"봉투를 보낸다"가 "결혼한다"라는 뜻인가요?

오늘 한국어를 배우는 외국인 친구들에게 보낸 답장 중 하나입니다.

이거 제 답장들만 정리해서 책을 내도 되겠는걸요. :)

영어로 되어 있지만, 해독 공부에도 사용하시고, 또한 외국인 친구들과는 나누어 주셔서 한국의 언어와 문화에 대해서도 나누어 보세요.

제가 주의하지 않고 답장들이라 오타도 많고 문법적으로나 syntax도 틀린 것도 많으니 그 쪽은 별로 신경쓰지 마시구요. :)

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Subject: "Envelope" to mean "Money"


First, your Korean question didn't quite make sense. :) So relying on the question you wrote in English: yes, but not necesarily. "The envelope" in the context means "money," usually with negative connotation.

Example #1. Let's say that parents are bribing their children's homeroom teacher to ask for special treatment. Imagine the money in an envelope hidden in a book parents brought to the teacher as a "small" gift. one would say, "That teacher received the envelope from a student's parents." (그 선생님은 학부모에게서 봉투 받았다.) It's not a very positive picture. As a matter of fact, it's a social problem. In this case, the envelope meant a bribe.

Example#2. Whenever there are culturally big celebrations, Koreans help each other by donating money. It is called congratulation money (축의금); for instance, wedding, baby's first birthday, 61st birthday party, etc. All the donations come in white envelopes (traditionally but not any more). It is like a gift registry at the wedding here in the western culture, except that Koreans make sure there are two or three receptionists who record them and thank donors at the door.

But, unfortunately Korean society has developed a rotten mentality in this culture. Many airhead Koreans today complain when the amount of donation is not up to their expectation and judge donors based on the amount their friendship level, loyalty as an subordinates, etc. Extremely rotten mentality it is. So when the news of celebrations reaches an individual who do not make average money, it becomes a big burden. In this case, the money is referred as "an envelope" rather "congratulations money." Imagine yourself giving away $500-$1,000 a month to your friends, acquatainces, co-workers, and bosses. Maybe more. You wouldn't be happy. That's the connotation "envelope" has.

Example#3. Funeral is another time Koreans help each other. It's a difficult time, and those who are left behind should be helped. The money is called condolence money (조의금). The same culture applies as in congratulatiosn money. Receptionst/recording clerk at the door, judgement based on the amount and whole 9 yards. In some sense, condolence money is not thought to be an "envelope" as much as congratulation money is. Come on, someone died. It was not by choice. It happened. Still, the rotten mentality of judging one's character based on the amout in that envelope lingers. Hence it becomes an "envelope" to some people.

So, yes, envelope can mean wedding. But it can also mean important birthday party. Or it can mean that somebody died. And the ｅxpression is not used with any good intention at all.

Hope this helps!

Zeanie

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ZeanieYoon.com






-----Original Message-----
From: TheKoreanLanguage2@.....
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:32 PM
Subject: [TheKoreanLanguage2] ｅxpression question and interesting link...


봉투날리는 말은 결혼대해서 뜻이에요?? (Is the ｅxpression "to send (an)
envelope(s)" about getting married?)