THE LEXICAL UNITS RẤT, QUÁ, LẮM IN VIETNAMESE AND THE EQUIVALENT LEXICAL UNITS 아주 (A JU), 너무 (NEO MU), 매우 (MAE U) IN KOREAN

Abstract

For Korean learning Vietnamese, distinguishing the lexical units rất, quá, lắm in the sentences is one of the difficult problems. In theory, these lexical units perform the basic function of expressing the high degree and have different positions when they combine with the elements (adjective, verb) that they complement. Understanding the function and operational positions of these lexical units will help Vietnamese learners use them in each context correctly.

This paper examines the operational capability of the lexical units rất, quá, lắm in Vietnamese and the equivalent lexical units 아 주 (a ju), 너 무 (neo mu), 매 (mae u) in Korean in some Vietnamese and Korean literary works to find out differences in the function, and nuance of meaning of the lexical units between these two languages.