Expressing fantastical or imaginative scenarios requires specific vocabulary. This guide provides the essential Korean words and phrases needed to describe the unique scene of a mermaid singer persuading a whale to join her in harmony within the deep ocean.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 인어 가수가 바다 깊은 곳에서 고래를 설득해 함께 화음을 맞추는 모습
Pronunciation: in-eo ga-su-ga ba-da gip-eun go-se-seo go-rae-reul seol-tteuk-hae ham-kke hwa-eum-eul mat-chu-neun mo-seup
Meaning: The scene of a mermaid singer convincing a whale to harmonize together in the deep ocean.
Describing the Mermaid
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Expression: 인어
Pronunciation: in-eo
Meaning: Mermaid -
Expression: 아름다운 인어
Pronunciation: a-reum-da-un in-eo
Meaning: Beautiful mermaid -
Expression: 인어 공주
Pronunciation: in-eo gong-ju
Meaning: Mermaid princess -
Expression: 신비로운 목소리
Pronunciation: sin-bi-ro-un mok-so-ri
Meaning: Mysterious voice -
Expression: 노래하는 인어
Pronunciation: no-rae-ha-neun in-eo
Meaning: Singing mermaid -
Expression: 인어의 노래
Pronunciation: in-eo-ui no-rae
Meaning: Mermaid’s song -
Expression: 매혹적인 목소리
Pronunciation: mae-hok-jeok-in mok-so-ri
Meaning: Enchanting voice -
Expression: 긴 머리카락
Pronunciation: gin meo-ri-ka-rak
Meaning: Long hair -
Expression: 빛나는 꼬리
Pronunciation: bin-na-neun kko-ri
Meaning: Shining tail -
Expression: 물속에서 자유롭게 헤엄치다
Pronunciation: mul-so-ge-seo ja-yu-rop-ge he-eom-chi-da
Meaning: To swim freely underwater -
Expression: 바다 생물과 소통하다
Pronunciation: ba-da saeng-mul-gwa so-tong-ha-da
Meaning: To communicate with sea creatures -
Expression: 맑고 청아한 목소리
Pronunciation: mak-go cheong-a-han mok-so-ri
Meaning: Clear and pure voice
Describing the Whale
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Expression: 고래
Pronunciation: go-rae
Meaning: Whale -
Expression: 거대한 고래
Pronunciation: geo-dae-han go-rae
Meaning: Giant whale / Huge whale -
Expression: 혹등고래
Pronunciation: hok-deung-go-rae
Meaning: Humpback whale -
Expression: 대왕고래
Pronunciation: dae-wang-go-rae
Meaning: Blue whale -
Expression: 고래의 노래
Pronunciation: go-rae-ui no-rae
Meaning: Whale song -
Expression: 깊고 낮은 소리
Pronunciation: gip-go na-jeun so-ri
Meaning: Deep and low sound -
Expression: 바다의 거인
Pronunciation: ba-da-ui geo-in
Meaning: Giant of the sea -
Expression: 온순한 성격
Pronunciation: on-sun-han seong-gyeok
Meaning: Gentle nature / Gentle personality -
Expression: 바다를 유영하다
Pronunciation: ba-da-reul yu-yeong-ha-da
Meaning: To swim gracefully through the sea -
Expression: 장엄한 모습
Pronunciation: jang-eom-han mo-seup
Meaning: Majestic appearance -
Expression: 고래 울음소리
Pronunciation: go-rae ul-eum-so-ri
Meaning: Whale call / Whale cry sound -
Expression: 신비로운 존재
Pronunciation: sin-bi-ro-un jon-jae
Meaning: Mysterious being
Describing the Singing and Harmonizing
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Expression: 노래하다
Pronunciation: no-rae-ha-da
Meaning: To sing -
Expression: 화음을 맞추다
Pronunciation: hwa-eum-eul mat-chu-da
Meaning: To harmonize / To match harmony -
Expression: 함께 노래하다
Pronunciation: ham-kke no-rae-ha-da
Meaning: To sing together -
Expression: 목소리가 어우러지다
Pronunciation: mok-so-ri-ga eo-u-reo-ji-da
Meaning: Voices blend together -
Expression: 설득하다
Pronunciation: seol-tteuk-ha-da
Meaning: To convince / To persuade -
Expression: 고래를 설득해서 노래하게 하다
Pronunciation: go-rae-reul seol-tteuk-hae-seo no-rae-ha-ge ha-da
Meaning: To convince the whale to sing -
Expression: 아름다운 멜로디
Pronunciation: a-reum-da-un mel-lo-di
Meaning: Beautiful melody -
Expression: 바다에 울려 퍼지다
Pronunciation: ba-da-e ul-lyeo peo-ji-da
Meaning: To echo across the sea / To spread through the sea -
Expression: 감동적인 하모니
Pronunciation: gam-dong-jeok-in ha-mo-ni
Meaning: Moving harmony -
Expression: 음악으로 소통하다
Pronunciation: eum-ak-eu-ro so-tong-ha-da
Meaning: To communicate through music -
Expression: 마음을 움직이다
Pronunciation: ma-eum-eul um-jik-i-da
Meaning: To move someone’s heart / To touch someone’s heart -
Expression: 교감하다
Pronunciation: gyo-gam-ha-da
Meaning: To commune with / To connect emotionally
Setting the Scene: Ocean Depths
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Expression: 바다 깊은 곳
Pronunciation: ba-da gip-eun got
Meaning: Deep place in the sea / Ocean depths -
Expression: 심해
Pronunciation: sim-hae
Meaning: Deep sea / Abyss -
Expression: 푸른 바닷속
Pronunciation: pu-reun ba-dat-sok
Meaning: Inside the blue sea -
Expression: 고요한 바다
Pronunciation: go-yo-han ba-da
Meaning: Calm sea / Quiet sea -
Expression: 신비로운 분위기
Pronunciation: sin-bi-ro-un bun-wi-gi
Meaning: Mysterious atmosphere -
Expression: 햇빛이 닿지 않는 곳
Pronunciation: haet-bit-chi dat-ji an-neun got
Meaning: A place where sunlight doesn’t reach -
Expression: 산호초 사이
Pronunciation: san-ho-cho sa-i
Meaning: Among the coral reefs -
Expression: 물결이 잔잔하다
Pronunciation: mul-gyeol-i jan-jan-ha-da
Meaning: The waves are calm -
Expression: 해저 세계
Pronunciation: hae-jeo se-gye
Meaning: Underwater world -
Expression: 어둡고 깊은
Pronunciation: eo-dup-go gip-eun
Meaning: Dark and deep -
Expression: 물고기들이 헤엄치다
Pronunciation: mul-go-gi-deul-i he-eom-chi-da
Meaning: Fish swim around -
Expression: 환상적인 풍경
Pronunciation: hwan-sang-jeok-in pung-gyeong
Meaning: Fantastical scenery
Cultural Notes
While mermaids (인어, in-eo) are not as prominent in traditional Korean folklore as they are in Western tales, they appear in some modern stories and artistic representations, often embodying mystery and beauty associated with the sea. The concept aligns with Korea’s historical connection to the ocean.
Whales (고래, go-rae) hold a significant place in Korean culture, historically and symbolically. Coastal regions like Ulsan are known for their whaling history. In folklore and art, whales can represent majesty, power, good fortune, or even sacred beings. The idea of communicating or harmonizing with such a creature taps into a sense of wonder and respect for nature.
Describing fantastical scenes like this often involves combining descriptive adjectives and verbs. Using words like 신비로운 (sin-bi-ro-un, mysterious), 아름다운 (a-reum-da-un, beautiful), 거대한 (geo-dae-han, huge), and 환상적인 (hwan-sang-jeok-in, fantastical) helps paint a vivid picture.
The concept of harmony (화음, hwa-eum) and blending voices (목소리가 어우러지다, mok-so-ri-ga eo-u-reo-ji-da) is appreciated in Korean music and culture, making the idea of a human-like creature and an animal achieving it together particularly poignant and imaginative.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two friends are discussing a fantasy illustration they saw online.
Characters:
- A: Minjun
- B: Sora
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Expression: A: 소라야, 아까 본 그림 진짜 신기하지 않았어?
Pronunciation: So-ra-ya, a-kka bon geu-rim jin-jja sin-gi-ha-ji an-at-eo?
Meaning: Sora, wasn’t that picture we saw earlier really amazing? -
Expression: B: 응, 특히 그 인어 가수가 고래랑 같이 노래하는 장면 말이야?
Pronunciation: Eung, teuk-hi geu in-eo ga-su-ga go-rae-rang ga-chi no-rae-ha-neun jang-myeon mal-i-ya?
Meaning: Yeah, especially the scene where the mermaid singer was singing with the whale? -
Expression: A: 맞아! 인어가 엄청 아름다운 목소리로 노래하니까 거대한 고래가 다가와서 낮은 소리로 화음을 맞추는 거.
Pronunciation: Ma-ja! In-eo-ga eom-cheong a-reum-da-un mok-so-ri-ro no-rae-ha-ni-kka geo-dae-han go-rae-ga da-ga-wa-seo na-jeun so-ri-ro hwa-eum-eul mat-chu-neun geo.
Meaning: Right! The mermaid sang with such a beautiful voice, and the huge whale came closer and harmonized with its deep sound. -
Expression: B: 깊은 바닷속에서 둘의 목소리가 어우러지는 모습이 정말 환상적이었어.
Pronunciation: Gip-eun ba-dat-so-ge-seo dul-ui mok-so-ri-ga eo-u-reo-ji-neun mo-seup-i jeong-mal hwan-sang-jeok-i-eot-eo.
Meaning: The image of their voices blending together in the deep sea was truly fantastical. -
Expression: A: 인어가 어떻게 고래를 설득했을까? 신비로운 힘이 있는 것 같아.
Pronunciation: In-eo-ga eo-tteo-ke go-rae-reul seol-tteuk-haet-eul-kka? Sin-bi-ro-un him-i it-neun geot ga-ta.
Meaning: How do you think the mermaid convinced the whale? It seems like she has some mysterious power. -
Expression: B: 아마 음악으로 서로 교감한 거 아닐까? 말보다는 노래로 마음을 움직인 거지.
Pronunciation: A-ma eum-ak-eu-ro seo-ro gyo-gam-han geo a-nil-kka? Mal-bo-da-neun no-rae-ro ma-eum-eul um-jik-in geo-ji.
Meaning: Maybe they connected emotionally through music? Moving hearts with song rather than words.
Practice Tips
Try describing this scene or similar fantastical scenarios using the vocabulary you’ve learned! You could write a short story, describe an imaginary artwork, or even just practice combining the phrases aloud~. Focus on using descriptive words for the mermaid, the whale, their actions, and the deep-sea setting. Don’t be afraid to mix and match expressions to create your own unique descriptions. Practice makes perfect, 화이팅 (hwa-i-ting – fighting/you can do it)!
