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Lesson 21

Lesson 21. 요 vs. 여

Words that use the vowel ㅛ:

요 [요] bedding
요즘 [요즘] these days
중요 [중요] importance
학교 [학꾜] school

Words that use the vowel ㅕ:

여 [여] female
여우 [여우] fox
여기 [여기] here
겨울 [겨울] winter

Expressions where the only difference are these vowels, ㅛ, and ㅕ:

요즘 [요즘] these days
여즘 [여즘] *not a word

여우 [여우] fox
요우 [요우] a colleague (This word is hardly used.)

여기 [여기] here
요기 [요기] staving off one´s hunger

Sentence examples that contain more than one of these sounds:

1. 요즘 겨울이라 여우가 많아요.
[요즘 겨우리라 여우가 마나요.]
These days, it’s winter so there are a lot of foxes.

2. 학교가 중요해요. 여기 다녀요.
[학꾜가 중요해요. 여기 다녀요.]
School is important. Go to school here.