TOPIK II Core Vocabulary · International Exchange ②

Official visits — 이민, 통역, 방문하다, 초청하다, 협정

These are formal words about other countries. You often see them in official papers and news reports.

01이민imin

emigration, immigration · moving to another country for good.

Note The motion verb shows the direction. 이민을 가다 means to emigrate. 이민을 오다 means to immigrate. 유학 is a short move for study. 이민 is a move to another country for good.

Examples 이민을 가다 (to emigrate) · 이민을 오다 (to immigrate) · 이민자 (an immigrant)

부모님이 오래전에 이민을 오셨어요. My parents immigrated a long time ago.  |  오시다 is the polite form of 오다. Here -시- shows respect for the parents, the subject of the sentence.

이민자가 늘면서 사회의 모습도 빠르게 달라지고 있다. As the number of immigrants increases, society is changing quickly.  |  모습 = appearance

02통역tongyeok

interpreting · turning spoken words into another language.

Note Use 통역 for spoken language and 번역 for written language. The people who do this work are a 통역사 and a 번역가.

Examples 통역을 하다 (to interpret) · 통역이 필요하다 (to need an interpreter) · 통역사 (an interpreter)

통역이 필요하시면 말씀해 주세요. Please let us know if you need an interpreter.  |  말씀해 주세요 politely asks the listener to tell you something. Use 말씀하시다 for what a respected person says. Use 말씀드리다 when you speak to a respected listener and lower yourself

좋은 통역은 말뿐 아니라 그 안의 문화까지 옮긴다. Good interpreting conveys not only the words but also their cultural meaning.  |  옮기다 = to transfer

03방문하다bangmunhada

to visit · to go to a place or meet a person for a reason.

Note Use 가다 for going anywhere. Use 방문하다 when you go somewhere for a reason, often on official business.

Note 가다 takes 에, as in 한국에 가다. 방문하다 takes 을/를, not 에: 한국을 방문하다.

Examples 한국을 방문하다 (to visit Korea) · 방문을 하다 (to pay a visit) · 방문객 (a visitor)

다음 달에 한국을 방문할 예정이에요. I am scheduled to visit Korea next month.  |  -(으)ㄹ 예정이다 = to be scheduled to

외국 정상이 방문하면 여러 분야의 논의가 함께 이루어진다. When a foreign leader visits, a wide range of issues is discussed.  |  정상 = a head of state · 논의 = discussion

04초청하다chocheonghada

to invite · to ask someone formally to come as a guest, speaker, or expert.

Note 초대하다 is the general word for inviting someone. 초청하다 is more formal. You use it for official events and for invited guests, speakers, and experts. 초청장 means a formal invitation letter.

Examples 전문가를 초청하다 (to invite an expert) · 초청을 받다 (to be invited) · 초청장 (a letter of invitation)

그분을 강연에 초청했어요. We invited that person to give a lecture.  |  강연 = a lecture

해외 전문가를 초청해 의견을 듣는 자리가 마련되었다. A meeting was arranged to hear the views of invited overseas experts.  |  자리 = a meeting or occasion · 마련되다 = to be arranged

05협정hyeopjeong🔊 [협쩡]

agreement, pact · a formal deal between countries or organizations.

Pronunciation [협쩡]. After the final consonant (patchim) ㅂ, ㅈ is said as a strong (tense) sound ㅉ.

Note Use 계약 for agreements between people or companies. 협정 is a formal agreement between countries or organizations. Say 협정을 맺다, or the more formal 협정을 체결하다.

Examples 협정을 맺다 (to make an agreement) · 협정을 체결하다 (to sign a pact) · 무역 협정 (a trade agreement)

두 나라가 새 협정을 맺었어요. The two countries have concluded a new agreement.  |  The more formal verb is 체결하다

기후 협정에 서명한 나라들은 감축 목표를 지켜야 한다. Countries that signed the climate agreement must meet their reduction targets.  |  서명하다 = to sign · 감축 = reduction

Quick check3 questions

Fill in each blank in Korean.

1. 좋은 __________은 말뿐 아니라 그 안의 문화까지 옮긴다. (spoken, not written)
2. 다음 달에 한국________ 방문할 예정이에요. (which particle? a small word added after a noun)
3. 기후 __________에 서명한 나라들은 감축 목표를 지켜야 한다. (the climate ______)

Show answers

1. 통역   2. 을   3. 협정

방문하다 takes 을/를

Study tip Use 통역 for spoken language and 번역 for written language. A person who interprets is a 통역사, and a person who translates written text is a 번역가.