Talk To Me In Korean Lesson of the Day #2

This weeks TTMIK lesson: Level 4 Lesson 18

In Level 2 Lesson 29, we introduced how to say “more” in Korean.
더 [deo] = more
Examples:
1. 조금 더 [ jo-geum deo] = a little more
2. 더 많이 [deo ma-ni] = more + much = more
3. 더 주세요. [deo ju-se-yo.] = Give me more.
4. 더 먹고 싶어요. [deo meok-go si-peo-yo.] = I want to eat more.
And now in this lesson, let us look at how to say “the best” or “the most” in Korean.
Most (+ adjective/adverb) = 제일 [ je-il] / 가장 [ga-jang]
In English, the words “most” and “best” can be used as both adverbs and nouns. The usage that we are looking at
today is its usage only as an adverb. (When “most” works as a noun, other Korean words are used, and they will be
introduced in a future lesson.)
제일 and 가장 are almost the same thing and they can be used interchangeably. 제일 is a sino-Korean word while
가장 is a native Korean word.
Example #1
예쁘다 [ye-ppeu-da] = to be pretty
제일 예뻐요. [ je-il ye-ppeo-yo.] = (subject) is the prettiest/the most beautiful.
제일 예쁜 여자 [ je-il ye-ppeun yeo-ja] = the prettiest girl/the most beautiful girl
제일 = 가장
제일 예뻐요 = 가장 예뻐요
제일 예쁜 여자 = 가장 예쁜 여자
** 제일 is used more commonly in spoken Korean than 가장.

Example #2
좋다 [ jo-ta] = to be good
제일 좋아요. [ je-il jo-a-yo.] = (subject) is the best (most + good).
제일 좋은 것 [ je-il jo-eun geot] = the best (most + good) thing
Sample phrases
1. 이게 제일 좋아요. [i-ge je-il jo-a-yo.]
= This is the best (one).
2. 제일 가까운 역이 어디에요? [ je-il ga-kka-un yeo-gi eo-di-e-yo?]
= Where is the closest station?
3. 어떤 색깔이 가장 좋아요? [eo-tteon saek-kka-ri ga-jang jo-a-yo?]
= Which color is the best? / Which color is your favorite?
4. 제일 먼저 온 사람이 누구예요? [ je-il meon-je on sa-ra-mi nu-gu-ye-yo?]
= Who is the person that came here first?
5. 요즘 가장 인기 있는 가수는 누구예요? [yo-jeum ga-jang in-gi it-neun ga-su-neun nu-gu-ye-yo?]
= These days, who is the most popular singer?


(all credit for this lesson goes to Talk To Me In Korean and the staff)