저런

The Korean word 저런 (jeoreon) is a demonstrative determiner that translates to "that kind of," "such," or "like that" in English. To understand its usage, one must first grasp the Korean tripartite system of demonstratives: 이 (i - near the speaker), 그 (geu - near the listener or previously mentioned), and 저 (jeo - far from both the speaker and the listener). Therefore, 저런 specifically refers to a quality, appearance, or state of something that is physically distant from both people in a conversation, or psychologically distant in a way that suggests the speaker is observing it from an external perspective. It is derived from the phrase '저러한', which is the adjective form of '저러하다' (to be like that over there).

Core Spatial Function

It points to a noun that possesses qualities similar to something located at a distance. If you are standing with a friend and you see a person behaving strangely across the street, you would use '저런' to describe that person's behavior.

Beyond mere physical distance, 저런 often carries an emotional weight. Because it refers to something "over there," it can create a sense of detachment, awe, or even disdain. For instance, when used with negative nouns like '행동' (behavior) or '말' (speech), it emphasizes that the speaker finds the behavior alien or unacceptable. Conversely, when used with positive nouns, it can express a sense of wonder at something remarkable that seems beyond the speaker's immediate reality. It is a versatile tool for categorizing the world based on the speaker's proximity to the subject matter, both literally and figuratively.

In daily conversation, you will hear this word frequently when people are people-watching or discussing objects in a store that are out of reach. It functions as a modifier, meaning it must always be followed by a noun. It cannot stand alone as a pronoun (for that, you would use '저런 것'). The nuance of '저런' is distinct from '그런'. While '그런' is used for things the listener just mentioned or things near the listener, '저런' is for things that are externally visible to both parties but not immediately 'owned' or 'controlled' by either. This distinction is crucial for achieving natural-sounding Korean fluency.

Usage Context

Commonly used in descriptive storytelling, expressing surprise at a distance, and classifying external observations without bringing them into the immediate personal space of the conversation.

To master '저런', one must practice visualizing the three-dimensional space of a Korean conversation. Imagine a triangle where you are one point, your friend is the second, and the object of discussion is a third point far away. Any quality belonging to that third point is described using '저런'. This spatial logic is deeply embedded in the Korean language and reflects a specific way of organizing the environment and social relations. Using '저런' correctly demonstrates that you understand the boundaries between 'me', 'you', and 'that over there'.

Finally, '저런' plays a role in literary and formal contexts where a writer might want to point to an abstract concept as if it were a distant object, providing a sense of objectivity. By placing the 'kind of thing' at a distance using '저런', the speaker creates a psychological buffer, which can be useful for criticism or for expressing high-level admiration. It is a word that bridges the gap between physical sight and mental categorization.

Using 저런 correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role as a determiner (관형사). Determiners in Korean are words that modify a following noun and do not undergo conjugation. This makes '저런' relatively simple to use once you know the noun you want to describe. The basic structure is 저런 + [Noun]. This noun can be anything from a physical object like '차' (car) to an abstract concept like '생각' (thought) or '상황' (situation).

Grammatical Placement

Always place '저런' immediately before the noun it modifies. It cannot be followed by particles like -이/가 or -을/를 directly; those particles must attach to the noun that '저런' is modifying.

When you use 저런, you are essentially saying "a [noun] like that one over there." For example, if you see a mountain in the distance with a unique shape, you might say, "저런 산은 처음 봐요" (I've never seen that kind of mountain before). Here, '저런' modifies '산' (mountain). The distance of the mountain from both the speaker and the listener justifies the use of '저'. If the mountain were a picture in the listener's hand, you would use '그런' instead.

In more complex sentences, '저런' can be part of a subject, object, or adverbial phrase. For instance, in the sentence "저런 사람과는 친구가 되고 싶지 않아요" (I don't want to be friends with that kind of person), '저런' modifies '사람' (person), and the entire phrase '저런 사람' is then followed by the particle '-과는' (with). This shows how '저런' integrates into the broader syntax of the sentence to specify exactly which category of person the speaker is referring to.

Another important aspect of using '저런' is its role in comparisons. You might compare something close to you with something far away. "이런 옷보다 저런 옷이 더 예뻐요" (That kind of clothing [over there] is prettier than this kind of clothing [here]). This sentence perfectly illustrates the spatial contrast between '이런' and '저런'. By using these determiners, you can communicate complex spatial and qualitative preferences efficiently without needing long descriptive clauses.

Common Noun Pairings

저런 사람 (that kind of person), 저런 일 (that kind of work/matter), 저런 곳 (that kind of place), 저런 모양 (that kind of shape), 저런 소리 (that kind of sound).

Finally, it's worth noting that '저런' can be used to refer to something mentioned in a story that feels distant from the current reality of the speaker. Even if there is no physical object to point at, if the topic being discussed feels 'remote' or 'external' to the immediate conversation's focus, '저런' might be used to emphasize that distance. This is a more advanced, nuanced use that learners will encounter as they read more Korean literature and news reports.

In South Korea, you will encounter the word 저런 in a wide variety of social settings, from bustling street markets to quiet living rooms. One of the most common places to hear it is in public spaces where people are observing others. For example, if a group of people is watching a street performer from across a plaza, someone might turn to their friend and say, "저런 재주를 가진 사람은 처음 봐" (I've never seen a person with that kind of talent). Here, '저런' captures the shared observation of something distant and impressive.

In Drama and Media

Korean dramas (K-dramas) are a goldmine for '저런'. Characters often use it to gossip about others or to express disbelief. A classic line might be, "저런 남자를 왜 좋아해?" (Why do you like that kind of man?), where '저런' points to a character who is perhaps not currently in the room but is viewed as a distant, external entity with specific (usually negative) traits.

Shopping is another prime environment for 저런. When you are at a department store and you see a mannequin wearing a stylish outfit on the other side of the floor, you might point and say to your companion, "저런 스타일 어때?" (How about that kind of style?). It allows you to reference an object's qualities without having to go over and touch it. It functions as a linguistic pointer that saves time and energy.

You will also hear '저런' frequently in news broadcasts or documentaries. When a reporter is showing footage of a natural disaster or a significant event in another country, they might use '저런' to describe the situations or phenomena being shown on screen. Because the events are physically far from the studio and the viewers, '저런' is the most appropriate demonstrative to use to describe the nature of those events.

In educational settings, teachers use '저런' to point out examples in a textbook or on a whiteboard that are meant to be observed as external models. "저런 식으로 문제를 풀어보세요" (Try solving the problem in that kind of way) is a common instructional phrase. It directs the student's attention to a specific method or example that is presented as an objective target for imitation.

Daily Social Interactions

Conversations about celebrities, politicians, or characters in movies often employ '저런' because these figures exist in a 'distant' social sphere from the speakers.

Lastly, in the context of sympathy (as an interjection), you will hear older generations say "저런, 저런..." when they hear about someone's bad luck. While this is technically an interjection, the root is the same—acknowledging a 'distant' or 'external' situation that is unfortunate. Understanding both the determiner and the interjection will help you navigate a wide range of emotional and physical spaces in Korea.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with 저런 is confusing it with its cousins, 이런 (ireon) and 그런 (geureon). In English, we often use the word "that" for both things near the listener and things far away from everyone. However, Korean is much more precise. If you use '저런' to describe something the person you are talking to just said, it will sound very strange, as if you are distancing yourself from their words. In that case, you must use '그런'.

Mistake #1: Over-using '저런' for things mentioned by the listener

Incorrect: (Friend says they like spicy food) "저런 음식을 좋아하세요?" Correct: "그런 음식을 좋아하세요?" (Do you like that kind of food [the kind you just mentioned]?)

Another common error is treating 저런 as a noun. Because "that" can be a pronoun in English ("I like that"), learners often try to use '저런' in the same way. But '저런' is a determiner and *must* be followed by a noun. If you want to say "I like that kind," you must say "저런 것을 좋아해요" or the contracted form "저런 걸 좋아해요." Using '저런' by itself as the object of a sentence is grammatically incorrect.

Confusing the determiner '저런' with the interjection '저런' can also lead to social awkwardness. If you use '저런' with a flat tone in the middle of a sentence, it's a determiner. If you exclaim it with a falling-rising intonation, it's an expression of pity. Beginners sometimes mix these up, saying "저런!" when they meant to point at a distant object, or vice versa. The context usually clarifies the meaning, but paying attention to intonation is key.

Lastly, some learners forget that '저런' implies a specific *quality* or *kind*, not just the identity of the object. If you want to point at a specific car and say "That car is fast," you should use '저 차' (that car). If you want to say "Cars of that kind are fast," then you use '저런 차'. Using '저런' when you mean a specific individual item rather than a category of items can make your speech less precise.

Mistake #2: Specific vs. Categorical

Use '저 [Noun]' for a specific object over there. Use '저런 [Noun]' for an object that has the qualities of that thing over there.

To avoid these mistakes, always ask yourself: Is this thing far from both of us? Am I talking about its *type* or the *specific thing*? Am I following it with a noun? Answering these three questions will ensure you use '저런' like a native speaker.

To truly understand 저런, it is essential to compare it with its linguistic siblings and other similar expressions. The most immediate comparisons are 이런 (this kind of) and 그런 (that kind of). These three form the core demonstrative determiner set in Korean. While '이런' is for things close to the speaker and '그런' is for things close to the listener or mentioned in the conversation, '저런' is for things distant from both.

The 'Kind of' Trio

이런: Close to speaker (e.g., "this kind of food I'm eating").
그런: Close to listener/context (e.g., "that kind of food you mentioned").
저런: Far from both (e.g., "that kind of food they are eating over there").

Another set of similar words includes 저러한 (jeoreohan) and 저렇게 (jeoreoke). '저러한' is the uncontracted, more formal version of '저런'. It is used primarily in literature, academic writing, or very formal speeches. '저렇게' is an adverb meaning "in that way" or "like that." While '저런' modifies a noun, '저렇게' modifies a verb or adjective. For example, "저런 사람" (that kind of person) vs. "저렇게 말하다" (to talk like that).

You might also consider 어떤 (eotteon), which means "what kind of" or "which." It is the interrogative version of the set. If you are asking a question about the nature of something, you use '어떤'. Once the nature is identified as being like that thing over there, you respond with '저런'. For example, "어떤 차를 좋아해요?" (What kind of car do you like?) -> "저런 스타일의 차를 좋아해요" (I like that kind of style of car).

In some contexts, 저와 같은 (jeowa gateun - like that) can be an alternative. It is more descriptive and literal, literally meaning "the same as that." While '저런' is a single word and very common, '저와 같은' might be used when you want to emphasize the exact similarity between two things. However, for everyday categorizing, '저런' remains the most natural and efficient choice.

Summary of Alternatives

Use 저런 for general 'that kind of'. Use 저러한 for formal 'that kind of'. Use 저렇게 for 'in that way'. Use 어떤 to ask 'what kind of'.

Finally, when expressing shock or pity, the interjection 어머 (eomeo) or 세상에 (sesange) often accompanies '저런'. While they aren't synonyms, they occupy the same emotional space. Learning how these words interact with '저런' will help you express a wider range of emotions and observations in Korean.