Do You Know The Difference Between The Vowels 'ㅏ, ㅗ' and 'ㅓ, ㅜ'?

In our last post, we explored some fun and cute Korean expressions. Today, let’s take those expressions up a notch by learning a skill that can make them even more interesting. This is going to be a lot of fun!

'ㅏ, ㅗ' vs. 'ㅓ, ㅜ'

This is what I learned in Korean class at school when I was a child.

Vowels like 'ㅏ' and 'ㅗ' tend to have a light and bright (positive) tone, while 'ㅓ' and 'ㅜ' carry a heavier and darker (negative) tone.

In the expressions we covered in the last post, like "소복소복," "폭신폭신," "반짝반짝," and "깜빡깜빡," all the vowels are either 'ㅏ' or 'ㅗ.' This is partly why these words feel cute and cheerful. But what happens if we switch to 'ㅓ' or 'ㅜ'? Let’s explore with some examples.

수북수북

"수염이 수북수북 자랐어요." (His beard has grown 수북수북.)

: This word is great for describing something messy and overgrown, like unkempt beards or weeds.

푹신푹신

"새로 산 소파가 푹신푹신해요." (The new sofa is 푹신푹신.)

: While "폭신폭신" feels light and bouncy, "푹신푹신" adds a sense of depth.

번쩍번쩍

"밤하늘에 불꽃이 번쩍번쩍 했어요." (Fireworks 번쩍번쩍 in the night sky.)

: "반짝반짝" conveys a small and delicate feeling, while "번쩍번쩍" is more fitting for a large and strong light.

껌뻑껌뻑

"피곤해서 눈을 껌뻑껌뻑 했어요." (I blinked my eyes 껌뻑껌뻑.)

: This word gives the impression of slower, stronger blinks then "깜빡깜빡".

The meanings are essentially the same, but the feeling shifts from cute to more serious or even slightly negative.

Color Descriptions

If we apply the nuances of 'ㅏ' and 'ㅗ', 'ㅓ' and 'ㅜ' to colors, it becomes possible to create some really interesting color expressions. Let's take a look at a few commonly used colors as examples.

하얗다 vs. 허옇다

"하얀 얼굴 vs. 허연 얼굴" (White face)

: How is it? Can you feel the difference in nuance between the two examples? "하얀 얼굴" refers to a clear and clean face. On the other hand, while "허연 얼굴" also describes a white face, it is used to convey the feeling of a face that looks "sick" or "pale." Of course, in both cases, you can still use "하얀 얼굴." However, if you want to emphasize a negative condition, "허연" is a better choice.

노랗다 vs. 누렇다

"노란 꽃 vs, 누런 이" (Yellow flowers vs. Yellow teeth)

: You will immediately sense the difference in the examples. "노랗다" refers to the pretty yellow color we typically imagine. However, "누렇다" indicates a more dull and darker shade of yellow. Therefore, "누렇다" is more appropriate for describing teeth that have turned yellow due to not brushing.

파랗다 vs. 퍼렇다

"파란 하늘 vs. 퍼런 멍" (Blue sky vs. Blue bruise)

: Similarly, a clear and clean shade of blue is described as "파랗다," while a dull and dark blue is described as "퍼렇다." The term "퍼렇다" fits well with dull and negative words such as "bruise," "mold," or "rust."

➤ We’ve looked at how changing just the vowels in a word can completely alter its nuance. Here’s a tip: when using words with 'ㅓ' or 'ㅜ,' try stretching out the pronunciation a bit to emphasize the negative feeling. Keep an ear out for these expressions in Korean dramas—you might find yourself enjoying Korean content even more!