[photo] 시골 (the countryside)

[hyunwoo]

시골 (sigol) is the word for 'countryside' in Korean

And this is a picture of my father's 시골, or his 고향(gohyang = hometown). I was born in a city called 광주(Gwangju), but my father was born in a 시골 area called 보성(boseong - it's famous for green tea plantation), and I go there twice a year, once for the 추석(chuseok) holiday, and once in order to pay a respectful visit to my grandfather's tomb.

And this is a photo from atop the mountain where my grandfather's grave is. It's a very lovely place( I mean this 시골), and I feel comfortable when I'm there.

But, can I live there for the rest of my life? no way.. I'm a city person. T.T

[JockZon]

Nice picture. It's nice to see.

[hyunwoo]

Thank, 요아킴, and it's a very nice place to visit, too. I hope you'll be able to see a Korean 시골 for yourself one day!!

[steved]

제 부인의 고향은 여수시입니다. 보성이 어디 있는지 안다고 했읍니다.
My wife's home town is Yeosu. She said she knows where Boseong is.

[hyunwoo]

Steve, 했읍니다 used to be correct until the 80's but now it's correct to write 했습니다. I am sure you already know this but just wanted to remind you ^_^


와, 여수 ... 정말 예쁜 곳!! 전라도는 아직 대기오염이 심각하지 않아서 공기가 좋기 때문에, 갈 때마다 정말 기분이 좋아요.
Wow, Yeosu, it's a very beautiful place! In Jeonla Province, the air pollution isn't serious yet so the air is very good, and I feel so good whenever I go there.

[steved]

I thought both ways were correct. I guess I was just being old fashioned and not knowing. 실수했습니다.

[hyunwoo]

ㅋㅋㅋ

옛날에는 둘 다 맞았었는데, 지금은 '습니다'만 맞아요.
Both used to correct in the past but right now only '습니다' is correct.

But in speech it doesn't make difference in pronuncation, right?

[steved]

On a related note, I have been meaning to ask, which is more correct or is there a difference between the informal polite ending 오 and 요? It seems like the two can be used interchangeably most times but is there a rule?

[hyunwoo]

It really depends on the context, but

가세요 (O) 가세오 (X)

가시오 (O) 가시요 (X)

그래요 (O) 그래오 (X)

As you can see you usually say '오' after a '이' sound

and '요' after a '에' or '애' sound,

but in case of saying "No"

both '아니오' and '아니요' are correct.

[steved]

Doesn't 아니에요 (or is it 아니예요?) also work? It seems like I have seen it written both ways.

[hyunwoo]

Actually,

아니에요 is correct,

and 아니예요 is incorrect.


You can say "아녜요" as short for "아니에요" but

아니예요 is basically wrong


^_^ Hope it helps!

[Keith]

한국 시골이 재밌어요 ^^ I went to 춘천 a few times to visit a family friend. and i loved it! it's so peaceful Kind of like your picture

[steved]

I grew up in the city, worked in San Francisco during summers but I now live in the 시골 and really don't miss the big city at all. It is great to go and visit friends there but I am glad I don't live there anymore, too much traffic.

Is that contraction allowed (재밌어요 as opposed to 재미 있어요)?