When Koreans say something is 보통이다 (botongida), they mean it's average, regular, or nothing special. It's a very common way to describe things that aren't particularly good or bad, just... normal.
Think of it as the 'C' grade of Korean descriptions. If someone asks how the food was, and you say 보통이에요 (botongieyo), it means it was okay, edible, but not amazing. It's a safe, neutral answer.
You can use it for weather, a movie, your health, or even someone's appearance if you want to be politely unenthusiastic.
For example:
- 오늘 날씨 보통이에요. (Oneul nalssi botongieyo.) - The weather today is normal/average.
- 이 영화는 보통이다. (I yeonghwaneun botongida.) - This movie is regular/average.
- 저는 보통입니다. (Jeoneun botongimnida.) - I am fine/normal (referring to health or general well-being).
So, when you hear or use 보통이다, remember it's about conveying 'average-ness' in a practical, everyday sense.
When using 보통이다 to mean regular or normal, it describes something that falls within the expected range, without being particularly special or unusual. For instance, a student might say 그 학생은 보통이에요 (Geu haksaeng-eun botong-ieyo) to describe a student whose grades are average, neither exceptionally good nor exceptionally bad. It can also indicate that something is customary or happens often, like 보통 아침 7시에 일어나요 (Botong achim ilgop-si-e ireonayo) meaning I usually wake up at 7 AM. Therefore, 보통이다 conveys a sense of ordinariness or commonality in various contexts, from describing qualities to routines. Understanding this nuance is key to using it effectively in conversation.
§ Understanding 보통이다
The Korean word 보통이다 (botong-ida) is an adjective that means regular, normal, or usual. It's a very common and useful word, and you'll hear it a lot in everyday conversations. Think of it as a way to describe something that isn't particularly special, good, or bad – it's just, well, normal.
Unlike some other adjectives, 보통이다 can sometimes feel a bit like a noun because it ends with -이다 (ida), which is the copula 'to be'. This can be a bit confusing for English speakers, but just remember that when it describes a situation or a thing, it functions as an adjective.
§ Grammar with 보통이다
Since 보통이다 is an adjective, it will connect to sentences in ways similar to other descriptive words. Here's a breakdown of how it works:
- As a Predicate
- When you want to say something 'is normal' or 'is usual', you can use 보통이다 directly at the end of a sentence. Remember to conjugate it for politeness and tense.
오늘 날씨는 보통이에요. (Today's weather is normal.)
그 식당 음식 맛은 보통이었어요. (The food at that restaurant was regular/normal.)
- Modifying a Noun
- To describe a noun as 'normal' or 'usual', you'll use 보통 + Noun. In this case, '보통' acts as a noun modifier, directly preceding the noun it describes. You don't need '이다' here.
보통 사람들은 그렇게 생각해요. (Normal/Usual people think that way.)
이건 그냥 보통 커피예요. (This is just normal coffee.)
- As an Adverb (usually/normally)
- When you want to say 'usually' or 'normally' in Korean, you can use 보통 without '이다' before a verb or another adverb. It tells you about the frequency or typical way an action happens.
저는 보통 아침 7시에 일어나요. (I usually wake up at 7 AM.)
보통 주말에는 집에 있어요. (Normally, I stay home on weekends.)
§ Prepositions and Particles with 보통이다
When using 보통이다, you won't typically see it directly combined with prepositions in the way English speakers might expect. Instead, Korean uses particles to indicate relationships between words. Here's how some common particles might interact with sentences containing 보통이다 or 보통:
- -은/는 (eun/neun) - Topic Particle: Used to mark the topic of the sentence.
제 생각에는 그게 보통이에요. (In my opinion, that is normal.)
- -이/가 (i/ga) - Subject Particle: Used to mark the subject of the sentence.
이런 날씨가 보통 아니에요. (This kind of weather is not normal.)
In essence, when you're using 보통이다, you're either saying something *is* normal (as a predicate), describing a noun *as* normal, or indicating that an action happens *normally* or *usually*. Pay attention to the context to understand which function it's performing. Practice using it in these different ways, and you'll soon find it a natural part of your Korean vocabulary!
Exemples par niveau
저는 보통이에요.
I am normal/usual.
저는 (I) + 보통이에요 (am usual/normal - polite ending)
오늘은 보통 날씨예요.
Today's weather is normal.
오늘은 (today's) + 보통 (normal) + 날씨예요 (is weather - polite ending)
이 음식은 맛이 보통이에요.
This food's taste is normal.
이 (this) + 음식은 (food's) + 맛이 (taste is) + 보통이에요 (normal - polite ending)
그 사람은 보통 학생이에요.
That person is a normal student.
그 (that) + 사람은 (person is) + 보통 (normal) + 학생이에요 (student - polite ending)
우리 집은 보통 크기예요.
Our house is a normal size.
우리 (our) + 집은 (house is) + 보통 (normal) + 크기예요 (size - polite ending)
이 옷은 보통 가격이에요.
These clothes are a normal price.
이 (these) + 옷은 (clothes are) + 보통 (normal) + 가격이에요 (price - polite ending)
제 하루는 보통 같아요.
My day is like normal.
제 (my) + 하루는 (day is) + 보통 (normal) + 같아요 (like - polite ending)
그 가게는 보통 영업 시간이에요.
That store's business hours are normal.
그 (that) + 가게는 (store's) + 보통 (normal) + 영업 시간이에요 (business hours - polite ending)
우리 가족은 주말에 보통 영화를 봐요.
My family usually watches movies on the weekend.
이 식당 음식은 맛이 보통이에요.
The food at this restaurant is of average taste.
보통 한국 사람들은 김치를 매일 먹어요.
Korean people usually eat kimchi every day.
그는 보통 아침 7시에 일어납니다.
He usually wakes up at 7 AM.
오늘은 보통보다 더 더워요.
Today is hotter than usual.
이 컴퓨터는 보통 작업에 적합해요.
This computer is suitable for normal tasks.
저는 보통 커피를 두 잔 마셔요.
I usually drink two cups of coffee.
보통 사람들은 이런 상황에서 당황할 거예요.
Normal people would be flustered in this situation.
한국에서는 김치찌개가 보통이다.
In Korea, kimchi jjigae is common.
요즘 같은 날씨에는 가벼운 옷차림이 보통이다.
In weather like today's, light clothing is typical.
대학생들이 아르바이트를 하는 것은 요즘 보통이다.
It's normal for university students to have part-time jobs these days.
주말에 가족들과 시간을 보내는 것이 보통이다.
It's usual to spend time with family on weekends.
이 식당은 점심시간에 손님이 많은 것이 보통이다.
This restaurant usually has many customers during lunchtime.
새로운 기술이 나오면 빨리 배우는 것이 요즘은 보통이다.
It's common nowadays to quickly learn new technology when it comes out.
이 지역은 겨울에 눈이 많이 오는 것이 보통이다.
It's typical for this area to get a lot of snow in winter.
밤늦게까지 일하는 것이 이 회사에서는 보통이다.
Working late into the night is normal at this company.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
이 식당 음식은 보통이다.
This restaurant's food is normal. (It's not bad, not great.)
내 하루는 보통이다.
My day is normal. (Nothing special happened.)
그는 보통이다 학생이다.
He is an average student. (He's not excellent, not poor.)
요즘 날씨는 보통이다.
The weather these days is normal. (Nothing unusual.)
내 키는 보통이다.
My height is average. (Not tall, not short.)
이 영화는 그냥 보통이다.
This movie is just okay. (It's not amazing.)
주말 계획은 보통이다.
My weekend plans are regular. (Nothing exciting.)
이 가격은 보통이다.
This price is normal. (It's not expensive or cheap.)
그녀의 영어 실력은 보통이다.
Her English ability is average. (Not fluent, not beginner.)
우리 집 근처는 보통이다 동네다.
My neighborhood is a normal neighborhood. (Nothing stands out.)
Expressions idiomatiques
"그는 보통 사람이다."
He is an ordinary person.
He's just an ordinary person, nothing special.
neutral"보통으로 해 주세요."
Please make it regular.
When ordering coffee, you might say this to ask for a regular size.
neutral"보통 때 같으면 그 시간에 자요."
Usually, I'd be sleeping at that time.
This implies a deviation from a normal routine.
neutral"이건 보통 일이 아니야."
This is no ordinary matter.
Used to emphasize the seriousness or unusual nature of a situation.
neutral"보통 수준이다."
It's an average level.
When discussing skill or quality, this means it's neither excellent nor poor.
neutral"보통 이상이다."
It's above average.
Indicating something is better than usual.
neutral"보통 이렇습니다."
It's usually like this.
Used to describe a common occurrence or a standard way of doing things.
neutral"보통은 그렇게 생각 안 해요."
People don't usually think that way.
Expressing that an idea or thought is uncommon.
neutral"보통의 삶을 살다."
To live a normal life.
This phrase refers to an everyday, unremarkable existence.
neutral"보통으로 먹어요."
I eat a normal amount.
Used to describe eating habits that are neither excessive nor too little.
neutralFamille de mots
Noms
Comment l'utiliser
Usage Notes
보통이다 (botongida) is an adjective used to describe something as regular, normal, or usual. It's often used when something is unremarkable or falls within an expected range. You can use it when talking about quality, frequency, or general state.
- Describing quality: When something is neither good nor bad, but just average.
Example: 이 식당 음식은 보통이에요. (This restaurant's food is regular/average.) - Describing frequency: When something happens with typical regularity.
Example: 저는 아침에 보통 7시에 일어나요. (I usually wake up at 7 AM in the morning.) - Describing a state or condition: When something is in an ordinary or typical condition.
Example: 요즘 날씨는 보통이에요. (The weather these days is regular/normal.)
Common Mistakes
1. Using it like an adverb without modification: While '보통' can be used as an adverb meaning 'usually', '보통이다' is an adjective. Don't use '보통이다' to modify a verb directly.
- Incorrect: 저는 보통이에요 책을 읽어요. (I am usual read books.)
- Correct: 저는 보통 책을 읽어요. (I usually read books.) (Here '보통' is used as an adverb.)
2. Confusing it with '평범하다' (pyeongbeomhada): While both can mean 'ordinary,' '보통이다' often implies 'average' or 'expected,' whereas '평범하다' can sometimes carry a nuance of being 'plain' or 'unremarkable' in a slightly more subjective way. '보통이다' is more neutral.
- 보통이다: 그 사람은 키가 보통이에요. (That person's height is average/normal.)
- 평범하다: 그의 외모는 평범해요. (His appearance is plain/unremarkable.)
3. Overusing it to imply mediocrity: While it can mean 'average,' be mindful of context. If you want to explicitly say something is 'not good,' use stronger negative expressions rather than relying solely on '보통이다' which can be more neutral.
Teste-toi 66 questions
Choose the sentence where '보통이다' is used correctly to describe something as normal.
'보통이다' describes a state of being normal or regular. The other options use '보통' as an adverb meaning 'usually'.
Which of the following would you say if a movie was just okay, not good or bad?
'보통이다' is used to describe something that is average or unremarkable, fitting for a movie that is 'just okay'.
If someone asks about your daily routine and it's nothing out of the ordinary, what could you say?
'보통이다' accurately conveys that your daily routine is regular or unremarkable.
You can use '보통이다' to say that a student's grades are average.
Yes, '보통이다' can describe something as average, which includes grades that are neither exceptionally good nor bad.
If you say '이 옷은 보통이에요,' you mean the clothes are very stylish.
No, '이 옷은 보통이에요' means the clothes are normal or plain, not very stylish. For stylish, you'd use a different adjective.
'보통이다' can be used to express that something is unusual.
No, '보통이다' means regular, normal, or usual. To express something unusual, you would use a different word like '특이하다' (unusual) or '특별하다' (special).
This sentence means 'Today's weather is normal.' In Korean, the subject usually comes first, followed by the noun and then the descriptive adjective verb.
This sentence means 'I am usually at home.' '저는' (I) is the subject, '보통' (usually) is the adverb, and '집에 있어요' (am at home) is the predicate.
This sentence means 'This food is regular/normal taste.' '이 음식은' (This food) is the subject, and '보통 맛이에요' (is regular taste) is the predicate.
저는 ___ 커피를 마셔요. (I drink coffee regularly.)
'보통' means 'regularly' or 'usually', fitting the context of drinking coffee as a regular habit.
이 식당 음식 맛은 ___ 입니다. (The taste of the food at this restaurant is normal.)
'보통이다' describes something as being normal or average, which applies to the taste of food that isn't particularly good or bad.
제 키는 ___ 입니다. (My height is average.)
When describing one's height as 'average', '보통이다' is the appropriate term.
날씨가 ___ 맑아요. (The weather is usually clear.)
'보통' indicates that clear weather is a common or usual occurrence.
저는 주말에 ___ 집에 있어요. (I usually stay at home on weekends.)
'보통' is used here to express that staying at home on weekends is a regular habit.
이 시간은 퇴근 시간이라서 길이 ___ 막혀요. (This is rush hour, so the road is usually congested.)
'보통' implies that traffic congestion during rush hour is a normal or usual situation.
Choose the best Korean word for 'normal'.
보통이다 means normal, regular, or usual.
Which sentence uses '보통이다' correctly?
보통이다 can describe food, people, or situations as normal or average.
What is the opposite of '보통이다' when describing quality?
If something is not 'normal' or 'average', it could be 'special'.
The word '보통이다' can be used to describe something as 'average'.
Yes, '보통이다' means normal, regular, or usual, which can often imply 'average'.
You can use '보통이다' to say 'this book is expensive'.
'보통이다' means normal or average, not expensive. You would use '비싸다' for expensive.
If something is '보통이다', it means it's very bad.
No, '보통이다' means normal or average, which is usually neutral, not very bad.
This sentence means 'Studying Korean is normal/common.'
This sentence means 'Today's weather was normal.'
This sentence means 'The food at this restaurant tastes normal/average.'
다음 중 '보통이다'의 의미와 가장 유사한 것은 무엇입니까?
'보통이다'는 평범하고 특별하지 않다는 의미를 가집니다. '평범하다'가 가장 유사한 단어입니다.
어떤 상황에 '보통이다'를 사용하기 가장 적절합니까?
'보통이다'는 어떤 것이 평균적이거나 평범할 때 사용됩니다. 음식 맛이 특별하지 않을 때 '보통이다'라고 표현할 수 있습니다.
다음 문장에서 '보통이다'의 올바른 사용은?
'보통이다'는 주로 사물의 상태나 정도를 나타낼 때 사용됩니다. 사람의 신체적 특성이나 개인적인 능력을 평가할 때는 다른 표현을 쓰는 것이 더 자연스러울 수 있습니다. 영화의 재미나 완성도를 평가할 때 '보통이다'는 적절한 표현입니다.
한국에서는 사람들이 처음 만났을 때 '안녕하세요, 저는 보통입니다'라고 인사한다.
'보통이다'는 자신의 상태를 표현할 때 사용되지만, 첫 만남에서 자신을 소개하는 인사말로는 사용되지 않습니다. '저는 보통입니다'는 문법적으로는 맞지만, 사회적으로 적절한 인사법이 아닙니다.
날씨가 '보통이다'는 것은 맑지도 흐리지도 않은 중간 정도의 날씨를 의미한다.
날씨가 '보통이다'는 것은 특별히 좋지도 나쁘지도 않은, 평균적인 상태의 날씨를 나타냅니다.
'보통이다'는 매우 뛰어나거나 예외적인 상황을 묘사할 때 주로 사용된다.
'보통이다'는 오히려 평범하고 특별하지 않은, 일반적인 상황을 묘사할 때 사용됩니다.
Listen for '평범한' and try to understand the contrast.
Focus on '보통의 삶' and how it differs from his desire.
Pay attention to '보통의 일상' and the speaker's advice.
Read this aloud:
보통 수준의 한국어 실력으로 한국 드라마를 이해하는 것은 어렵습니다.
Focus: 보통 (bo-tong), 수준 (su-jun)
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
우리의 삶은 보통의 순간들로 채워져 있지만, 그 안에서 의미를 찾을 수 있습니다.
Focus: 채워져 (chae-wo-jyeo), 의미 (eui-mi)
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
그는 보통의 직업을 가지고 있지만, 남다른 열정으로 일합니다.
Focus: 직업 (jik-eop), 남다른 (nam-da-reun)
Tu as dit :
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This sentence means 'Today's weather is usual.' The subject '오늘은' comes first, followed by the adjective '보통' describing '날씨' (weather), and then the verb '입니다/예요' (is).
This sentence means 'I usually eat kimchi jjigae for lunch.' '점심으로' (for lunch) is the time/purpose, '보통' (usually) is the adverb of frequency, '김치찌개를' (kimchi jjigae) is the object, and '먹어요' (eat) is the verb.
This sentence means 'People's reactions were usually not different from expectations.' '사람들의 반응은' (people's reactions) is the subject, '보통' (usually) is the adverb, '예상과 다르지 않았다' (were not different from expectations) is the predicate.
그의 연기력은 늘 기대 이상이었지만, 이번 영화에서는 그저 ___.
문맥상 배우의 연기가 평범했다는 의미가 자연스럽습니다.
매일 같은 패턴의 일상은 지루함을 주지만, 예측 가능한 삶은 때론 ___.
평범한 삶의 장점으로 안정적이라는 표현이 어울립니다.
그녀의 재능은 ___ 수준을 넘어섰지만, 겸손함은 늘 잃지 않았다.
재능이 보통 수준을 넘어섰다는 의미로 '평범한'이 적절합니다.
처음에는 모두가 그녀의 아이디어를 비웃었지만, 결국 그 아이디어는 ___ 성공을 거두었다.
모두가 비웃었지만 성공했다는 문맥이므로, '보통의' 성공이 아닌 '이례적인' 성공이 더 자연스럽습니다.
이 식당의 음식 맛은 특별히 뛰어나지도 않지만, 그렇다고 맛없지도 않은, 그냥 ___.
음식 맛이 뛰어나지도 맛없지도 않다는 묘사에 '보통이다'가 가장 적절합니다.
그의 작품은 늘 사회 비판적인 메시지를 담고 있어, ___ 예술과는 거리가 멀다.
사회 비판적인 작품이 일반적인 예술과는 다르다는 의미에서 '전형적인' 예술과 거리가 멀다는 표현이 적합합니다.
Her talent was not ordinary, so she easily solved any difficult problem.
The result of this project was above average, surprising everyone.
He possesses a special intuition different from ordinary people.
Read this aloud:
보통의 기대치를 뛰어넘는 성과를 보여주세요.
Focus: 성과를 보여주세요
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
그의 비범함은 보통의 노력으로는 도달할 수 없는 경지입니다.
Focus: 경지입니다
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
보통 사람들은 이해하기 어려운 개념을 설명해 보세요.
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This sentence means 'His acting ability is regular/normal.' The order follows a typical Korean sentence structure of Subject-Object-Verb, although '보통이다' acts as a descriptive adjective here. (Geu-ui yeon-gi-ryeok-eun bo-tong-i-da.)
This sentence means 'The weather is unusually cold.' '보통이 아니게' emphasizes that something is not normal or regular. (Nal-ssi-ga bo-tong-i a-ni-ge chúp-da.)
This sentence means 'This exam was more difficult than usual.' '보통보다' indicates a comparison to what is normal or regular. (I-beon si-heom-eun bo-tong-bo-da eo-ryeo-wot-da.)
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Plus de mots sur general
몇몇
A2An unspecified small number of; some or a few.
조금
A1A little/a bit
적게
A1A little / Few
약간
A2A little; slightly; somewhat.
많이
A1A lot/much
잠시
A2For a moment; briefly.
잠깐
A2For a short time; a moment.
아까
A2A little while ago, earlier.
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
