HanBlock

Connect #Korean language, traditional and #Kpop culture with innovative design

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Fighting #파이팅 is one of the most common #Konglish, meaning "you can do it" or "don't give up". In N. Korea's latest censorship, the police will check the text messages in the cellphones of the people on the street, if "fighting" is found, the person would be arrested.

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

The (에피데믹) epidemic has quickly turned into (팬데믹 ) pandemic, the highest level of infectious diseases defined by the WHO. Finally this month, the Korean government declared (엔데믹) Endemic, an infectious disease periodically occurs in a specific area.

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Happy New Year (새해 복 많이 받으세요) in the year of the rabbit. Korean New Year (설날) is a big festival in Korea. The Jade Rabbit (옥토끼) is a mythical figure originated from the dark markings of the Moon that look like a rabbit pounding the ingredients for rice cakes.

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Starting from 8 June, even unvaccinated (백신미접종) foreigners can travel to #Korea without isolation anymore (격리의무해제). Moreover, InCheon International Airport has resumed operation 24 hours a day to welcome visitors. K-pop fans, are you ready!? #KoreanLanguage #COVID19

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

복주머니 is used during Lunar New Year to collect gifts and money. Since hanbok does not have pockets (주머니), Korean ties a 복주머니 around the waist to carry stuff and receive fortune (복福). Wish this 복주머니-shaped (모양의) soap (비누) would wash away the pandemic in 2022!

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Happy New Year (새해 복 많이 받으세요)! 결심 comes from #Korean hanja: 決心, which means determination. So, new year resolution is 새해 결심. Wish all the HanBlock fans every success in 2022! #Koreanlanguage

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Today is Christmas Eve (크리스마스 이브). We wish everyone receive a lot of Christmas presents (선물) under the Christmas tree (크리스마스 트리) at home.

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

How many of these English words do you know? In Sep, Oxford English Dictionary added 26 English words with #Korean origin. BTW, 9 Oct is the hangeul day #한글날 , a national holiday in S. Korea to commemorate the invention and proclamation of #hangeul in the 15th century.

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Korean vocabularies come from 3 sources: native Korean vocabularies (고유어); Chinese characters - Hanja (한자) and loanwords(외래어), borrowed from other languages. #Blackpink is one of the most famous K-pop groups. Do you know which method is used to describe black and pink?

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

You are my 1004. If your Korean friend leaves 1004 in the comment, he might mean that you are an angel, because in Sino-Korean number, the pronunciation of thousand (천Cheon) and four (사 Sa) is same as angel #천사! It is an internet slang.

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Lunar 15th Aug is the Thanksgiving Day in Korea ( #추석 Chu-Seok). Family members will gather together to pray gratitude to the ancestors for the fruitful harvest. Nowadays, luncheon meat becomes a popular festival gift amongst companies and friends. Cultural shock!?

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

사과 (Sa – Gwa) means apple, which comes from #hanja 沙果. The same pronunciation also has other meanings. Because hanja is not used in Korean language nowadays, sometimes further explanation might be needed for a vocabulary.

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Native #Korean vocabularies (고유어), such as butterfly (나비 Na-Bi) and loanwords (외래어), which translated from foreign languages, such as Net Tie (넥타이 Neg - Ta - I ), can combine to form new vocabularies. Can you guess what 나비 넥타이 means?

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

풍차 means windmill. It comes directly from the two #hanja (風車). To English speakers, it might require a bit of imagination. Stay tuned for more interesting quizzes to come.

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

IQ Challenge - Those who understand #hanja might easily guess the meaning of 풍차 by the individual meaning of each hangul. Can you imagine what 풍차 is? Feel free to comment!

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Happy Father's Day (아버지 날)! Apart from Father (아버지 A-Beo-Ji ), (할아버지 Hal-A-Beo-Ji ), which means grandfather, is also quite often heard in Korean dramas. So, what is (시 아버지 Si-A-Beo-Ji)? Tips - it is also a family member!

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Today (15May) is the Teachers' Day 스승의날 (Seu-Seung-Ui-Nal) in South Korea. 선생님 (Seon-Saeng-Nim) which means teacher, is often heard in Korean drama. Meanwhile, 감사합니다 (Gam-Sa-Ham-Ni-Da Thank You) is probably the most well-known Korean phrase to foreigners.

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Challenge! #덕분에챌린지 - Join South Korean President and various Korean super stars to pay tribute to the medical staff in fighting COVID-19. #의료진덕분에 의료진 (Ui - Lyo - Jin) comes from #hanja meaning medical team. 덕분에 (Deog - Bun - E) means "Thanks to". #덕분에캠페인

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

#ClapforHK HongKongers clapped their hands on Friday to applaud the health workers in fighting the coronavirus! Korean word "clapping" comes from #hanja (박수 Bak-Su). #TogetherWeFightTheVirus

[HanBlock @HanBlockKorean]

Korean alphabet (hangul) is phonetic, composed of consonants and vowel. Each hangul might have many relevant Chinese roots called #Hanja. Understanding the Chinese roots' meanings, without the need of recognizing the characters, learners can quickly grasp a lot of vocabularies.