In Korean, there are specials words that specify a description or presentation. These words help people to imagine the subject they are speaking about more precisely. In a sentence, these words are used to modify the verb. The translation of these words is approximate. Description words are divided into three groups:
Words that imitate different sounds
These words imitate sounds made by people (laughter, tears, whistling, etc.), sounds made by nature, or sounds made by animals (knock, crash, crack, etc.).
중얼중얼 "grumbling", "muttering"
할아버지는 혼자서 무어라고 중얼중얼 하셨어요. "Grandfather muttered something to himself."
귀뚤귀뚤 "chirp" (grasshopper)
Words that imitate different images or forms
These words imitate sounds produced during different movements of people or animals. There are a lot of words of this group in Korean. For example, more than 150 words imitate a human smile.
훨훨 "flutteringly" (flying slowly with big wings)
독수리가 훨훨 날아다닌다. "An eagle flies flutteringly."
뻘뻘 "profusely", "flowingly" (about sweat)
땀을 뻘뻘 흘린다. "The sweat flows profusely."
Words that imitate both sounds and images
These words imitate sounds and movements at the same time.
철철 "overflowingly", "brimmingly" (imitates flowing water)
비가 철철 내립니다. "It is raining cats and dogs."
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