Transforming Nouns into Adjectives in Korean Using '적'

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Written byLee Min-jung (이민정)

Turning Sino-Korean Nouns into Adjectives with '적'

In Korean, N + 적 is a common grammatical structure used primarily with nouns of Chinese origin, known as Sino-Korean nouns. This structure is akin to adding '-al', '-ive', or '-ic' to English words, thereby transforming nouns into adjectives.

Noun to Adjective Transformations

Noun (Sino-Korean)Transformed Adjective
낙관 (optimism)낙관 (optimistic)
사교 (society)사교 (sociable)
역사 (history)역사 (historical)
정기 (an interval)정기 (regular)
감동 (impression, emotion)감동 (emotional)
개인 (an individual)개인 (personal)

Sample Sentences Using '적'

I am very optimistic about the future.
My friend is very sociable.
That was a moving (emotional) performance.
Personally, I think kimchi doesn't taste good.
I attend church regularly.
Historically, the UK is a Christian country.

Conclusion

The 'N + 적' structure is a fundamental and versatile element in Korean grammar. By mastering its usage, learners can expand their vocabulary and enhance their descriptive capabilities in the language, making their conversations richer and more nuanced.

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Understand how to use '적' with Sino-Korean nouns to form adjectives equivalent to '-al', '-ive', and '-ic' in English.
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Lee Min-jung (이민정)
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