11 Some vocabulary contrasts
No two languages present the world in exactly the same way, and it is common for one language to make distinctions that another ignores. This chapter focuses
on some areas in which Korean makes contrasts in its vocabulary that have no direct counterpart in English.
11.1 Verbs of wearing
Unlike English, Korean uses different verbs for different types of ‘wearing’ – depending on the body part that is covered and also depending on how you put
the article of clothing on. Typical articles and accessories for each verb of wearing are provided below.
11.1.1 Depending on the body part that is covered
• Things that are put on the torso as clothes: 입다 옷 clothes
바지 pants 웃도리 top
코트 coat 조끼 vest
잠바 jacket 스웨터 sweater
치마 skirt 앞치마 apron
팬티 pantiesboxers 팬티 스타킹 panty hose
내 winter underwear 수영 swim suit
교 school uniform
비옷 rain coat 밖에 추우니까 든든히 입어라. 바지 입고 조끼도 입고 코트도 입어.
It’s cold outside, so bundle up. Put on the pants, the vest, and also the coat.
• Things that are put on the feet: 신다
신발 shoes 양말 socks
구두 dress shoes 부츠 boots
운동화 sneakers 장화 rubber boots
실내화 indoor shoes 팬티 스타킹 panty hose
판타롱밴드 스타킹 knee-lengththigh-length stockings 구두 신지 말고 운동화 신어. 그런데 바지를 입은 거니 신은 거니?
Wear sneakers, not dress shoes. By the way, are you wearing your pants as clothes or as shoes? Your pants are too long
NOTE: Both
입다 and 신다 can be used for 팬티 스타킹.
• Things that end up on or over the head: 쓰다
안경 glasses 모자 hat
가발 wig 가면 mask
우산 umbrella
면강도가 머리에 스타킹을 뒤집어 쓰고 들어 왔어요. The masked robber came in with a stocking over his head.
• Things that are put around the wrist, ankle, or waist: 차다
시계 watch 팔찌 bracelet
발찌 anklet 수
handcuffs 기저귀 diaper
총칼 gunknife
보통 왼 손에 시계를 차고 오른 손에 팔찌를 차지요.
People usually wear a watch on the left wrist and a bracelet on the right one.
• Things that are put around the shoulders: 걸치다
숄 shawl 카디건 cardigan
코트 coat
추울텐데 이 카디건 걸칠래? It must be cold; do you want to put this cardigan around your shoulders?
11.1.2 Depending on the manner of putting something on
• Things that are put on by ‘tying’ or ‘buckling’: 매다
타이 necktie 벨트 belt
스카프 scarf
오늘 금요일이니까 캐주얼하게 타이는 매지 말아야겠다.
I think I better not wear a tie today because it’s Friday and I want to be casual.
• Things that are put on by ‘slipping on’ or ‘squeezing into’: 끼다
반지 ring 장 gloves
안경 glasses 콘택트 렌즈 contact lens
팔찌 bracelet 손가
마다 반지를 꼈어. 심지어는 엄지 손가 에까지. She has rings on each and every finger, including even her thumbs.
• Things that are put on by ‘hanging’: 걸다
그 걸이 거니까 우아해 보여요.
You look elegant with the necklace on.
• Things that are put on by ‘attaching’: 달다 or 부 하다 [writtenformal]
이름표명찰 name tag 배지 badge
리본 ribbon 세미나에 참
하시는 동안 모두 이름표를 부 해 주시기 바랍니다. We’d like all of you to wear name tags during the seminar.
이름표를 다니까 사람들 이름 외우기에 편하네요. 다니까 달으니까 It’s easy to memorize people’s names because they have name tags on.
• Τhings that are put on by ‘spraying’: 뿌리다 향수는 너무 많이 뿌리지 않고
당히 뿌리는 것이 히 중요하다. It’s extremely important not to overdo one’s perfume but to wear just the
right amount.
• Things that are put on by ‘wrapping around’: 두르다
앞치마 apron 수건 towel
두건 bandana 실크 스카프 silk scarf
털 도리 wool scarf
숄 shawl
머리에는 두건을 두르고 에는 수건을 둘렀더라구요.
I saw him with a bandana around his head and a towel around his neck.
• Things that are put on by ‘inserting’: 꽂다
머리에 핀을 꽂고 양쪽 귀 뒤에 꽃을 꽂았어요. She wore a pin in her hair and flowers behind both her ears.
• Things accessories that are put on in various manners: 하다
타이 necktie 벨트 belt
스카프 도리 scarf 팔찌발찌 braceletanklet
귀걸이 ear ring 걸이 necklace
리본 ribbon 머리핀 hairpin
가발 wig 가면 mask
앞치마 apron 브래지어 bra
큰 도리를 하니까 귀걸이가 안 보인다.
Because you wore a big scarf, I cannot see your ear rings. • Any of the articles from above and other things that can be put on as part of
formal attire, out of regulation, and so on:
용하다 [writtenformal]
유니폼 uniform 군 military uniform
교 school uniform 배지 badge
예 ceremonial clothes 정장 formal suit
수영모 bathing cap 구명조끼 life vest
이름표명찰 name tag 수영장에서는 반드시 수영모자를
용해 주시기 바랍니다. Please be sure to wear bathing caps in the pool.
NOTE: 입다, 쓰다, 달다, etc. are used in non-formal situations: 수영모자 안 쓰고 수영하다 걸렸어 ‘I got caught while swimming without a bathing cap.’
As we have seen, more than one verb can be used with a particular item. This can come about due to differences in the formality of the situation as in the case of
달다 vs. 부 하다 and 입다쓰다달다 vs. 용하다. In addition, the choice of verb can vary depending on whether the speaker focuses on the body part that is
covered or the manner of putting something on. So we can say 안경을 쓰다 because glasses are put on the head, but we can also say 안경을 끼다 because
they are slipped on.
