12/21 Single-person Households

DIALOG>> I live by myself.

I live by myself. I guess I can call myself a single-person household.
* single-person household: 1인 가구
* live by oneself: 혼자 살다

These days it's nothing special to live on your own.
* live on one's own: 혼자 살다.

I guess the dynamics of households are changing.


RESPONSE>> Talk about the rising number of single-person households.

The number of single-person households has been rapidly rising in Korea.
ex> The crime rate has been rapidly rising lately.
ex> The rapidly rising consumer prices are a serious problem.

In 2010, 23 percent of total households were made up of just one person.
* be made up of: ~으로 이루어져 있다.
ex> These figures were made up of only Korean citizens.

This is a five-fold increase in just 30 years.
ex> That's a five-fold increase in such a short period of time.

The family norm used to be a married couple living with two children, but not anymore.
* norm: 보편적 기준, standard, common
ex> I think the norm is to go to sleep before midnight.

The number of single-person households has gone over that of four-person households for the first time.

There are more senior citizens living by themselves.
ex> Many senior citizens are choosing to work after retirement.

Young people are putting off marriage and living by themselves.
* put off: 미루다, 연기하다.
ex> He put off marriage until he was in his late 30's.
ex> I heard that your children are all living by themselves.

There are now more middle-aged divorcees who don't live with anyone.


@ Please put out your cigarette.  담배 좀 꺼 주세요.

1. The prices of oil and gas are rapidly rising.
2. This was a five-fold increase from the original 4 percent.
3. Getting married and having children is the norm.
4. Do you want to put off marriage for a successful career?