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Questions & Answers about chimsil changmuneul datgo keoteuneul chyeo bwa.
What does the -고 in 닫고 do?
-고 is a verb connector meaning “and” or “then.” It links 닫다 (to close) with the next verb 치다 (to draw). So 닫고 means “close (the window), and then…”
Why is 커튼을 치다 used instead of 커튼을 닫다 to close the curtains?
In Korean, you 치다 curtains, not 닫다, even though in English we say “close” or “draw” the curtains. 커튼을 치다 literally means “to pull/draw the curtains.”
What does 쳐 봐 mean? Why use 보다 here?
쳐 봐 comes from 쳐 보다, where -아/어 보다 adds the meaning “try to.” So 쳐 봐 means “try drawing the curtains.” The 봐 is the informal imperative of 보다 (to see/try).
Why are 창문 and 커튼 marked with 을?
을 is the object particle marking these nouns as the direct objects of the transitive verbs 닫다 and 치다.
- 침실 창문을 닫다 – “to close the bedroom window”
- 커튼을 치다 – “to draw the curtains”
Is this sentence polite, casual, or formal?
This is the casual (informal) imperative form, used among friends or to someone younger. To make it polite, you could say 침실 창문을 닫고 커튼을 쳐 보세요.
Where is the subject in this sentence?
In Korean imperatives, the subject (you) is usually omitted. It’s understood that you’re telling you to do something: (당신이) 침실 창문을 닫고 커튼을 쳐 봐.
How do you romanize and pronounce 쳐 봐 correctly?
Romanization: chyeo bwa.
Pronunciation tip:
- 쳐 [chʌ] – like “chuh” (unaspirated ch)
- 봐 [bwa] – blend b
- wa
Together: [chʌ bwa]
- wa
Could you connect these actions differently, for example, using 닫아 instead of 닫고?
Using 닫아 makes it a standalone command “close it,” not a connector. To link two actions in one sentence, you need 닫고. Otherwise you’d say:
- 침실 창문을 닫아.
- 커튼을 쳐 봐.
But 닫고 lets you combine them smoothly: “close it and then try drawing…”