Lesson 186: ~고서: Sequential or Causal Relationship

Common examples:
현대 = modern time
현장 = on-site location, the field, the scene
현직 = current person in a position (incumbent)

Examples:
현 상황을 제대로 파악하고서 대책을 세웠어요
= After properly understanding the current situation, we made a plan

현 사회의 문제를 해결하기 위해서는 기존 제도의 한계를 인식하고 새로운 방향을 모색해야 해요
= To solve current social issues, we must recognize the limitations of existing systems and seek new directions

Common Usages:
거지꼴 = shabby appearance, beggar-like appearance

Examples:
거울을 보고서 자신의 꼴을 확인했어요
= After looking in the mirror, he checked how he looked

그의 옷차림과 피곤한 꼴을 보니 밤새 일울 한 게 분명했어요
= Judging by his tired appearance and messy state, it was clear he had worked all night

Common Usages:
적격자 = qualified person

Examples:
서류를 검토하고서 그가 적격인지 판단했어요
= After reviewing the documents, we judged whether he was qualified

그는 그 직위에 가장 적격인 인물로 평가받고 있어요
= He is considered the most qualified person for that position

Common Usages:
누에고치 = silkworm cocoon

Examples:
누에를 키우고서 실을 뽑았어요
= After raising silkworms, we extracted the silk

오랫동안 누에를 재배하고서 좋은 실을 얻었어요
= After cultivating silkworms for a long time, we got quality silk

Notes: Imagine if I wanted to ask about the pronunciation of 의의. In Korean, I would have to use the additional 의, to say:

의의의 발음 = the pronunciation of 의의

의의 is a word. The third 의 is attached to the word to refer to the following noun. The prunciation of this is one of the most peculiar pronunciation rules in Korean:

– The first syllable begins with ㅇ, and therefore “의” is pronounced as “의.”
– “ㅢ” is also found in the second syllable. In this case, “의” can be pronounced as “이.”
– “의” is attached to the word and can have the pronuciation “에.”

Despite being the same syllable three times in a row, the whole construction can be pronounced as “의이에.”

Common Usages:
의의를 두다 = to attach significance, to place value

Examples:
의의를 충분히 이해하고서 행동에 옮겼어요
= After fully understanding the significance, I took action

그 사건은 인권의 의의를 다시 생각하게 만든 계기가 되었어요
= The incident became an opportunity to reconsider the true meaning of human rights

Common Usages:
결론을 내리다 = to reach a conclusion

Examples:
유사한 사례를 찾아보고서 전무하다는 결론을 내렸어요
= After searching for similar cases, we concluded there were none

긴 논쟁 끝에 마침내 결론이 내려졌어요
= After a long debate, a conclusion was finally reached

Common Usages:
대책을 마련하다 = to prepare countermeasures
대책을 세우다 = to establish countermeasures

Examples:
현 상황을 제대로 파악하고서 대책을 세웠어요
= After properly understanding the current situation, we made a plan

정부는 물가 안정을 위한 긴급 대책을 발표했어요
= The government announced an urgent countermeasure to stabilize prices

Examples:
응모자를 확인하고서 발표를 시작했어요
= After checking the applicants, we began the announcement

응모자가 많은 수록 경쟁이 더 치열해져요
= The more applicants there are, the fiercer the competition becomes

Common Usages:
전고점을 뚫다 = to break the previous high

Examples:
어슴푸레한 빛을 뚫고서 길을 찾았어요
= After making my way through the dim light, I found the path

그는 단단한 벽을 뚫고 새로운 길을 개척했어요
= He broke through solid barriers and forged a new path

Examples:
벽이 오래되어 구멍이 여기저기 뚫렸어요
= The old wall had holes forming all over it

Common Usages:
자신감을 되찾다 = to regain confidence
건강을 되찾다 = to recover one’s health

Examples:
운동을 열심히 하고서 건강을 되찾았어요
= After exercising hard, I regained my health

그는 오랜 노력 끝에 잃어버린 자신감을 되찾았어요
= After years of effort, he regained his lost confidence

Common Usages:
인기를 실감하다 = to feel one’s popularity

Examples:
현장에 가 보고서 그 위험을 실감했어요
= After visiting the site, I truly felt the danger

그 여자의 뛰어난 미모는 실제로 마주보고서야 실감이 났어요
= That girl’s stunning beauty only truly hit me after seeing her in person

뱃속에서 아이가 꼬물꼬물 움직일 때마다 임신한 것을 실감이 나요
= Every time the baby squirms in my stomach I really feel as if I am pregnant

Common Usages:
주기적으로 교체하다 = to replace periodically

Examples:
타이어가 교체될 때 차량이 회전하게 돼요
= The vehicle rotates when the tires are replaced

창문에 미세하게 금이 가 있어서 창문이 깨지기 전에 교체해야 돼요
= There is a minute crack on the window so you should replace it before it breaks

건전지가 다 닳을락 말락 해서 새 것으로 교체했어요
= The battery was about to die, so I replaced it with a new one

오래된 전구를 새 것으로 교체했어요
= I replaced the old light bulb with a new one

부품을 교체하고서 소음이 사라졌어요
= After replacing the part, the noise disappeared

Examples:
오랫동안 누에를 재배하고서 좋은 실을 얻었어요
= After cultivating silkworms for a long time, we got quality silk

그는 직접 토마토를 재배하며 농사의 즐거움을 느꼈어요
= He grew tomatoes himself and found joy in farming

Common Usages:
경품에 응모하다 = to enter a prize giveaway

Examples:
응모자를 확인하고서 발표를 시작했어요
= After checking the applicants, we began the announcement

그 대회에 응모하고 싶었는데 참가비가 너무 비싸서 포기했어요
= I wanted to participate in that contest, but the participation fee was too expensive that I gave up

Examples:
유사한 사례를 찾아보고서 전무하다는 결론을 내렸어요
= After searching for similar cases, we concluded there were none

두 제품은 겉모습은 다르지만 기능 면에서는 매우 유사해요
= The two products look different, but functionally they are quite similar

Common Usages:
따끈한 신상 = brand-new release, hot new item
따끈한 신제품 = hot new product

Examples:
따끈한 국을 마시고서 몸이 풀렸어요
= After drinking the hot soup, my body relaxed

방금 끓인 국물이 아직 따끈해서 속이 따뜻해졌어요
= The freshly boiled soup was still hot enough to warm my stomach

Examples:
유사한 사례를 찾아보고서 전무하다는 결론을 내렸어요
= After searching for similar cases, we concluded there were none

이러한 기록을 세운 사람은 그 남자 말고는 전무해요
= Other than that man, no one has ever set such a record

Examples:
어슴푸레한 빛을 뚫고서 길을 찾았어요
= After making my way through the dim light, I found the path

새벽 공원은 어슴푸레한 빛 속에서 고요하게 잠들어 있었어요
= The park lay silent in the dim, faint light of dawn

Common Usages:
샅샅이 수색하다 = to search thoroughly
샅샅이 찾아보다 = to look everywhere thoroughly

Examples:
샅샅이 찾고서 결국 서류를 발견했어요
= After searching thoroughly, we finally found the document

경찰은 범인의 흔적을 샅샅이 뒤져 단서를 찾아냈어요
= The police searched thoroughly and found a clue about the suspect