TTMIK Level 5 lesson 3
TTMIK Level 5 Lesson 3 - \u201c\uc218\uace0"
Welcome to the 3rd lesson in Level 5 at TalkToMeInKorean! After studying the lengthy previous lesson on the honorific suffix -\uc2dc- (Level 5 Lesson 2), it is time to take a little break from grammar rules and have a light lesson. In this lesson, we are going to look at an expression that Koreans say very often that is somewhat difficult to be translated into English.
The keyword is \uc218\uace0 [su-go].
Literally, the word \uc218\uace0 itself is a noun that means \u201ctrouble\u201d, \u201ceffort\u201d or \u201chard work\u201d. But \uc218\uace0 is rarely used on its own and is usually used inside some fixed expressions. These expressions using \uc218\uace0 are used in everyday Korean conversations so often that we decided that they need a separate TalkToMeInKorean lesson on them.
Fixed expressions using \uc218\uace0
1. \uc218\uace0\ud558\uc138\uc694. [su-go-ha-se-yo.]
This expression literally means \u201ccontinue working hard\u201d, \u201ckeep up the effort\u201d, \u201ckeep doing the work you are doing\u201d or \u201ccontinue taking the trouble to do it\u201d but it is not taken as such meanings.
When you want to comment on the fact that someone is makinf a lot of effort to do something, and you want to show either your appreciation or your support for that person by saying something as you leave the place or see someone leave, you can say \uc218\uace0\ud558\uc138\uc694. Sometimes \uc218\uace0\ud558\uc138\uc694 almost means \u201cGood-bye\u201d or \u201cSee you\u201d.
** To someone younger than you, you can say \uc218\uace0\ud574\uc694 [su-go-hae-yo] or even \uc218\uace0\ud574 if you are close friends with that person. \uc218\uace0\ud558\uc138\uc694 is much more polite than \uc218\uace0\ud574\uc694.
Possible situations
- You received a parcel or a letter from a mailman. You want to say \u201cthanks\u201d but add something after that meaning \u201cThank you for the effort. Keep it up!\u201d.
- You visit or pass by someone who is working at the moment. As you walk away, you want to say \u201cSee you again and I know you are working hard. Continue doing what you do.\u201d
Inappropriate situations
- When you are talking to someone much older than you or someone you need to show respect toward, it is inappropriate to say \uc218\uace0\ud558\uc138\uc694. If you are much younger than the other person, he or she might think that you are rude and arrogant.
2. \uc218\uace0\ud558\uc168\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4.
This expression literally means \u201cyou made a lot of effort\u201d or \u201cyou went through a lot of trouble doing this\u201d.
You can use this expression to someone who just finished doing some work. If you are the one who made that person work, \uc218\uace0\ud558\uc168\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4 could mean \u201cThank you for the great job you did\u201d. If you are just commenting on the fact that this person worked hard and has just finished something, it means \u201cGood work\u201d or \u201cCongratulations on finishing it\u201d.
** To someone younger than you, you can say \uc218\uace0\ud588\uc5b4\uc694 [su-go-hae-sseo-yo] or even \uc218\uace0\ud588\uc5b4 if you are close friends with that person. But if you are not the oldest member of the group, it is still better to say \uc218\uace0\ud558\uc168\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4.
Possible situations
- You worked with other people as a group on a task or a project. The work is now finished. You want to casually celebrate the fact that the work is over and lightly thank the others for working so hard.
- Other people did some work and you became aware of it. You want to say \u201cI know you put a lot of effort into it. It\u2019s finished now.\u201d as a gesture of acknowledgement.
3. \uc218\uace0 \ub9ce\uc73c\uc168\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4. / \uc218\uace0 \ub9ce\uc558\uc5b4\uc694.
This expression literally means \u201cyour effort has been a lot\u201d.
You can use this expression in situations similar to those where you would say \uc218\uace0\ud558\uc168\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4, but \uc218\uace0 \ub9ce\uc73c\uc168\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4 is more specifically said in order to appreciate the effort. After finishing a task as a group, you would say \uc218\uace0\ud558\uc168\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4 all together, but individually, you can go up to someone and say \uc218\uace0 \ub9ce\uc73c\uc168\uc2b5\ub2c8\ub2e4.