How to Answer Tricky “YES or NO" Questions In Korean [TalkToMeInKorean]

Summary

In this video, H and Yenni from TalkToMeKorean explain the unique way Korean answers negative questions. Unlike in English, where 'yes' affirms a positive statement, in Korean, 'yes' (네) agrees with the negative part of the question. For example, when asked a negative question like 'Aren’t you cold?', responding with '네' means 'Yes, I agree that I am not cold.' The video offers examples to clarify this concept and helps learners understand the distinction. It also encourages viewers to practice with full sentences to avoid confusion.

Takeaways

• 😀 Koreans use a different logic for 'yes' and 'no' compared to English, especially in response to negative questions.
• 😀 In Korean, 'yes' ('네') means you agree with the negative statement, while 'no' ('아니요') means you disagree with it.
• 😀 The main confusion arises when answering negative questions: 'yes' in Korean means 'I agree with your negative statement,' and 'no' means 'I don't agree with your negative statement.'
• 😀 This distinction can be confusing for learners because in English, 'yes' typically means 'I agree' or 'I affirm,' while 'no' means 'I disagree.'
• 😀 For example, if someone asks 'Aren't you cold?' in Korean, answering '네' means 'I am not cold,' agreeing with the negative question.
• 😀 Similarly, answering '아니요' means 'I am cold,' which disagrees with the negative question, aligning with the opposite meaning.
• 😀 To avoid confusion, it's important to consider the full context of the sentence rather than just the answer itself.
• 😀 When practicing, don't just say 'yes' or 'no'—continue with the rest of the sentence to get used to this structure.
• 😀 This structure is more intuitive once you practice understanding it in full sentences rather than isolated responses.
• 😀 The video also references a previous audio lesson on this topic, providing further context for learners who want to explore this concept deeper.
• 😀 The key takeaway is that in Korean, the logic behind agreeing with a negative question requires understanding that 'yes' is used to agree with the negative (not to confirm the positive).

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is explaining how 'yes' means 'no' and 'no' means 'yes' in Korean, especially when responding to negative questions.

Why is it confusing when learning how to respond to negative questions in Korean?

It is confusing because in Korean, the response to a negative question follows the logic of agreeing with the negative part of the question. This differs from English, where 'yes' affirms the truth of a statement.

What is the Korean word for 'yes' and what does it mean in the context of a negative question?

The Korean word for 'yes' is '네' (ne), and in the context of a negative question, it means agreeing with the negative statement. For example, if asked 'Aren’t you cold?' and the response is '네', it means 'No, I am not cold.'

What is the Korean word for 'no' and how does it function in negative questions?

The Korean word for 'no' is '아니요' (aniyo), and it functions by agreeing with the negative question. For example, if asked 'Aren’t you cold?' and the response is '아니요', it means 'Yes, I am cold.'

How does the logic of answering negative questions in Korean differ from English?

In English, you respond 'yes' to affirm a statement, and 'no' to negate it. In Korean, you respond with '네' (yes) to agree with the negative question, and '아니요' (no) to disagree.

Why do people often get confused when learning the correct way to respond to negative questions in Korean?

People often get confused because the pattern in Korean seems to reverse the logic they are used to in their native language. In English, 'yes' agrees with a positive statement, while in Korean, it agrees with the negative.

What should you focus on when practicing responses to negative questions in Korean?

You should focus on continuing the entire sentence rather than just stopping after the 'yes' or 'no'. This helps you maintain clarity and avoid confusion in conversation.

What is the recommended way to practice understanding how to respond to negative questions in Korean?

A good practice is to keep repeating the rest of the sentence, not just 'yes' or 'no'. This helps you become more comfortable with the structure and avoids mistakes.

Can you summarize the key point of the video regarding answering negative questions in Korean?

The key point is that when answering a negative question in Korean, 'yes' (네) means agreeing with the negative idea, and 'no' (아니요) means agreeing with the opposite. For positive questions, the logic is the same as in English.

How can someone get more information on this topic beyond the video?

You can find more information by checking out the audio lesson that was linked in the video description, which provides further details on the topic.