International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, Vol. 2, No.

1, March 2016

Similarities between Korean and Japanese

Seyoung Oh and Taeseon Yoon

 similarities which are related to the usage of postposition and

Abstract—As Korea and Japan has long time of history for arrangements of word. Unlike western languages, Korean and
exchanging each other’s cultural aspects, they have many kinds Japanese have a form of [S(subject)+O(object)+V(verb)].
of similar things. Among them, language is one of the most This is a very special trait limited to Korean and Japanese,
things which have many kinds of similar aspects. By portraying
similarities between two languages, we could find out each
because Chinese language which shares same back ground
language’s developmental stages and through this has a [S(subject)+V(verb)+O(object)] unlike Japanese or
understanding each language’s consciousness structure becomes Korean. In case of postposition, as there are many kinds of
easier. However, as relationship between Korea and Japan postpositions and as same postpositions can be used in
becomes deteriorated due to many kinds of political and different meaning in different environment, if we try to say
historical issues, contrastive researches between two languages that postposition is a similar point then it should be verified in
lost interests from many researchers. This paper, in recognition
of necessities to undergo the research about similarities between many kinds of situation. For example, similarities
two languages, intends to find the intimate traits between two between‗に‘and Korean ‗-에‘ (eo) can be a great example of
languages related to grammatical traits and conversation similarities in postposition. Therefore aggregating all these
culture. Through this paper, supposition that Korean and kinds of similarities, this research would like to study about
Japanese are similar because of their shared historical traits
speech-act similarities between Korean and Japanese.
would become clearer.

Index Terms—Similarity, Japanese and Korean, grammatical

trait, conversation culture. II. PROCEDURE FOR PAPER SUBMISSION
The related researches are scattered in various fields but it
could be categorized in 3 big areas. They are contrastive
I. INTRODUCTION research related to honorific system between Korean and
Since both Korean and Japanese can be categorized as a Japanese, sentence structures between two languages and
language which is affected by Chinese language and character finally, how meaning of postpositions could be realized in
there are many kinds of similarities which can be traced in a different environment. As my research is trying to verify the
cultural area of Chinese character. First, one is that both similarities between these two languages, this paper will
languages have a complex system of honorific system. In cover all of these categories and each field‘s research result
western language even though there could be expressions can be used as supporting basis. This concentrates on the
which show respect to others there is no fixed honorific similarities between Korean and Japanese sentence‘s
system which must be used in specific cases in specific form. application of predicates. As both Japanese and Korean
However, in case of Korean and Japanese there is a fixed languages make much of its meaning through usage of helping
honorific system. This system can be divided into 2 different verbs and modification of word final it is focusing on the
systems which are humble system and admiration system. The order of helping verbs and ending [1]. This reported a
former system is realized by using an expression that lowers research on contrastive researches between Korean
narrator himself, but the latter is realized by using an postposition ‗-의‘(ui) and Japanese postposition ‗ の ‘. It
expression which respects other people‘s action. For instance, concentrated on skip and realization of ‗の‘ and applied
‗聞く‘and ‗묻다‘(muk-da) which means ask in Japanese and results into Korean sentences. And using this method this
Korean respectively can be realized into 2 honorific systems research tries to find out suitable way to teach Japanese to
which I mentioned above. If we use the former system, ‗聞 Korean as foreign language [2]. This reported a research on
く‘becomes ‗伺う‘or ‗お聞きする‘and ‗묻다‘ becomes differences between Korean postpositions ‗-에‘(eo)and
‗여쭙다‘(yeo-zzub-da) which are lowering narrator‘s action ‗-에서‘(eo-seo). After finding out differences it is trying to
in order to show respect to a companion of conversation. On apply its semantic context into Japanese postpositions
the other hand, if we use the latter system which is used in ‗に‘and ‗で‘. By applying this semantic context into Japanese,
order to directly give respects to interlocutor‘s action, ‗聞 this research ultimately aims to teach differences of Korean
く ‘becomes ‗ お 伺 い に な る ‘or ‗ お 聞 き に な る ‘and postpositions to Japanese who are learning Korean [3]. This
‗묻다‘becomes ‗물으시다‘(mul-ui-si-da). There are also reported a contrastive research on honorific system between
Korean and Japanese. It targets a honorific system after
World War II. As this research is a contrastive research, it
Manuscript received December 26, 2015; revised March 11, 2016. both targets on similarities and differences between two
Seyoung Oh is with the Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies, Yonginsi,
South Korea (e-mail: [email protected]). languages. Also it prospects future of the honorific system [4].
Taeseon Yoon was with Korea University, Seoul, South Korea. He is now Through this related research, we could find out that
with Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies, Yonginsi, South Korea (e-mail: attempts to find out similarities between Korean and Japanese
[email protected]).

doi: 10.18178/ijlll.2016.2.1.58 5
 International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, Vol. 2, No. 1, March 2016

have developed in various fields. This paper will make a Japanese ‗–ます‘is used in order to honor the listener (in this
comprehensive survey of research related to this field. case grandmother). However, this kind of expression is not
found in English. In case of example <11> the thing which is
important is that honorific system can be changed in different
III. EXPERIMENT situations. Naturally, honorific system must be used to
‗사장님‘(sa-jang-nim) and ‗社長‘. However, as there is a
A. Similarities
guest who is not in speaker‘s group, guest should be honored
TABLE I: SIMILARITIES OF WORD ORDERS BETWEEN KOREAN AND much more than ‗사장님‘or ‗社長‘ who shares a same group
JAPANESE with a speaker. For this reason, honorific system is not used to
Korean Japanese English both ‗사장님‘and ‗社長‘. In example <12> an expression
나는 밥을 私は ご飯
I have a which lowers speaker‘s action is used in order to talk in a
Active voice<6> を 食 べ
먹는다. る。
meal. polite way. In this case speaker‘s action is lowered through a
Passive voice<7> 물고기가 魚が クマ A fish was usage of a special verb, and through that, naturally object
に 食べら eaten by a becomes higher. In example <13> we could find out that
곰에게 bear.
れた。 special verb is used which only has a meaning of
먹혔다.
honorification. In case of ‗계십니다‘ (keo-sib-ni-da),
Past supposition 그는 잠을 彼は 睡眠 He would
phrase<8> を have taken ‗있으십니다‘ (ik-sub-ni-da) which just simply made through
잤겠더라. a sleep.
取っただ applying grammatical formula could be used. However, a
ろう。 level becomes much higher by using of special verb rather
Negative 이 과자는 この お菓 This snack
than just applying grammatical formula. It is also found in
supposition 子は あま doesn‘t
phrase<9> 그다지 look good Japanese as a special verb ‗いらっしゃる‘ is used rather than
り おいし
맛있을 것 そうにも at all. using a ‗います‘which just simply applied a grammatical
같지 않다. ない。 formulation. Finally, in example <14> we could find out the
fact that there is a special word which is used in honorification.
이 과자는 この お菓
子は あま
In case of Korean and Japanese a word father has a different
별로 form of ‗아빠/아버지‘(a-pa/a-beo-ji)or ‗父/お父さん‘. This
り おいし
맛없을 것 くなさそ is one of the most important features of Korean and Japanese
같다. うだ。 because this fact shows that these 2 languages could diversify
honorification not only transformation of verb but also usage
Through Table I the fact that word orders between Korean of special noun and other language elements.
and Japanese are similar could be easily found out. Let‘s see
example <6>. (Starting from now I will only use number in TABLE II: SIMILARITIES OF HONORIFIC SYSTEM BETWEEN KOREAN AND
JAPANESE
order to quote an example easily.) It is a basic form which
Korean Japanese English
doesn‘t have any kind of other grammatical devices. As we
can find out, unlike English word order which takes a form of
Honorific 핛머니 おばあさ Grandmoth
System.<10> er, I had a
S(subject)+V(verb)+O(object), Korean and Japanese 제가 밥을 ん、わた meal.
sentence follows a word order of 먹었습니 くしが ご
S(subject)+O(object)+V(verb) which is different from that of 다. 飯を 食べ
English. This trait is also found in example <7>. In case of ました。
Korean and Japanese adverb comes right after the subject. So Division of 손님, お客様、 Sir, CEO
the structure of sentence becomes group<11> hasn‘t come
사장님이 社長が ま yet.
[S(subject)+A(adverb)+V(verb)] which is totally nonsense in
아직 안 だ 来 てな
English. In example <8> a position of helping verb could be
왔습니다. いです。
find out. In Korean and Japanese instead of using helping verb,
an ending is transformed into different form. Also, although
Honorific 내가 私が 先生 I asked a
system<12> question to
helping verb comes before main verb in case of English, 선생님께 に 質問を teacher.
Korean and Japanese takes a structure of transformation after 질문을 伺った。
main verb. In example <9>, we could find out that one English 여쭈었다.
sentence can be translated into two different Korean and Usage of special 선생님, 先生、い Is there a
Japanese sentences which have different structures. Korean verb<13> teacher?
계십니까? らっしゃ
and Japanese can express a negative supposition into 2 ways.
い ま す
They can use a word which means negative supposition or
か？
they deny the supposition by using a helping verb which is a
negative phrase.
Specific 아빠/ お父さん/ Father
expression<14>
Table II gives an example of honorific system which is 아버지 父(ちち)
essential in both Korean and Japanese. There are many
categories of honorific system that Korean and Japanese share Usage of postposition which are mentioned in Table III is
similarities. In example <10> we could find an honorific one of the most important features that are shared between
system. In case of Korean ‗–습니다‘ (sub-ni-da), and Korean and Japanese. In example <15> ‗의‘ and ‗の‘ is both

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 International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, Vol. 2, No. 1, March 2016

used in order to express one‘s possession. Unlike English, both in Korean and Japanese this word could only be united
both Korean and Japanese don‘t have to use verb in order to with a word ‗lie‘. In case of example <21>, <22>, <23>, <24>,
express one‘s possession. In example <16> it points out a arrangements of postpositions and verb are same. Interesting
unique feature that is shared between Korean and Japanese. In point related to this category is that although this is habit of
Korean and Japanese, postpositions can be unified. In English each language it is not related to grammatical facts because it
a very limited group of preposition can be unified in a very doesn‘t have fixed rules. Secondly, in case of paradigmatic
limited situation. However, in case of Korean and Japanese collocation it is closely related to meaning rather than
post positions can be unified relative easily. Not only expression. In case of <27> these two sentences have a same
postpositions which are mentioned above there many kinds of meaning which means that he lends a book to her. However,
unified forms of postpositions. In example <17> this sentences which have same meaning can be changed in
postposition is important because this postposition can be formation through modification of postpositions and verbs,
used only in a place where action is occurred. It is different and these kinds of formation show a same form between
from English because in case of ‗at‘ it covers not only place Korean and Japanese. Also, Korean and Japanese antonym
but time. Unlike ‗at‘, ‗-에서‘ and ‗-で‘ could be used only in a system can be categorized into 4 groups. In case of example
place [5]. In example <18>, it shows a case that postpositions <26>, it shows 4 categories which are ‗size‘, ‗opposite action‘,
can be used as a noun. 3 examples which I mentioned before ‗opposite situation‘, and finally ‗fact of existence or
only show a postposition‘s roles that could be translated into a nonexistence‘. In example <25>, we can find out that both
role of preposition. However, in example <4> we could find languages have a same synonym structure and even same
out that postposition can be also used as a noun. What is word expressions.
important is that, in this case only ‗것‘ and ‗の‘ can be used.
Finally, in example <19> we could commonly say that this is TABLE IV: SIMILARITIES OF COLLOCATION EXPRESSION BETWEEN KOREAN
AND JAPANESE
the main role of ‗-의‘ and ‗の‘ [6]. As we can find out in this Classification by Classification Examples Examples
example, postposition acts as a conjunction of noun phrases relation by meaning (Korean) (Japanese)
or it can act as a qualifier. This kind of usage is frequently Syntagmatic Emphasis<20> 새빨간 真っ赤な
Collocation うそ
found in both Korean and Japanese. ‗-의‘ and ‗の‘ can both 거짓말
act as an English conjunction or linker. 삼십 전, 泣 く ほ ど
嬉しい時
오십 전
TABLE III: SIMILARITIES OF USAGE OF POSTPOSITIONS BETWEEN KOREAN は泣いて
AND JAPANESE 쌓이는 もよろし
Korean Japanese English 돈에 いでしょ
それは That‘s う？
Possession<15> 그것은 눈물이 날
私のです mine. (田辺聖子)
나의 정도로
것이다. 기쁘다.(현
Unification of 학생으로 学生とし A student‘s 짂건
postpositions<16> ての本分 duty.
서의 본분 운수좋은
Place of 나는 私は 銀行 I work at 날)
action<17> で 働いて bank.
은행에서 배꼽이 腹の皮を
います。 よるほど
일핚다. 빠질
笑わせる。
Case or 그가 彼が 銀行 I saw him 정도로
Situation<18> に 入るの going to
은행에 bank. 웃기다.
を 見た。
들어가는 Functioning 모자를 帽子をと
<21> る。
것을 벗다.
보았다. 안경을 眼鏡をと
それは 韓 る。
Listing noun or 그것은 That is a 벗다.
modification<19> 国の国花 rose of
핚국의 Sharon 모자를 帽子をか
の 槿だ。 ぶる。
국화인 which is 쓰다.
Korean
무궁화이 national
Creation 집을 짓다. 家を建て
<22> る。
다. flower.
소설을 小説を書
く。
We can find out many kinds of similarities between Korean 쓰다.
and Japanese in Table IV. First collocation expression is Disappear 열이 熱が取れ
<23> 가시다 る
especially detected in Korean because it is related with the 피로가 疲れが取
usage of verb, subject and postpositions. First category is 가시다. れる
syntagmatic collocation which is related to a structure of Deterioration 야채가 野菜が腐
sentence. As we can find out in these examples, Korean and <24> る。
썩다.
Japanese languages show a same collocation structure in case 声がつぶ
목소리가
of syntagmatic collocation. For instance, in example <20> れる。
쉬다.
underlined word could be translated into reddest. However,

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 International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, Vol. 2, No. 1, March 2016

Paradigmatic Synonym <25> 절호의 絶好の機 [7]. For example, in case of word orders they are only
Collocation 会＝絶好
기회=절호 detected (which have a form of
のチャン
의 찬스 subject+predicate+modifier+modificand) in case of
ス
口が軽い Ural-Altaic language. Also, realizing various kinds of
입이
＝秘密を meaning through the application of ending of a verb shows an
가볍다=비
漏洩した agglutinative language‘s trait. And this kind of characteristic
밀을 ことが多 is only detectable in case of Ural-Altaic languages. Secondly,
누설핚 い。
in case of honorific system this would be related to similar
적이 많다. socio-economic conditions between Korea and Japan. Korea
엎어지면 目と鼻の and Japan both had a fixed class system which has never been
間にある
코 닿을 데 changed for more than thousands of years. So, honorific
＝とても
있다=매우 近い所に
system would be a language system which would be different
가까운 ある。 between classes, and this system would be changed into a
contemporary honorific system as class system is collapsed.
곳에 있다.
In fact, honorific system of Japan was change in 1868 when
Antonym <26> 먹을 것이 食べ物が
ある/な the Meiji Restoration was occurred due to a collapse of class
있다/없다. system [8].
い。
옷이 크다/ 服が大き Finally, usage of certain postpositions would be related to
い/小さい. the influence of Japan. Among them ‗の‘ can be the best
작다.
전차에 電車に乗 example. In Korean ‗-의‘ which has same meaning as
타다/전차
る/電車を Japanese ‗の‘ had rarely been used until the middle of 18th
降りる。
를 내리다.
century. It has been started to use widely after Japanese
豚肉を冷 started to widen their power in Korea, and it finally took a root
돼지고기
凍した/解 for a period of Japanese colonial era against Korea.
를
凍した。
냉동하다/
해동하다. IV. CONCLUSION
동물이 動物が多
い/少な
The limitation of this research is that subtle differences
많다/적다. between Korean and Japanese are not considered sufficiently.
い。
Switching role 그는 彼は彼女 Even though most of the things which are mentioned in this
<27> に本を貸 paper are similarities there could be slight differences. But as
그녀에게
した。 there are many other arguments it is hard to mention them in
책을
→ this paper. Also there is another limitation which is related to
빌려주었
彼女は彼 precise explanation. As definition of phraseology is little bit
다. に本を借 vague, it might cause confusion. However, even though there
→ りた。 might be slight differences, as overall features are similar and
그녀는
there are many related researches about similarities between
그에게 Korean and Japanese it would be alright to say that both
책을 languages share similarities. What‘s more, even though it is
빌렸다. mostly considered that Korean and Japanese share similarities,
나는 私は彼女 yet it is not considered carefully. As mutual relation between
にネクタ
그녀에게 languages becomes much more important, I hope that this
イをもら
넥타이를 research will serve as catalyst in order to increase a study
いました。
받았다.
related to contrastive research between Korean and Japanese.
→ → Also this research has a value that it tries to find out reasons
彼女は私 for similarities between two languages. This research not only
그녀는
にネクタ
나에게
dealt with philological aspect but dealt with both
イをくれ
た。 socio-economical and historical aspects. This research can
넥타이를
show that both Korea and Japan share not only linguistic
주었다.
likeness but also socio-economical and historical similarities.

B. Reason REFERENCES
Then how can it be possible that these two languages have [1] M. Kim, The Contrastive Study of Korean and Japanese Predicate
Structure, 2002.
such similarities? In this paper we could point out 3 reasons [2] G. Bang, ―A contrastive study of politeness expressions in early
which are related to similarities. First reason is that 2 twentieth century Korean and Japanese language,‖ The Japanese
languages have Ural-Altaic language systems. Even though Modern Association of Korea the Japanese Modern Association of
Korea, pp. 37-52, 2008.
there are many controversies related to stratum of Japanese, [3] M. Lee, ―Reviewing the methodology of contrastive study of Korean
majority of researchers are arguing that Japanese‘s stratum is and Japanese — Focusing Onshite-shimau,‖ Journal of Japanese
either Ural-Altaic or mixture of Ural-Altaic and South-Indian Language and Culture, pp. 157-175, 2007.

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 International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, Vol. 2, No. 1, March 2016

[4] M. Park, A Comparative Research of Honorification in Korean and Taeseon Yoon was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1972. He
Japanese, 1998. got a Ph.D. degree in computer education from the
[5] S. Jung, The Study of Acquisition of Semantic functions of 'e' and Korea University, Seoul, Korea, in 2003.
'eseo' by Japanese learners of Korean, 2015. From 1998 to 2003, he was with EJB analyst and
[6] S. Cho, A Comparative Study on the Postposition 'ui' of Japanese and SCJP. From 2003 to 2004, he joined the Department
'no' Korean Languages, 1996. of Computer Education, University of Korea, as a
[7] N. Lee, The Problem of the Genetic Relationship between the lecturer and Ansan University, as an adjunct
Japanese Language and the Korean Language and the Methods of professor. Since December 2004, he has been with the
Comparative Study. Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies, where he was a
[8] K. Mabuchi, Japanese Root and Korean, the Japanese Language and computer science and statistics teacher.
Literature Association of Korea. Author‘s formal
photo

Seyoung Oh was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1998. He

was a student of Joongdong Academy from 2011 to
2013. He has been a student of HAFS (Hankuk
Academy of Foreign Studies) since 2014. He is now
major in humanities and Japanese.