Level 6

셈

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Meaning and Usage

The Korean word '셈' primarily means an intention, plan, or calculation. It is often used to express someone's underlying motive or the act of counting or calculating something.

Common Contexts

  1. Intention or motive: When you want to ask or talk about someone's hidden purpose or plan, '셈' is used. For example, "무슨 셈으로" means "with what intention".

  2. Calculation or counting: '셈' also refers to the act of counting or calculating numbers, money, or quantities.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 무슨 셈으로: "with what intention"; used to question someone's motive.
  • 셈을 하다: "to calculate"; used when counting or doing arithmetic.
  • 셈을 잘못하다: "to miscalculate"; used when making a mistake in counting or calculation.

Register and Usage Notes

'셈' is a neutral noun used in both spoken and written Korean. It can appear in casual and formal contexts depending on the sentence. It is not a verb but often appears in verbal phrases like '셈을 하다' (to calculate).

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '셈' with '생각' (thought) or '의도' (intention) because of overlapping meanings. However, '셈' often implies a practical or calculative aspect, not just a mental idea. Also, when used in counting contexts, it specifically refers to the act or result of counting, not just the number itself.

Example Sentences

그 사람은 무슨 셈으로 그런 말을 했을까?

Geu sarameun museun semeuro geureon mareul haesseulkka?

What intention did that person have when saying that?

셈을 잘못해서 돈을 더 냈어요.

Semeul jalmoshaeseo doneul deo naesseoyo.

I paid more money because I miscalculated.

그 셈법은 복잡해서 이해하기 어렵다.

Geu sembeobeun bokjaphaeseo ihaehagi eoryeopda.

That method of calculation is complicated and hard to understand.