A2 adjective Neutral #7,000 am häufigsten 2 Min. Lesezeit

외동이다

/wé̞do̞ŋiɡo̞/ ~ /wé̞do̞ŋida̠/
Practice it

Overview

The Korean word '외동이다' (oe-dong-i-da) is a descriptive verb that literally translates to 'to be an only child.' It is formed by combining the noun '외동' (oe-dong), meaning 'only child,' with the 이다 (i-da) copula, which functions like 'to be' or 'is/are' in English. This structure is common in Korean for creating descriptive verbs from nouns.

Usage:

'외동이다' is primarily used to state the fact that someone is an only child. It can be conjugated like any other Korean descriptive verb to indicate different tenses, politeness levels, and moods.

Examples:

Present Tense, Informal Polite (해요체 - haeyoche):

  • '저는 외동이에요.' (Jeo-neun oe-dong-i-e-yo.) - 'I am an only child.' (Commonly used in everyday conversation)

Present Tense, Formal Polite (습니다체 - seumnida-che):

  • '저는 외동입니다.' (Jeo-neun oe-dong-im-ni-da.) - 'I am an only child.' (Used in more formal settings, presentations, or when speaking to elders/superiors)

Past Tense, Informal Polite:

  • '제 친구는 외동이었어요.' (Je chin-gu-neun oe-dong-i-eot-eo-yo.) - 'My friend was an only child.'

Future Tense/Conjecture, Informal Polite:

  • '그 아이는 외동일 거예요.' (Geu a-i-neun oe-dong-il geo-ye-yo.) - 'That child will probably be an only child.' (Used when speculating or assuming)

Cultural Nuances:

In Korean culture, being an only child ('외동') can sometimes carry certain connotations, although these are becoming less prominent with changing societal norms. Traditionally, only children might have been perceived as being more pampered or having more expectations placed upon them by their parents. However, the term '외동이다' itself is neutral and simply states a fact.

When to use '외동이다':

  • To describe someone's family structure regarding siblings.
  • To introduce oneself or others in a context where family background is relevant.

It's a straightforward and essential phrase for discussing family relationships in Korean.

Beispiele

1

그는 외동이라서 외로움을 많이 탔어요.

Describing someone's feelings as an only child.

He was an only child, so he often felt lonely.

2

저희 딸은 외동딸인데, 항상 밝고 잘 지내요.

Referring to one's only daughter.

Our daughter is an only child, but she's always bright and doing well.

3

외동이다 보니 부모님의 사랑을 독차지했어요.

Explaining a benefit of being an only child from a first-person perspective.

Because I'm an only child, I received all of my parents' love.

4

그녀는 외동이지만 형제자매처럼 친한 친구들이 많아요.

Contrasting being an only child with having close friends.

Even though she's an only child, she has many friends who are like siblings.

5

한국에서는 외동으로 자란 아이들이 점점 늘고 있어요.

Discussing a societal trend regarding only children.

In Korea, the number of children raised as only children is increasing.

Häufige Kollokationen

외동딸
외동아들
외동 아이
외동으로 자라다

Wird oft verwechselt mit

외동이다 vs 외톨이이다

These words sound similar and both relate to being alone, but '외동이다' specifically means 'to be an only child,' while '외톨이이다' means 'to be a loner or an outcast.'

외동이다 vs 외롭다

'외동이다' means 'to be an only child,' which describes a family status. '외롭다' means 'to be lonely,' which describes an emotional state. While an only child might sometimes feel lonely, the words themselves have different core meanings.

Grammatikmuster

저는 외동이에요. (I am an only child.) 그는 외동이라 형제가 없어요. (He is an only child, so he doesn't have siblings.) 외동딸/외동아들입니다. (She is an only daughter/He is an only son.)

How to Use It

Nutzungshinweise

'외동이다' (oedong-ida) is a descriptive verb meaning 'to be an only child.' It's used to state a fact about someone's family composition. For example, '저는 외동이에요' (jeoneun oedong-ieyo) means 'I am an only child.' The word '외동' itself can also be used as a noun, meaning 'an only child' (e.g., '그는 외동아들이다' - geuneun oedong-adeul-ida - 'He is an only son,' or '그녀는 외동딸이다' - geunyeoneun oedong-ttal-ida - 'She is an only daughter'). When asking if someone is an only child, you might say '외동이세요?' (oedong-iseyo?) which is the polite form. It's a straightforward term, but understanding its cultural nuances helps to grasp the full context when encountering it in conversation or media.

Häufige Fehler

The word '외동이다' (oe-dong-i-da) means 'to be an only child.' A common mistake is to confuse it with words that sound similar or have related but different meanings. For example, '외롭다' (oe-rop-da) means 'to be lonely,' and while an only child might sometimes feel lonely, the words are not interchangeable. Another potential pitfall is incorrect conjugation. '외동이다' is a descriptive verb, so it conjugates like an adjective. For instance, in the present tense informal polite form, it becomes '외동이에요' (oe-dong-i-e-yo), not '외동이해요' (oe-dong-i-hae-yo). Additionally, learners might mistakenly try to use it as a noun directly, e.g., saying '나는 외동' (na-neun oe-dong) to mean 'I am an only child,' when the correct form includes the copula, '나는 외동이에요' (na-neun oe-dong-i-e-yo). Pay attention to the particle usage as well. When referring to someone being an only child, '은/는' (eun/neun) as a topic marker is appropriate (e.g., '그녀는 외동이에요' - Geu-nyeoneun oe-dong-i-e-yo - She is an only child), but using '이/가' (i/ga) as a subject marker for this specific meaning can be less natural in simple declarative sentences. Finally, ensure you understand the nuances of '이다' (i-da) as a copula, which connects a noun to a descriptive state, rather than an action verb. Practicing with various sentence structures will help solidify your understanding and avoid these common errors.

Tips

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Usage Tips

외동이다 (oedongida) is a descriptive verb that means 'to be an only child.' It is used to describe a person's family status. For example, you can say '저는 외동이에요' (jeoneun oedongieyo) to mean 'I am an only child.' It is a common and natural way to express this in Korean. You might also hear '외동딸' (oedongttal) for an 'only daughter' or '외동아들' (oedongadeul) for an 'only son,' although 외동이다 is generally sufficient.

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Common Mistakes

A common mistake might be to try and use a noun form where a descriptive verb is more natural. While 외동 (oedong) itself is a noun meaning 'an only child,' when you want to express 'to be an only child,' 외동이다 is the correct and most natural verb form. Avoid trying to construct phrases like '나는 외동이다 사람' (naneun oedongida saram) which would be grammatically awkward and incorrect. Stick to '저는 외동이에요' or similar conjugations of 외동이다.

💡

Pronunciation Tips

The pronunciation of 외동이다 (oedongida) is straightforward. '외' (oe) is pronounced like the 'we' in 'weigh' but with your lips more rounded. '동' (dong) is pronounced like the 'dong' in 'ding-dong.' '이' (i) is like the 'ee' in 'see,' and '다' (da) is like the 'da' in 'data.' Pay attention to the slight aspiration of the 'ㄷ' in '다' if it's at the beginning of a syllable or word. Practicing these sounds individually and then combining them will help with accurate pronunciation.

Wortherkunft

The word '외동' (oedong) is a compound of two Sino-Korean characters: '외' (oe), meaning 'single,' 'only,' or 'alone,' and '동' (dong), meaning 'child.' The character '외' (外) itself has a rich history, tracing back to Old Chinese, where it referred to something external, outside, or singular. Over time, its meaning evolved to encompass the idea of uniqueness or being one of a kind when applied to people or items. The character '동' (童) historically referred to a young person or child, often without distinction of gender in ancient contexts, though it could sometimes imply a male child. In combination, '외동' literally translates to 'only child.' The suffix '-이다' (-ida) is a Korean copula, functioning similarly to 'to be' in English, indicating a state of being or identification. Therefore, '외동이다' means 'to be an only child.' The concept of an only child has been present in Korean society for centuries, though its social implications and prevalence have varied. In traditional agrarian societies, having many children was often seen as a blessing and a form of labor for the family, so being an only child might have been less common or viewed differently. However, with modernization, urbanization, and changing family structures, the phenomenon of having only one child has become increasingly prevalent in South Korea, particularly in the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st century. The term itself has remained consistent in its core meaning, reflecting this demographic shift. While there isn't a direct ancient Korean word that maps perfectly to 'only child' in the same way Sino-Korean words do, the concept would have been understood through descriptive phrases. The adoption of '외동' likely stems from the efficiency and precision that Sino-Korean vocabulary often brings to complex concepts. The term carries no inherent negative or positive connotations; its meaning is purely descriptive of a familial status.

Kultureller Kontext

In South Korea, being an '외동' (oedong), or an only child, carries significant cultural implications, largely influenced by traditional family structures and societal expectations. Historically, larger families were preferred, especially sons, to continue the family lineage and provide labor. However, with rapid industrialization, urbanization, and changing social values, birth rates have dramatically decreased, making only children more common. There's often a perception that only children might be more 'spoiled' or 'self-centered' due to receiving undivided parental attention, though this is a generalization. Parents of only children might feel a greater burden to ensure their child's success, as all their hopes and resources are concentrated on one offspring. The concept of 'filial piety' (효도, hyodo) is very strong, and an only child bears the full weight of caring for aging parents, which can be a significant responsibility.

Merkhilfe

mnemonic

Häufig gestellte Fragen

4 Fragen

'외동이다' (oedong-ida) is a Korean phrase that translates to 'to be an only child.' It's formed from '외동' (oedong), meaning 'an only child,' and the verb '이다' (ida), which is the copula 'to be.' So, when you say someone '외동이다,' you are stating that they do not have any siblings. This term is quite common in everyday conversation when discussing family structure.

'외동이다' is used like other descriptive verbs in Korean. For example, you might hear '저는 외동이에요' (Jeoneun oedong-ieyo), meaning 'I am an only child.' Or, '그녀는 외동딸이에요' (Geunyeoneun oedong-ttal-ieyo) which means 'She is an only daughter,' where '딸' (ttal) means daughter. Similarly, '그는 외동아들이에요' (Geuneun oedong-adeul-ieyo) means 'He is an only son,' with '아들' (adeul) meaning son. It describes a person's family position.

Yes, in Korean culture, being an only child, or '외동,' can sometimes carry certain perceptions. Historically, larger families were often preferred, but modern society has seen a rise in only children. There can be stereotypes, both positive and negative, associated with only children, such as being perceived as more independent or, conversely, sometimes being seen as more pampered. However, these are generalizations, and individual experiences vary widely, just like in any culture.

While '외동이다' specifically refers to being an only child, some related terms might include '형제자매' (hyeongjejamae), which means 'siblings' in general. If you want to specify an only daughter, you might say '외동딸' (oedongttal), and for an only son, it's '외동아들' (oedongadeul). These terms directly build upon the concept of '외동.' There isn't a direct opposite single word, but you would describe having siblings using phrases like '형제가 있어요' (hyeongjega isseoyo), meaning 'I have siblings.'

Teste dich selbst

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저는 형제자매가 없어요. 저는 _____.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
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제 친구는 _____ 한국에 살고 있어요.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
fill blank

그는 _____ 자라서 좀 이기적일 수 있어요.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

Ergebnis: /3

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