Comprehensive Guide to 100 Common Mistakes for Korean Learners

Preface and Book Introduction

  • Collaboration Background: This study guide is based on a collaboration project between Talk To Me In Korean (TTMIK) and Billy Go (of Billy Go Korean).
  • Philosophy on Mistakes: Bill Go notes that mistakes are a necessary part of the learning process to improve fluency. Progressing actively in the language leads to exponential growth compared to passive study. This material serves as "armor" to learn from common pitfalls without having to experience the embarrassment firsthand.
  • Target Audience: Perfect for both Intermediate learners and Beginners seeking to sound more natural.
  • Resource Details: The book contains 100100 common mistakes categorized into chapters to simplify grammar and cultural nuances.
  • Audio Resources: MP3 audio files for native pronunciation are available at http://TalkToMeInKorean.com/audio.

Basic Sentence Structure and Word Order

  • Fundamental Korean Structure: Unlike English (Subject-Verb-Object), Korean follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) pattern.
    • Example: "Billy likes music" translates to 빌리는 음악을 좋아해요 (Billy music likes).
  • Placement of Specific Elements:
    • Locations: Positioned before the verb. For example, "I go to school" becomes 저는 학교에 가요 (I to-school go).
    • Adverbs: Placed directly before the verb. Instead of "I wake up early," use 저는 일찍 일어나요 (I early wake up).
    • Adjectives (Descriptive Verbs): Come directly before the noun, similar to English (e.g., 예쁜 옷 - pretty clothes).
    • Time Phrases: Placed at the beginning of the sentence or immediately after the subject.
    • Hierarchical Time Organization: When using multiple time words, organize from largest to smallest (Year→Month→Day→Time of Day→Hour→Minute→Second\text{Year} \rightarrow \text{Month} \rightarrow \text{Day} \rightarrow \text{Time of Day} \rightarrow \text{Hour} \rightarrow \text{Minute} \rightarrow \text{Second}).
      • Example: "Today afternoon 2:302:30 p.m." becomes 오늘 오후 22시 3030분.

Verbs of Being: -이다 vs. 있다

  • 있다 (To Exist): Used to indicate location or existence. Translate as "to exist" to verify accuracy.
    • Example: 저는 미국에 있어요 (I exist in America / I am in America).
  • -이다 (To Be/To Equal): Used to define identity or equate one thing to another.
    • Conjugation: −이에요-이에요 after a consonant; −예요-예요 after a vowel.
    • Example: 저는 미국인이에요 (I equal an American / I am American).
  • Negation:
    • 있다 $\rightarrow$ 없다 ("does not exist").
    • -이다 $\rightarrow$ 아니다 ("to not equal"). 아니다 typically uses the subject marker −이/가-이/가 on the preceding noun.

Politeness Levels and Honorifics

  • Maintaining Consistency: Do not mix casual terms (e.g., 나 for "I") with polite verb endings (e.g., −아/어/여요-아/어/여요).
    • Casual Duo: 나 with −이야/해-이야/해.
    • Polite Duo: 저 with −요-요.
  • Formal Speech (-(스)ㅂ니다): Used for speeches, presentations, or business contexts.
    • Introducing Names: In formal settings, use your full name and the ending -라고 합니다 ("I am called…") instead of -입니다.
  • Humble Verbs (Talking About Oneself):
    • 드리다: Use instead of 주다 ("to give") when giving to a superior.
    • 뵈다: Use instead of 보다 ("to see") when meeting a superior.
  • Honorifics for Others: Apply honorifics (like 계시다 or 있으시다) only to people you respect. Never use honorifics for animals (e.g., 강아지가 계세요 is incorrect; use 있어요) or for yourself.

Pronouns and Address

  • Saying "You": Directly saying "you" (너 or 당신) is often rude or awkward.
    • Alternatives: Use the person's name + 씨, or their title (사장님, 선생님, 누나, 형, etc.).
    • Omission: If the subject is obvious in a command or question, omit "you" entirely.
  • Third-Person Pronouns: Instead of 그녀 (she) or 그 (he), which are mostly literarily used, use 그 사람 ("that person") or 그분 (honorific).
    • 걔 (contraction of 그 아이): Used for "that kid/person" in casual speech.

Counting Systems and Counters

  • Number Systems:
    • Pure Korean: 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷, 다섯 (1,2,3,4,51, 2, 3, 4, 5). These change to 한, 두, 세, 네 when used with counters.
    • Sino-Korean: 일, 이, 삼, 사, 오 (1,2,3,4,51, 2, 3, 4, 5).
  • Common Counters:
    • 명/사람: For people (Pure Korean). Use 한 명, 두 명.
    • 개: General objects (Pure Korean). Use 한 개, 두 개.
    • 마리: For animals (Pure Korean). Use 한 마리, 두 마리.
    • 살: For age (Pure Korean).
    • 도: For temperature (Sino-Korean).
    • 년/월/일: For years, months of the year, and days (Sino-Korean).
    • 달: For counting duration of months (Pure Korean).
    • 개월: For counting duration of months (Sino-Korean).

Negation: 안, 못, and Special Verbs

  • 안 vs. -지 않다: General negation implying choice or simple lack of action.
    • -하다 Verbs: Split these verbs (Noun + 안 + 해요). Example: 공부 안 해요.
  • 못 vs. -지 못하다: Indicates inability ("cannot").
    • Mistake: 저는 한국말을 잘 안 해요 implies you choose not to speak well. Use 저는 한국말을 잘 못해요 to mean you cannot speak well.
  • Special Negative Verbs:
    • 알다 $\rightarrow$ 모르다 (Do not use 안 알아요).
    • 재미있다 $\rightarrow$ 재미없다 (Do not use 안 재미있어요).

Expressing Wants and Needs

  • Wants (-고 싶다): Only used for actions.
    • Objects: To "want" an object, use Noun + 갖고 싶어요 ("I want to have").
    • Others: To say you want someone else to do something, use Verb + -(으)면 좋겠어요 ("It would be good if…").
  • Needs (필요하다): This is a descriptive verb (adjective). It takes the subject marker (−이/가-이/가), not the object marker (−을/를-을/를).
    • Example: 돈이 필요해요 (Money is necessary), not 돈을 필요해요.

Differentiating Similar Terms

  • Hot/Cold:
    • 덥다/춥다: For ambient temperature (weather).
    • 뜨겁다/차갑다: For physical touch (hot coffee, cold water).
  • Later:
    • 이따(가): Later today (within short timeframe).
    • 나중에: Much later, usually not today.
  • Coming/Going:
    • 안녕히 가세요: To someone leaving.
    • 안녕히 계세요: To someone staying.
    • 다녀오세요: "Go and come back safely" (routine departures).
  • For:
    • 위해(서): For the purpose of (sacrificial or focused).
    • -한테/-에게: To/for a person's benefit.

Specialized Verbs

  • Cleaning:
    • 청소하다: General area (room, house).
    • 빨다: Laundry/clothing.
    • 씻다: Body/skin.
    • 감다: Hair.
    • 닦다: Surfaces/wiping.
  • Wearing:
    • 입다: Clothes (torso/legs).
    • 신다: Footwear.
    • 쓰다: Headwear/eyewear.
    • 끼다: Gloves/rings.
    • 차다: Watches/bracelets.
  • Playing:
    • 하다: Games/sports.
    • 치다: Piano/Guitar (hitting/striking strings).
    • 켜다: Violin (using a bow).
    • 불다: Flute/Trumpet (wind instruments).

Particles and Suffixes

  • -에 vs. -에서:
    • -에: Stationary location or destination (there is, go to).
    • -에서: Location where an action occurs (work at, study in).
  • Only (-만 vs. -밖에):
    • -만: "Only" (neutral).
    • -밖에: "Nothing but" (used with negative verbs to emphasize insufficiency).
  • Also (-도): Never use with the subject marker −이/가-이/가 or object marker −을/를-을/를. Replace them entirely with −도-도.
  • Topic Marker (-은/는): Sets the conversation topic. Once set, do not repeat it in every sentence (this sounds repetitive).

Communication and Memory

  • Asking/Telling: Always use the "to" particles (−에게/한테/께-에게/한테/께) when identifying the recipient of communication (Recipient+한테+전화해요/물어봐요/말해요\text{Recipient} + \text{한테} + \text{전화해요}/ \text{물어봐요}/ \text{말해요}).
  • Passive Verbs (Seeing/Hearing):
    • 보이다/들리다: Used when something is visible or audible (neutral).
    • 볼 수 있다/들을 수 있다: Emphasizes the personal ability to see or hear.
  • Forgotten Items:
    • 놓고 오다/가다: Left something behind at a location.
    • 안 가져오다: Did not bring something with you.
  • Remembering:
    • 기억하다: Active effort to remember.
    • 기억나다: A memory "comes to mind" (passive).