Episode 19: ~(으)로 Particle
안녕하세요 여러분~!
It feels like I haven't made any Korean learning videos in forever! I've been so preoccupied with university work and my other YouTube projects that I feel I totally abandoned our ~Weekly Korean~ videos *cries*
However, I'm back on track and ready to bombard you with intense Korean learning vids! But seriously, get ready. These won't be easy.
Today we'll be exploring the myriad of meanings that ~(으)로 particle has. It's a very tricky particle when it comes to translating it to English because it is used in a lot of different situations. This particles has two major meanings, which we'll explore in depth today. Don't worry about knowing every single instance this particle is used because that comes with practice. So give yourself time to get comfortable speaking and understanding the language and the particles will naturally fall into place :)
Meaning #1: when ~(으)로 is added at the end of a noun, it indicates by what method/device/process/tool/material something is made or accomplished.
Transportation:
택시로 갈거예요 --> I will take a taxi (Literal: I will use a taxi to go)
다른 단어 (Other words you can substitute for "taxi"):
버스- bus
비행기- airplane
지하철- train
Language:
그 문장을 한국어로 말했어요 --> I said that sentence in Korean (Literal: I said that sentence using Korean language)
*문장 -- sentence
영어로 말해 주세요 --> Please speak in English (Literal: Please speak using English language)
Meals:
아침식사로 밥을 머겄어요 --> I ate rice for breakfast
보통 점심식사로 과일만 머거요 --> I usually eat fruits for dinner
Other (general):
눈으로 봤어요 --> I saw it with my eyes (Literal: I saw using/through my eyes)
이메일로 보냈어요 --> I sent it via email (Literal: I sent it using email)
카드로 샀어요 --> I bought it with a card
젓가락으로 먹었어요 --> I ate with chopsticks
연필로 썼어요 --> I wrote with a pencil
핸드폰으로 전화했어요 --> I called using a phone
*~으로 is added to nouns that end on a consonant and ~로 is added to nouns ending on a vowel AND the letter ㄹ, creating an 'L' sound.
Meaning #2: ~(으)로 can also indicate a general direction of where the talker is headed. It sometimes can be a synonym of the ~에 particle.
오른쪽으로 갔어요--> I went to the right (Literal: I went in the right direction)
어디로 가겠어요? --> Where are you planning on going (very general)
서울로 갈거예요 --> I will go to Seoul (Literal: I will go in the general direction of Seoul)
Difference between 로 and 에:
집으로 갈 거예요--> I'll go in the general direction of home, whereas 집에 갈 거예요 --> I will go home
집 안 쪽으로 달렸어요 --> I ran inside the house (from the outside), whereas 집 안에서 달렸어요 --> I was running inside the house (without going outside of it)
Here's an exert from Korean From Zero textbook with some more examples
Once again, don't fret if the next time you have a conversation with a Korean speaker you get confused with what they are saying or how they're using particles or what not. Take a deep breath and don't let that get you down! Remember, if Korean is a foreign language to you, you are technically not even meant to be fluent in it, so don't let your own expectations of what your level should be affect you negatively. You've got this buddy :)
That's it for today guys!
Hope this was helpful for all of you!
Let me know if you have any questions!
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