아예

[orbiter]

I see this word being used in so many ways - is there any neat explanation of its uses? Thank you!

Some examples:

1) 아니면 아예 사지 않는 것이 더 좋을까요?
2) 아예 그런 생각은 없었다
3) 모든 담배 광고는 아예 못하게 해야 한다고 생각해요.

[trutherous]

For "아예" most of the time you can plug "completely" or "absolutely" or "at all" into an English translation in its place.

1) 아니면 아예 사지 않는 것이 더 좋을까요?
2) 아예 그런 생각은 없었다
3) 모든 담배 광고는 아예 못하게 해야 한다고 생각해요.

1. On the other hand, would absolutely not buying it be better? -- Or else, would just not buying that (at all) be better?

2. That kind of thought was completely absent (from my mind). -- Such a thought never (at all) crossed my mind.

3. I think all tobacco ads should be completely banned. -- I think all tobacco ads should be utterly forbidden.

Hope that helps.

[team.relationships]

Hi orbiter

"아예"
It means probably "never", "do not even".

ex; 거짓말은 아예 하지 마세요.
Never tell a lie.
Don't even think about lying.

Thanks

Anne,
Team KoreanClass101.com

[team.relationships]

Thanks for the best examples, 영훈님!

Anne,
Team KoreanClass101.com

[trutherous]

별 말씀을요 Anne 선생님

I forgot to mention that 아예 takes a negative predicate (thanks to Anne 선생님 for reminding me). That's why you will often see 아예 translated "never" but in Korean the "N" (negative) of "never (e.g. Not ever, Not at all)" actually occurs later in the predicate.

Orbiter - Sorry about the confusion -You are not likely to find completely or absolutely in the English definitions but you will find "(not) by any means" and "altogether (not, don't, won't)" in some Korean-English dictionaries, namely Dong-A's Prime 한영사전. And you will find "absolutely" in the French and Spanish definitions as "절대로" absolument -and- absolutamente respectively.

Anne's examples are perhaps best for native English speakers, by translating 아예 as "never" and "don't (do not) even;" however, I purposely chose not to use "never" in my examples in order to show the more literal function of the word 아예 in Korean grammar.

Anne's Korean example clearly shows that the negative function comes later in the predicate, where as the English examples show that in English the negative function is coupled with the term "ever" or "even;" however, 아예 must have a negative connotation because it is always used in conjunction with a negative predicate.

ex; 거짓말은 아예 하지 마세요.
Never tell a lie.
Don't even think about lying.

ex; 거짓말은 아예 하지 마세요.
Never tell a lie. (Do not ever tell a lie)
Don't even think about lying. (Do not even think about lying)
--we could also translate this: Do not lie at all. or Do not lie ever!

By modifying the same example the necessity of a negative predicate becomes even more apparent:

거짓말은 아예 하지 않아요.
I don't ever lie.
I never lie.
I don't lie at all.
I absolutely do not lie.
I completely don't lie (I know this is an awkward sentence in English --just illustrating the function of 아예)
I don't lie by any means.

--whew-- I only wish I could say that sentence was true for me

[orbiter]

Thank you for the multiple explanations everybody!!

[team.relationships]

You're most welcome Orbiter!
Please feel free to ask your questions any time. We'd be happy to help you.

Regards,
Neha
Team KoreanClass101.com

[team.relationships]

You're most welcome Orbiter!
Please feel free to ask your questions any time. We'd be happy to help you.

Regards,
Neha
Team KoreanClass101.com