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안녕하세요. What are some things that you are good at? And what are some things that you are not so good at?
Find out how to say that in Korean through this lesson and let us know what you are good or bad at, in Korean! Leave us comments and we will help you make your sentences more natural!
Thank you as always for studying with us! 감사합니다.
You can download a free PDF for this lesson here, or if you want to study with our TalkToMeInKorean textbooks, you can get them here. And after you learn the basics, try writing your own Korean sentences and get corrections from native speakers through HaruKorean, our 1:1 correction service.
in the example 제 친구는 수영을 잘 해요. why isn’t it 제 친구는 수영기을 잘 해요.?
The verb to swim is 수영하다. 수영 is already a noun so there is no need to add 기.
1) 저는 한국말로 문법이 많은 잘못해요. (I make many mistakes using Korean grammar.)
네! 매운 거 잘 먹어요~ ^^ 매운 거 좋아해요!(: 제 한국어 못 하다. :c but i do try my best!(:
내 언니가 요리를 못 하다
is it right?
안영하세요 선생님들!
“매운걸 정말 좋아해요, 그리고 저는 처리 잘 수 없어요.”
이거 맞아요?
감사함니다!
한국어를 못 해요! Is this correct?
I really want to improve my Korean skills ^_^
Kamsahamnida,Hyunwoo Sun-ssi and Kyeong-eun-ssi
Hi teachers
I always hear people say a phrase after they wrap up a show or performance, etc.. It ends with ‘습니다’. I think it means ‘good job’ or ‘well done’. What is it that they say?
Thanks
Hi Jen,
Just “습니다” can not meant anything. Regarding ‘good job’ or ‘well done’, people can say “잘 했어요” or “잘 했습니다”.
Thank you teacher 석진.
I have another question that I just thought of. The performers I work with always say ‘고맙습니다’ to me but they never say ‘감사합니다’. I know they both mean ‘thak you’ but what is the difference?
Thanks
매운 거 잘 못 먹어요…매운 거 좀 좋하요
Here’s what I’ve tried^^ Hehe
저는 기타를 잘 쳐요.
Side note: We also say things like “When have I ever been late?” in English to imply that we aren’t ever late.
In the sample sentence, “I am good at solving puzzles”, the Korean translation for this is “저는 퍼즐을 잘 풀어요.” My question is whether 저는 퍼즐 풀기를 잘해요 is correct as well because the lesson taught me that people do not usually use 잘 + verb, except for simple, everyday verbs like to sleep/eat.
잘 먹다 and 잘 자다 are comnmon expressions for “able to eat” and good night”. It doesn’t make sense to say good at eating or good at sleeping.
The point is that some verbs have too ambiguous meanings and they often require object to complete the sentence.
like 쓰다 and 풀다.
잘 풀어요 – solve what? 퍼즐
잘 써요 – use/write/wear what? 글씨
And some verbs that don’t require object like 달리다, in this case you may need to write 달리기, but not necessary, to be more clear.
잘 달려요 – you run well
달리기를 잘해요 – you good at running
I apologize if I’m repeating the previous comment but I’m a bit confused.
I solve puzzles well
저는 퍼즐을 잘 풀어요.
I –> puzzles –> well –> solve
vs.
I do the act of solving puzzles well.
저는 퍼즐을 풀기를 잘 해요.
I –> puzzles –> the act of solving –> well –> do
Can both of these be considered correct? I’m having trouble identifying when to use one grammar structure over the other.
Also, the following example is given:
Do you do the act of running well?
달리기를 잘 해요?
Is (Do you run well) incorrect or strange?
잘 달려요?
Why does it have to be changed to noun form?
Sorry if I’m writing a novel but this has been the most confusing part of Korean I’ve encountered so far.
If this difficult…
Yes, first both are same.
The different is like “you run well” and “you do running well”. It’s almost same but 2nd more clear. (because 1st can aslo mean running right now).
note that running is a noun. Just in English it looks same as present prgoressive. I think it’s called Gerund, which is form of Verbal noun. You can read wiki in your native language about it if you want.
안영하세요!
매운 거 잘 먹어요?
네. 저 매운 거 좋아요! But my stomach is quite sensitive, so I cannot eat a lot of spicy food. Such a shame.
Anyway, let me tell you the things I do well and I do poorly.
저는 수상스포츠를 잘 못 해요.
(I am not good at water sports)
And I wanted to say “I am good at reading fast”, but am not sure of which sentece is better. Here are the options I came up with:
1. 저는 빠르게 읽기를 잘 해요.
2. 저는 빠르게를 잘 읽어요.
Can you tell me which one is right? Thanks!
안영하세요!
매운 거 잘 먹어요?
네. 저 매운 거 좋아요! But my stomach is quite sensitive, so I cannot eat a lot of spicy food. Such a shame.
Anyway, let me tell you the things I do well and I do poorly.
저는 수상스포츠를 잘 못 해요.
(I am not good at water sports)
And I wanted to say “I am good at reading fast”, but am not sure of which sentece is better. Here are the options I came up with:
1. 저는 빠르게 읽기를 잘 해요.
2. 저는 빠르게를 잘 읽어요.
Can you please tell me which one is better? Thanks.
저는 빠르게를 잘 읽어요.> It is not natural. 저는 빠르게 잘 읽어요. You can say like this. No. 1 is better.
안녕하세요 선생님,
How about this sentence, 저는 매운 거 못 별로 먹어요. (I am not really good at eating spicy food). Or should I just say 저는 매운 거 잘 못 먹어요.
정말 감사합니다 for the lessons
못 always before verb I think… 못 별로 먹어요 sounds awkward.
쿠기를 잘 구워요
한국어는 공부를 잘 해요! Would that be right?
The meaning is little vague. Did you mean that “I study Korean well”? Then, “(저는) 한국어 공부를 잘 해요”is correct.
Thanks.
In L2-L17 I wrote
….아직 한국어를 못 말해요
Is it better to say?
아직, 저는 한국어를 잘 못 해요. [I am not good in korean yet]
yes, better. 저는 한국어를 아직 잘 못해요. 못 only with 하다 is like one word.
Hi Greg, I saw your response on L2/L17 to my sentence. Thank you. Are you studying also hangul? Or are you a teacher too? Thanks again for your response
Korean, yes, studying
(Hangul is the writing system).
Trying to answer here questions just to review old things and maybe learn new by looking into them. And well, help others on the way.
btw as far 아직 placement concerned . (저는) 아직 한국어를 잘 못해요 is also ok,
but 아직 and then 저는 a bit awkward.
Korean yes
Well I do appreciate any help Greg! It didn’t sound right to me too but I need to keep practicing (or making mistakes) to get better at it right? I revised the pdf of the lesson and there is a space between 못 and the conjugated verb. For example they had the following in the Sample sentences:
저는 노래를 잘 못 해요. [jeo-neun no-rae-reul jal mot hae-yo.]
= I can’t sing well. / I’m not good at singing.
I am trying to learn to read Korean because of a novel that I want to read. I bought the novel in Korean (which is now sitting in my desk looking at me) to motivate me.
My first language is Spanish if that can help any Korean student here (or the teachers).
아직, 저는 한국어를 잘 못 해요.
Yeah, this one is much better.
Hi! *-*
I am good at swimming and dancing.
(저는 수영이랑 춤추를 잘 해요.)
My friends and I are good at eating spicy food.
(제 친구랑 저는 매운 거 먹을 잘 해요.)
I am not good at playing soccer.
(저는 축구를 잘 못 해요.)
In this sentence, I didn’t use 놀 because it doesn’t sound good. Is’t right?
When I make a sentence like I am good at playing (any sports or instrument) is it okay not to add 놀 in my sentence?
How will I say, ‘She is good in many things?’
Can you help me with it?
THANK YOU! ^^
저는 수영도 잘 하고 춤도 잘 춰요 or 춤추기도 잘 해요.
제 친구랑 저는 매운 거 먹기(를) 잘 해요 or 잘 먹어요.
You can’t just add object particle to a verb.
No, it’s not okay to say 놀다 with specific activity at all. 놀다 is just to fool around, have fun, or do nothing useful. There’s specific verb for similar groups of activities.
If it’s just ball then you say 하다.
If you use some instrument to strike the ball, you use verb to strike/hit 치다.
If it’s riding something, then you use 타다 – to ride 차, 바이크, 스키, 말 등등.
In general you can use 연주하다 or 하다, but for specific kind of instrument there’s usually a verb associated:
again 치다 for guitar or piano (For strings and keys)
wind instruments 불다 to blow air.
In case of violin, just checked, it’s 켜다, to saw (among others meanings).
그 아이는 많은 것들을 잘 해요 or 여러 가지 일(활동, 운동, 악기)를 잘 해요. various kinds of jobs/ activities/ sports/ instruments.
저는 수영이랑 춤추를 잘 해요. > 저는 수영과 춤 추는 것을 잘 해요.
제 친구랑 저는 매운 거 먹을 잘 해요. > 제 친구랑 저는 매운 것을 잘 먹어요.
저는 축구를 잘 못 해요. > perfect!
As the expression “to play soccer” is translated as “축구를 하다”, you don’t need to add “놀다” to mean “to play” intentionally.
She is good in many things > 그녀는 많은 것(들)을 잘 해요.
Thanks for your comment.
감사합니다 성생님 (들)!
But, can I ask some more questions for clarification?
I’m just wondering why there is 것을 in 저는 수영과 춤 추는 것을 잘 해요.?
And, why there is ㅅ in 것 (제 친구랑 저는 매운 것을 잘 먹어요.)
Where can I exactly differentiate the two?
I guess I’m really confuse and can get it.
P.S. How can you say I am good at playing piano? If it’s okay.
감사합니다 again!
About first question try listening to next lesson
거 and 것 is the same thing, but you won’t see much 거 used with particles.
It’s either 것은 것이 것을 or 건 게 걸 or just 거, 것도.
저는 피아노를 잘 쳐요. Yes it’s okay. Ask more please
Hi Hinata,
I am sure why 것 is used in the sentences if you check the link below:
http://www.talktomeinkorean.com/lessons/level-2-lesson-19/
How can you say I am good at playing piano?
> 저는 피아노를 잘 쳐요. or 저는 피아노 치는 것을 잘 해요.
“매운 거 잘 못 먹어요”
“제 친구 이탈리아어를 잘 해요” <- i'm not sure about this one, i wanted to say "my friend speaks italian well"
are these right?
제 친구 이탈리아어를 잘 해요. > Awesome. Good job!
Let me add subject marking particle.
> 제 친구는 이탈리아어를 잘 해요.
안녕하세요! 저는 스페인에 살아요.
저는 매운 거 잘 못 먹어요.
잘 하다 is chal ha da and 못 하다 is mo ta da? 하 is read as ha or ta??
하 is read as ha
못 하다 literally is mot ha-da, but that h has no sound
잘 하다 sounds like [jal ha-da] and 못 하다 sounds like [mo ta-da].
At the end of a word or before a consonant, all Korean consonants are pronounced without releasing air and as a result, the sound changes. For the ㅅ sound, it turns to a ㄷ (t) sound because you are not releasing any air when finishing the word. For example, 옷 (ot) is pronounced with the “t/d” sound because your tongue is kind of trapped between your teeth when you’re finished!! It’s really hard to not release any air when saying the ㅅ sound, so the t/d sound (ㄷ) is used to ease pronunciation. There are a number of consonants that change sounds at the end of a word, so please refer to this chart: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/smorriskc/FinalChart.png
When the last consonant ㅅ is followed by ㅎ, then the ㅅ affect ㅎ and it makes ㅎ to sound like [t].
I was asked in English if I could eat spicy food (or maybe it was a specific food such as gimchi) well. I had no idea what the question meant. Your discussion explains it.
I was wondering if this conversation would be right…?
A: 매운 거 잘 먹어요?
B: 아니요. 매운 거 잘 못먹어요… 매운 거 저는 하나도 먹을수없다. 저는 물 많이 마시 고있을거예요.
I’m not sure if using 먹을수없다 is correct here, or if I need to change it into something else? Thanks!!
못먹어요 > 못 먹어요
먹을수없다. > 먹을 수 없어요 (formal form)
마시 고있을거예요. > 마시고 있을 거예요.
저는 그림을 잘해요.(I’m good at painting)
저는 수영을 못해요(I’m not good at swimming)
저는 매얼 먹기를 잘해요(I’m good at eating spicy foods)
I’m not to sure on this one, would it be better if I say :저는 매울 잘 먹어요 ?
Is it ok?
저는 그림을 잘해요. > 저는 그림을 잘 그려요.
저는 수영을 못해요. > Good!
저는 매얼 먹기를 잘해요 > 저는 매운 음식을 잘 먹어요.
저는 보기를 잘 해요. If I write honorificaly, it would be like this: 저는 보기를 잘 합니다?
너는 달리기 잘 못 해요.
그는 운동을 잘 해요.
저는 매일 아침이 늦어요.
고마워요!
It’s more like formal polite rather honorific. That ending not related to honorific expression afaik.
Also I’m not sure what you tried to say there… But to say in honorific the 2nd example: 당신은 달리기는 잘 못하세요 in polite spoken honorific or 못하십니다 in polite formal honorific. Basically you need to add that 시 base, or 으시 for consonants, and then the ending. Exception 시어요 becomes 세요.
Don’t say 너 with 존댓말. In worst case, or in case of an example say 당신.
thank you!
안녕하세요. 저는 배구를 잘 해요, 그리고 배구하는 것 정말 좋아해요!
선생님 감사합니다!
Hello,SeokJin!!!!
I did some sentence,are they right?
춤도 잘 추고 그림도 잘 그려요(I am good at dancing and painting)
사진도 잘 찍고 수영도 잘 하고 노래도 잘 불러요(I am good at taking a photo,swimming and singing)
운전도 잘 하고 읽기도 잘 해요.(I am good at driving and reading)
Hi Yulika,
춤도 잘 추고 그림도 잘 그려요 > Great!
사진도 잘 찍고 수영도 잘 하고 노래도 잘 불러요 > Great!
운전도 잘 하고 읽기도 잘 해요.> There is no grammatical mistake, but regarding 읽기, we rather use a word 독서 which literally means “reading book”.
> 운전도 잘 하고 독서도 잘 해요.
Thanks for your comment.
Hi,
And how to say “more or less good”?
Or something like “I used to be good doing X but now I am not that good”
more or less is 더 or 덜, or I think more often 더 + some negative descriptive verb. But in your case its 별로 which means “not much”. I think it’s all covered in lesson 16 and 29.
x를 잘 했었는데 이제는 별로예요.
or simplified: x를 잘 했었어요. 그런데 이제는 별로 못해요.
The double past tense you can translate as “used to be” “was doing for a period of time”.
배구를 잘 해요!!
매운 거 잘 못 해요!!!
요리룰 못 해요!!!
제 덩생눈 운전울 못 해요!!!
못하다 is one word and spelling…
매운 거 잘 못 먹어요
배구를 잘 해요!!
매운 거 잘 못 해요!!!
요리룰 못 해요!!!
제 덩생눈 운전울 못 해요!!!
감사합니다!!!
Hi Anastasia,
매운 거 잘 못 해요!!! > 매운 거 잘 못 먹어요.
요리룰 못 해요 > 요리를 못 해요.
제 덩생눈 운전울 못 해요 > 제 동생은 운전을 못 해요.
Thanks for your comment.
I would like to ask if i can answer the question 매운 거 잘 먹어요 with 매운 거 잘 먹어요 and 매운 거 좋아해요.?
looking forward on your reply
선생님,
i would like to ask if this sentence is correct. I used lesson 18 for this sentence with -고싶어요.
저는 글을 잘 쓰고싶어요.
I want to be a good writer.
please correct my sentence..
감사합니다.
안녕하세요 선생님! ^^
I dont understand this sentence. “저는 글씨를 잘 못 써요.” Why have “써요” at the end of the sentence?
What does “써요” mean? I’m confused.
감사합니다.
저는 한국어 잘 못 해요, but I think I could help:
In your sentence — 저는 글씨를 잘 못 써요:
글씨 means “writing” or “letters”
를 is an object marking particle
and finally, 써요 is the present tense of 쓰다 (쓰 + 어요 = 써요), which means to write.
So your sentence literally means “I’m bad at writing letters/writings.”.
저는 잘먹하다 is it right
Hm.. I don’t know what you wanted to mean. Anyway, 잘먹하다 is not correct expression.