HSC Korean Continuers flashcards

31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Listening played twice

In the HSC Korean Continuers listening section each text is heard twice. Use the first hearing for topic, speakers and setting; the second for numbers, times and specific details.

Interrogative matching

Korean question words map to answer types: 무엇 (what), 어디 (where), 언제 (when), 왜 (why), 어떻게 (how), 누구 (who). Identify the question word first, then listen for that detail only.

Speech style and relationship

합니다체 and 하십시오체 indicate formal or public contexts; 해요체 indicates polite everyday speech; 반말 indicates close friends, family or children. Style reveals who is speaking to whom.

Honorific infix -시-

The infix -시- and verbs like 드리다, 뵙다, 계시다, 모시다 show respect toward the subject or listener. Tracking who receives the honorific identifies the person being discussed.

Contrast connectors in listening

그러나, 하지만 and 그런데 introduce a contrast, while 그래서 and 따라서 introduce a result. Answers often follow these connectors because speakers correct or reverse earlier statements.

Two Korean number systems

Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋) count items and age; Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼) express money, dates, minutes and phone numbers. Note which system is used.

Indirect speech forms

Reported speech uses ∼다고 하다 (statement), ∼냐고 하다 (question), ∼자고 하다 (suggestion) and ∼라고 하다 (command). The reported clause usually contains the information being tested.

Negation and double negatives

안 and 못 before a verb give simple negation; ∼지 않다 and ∼지 못하다 are long negatives. A double negative such as ∼지 않을 수 없다 means must, the opposite of the surface form.

Text types in reading

안내문 (notice), 광고 (advertisement), 편지 (letter), 기사 (article), 일기 (diary) and 대화 (dialogue) each have predictable layout, purpose and register. Recognising the type guides where to look for key information.

Main idea placement

Korean expository paragraphs often state the topic in the first sentence and restate it in the last. Reading those two sentences first gives a reliable summary of the main idea.

Logical connectors in text

그러나 marks contrast, 따라서 marks result, 예를 들어 introduces an example, 즉 or 다시 말하면 introduces a paraphrase, and 반면에 marks a contrast between two cases.

Pronoun and ellipsis tracking

Korean frequently omits subjects. 그, 그녀, 이것, 그것 and omitted subjects refer to the most recent plausible noun, so identify the referent of each sentence before answering.

Humble verbs and titles

모시다, 드리다, 뵙다 and 여쭙다 are humble verbs used for the speaker's actions toward a superior. Titles like 선생님, 사장님 and 어르신 clarify social roles in a passage.

Connective endings meaning

∼아서/어서 gives cause or sequence, ∼지만 gives contrast, ∼면 gives condition, ∼려고 gives intention, and ∼는데 gives background or mild contrast between clauses.

Inference question rule

An inference answer must be supported by the text but is not copied word for word from it. If an option repeats a sentence verbatim, check whether it actually answers the question asked.

Distractor conditions in notices

Notices often list 마감일 (deadline), 할인 (discount) and 대상 (eligibility). Check whether each stated condition applies to the question before choosing a number, date or price as the answer.

Reading question types

Common reading tasks ask for main idea, purpose, detail, inference and the writer's attitude. Each requires a different reading strategy, so identify the task type before rereading the passage.

Formal notice format

A formal notice addresses 여러분 or ∼께, uses 합니다체 throughout, and often ends with a request or instruction such as ∼기 바랍니다 or ∼해 주시기 바랍니다.

Korean sentence order

Korean clauses follow Subject–Object–Verb order, and the verb or adjective must come last. The final verb also carries tense, politeness and mood for the whole sentence.

Particle pairs and 받침

Particle choice depends on whether the preceding syllable ends in a consonant: 은/는, 이/가, 을/를, 과/와, 으로/로. Check the 받침 before writing the particle.

Topic versus subject particle

은/는 marks the topic or a contrast, while 이/가 marks the grammatical subject, often new information. Choosing 은/는 where 이/가 is required changes emphasis and can be marked wrong.

Location particles 에 and 에서

에 marks destination, time or existence with 있다/없다; 에서 marks the place where an action happens or the source of an action. Compare 학교에 가다 with 학교에서 공부하다.

Tense on final verbs

Past tense uses ∼았/었/였, future and presumption use ∼겠 or ∼(으)ㄹ 것이다, and progressive uses ∼고 있다. Keep the same tense across a paragraph unless the meaning requires a change.

Clause-linking endings

∼고 joins clauses as and, ∼지만 as but, ∼아서/어서 as so, ∼면 as if, and ∼기 때문에 as because. Linking clauses with these endings raises the coherence score in writing.

Register consistency

A single piece of writing should keep one speech level. Mixing 반말 into a formal notice, or 합니다체 into a letter to a close friend, is a register error that reduces the writing mark.

Letter and email openings

Informal letters open with 안녕하세요? and a name plus 에게; formal letters use a title plus 께 and 합니다체. Closings include 안녕히 계세요 or 감사합니다 followed by the writer's name.

Prompt requirements checklist

Writing prompts list required content points, for example purpose, details and a request. Address every point explicitly and stay within the stated length range, since both are part of the assessment.

Request forms in writing

Requests use ∼아/어 주세요 (polite), ∼아/어 주시겠어요? (more polite) and ∼기 바랍니다 (formal written). Match the request form to the register of the whole text.

Reason expressions

Reasons are expressed with ∼아서/어서, ∼기 때문에, ∼(으)니까 and ∼는 바람에. ∼(으)니까 is common in suggestions and commands, while ∼아서/어서 cannot precede a command.

Counters and units

Counters follow native Korean numbers for most items: 명 (people), 개 (things), 권 (books), 잔 (cups), 마리 (animals). Money, dates and minutes take Sino-Korean numbers instead.

Editing for particle errors

After drafting, reread each noun phrase and confirm its particle matches its role and the preceding 받침. Particle errors are among the most frequent accuracy mistakes in continuers writing.