Lesson 1
Welcome to Talk To Me In Korean Level 3, and congratulations on making it through the first two levels of the curriculum! In Level 3, we will be reviewing and building upon what you have previously introduced through Levels 1 and 2.
In this lesson, we are looking at the word 너무. This word is used every day in Korean with two different meanings: the original dictionary meaning and the more colloquial meaning.
Basic meaning:
너무 = too (much), excessively
The dictionary meaning of 너무 is “too much” or “excessively.”
Sample Sentences
너무 커요.
= It is too big.
너무 비싸요.
= It is too expensive.
너무 빨라요.
= It is too fast.
너무 어려워요.
= It is too difficult.
너무 시끄러워요.
= It is too noisy.
소연 씨 너무 커요.
= Soyeon, you are too tall.
이거 너무 비싸요.
= This is too expensive.
말이 너무 빨라요.
= (Someone) speaks too fast.
한국어 너무 어려워요.
= The Korean language is too difficult.
여기 너무 시끄러워요.
= It is too noisy here.
Colloquial usage
너무 = very, quite (sometimes also used in a shortened form as 넘, but only in spoken language.)
Although the basic meaning of the word 너무 is “too much” or “excessively,” in colloquial Korean, it also has the meaning of “very,” “quite,” or “really.”
Sample Sentences
너무 맛있어요.
= It is really tasty.
너무 좋아요.
= It is really good.
= I am really happy about it.
너무 잘했어요.
= It is really well done.
= You did such a good job.
너무 멋있어요.
= It is really cool.
= It looks awesome.
이 피자 너무 맛있어요.
= This pizza is really tasty.
이거 너무 좋아요.
= I really like this.
석진 씨, 너무 잘했어요.
= Seokjin, you did a really great job.
저 모델 너무 멋있어요!
= That model is really cool!
In the past, 너무 was used only in negative sentences or contexts, but it has gradually become acceptable to use in positive contexts as well. Now, most people use 너무 in both ways.
Ex)
너무 더워요.
= It is too hot.
= It is very hot.
너무 졸려요.
= I am too sleepy.
= I am very sleepy.
너무 바빠요.
= I am too busy.
= I am very busy.
너무 is usually combined with adjectives but it can also be used with verbs as well.
Ex)
너무 보고 싶어요.
= I miss you/him/her/them so much.