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Questions & Answers about geunyeo-egeneun balgeun saegi deo eoullyeo.
Why is it 그녀에게는 and not just 그녀는? What do -에게 and -는 do together?
- 에게 marks the person “to/for whom” something applies (dative).
- Adding -는 (→ 에게는) topicalizes/contrasts: “as for her (in her case) …”
- Without -는: 그녀에게 밝은 색이 어울려요 simply states it suits her.
- With -는: 그녀에게는 … 더 … hints at contrast (e.g., compared to dark colors or someone else).
- Spoken Korean often uses 한테(는) instead of 에게(는).
- Common contractions: 에게는 → 에겐, 한테는 → 한텐.
- Note: -에 (place/time) isn’t used for people here; use -에게/-한테.
Can I just say 그녀는 instead?
Yes. Two natural frames:
- Person as topic: 그녀는 밝은 색이 (더) 어울려(요).
- Person as dative: 그녀에게/한테(는) 밝은 색이 (더) 어울려(요). Both are fine. The 에게/한테 version feels more like “on/for her,” while 그녀는 is a broader “as for her” topic marking.
Is 그녀 common in everyday speech?
Not really—it sounds a bit bookish in conversation. Prefer:
- Neutral: 그 사람, the person’s name + -씨, or omit if clear from context.
- Casual: 걔(한테는), 그 애.
- Respectful: 그분께(는) or a title (e.g., 선생님께는). In writing, 그녀에게는 is perfectly fine.
What politeness level is 어울려?
어울려 is casual (banmal).
- Polite: 어울려요
- Formal: 어울립니다
- Past: 어울렸어요
- Guessing: 어울릴 것 같아요
Why is there no object marker (을/를)?
With 어울리다 (“to suit/go well”), the thing that suits is the subject, and the person is marked with 에게/한테 (or topicalized with -는):
- Subject: 밝은 색이
- Experiencer: 그녀에게(는) No direct object is used.
What does 더 add? Do I need it? And where does 잘 fit?
- 더 = “more/better (than something else).”
- 잘 = “well/very” (degree).
- 밝은 색이 잘 어울려요 = bright colors suit her (no comparison).
- 밝은 색이 더 어울려요 = they suit her better (comparison implied).
- 밝은 색이 더 잘 어울려요 = they suit her better (and well). This is the most common comparative phrasing.
How do I make the comparison explicit?
Use N보다:
- 어두운 색보다 밝은 색이 그녀에게(는) 더 잘 어울려요. = Bright colors suit her better than dark colors.
색 vs 색깔 — which should I use?
Both work.
- 색 is slightly more neutral/formal.
- 색깔 feels a bit more colloquial/concrete. So 밝은 색(깔)이 are both acceptable.
Any pronunciation tips for 밝은 색이 더 어울려?
- 밝은 ≈ [발근] (ㄺ → ㄹ before a vowel).
- 색이 ≈ [새기] (ㄱ + 이 → [기]).
- 어울려 is the contracted form of 어울리어 → [어울려]. Overall: roughly [그녀에겐 발근 새기 더 어울려]. You’ll also hear the contraction 그녀에겐 for 그녀에게는.
Is the word order fixed?
Flexible, as long as the verb ends the sentence. Natural options:
- 그녀에게는 밝은 색이 더 어울려요.
- 밝은 색이 그녀에게(는) 더 어울려요.
- 그녀는 밝은 색이 더 어울려요.
How should I write the spacing: 밝은 색 or 밝은색?
Standard spacing is 밝은 색 (modifier + noun). You may see 밝은색 informally, but dictionaries and style guides prefer the spaced form.
How do I say this politely about someone respected?
Use 께(는) for honorific dative and a polite ending:
- 선생님께는 밝은 색이 더 잘 어울려요. Very formal: … 더 잘 어울립니다. Softened opinion: … 더 잘 어울릴 것 같아요.
Does 어울리다 mean anything besides “to suit (clothes/colors)”?
Yes. It also means “to mingle/get along; to go well together”:
- 그는 사람들과 잘 어울려. (He gets along well with people.)
- 와인과 고기가 잘 어울려. (Wine and meat pair well.)
How do I say the negative or the superlative?
- Negative (casual): 밝은 색은 (그녀에게) 안 어울려.
- Negative (polite): 밝은 색은 (그녀에게) 잘 어울리지 않아요.
- Superlative: 밝은 색이 그녀에게 제일/가장 잘 어울려요.