Among & 'Out Of All The' In Korean (중에(서))
The Korean terms 중에 and 중에서 both translate to ‘among’ or ‘out of all the’ in English, allowing you to specify a particular item or experience among a set.
Basic usage
For things or people
You can use 중에(서) with nouns to specify a particular item or person among a group:
한국 음식 중에서 제일 좋아하는 음식이 뭐에요?
Of all the Korean dishes, which one is your favourite?
Of all the Korean dishes, which one is your favourite?
학과목 중에서 수학은 가장 지루했어요.
Of all my school subjects, Maths was the most boring.
Of all my school subjects, Maths was the most boring.
한국 친구들 중에서, 준영은 가장 착해요.
Of all my Korean friends, Jun Yeong is the most good-natured.
Of all my Korean friends, Jun Yeong is the most good-natured.
For experiences
When talking about experiences, you can combine 중에서 with V + 아/어 보다:
제가 가 본 곳 중에서 뉴욕은 제일 복잡해요.
Of all the places I've been, New York is the most crowded.
Of all the places I've been, New York is the most crowded.
너가 방문해 본 나라 중에서 가장 비싼 곳이 어디에요?
Of all the countries you've visited, which one was the most expensive?
Of all the countries you've visited, which one was the most expensive?
제가 봐 본 음악희 중에서 이 것은 제일 지루해요.
Of all the concerts I've seen, this one is the most boring.
Of all the concerts I've seen, this one is the most boring.
제가 연주해 본 악기 중에서 피아노는 제일 힘들어요.
Of all the instruments I've played, the piano is the most challenging.
Of all the instruments I've played, the piano is the most challenging.
Notes
- Both 중에 and 중에서 can be used interchangeably in most contexts, although 중에서 is sometimes considered to be a bit more formal or specific.
- These expressions are versatile and can be used in both formal and informal situations, depending on the verb conjugation used in the sentence.
Conclusion
Understanding the 중에(서) structure is crucial for expressing comparisons or preferences among a set of options in Korean. It provides a concise and effective way to highlight a particular item, person, or experience.
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