Click to watch the video
Hi everyone! Teacher Joy here to help expand your vocabulary. Since I mostly teach expats, I often get to teach Korean that you won’t find in standard textbooks. Today’ we’re looking at the word “통.”
In its most basic form, “통” refers to a container of wood, metal, or plastic. Because you can put various things inside, we also use it as a counting noun.
For example, while you can say “물 한 병” (a bottle of water), you can also count it as “물 한 통.”
You’ll see this word everywhere in daily life:
- 필통 – pencil case
- 쓰레기통 / 휴지통 – trash can
- 반찬통 – food container, side dish container
- 변기통 – toilet bowl
- 통조림 – canned food
But wait, 통 has another face! You’ve probably seen it in words like:
- 통후추 – whole pepper
- 통나무 – log
- 통마늘 – head of garlic
- 통닭 – whole chicken
- 통곡물 [통공물] – whole grains
Here’s a fun cultural tip. Have you ever heard the word “밥통”? Literally, it means a “rice container” (rice cooker). But in a joking or slightly mean way, it’s used to describe someone who just eats rice and doesn’t do any productive work. It’s on a similar level to calling someone “바보.”
You might hear a Korean mom say this to her adult child who is just lounging at home all day! Since 밥통 is a place where rice just keeps going in, the metaphor fits perfectly, right?
I hope this helps your daily conversations a bit more colorful. Keep exploring, and I’ll see you in the next one!
