Breakdown of yageul meogeodo yeori an naeryeogamyeon dasi geomsareul bada boseyo.
Questions & Answers about yageul meogeodo yeori an naeryeogamyeon dasi geomsareul bada boseyo.
What does -어도 mean in 먹어도?
-아/어도 means even if or even though.
So 약을 먹어도 means:
- even if you take medicine
- even though you take medicine
In this sentence, it sets up a contrast:
- 약을 먹어도 = even after taking medicine
- 열이 안 내려가면 = if the fever does not go down
So the idea is: Even if you take medicine, if the fever still doesn’t go down, ...
Why is it 약을 but 열이?
This is about particles.
약을 먹다 = to take medicine
Here, 약 is the object of 먹다, so it takes 을.열이 내려가다 = the fever goes down
Here, 열 is the subject of 내려가다, so it takes 이.
A helpful way to think about it:
- You take medicine → medicine is the thing being acted on → object marker
- The fever goes down → fever is what changes state → subject marker
So:
- 약을 먹다
- 열이 내려가다
Why do Koreans say 열이 내려가다? Why not just say something like fever decreases?
내려가다 literally means to go down, and Korean commonly uses it for things like:
- fever
- temperature
- numbers
- prices
- swelling
So 열이 내려가다 is the natural Korean expression for:
- the fever goes down
- the fever comes down
It sounds more natural than trying to directly match an English verb like decrease.
Examples:
- 열이 내려갔어요. = The fever went down.
- 체온이 안 내려가요. = The temperature isn’t going down.
Why is it 안 내려가면 instead of 내려가지 않으면?
Both are grammatical and mean basically the same thing.
- 안 내려가면 = if it doesn’t go down
- 내려가지 않으면 = if it does not go down
The difference is mostly style:
- 안 + verb is more common in everyday speech
- -지 않다 sounds a bit more formal or written
So this sentence uses the more natural conversational form:
- 열이 안 내려가면
What does -면 mean in 내려가면?
-면 means if or when, depending on context.
Here it means if:
- 열이 안 내려가면 = if the fever doesn’t go down
So the sentence structure is:
- 약을 먹어도 = even if you take medicine
- 열이 안 내려가면 = if the fever doesn’t go down
- 다시 검사를 받아 보세요 = please get tested again / please try getting examined again
It is very common to chain clauses like this in Korean.
What does 검사를 받다 mean literally? Why is 받다 used?
받다 literally means to receive.
So 검사를 받다 literally means:
- to receive an examination/test
In natural English, we usually say:
- get examined
- have a test
- get tested
Korean often uses 받다 with things that are received from a professional or institution, such as:
- 치료를 받다 = receive treatment / get treatment
- 상담을 받다 = receive counseling
- 검사를 받다 = receive a test/exam
So this is a very standard expression.
What does 받아 보세요 mean? What does 보다 add here?
In 받아 보세요, the 보다 does not mean to see in the usual sense.
The grammar -아/어 보다 means:
- to try doing something
So:
- 받다 = to receive
- 받아 보다 = to try receiving / to go and get it done
In this sentence, 검사를 받아 보세요 means something like:
- please try getting examined
- please go get tested
- you should get checked
The 보다 softens the suggestion a little. It can sound less direct than a plain command.
Compare:
- 검사를 받으세요. = Get examined.
- 검사를 받아 보세요. = Try getting examined.
Why is it written 받아 보세요 with a space?
Because 보다 here is still treated as a separate auxiliary verb.
So Korean normally writes:
- 먹어 보다
- 가 보다
- 사용해 보다
- 받아 보세요
In everyday writing, you may also see forms written together sometimes, but the standard spacing is to separate them:
- 받아 보세요
So for learners, it is safest to write it with a space.
What does 다시 mean here? Is it again as in repeating the test?
Yes. 다시 means again.
In this sentence, it suggests:
- the person has already been examined before, or
- they should go back for another check if the fever does not improve
So 다시 검사를 받아 보세요 means:
- please get examined again
- please go for another test/checkup
It does not necessarily mean the exact same test must be repeated; it can also mean go back and get checked again in a medical sense.
Is 보세요 a command?
It is an instruction, but softer than a blunt command.
-세요 is a polite ending often used for:
- requests
- instructions
- recommendations
- polite commands
So 받아 보세요 can sound like:
- please try getting examined
- you should get examined
- why don’t you get checked again
In a medical context, this sounds like polite advice from a doctor, pharmacist, or caregiver.
Can you break down the whole sentence grammatically?
Yes:
- 약을 = medicine + object marker
- 먹어도 = even if you take
- 열이 = fever + subject marker
- 안 = not
- 내려가면 = if it goes down
- 다시 = again
- 검사를 = examination/test + object marker
- 받아 보세요 = please try receiving / please go get
Put together:
- 약을 먹어도 = even if you take medicine
- 열이 안 내려가면 = if the fever doesn’t go down
- 다시 검사를 받아 보세요 = please get examined again
A very literal translation would be:
- Even if you take medicine, if the fever does not go down, please try getting examined again.
A more natural English version is:
- If your fever doesn’t go down even after taking medicine, please get checked again.
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