Nuance Dictionary / Pronunciation
어미 억양 eo-mi eo-gyang
The rising or falling pitch on a sentence's final ending
What does 어미 억양 mean?
어미 억양 (eo-mi eo-gyang) means: The rising or falling pitch on a sentence's final ending. The exact same grammatical ending can sound like a question, a soft request, mild irritation, or warmth depending only on whether the pitch rises or falls at the very end.
The exact same grammatical ending can sound like a question, a soft request, mild irritation, or warmth depending only on whether the pitch rises or falls at the very end.
How it's actually used
- 끝을 살짝 올리는 어미 억양 때문에 질문하는 것처럼 들렸나 봐요.
kkeuteul saljjak ollineun eomi eokyang ttaemune jilmunhaneun geotcheoreom deullyeotna bwayo.
It must have sounded like a question because of the slightly rising pitch on the final ending.
💡 Useful for clarifying misunderstandings caused by tone. - 그 사람의 말투는 평소랑 똑같은데 어미 억양에서 화난 티가 팍팍 났어.
geu saramui maltuneun pyeongsorang ttokgateunde eomi eokyangeseo hwanan tiga pakpak nasseo.
His wording was the same as usual, but his irritated vibe was super obvious from his final pitch drop.
💡 Casual observation about someone's hidden mood. - 한국어는 어미 억양 하나로 단순한 사실 전달이 애교 섞인 부탁으로 변하기도 해.
hanggugeoneun eomi eokyang hanaro dansunhan sasil jeondari aegyo seokkin butageuro byeonhagido hae.
In Korean, a simple statement can turn into an affectionate favor just through the pitch on the ending.
💡 Highlights the expressive power of Korean intonation.