is an adverb that is used in sentences for the speaker to indicate that one does an action as part of doing other things together. It suggests that the speaker is “killing two birds with one stone,” often casually or opportunistically)

겸사겸사 들른 전시회였는데, 작품들이 정말 탁월했어요

I dropped by the exhibition while I was at it, and the artworks were truly outstanding

겸사겸사 책 정리를 하다가 미완 원고도 다시 꺼내 봤어요

While I was tidying up my books as part of doing a few things, I also pulled out some unfinished manuscripts

겸사겸사 건강검진도 받을 겸 병원에 갔는데 발작 위험은 없다고 했어요

I went to the hospital, also thinking I might get a health check while I was at it, and they said there’s no risk of seizures