See also: 구나

Korean

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Etymology

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First attested in the Beonyeok Bak Tongsa (飜譯朴通事 / 번역박통사), before 1517, as Middle Korean 고〮나〮 (Yale: -kwóná).

Suffix

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구나 (-guna)

  1. a plain-style exclamatory suffix used to express a certain feeling (surprise, wonder, admiration, etc.) upon discovering or hearing about a new fact.
    제주어 배우 힘든 언어구나.
    Jejueo-neun cham bae'u-gi himdeun eoneo-guna.
    Wow, the Jeju language is a really difficult language to learn.
    노래 구나!
    I norae-do a-neun-guna!
    You know this song too!
    그림 정말 아름답구나.
    I geurim-eun jeongmal areumdap-guna.
    Wow, this painting is so beautiful.
    돌아가셨구나.
    Geu bun-i doragasyeot-guna.
    So he has passed away.
    자네 떠나구나.
    Jane-do got tteona-get-guna.
    So you will be leaving soon, too.

Usage notes

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  • For verbs, the bare form cannot be used; it must be marked with tense/aspect, i.e. (-neun-, present-tense suffix), (-deo-, retrospective suffix), (-eot-, past-tense suffix), (-get-, future-tense suffix). This is not the case for adjectives.

Derived terms

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