TTMIK Level 7 Lesson 14

11/07/11 • 14 min

In this lesson, we are going to look at how to say “no matter how ...” in Korean. To say this, you need to know two key parts: one is the word 아무리 [a-mu-ri], and the other is the suffix -아/어/여도 [-a/eo/yeo-do] (introduced in Level 3 Lesson 20). Construction: 아무리 + Verb Stem + -아/어/여도 = No matter how + verb/adverb/adjective ... 아무리 [a-mu-ri] has a definition, but it’s rarely used on its own to define or mean anything. This word is usually used with -아/어/여도 or other endings that mean "even if" or "however". You COULD say the same thing without 아무리, but 아무리 makes the meaning of the entire sentence much stronger and clearer. Examples 아무리 바빠도 [a-mu-ri ba-ppa-do] = no matter how busy you are 아무리 어려워도 [a-mu-ri eo-ryeo-wo-do] = no matter how difficult it is 아무리 심심해도 [a-mu-ri sim-sim-hae-do] = no matter how bored you are * You can tell the tense and the voice, as well as the subject of the entire sentence from the context. Using 아무리 with nouns Sometimes you can use 아무리 with nouns, but in order to make them 'verbs', you need to add the -이다 verb. For example, if you want to say 부자 [bu-ja], "a rich person", you need to change it to 부자이다 and the -이다 part changes to either -아/어/여도 or -(이)라도. Ex) No matter how rich you are = Even if you are a rich person = 아무리 부자여도 [a-mu-ri bu-ja-yeo-do] = 아무리 부자라도 [a-mu-ri bu-ja-ra-do] More examples 아무리 미인이라도 = 아무리 미인이여도 = no matter how much of a beauty she is 아무리 바보라도 = 아무리 바보여도 = no matter how big of a fool you are Using 아무리 with other endings You can express similar meaning with other endings. 아무리 -아/어/여도 can be replaced with 아무리 -어/어/여 봤자 (Level 7 Lesson 7), 아무리 -고 싶어도, 아무리 -려고 해도, 아무리 -(으/느)ᄂ다고 해도,etc., to express similar meanings. However, the sentences will all have subtle differences based on the core meaning of the 2nd part. Ex) 아무리 공부해도 [a-mu-ri gong-bu-hae-do] (most neutral) = no matter how much you study 아무리 공부해 봤자 [a-mu-ri gong-bu-hae bwat-ja] (least hopeful) = no matter how much you study 아무리 공부하고 싶어도 [a-mu-ri gong-bu-ha-go si-peo-do] = no matter how much you want to study 아무리 공부하려고 해도 [a-mu-ri gong-bu-ha-ryeo-go hae-do] = no matter how much you are going to try to study 아무리 공부한다고 해도 [a-mu-ri gong-bu-han-da-go hae-do] (less hopeful) = no matter how much you study 아무리 + Verb Stem + -아/어/여도 그렇지... In addition to the basic structure of -아/어/여도, there is also a commonly used structure, -아/어/여도 그렇지, that is used with 아무리. When you add "그렇지", the sentence can be used on its own, without the next part following. Here, 그렇지 means "but still...". Ex) 아무리 어려워도 = no matter how difficult it is, 아무리 어려워도 그렇지. = I know it's difficult, but still... / No matter how difficult it is, still.... Sample Sentences 1. 아무리 늦어도 2시까지는 오세요. [a-mu-ri neu-jeo-do du-si-kka-ji-neun o-se-yo.] = No matter how late you are, be there by 2. = Come by 2 at the latest. 2. 아무리 싫어도, 안 싫은 척 해 주세요. [a-mu-ri si-reo-do, an si-reun cheok hae ju-se-yo.] = No matter how much you hate him, please pretend you don't hate him. 3. 아무리 맛있어도 이제 그만 먹어요. [a-mu-ri ma-si-sseo-do i-je geu-man meo-geo-yo.] = No matter how delicious it is, stop eating now. 4. 아무리 비싸도 제가 사 줄게요. [a-mu-ri bi-ssa-do je-ga sa jul-ge-yo.] = No matter how expensive it is, I'll buy it for you. 5. 아무리 학생이라도 공부만 하는 건 아니에요. [a-mu-ri hak-saeng-i-ra-do gong-bu-man ha-neun geon a-ni-e-yo.] = Even if you are a student, you don't always study. = Even students don't always study.

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Level 7 Lesson 3 - PDF

In this lesson we are looking at the structure -(으)ㄹ 만하다. This structure has a variety of meanings and it is very important to pay close attention to the context in order to understand what kind of meaning is intended.

Generally, -(으)ㄹ 만하다 means that there is enough reason or justification for a certain situation or that something is doable or possible, but mainly in the sense of being "bearable" to do.

Examples
가다
→ 갈 만하다 [gal man-ha-da]
= to be possible to go
= to be worth going (and checking out the place)
= there is enough justifiable reason for one to go

먹다
→ 먹을 만하다 [meo-geul man-ha-da]
= to be edible
= to taste okay (the taste is bearable)
= the taste is acceptable

늦다
→ 늦을 만하다 [neu-jeul man-ha-da]
= to be forgivable for being late
= there is enough reason for being late

놀라다
→ 놀랄 만하다 [nol-lal man-ha-da]
= to be natural to be surprised/shocked
= there is enough reason for being surprisd/shocked

Sample Sentences
1. 그럴 만해요.
[geu-reol man-hae-yo.]
= It’s understandable to be so.
= It’s possible.
= There is enough reason for it to be so.

2. 그 사람은 인기가 있을 만해요.
[geu sa-ra-meun in-gi-ga i-sseul man-hae-yo.]
= There is enough reason that he is popular.
= It’s understandable why he is popular.

3. 이 책 읽을 만해요?
[i chaek il-geul man-hae-yo?]
= Is this book worth reading?
= Is this book good?
= Do you recommend this book?

4. 괜찮아요. 참을 만해요.
[gwaen-cha-na-yo. cha-meul man-hae-yo.]
= I’m okay. It’s endurable.
= I’m okay. It’s bearable.

5. 가족끼리 한 번쯤 갈 만해요.
[ga-jok-kki-ri han beon-jjeum gal man-hae-yo.]
= (The place) is worth visiting once (or twice) with family.

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TTMIK Level 7 Lesson 4 PDF

In this lesson, we are looking at the words -같이 and -처럼. They are both particles (used after nouns) that mean “like + N”. When you use -같이 or -처럼 after a word, the word group works like an adverb in a sentence. (i.e. “like a robot”, “like a Korean girl”, etc.)

Many people make the mistake of using -같이 and 처럼 with the verb for “to be”, but more on that later in this lesson.

Noun + -같이/처럼 = like + N, as + N
1. 종이 + -처럼 = 종이처럼 [jong-i-cheo-reom] = like paper
2. 로봇 + -처럼 = 로봇처럼 [ro-bot-cheo-reom] = like a robot

→ 종이처럼 가볍다 = to be light like paper
→ 로봇처럼 걷다 = to walk like a robot

Examples
1. 저처럼 해 보세요.
[jeo-cheo-reom hae bo-se-yo.]
= Try doing it like I do.

2. 그 사람은 한국어를 한국 사람처럼 잘해요.
[geu sa-ra-meun han-gu-geo-reul han-guk sa-ram-cheo-reom ja-rae-yo.]
= He speaks Korean well like a Korean person.

3. 제가 어제 말한 것처럼 했어요?
[je-ga eo-je ma-ran geot-cheo-reom hae-sseo-yo?]
= Did you do it like I said yesterday?

All the sentences above can be written with -같이 in the place of -처럼, too, but only some of them are “very” natural.
→ 저같이 해 보세요.
→ 그 사람은 한국어를 한국 사람같이 잘해요.
→ 제가 어제 말한 것같이 했어요?

** -처럼 and -같이 are interchangeable in most cases and which sounds more natural depends on the person’s opinion.

같이 and -같이
Even though they are basically the same word, there is a difference in the meaning between when you say -같이 after a noun and 같이 independently. When 같이 is used independently as an adverb, it means “together”. In this case, you would often need the particle -와 or -(이)랑 that means “with”.

Ex)
저 사람같이 하세요
[jeo sa-ram-ga-chi ha-se-yo.]
= Do like that person does.

저 사람이랑 같이 하세요.
[jeo sa-ra-mi-rang ga-chi ha-se-yo.]
= Do it together with that person.

-같이 and -같은
When you add -같이 after a noun, it works as an adverb. And when you want to make the expression work as an adjective, you can add -같은 instead of -같이. This does not apply to -처럼.

Ex)
저같은 사람
[jeo-ga-teun sa-ram]
= a person like me
= somebody like me

Sample Sentences
1. 강아지가 곰처럼 생겼어요.
[gang-a-ji-ga gom-cheo-reom saeng-gyeo-sseo-yo.]
= The puppy looks like a bear.

2. 오늘은 일요일같은 월요일이에요.
[o-neu-reun i-ryo-il-ga-teun wo-ryo-i-ri-e-yo.]
= Today is a Monday (that feels) like a Sunday.

3. 제 친구는 미국인인데 영어를 영국 사람처럼 해요.
[je chin-gu-neun mi-gu-gi-nin-de yeong-eo-reul yeong-guk sa-ram-cheo-reom hae-yo.]
= My friend is American but s/he speaks English like a British person.

4. 왜 집을 요새처럼 만들었어요?
[wae ji-beul yo-sae-cheo-reom man-deu-reo-sseo-yo?]
= Why did you make your house like a fortress?

5. 바보처럼 정말 그 말을 믿었어요?
[ba-bo-cheo-reom jeong-mal geu ma-reul mi-deo-sseo-yo?]
= Did you really believe that like a fool?