Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 9 - Advanced Korean #2 (Lessons 241 to 270) ᚛ Lesson 257 - Rather than, I'd sooner, in Korean [-(으)ㄹ 바에야] [-(으)ㄹ 바에는]
Rather than, I'd sooner, in Korean [-(으)ㄹ 바에야] [-(으)ㄹ 바에는]
The bound noun 바 refers to a situation, a way, "what it is about". Preceded by the future -(으)ㄹ and followed by 에, it gives -(으)ㄹ 바에(는), "rather than", "if it means": you reject an option judged bad in favour of another, presented as the lesser evil. The variant -(으)ㄹ 바에야, with the emphatic particle 야, is sharper still: "if it has to come to that", "I'd sooner". Both are close to -느니, but with an extra nuance: the rejected option is not just worse, it is to be avoided outright.
"Rather than" with -(으)ㄹ 바에(는)
[Rejected option]-(으)ㄹ 바에(는) [Preferred option]
The first clause describes what you refuse to do, the second what you will do instead, often as advice, -는 게 어때?, -는 게 낫다, or as a decision, -(으)ㄹ래, -겠다. The particle 는 is optional, -(으)ㄹ 바에 is enough, but it is almost always there in speech. The particle 나, "or something", readily attaches to the nouns of the rejected option to belittle it, 게임이나 할 바에는, and 라도 to those of the preferred option, 친구라도 좀 만나.
명절에 집에서 잔소리나 듣고 있을 바에는 가까운 일본이라도 가서 쉬다 올래.
→ Rather than staying home getting nagged over the holidays, I'd rather go and relax in Japan, it's close by.
자꾸 군것질할 바에는 그냥 제대로 된 밥을 한 끼 먹는 게 어때?
→ Rather than snacking all the time, how about having a proper meal?
하루 종일 집에서 게임이나 할 바에는 나가서 친구라도 좀 만나.
→ Rather than spending the whole day gaming at home, go out and at least see some friends.
거짓말하고 계속 찜찜하게 있을 바에는 차라리 솔직하게 말하고 혼나는 게 나아.
→ Rather than lying and feeling uneasy, it's better to tell the truth and get told off.
With 차라리, -겠다, -(으)ㄹ래: owning the choice
Learn more
"I'd sooner", sharper: -(으)ㄹ 바에야
Learn more
Exercises
Learn more
For anyone who wants to learn Korean, mastering Hangeul, the Korean writing system, is an essential step. However, truly understanding how these new characters are used, their real pronunciation, how they function within words, and above all remembering them well enough to read fluently in the long term is often a difficult task for Korean learners.
Master Hangeul in 2 Weeks is a 14-day program in which you learn, day after day, all the secrets of Korean characters so that you can master them and never forget them again. Each day, you discover Hangeul through comprehensive lessons and a wide range of reading and writing exercises. An unlimited online training mode allows you to practice as much as you want until you reach excellence.
Learn more