Nuancing Your Speech

어휘

• 뉘앙스nuance
• 어조tone
• 강조하다to emphasize
• 완곡어법euphemism
• 함축implication
• 섬세하다to be subtle
• 암시하다to hint, to imply
• 직접적으로directly
• 간접적으로indirectly
• 뉘앙스를 전달하다to convey nuance
• 에두르다to beat around the bush
• 속뜻underlying meaning

표현

• 그럼에도 불구하고Nevertheless, he decided to continue
• -(으)ㄴ데도 이해가 안 돼요Even though I explained, it is not understood
• 화가 났다기보다는 실망했어요Rather than angry, I was disappointed
• 말하자면 이런 거예요Put it this way, it is like this
• 직접적으로 말하기 어렵지만It is hard to say directly, but...
• 속뜻이 따로 있어요There is an underlying meaning

자주 하는 실수

• ✗그럼에도 나는 계속해요
  ✓그럼에도 불구하고 계속했어요

  그럼에도 불구하고 is the full fixed expression; omitting 불구하고 sounds incomplete

• ✗슬프다기보다는 슬퍼요
  ✓슬프다기보다는 외로워요

  -다기보다는 must contrast two different states; repeating the same word defeats the purpose

• ✗직접적으로 말해요 (in a formal refusal context)
  ✓완곡하게 말씀드리자면

  In formal or sensitive Korean contexts, indirect speech is expected; being blunt can seem rude

• ✗뉘앙스가 있어요 (vague)
  ✓그 말에는 속뜻이 있어요

  속뜻 specifically conveys hidden or implied meaning, more precise than the loanword 뉘앙스 alone

• ✗-(으)ㄴ데도 모르고 가요
  ✓-(으)ㄴ데도 모르고 갔어요

  Past tense context requires 갔어요, not 가요 which is present tense

짧은 퀴즈