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General word for "student," used for any level of schooling.
The polite, everyday word for "teacher." Also commonly used as a title/honorific when addressing or referring to a teacher, similar to "Mr./Ms. [Name]."
A more formal/official word for "teacher," often used in writing, job titles, or news, rather than in direct conversation (where 선생님 is preferred).
Refers specifically to the homeroom teacher who is in charge of a particular class (반) of students.
Refers to the principal of a school. 교장 alone means "principal," and 선생님 is added as a respectful title.
Refers to the vice principal, who typically ranks just below the 교장선생님 (principal).
Refers to a native-speaking teacher, most commonly used for foreign language teachers (like English) who are native speakers of that language.
Refers to an academic subject, such as math, science, English, etc.
Refers to a class as a group of students (like "homeroom" or "section"), not the lesson itself. Compare with 수업, which refers to the lesson/class session.
Refers to a class session or lesson, as opposed to 반 which refers to a group of students. Also commonly used with 듣다 ("to take a class") and 끝나다 ("class ends").
Refers to the physical classroom space.
Counter word used for class periods, always used with a number (일 교시, 이 교시, etc.). Uses Sino-Korean numbers.
("일 교시")
Uses Sino-Korean number 일 (one) with the counter 교시. This numbering pattern continues for all class periods.
("이 교시")
Uses Sino-Korean number 이 (two) with the counter 교시.
Refers to a class schedule/timetable.
Refers specifically to school-provided cafeteria lunch, as opposed to a packed lunch.
Refers to a school club or extracurricular activity group.
General word for "exam" or "test." Often paired with 보다 to mean "to take an exam."
Refers specifically to the midterm exam.
Refers specifically to the final exam.
Can refer to a "problem" in general or a "question" on a test/worksheet.
Refers to a "question" asked in conversation or class, as opposed to 문제 which often refers to test/exercise questions.
Refers specifically to a school vacation/break (like summer or winter break), as opposed to 휴가 which is used for adult work vacations.
Refers to elementary school (grades 1-6 in Korea).
Refers to middle school (grades 7-9 in Korea).
Refers to high school (grades 10-12 in Korea).
Refers to a public/national high school, funded and operated by the government.
Refers to a private high school.
Refers to a private academy/cram school that students attend after regular school hours for extra study.
(3학년 "삼학년" = third grade)
Refers to a school grade/year level. Uses Sino-Korean numbers (일학년, 이학년, 삼학년, etc.).
(1학기 "일학기" = first semester)
Refers to a school semester. Uses Sino-Korean numbers (일학기, 이학기).
Short for 대학수학능력시험, the standardized college entrance exam in Korea, similar to the SAT.
Refers to a performance-based assessment (like a project, presentation, or report), as opposed to a written exam.
Basic verb meaning "to teach."
Basic verb meaning "to learn."
Literally means "to hear/listen," but is used idiomatically with 수업 to mean "to take a class." An irregular ㄷ verb.
Basic verb meaning "to understand."
Literally "understanding doesn't happen/come." A common alternative to negating 이해하다 directly, often used to express confusion in the moment.
Basic verb meaning "to explain."
Basic verb meaning "to evaluate" or "assess."
Common collocation using 보다 ("to see/take") with 시험 ("exam") to mean "to take an exam."
Verb used specifically for grading/marking exams or assignments.
Refers to an after-school class, or can also refer to a special class held during school vacation.
Literally "after school ends…", a common way to say "after school" when talking about plans.
Uses 전에 ("before") after 수업 ("class") to mean "before class."
Literally "after class ends…", parallel in structure to 학교 끝나고.
General term for "foreign language(s)," used to refer to the subject category rather than one specific language.
Refers to the English language/subject.
Refers to English conversation as a subject, as distinct from general English classes that may focus more on grammar or reading.
Refers to the Chinese language/subject.
Refers to the Japanese language/subject.
Refers to the German language/subject.
Refers to the Spanish language/subject.
Refers to the French language/subject.
Refers to the Korean language as a school subject (literally "national language"), used specifically to refer to a Korean school's own native language class, as opposed to 한국어 which refers to Korean in a general/foreign-language-learning sense.
Refers to literature as a subject.
General term for "science" as a subject.
Refers to biology as a subject.
Refers to chemistry as a subject.
Refers to physics as a subject.
Refers to earth science as a subject.
Refers to social studies as a school subject.
Refers to geography as a subject.
Refers to history as a subject.
Refers to ethics as a school subject.
Refers to politics as a subject.
Refers to economics as a subject.
Umbrella term combining "arts" (예) and "physical education" (체능), used to refer to that category of subjects together.
Refers to art as a subject.
Refers to physical education (PE) as a subject.
Refers to mathematics as a subject.
Refers to calculus as a subject, more advanced/specific than 수학 (math) generally.
The more formal/neutral term for "bus driver."
Compare with 버스 아저씨, which is less formal but far more commonly used in casual, everyday speech.
[In theory this is a little bit impolite, but it is definitely more common, especially when not talking directly to the driver himself.]
It could in theory be "버스 아주머니," but the overwhelming majority of bus drivers (at least in Seoul) are male.
Compare with the more formal/neutral 버스 기사.
[Literally translates to "electric train."]
Largely interchangeable with 지하철. 지하철 (literally "underground train") is generally the more common everyday word, while 전철 is often seen/heard in more official contexts like station announcements.
[Literally translates to "underground train."]
Compare with 전철 ("electric train"), which is largely interchangeable but slightly more common in formal/announcement contexts.
Often attached directly to a place name, e.g. 서울역 = "Seoul station."
Largely interchangeable with 거리.
[길 tends to emphasize the route/path itself — a road to walk or drive on — while 거리 tends to emphasize the street as a place/area.]
Largely interchangeable with 길.
[거리 tends to emphasize the street as a place/area, while 길 tends to emphasize the route/path itself.]
Attached to a number, e.g. 4호선 = "Line 4."
Attached to a number, e.g. 4번출구 = "exit 4."
[The full nuance is closer to "you should/need to go right."]
[The full nuance is closer to "you should/need to go left."]
Largely interchangeable with 환승하다.
[갈아타다 is more colloquial/spoken, while 환승하다 is more commonly heard in official/formal contexts, such as station announcements.]
Largely interchangeable with 갈아타다.
[환승하다 is more commonly heard in official/formal contexts, such as station announcements, while 갈아타다 is more colloquial.]
[More literally, "Let me take you there."]
[Often said to an older person when giving up your seat.]
[Used for a vehicle, like a bus or subway, coming to a stop — not for a person stopping an action.]
Compare with 저기.
[거기 refers to a place near the listener or already mentioned in conversation, while 저기 refers to a place far from both speaker and listener.]
Compare with 거기.
[저기 refers to a place far from both speaker and listener, often visible in the distance, while 거기 refers to a place near the listener.]
[This literally translates to "seat-bus," as it typically has more seats — two on each side — than other city buses.]
This type of bus goes longer distances, usually connecting Seoul with one of its suburbs.
[This bus is usually smaller and cheaper to ride than other buses. It usually goes shorter distances, and the stops on the road are often ambiguous — you really need to know the area and the bus route if you want to take this type of bus.]
[This type of bus also usually runs an inter-city route, but the seats are more comfortable.]
[A "limousine" in Korea refers to a comfortable bus that shuttles people from one place to another. You will commonly see this type of bus taking people from the airport to some pre-designated place in Seoul.]
As soon as you walk out of the airport in Incheon, you will see dozens of these buses — all going to a destination with maybe a few stops along the way.
[A "limousine" (리무진) in Korea refers to a comfortable bus that shuttles people from one place to another. 공항 버스 refers to this same kind of bus, specifically the ones running to/from the airport.]
[This is a regular subway train, but it skips stations along the way. It usually runs during peak times during rush hour.]
밥 literally means "cooked rice," but Korean people commonly use it to mean "a meal" in general, regardless of whether the meal actually contains rice.
식사 is also used when people order some sort of soup/stew at a restaurant. For example, at a Korean BBQ restaurant you might say "식사만 할 거예요," meaning "I'm just going to have [this type of] meal."
[A strong, clear distilled liquor, similar in strength to vodka; probably the most commonly consumed alcoholic drink in Korea]
[A milky, lightly sparkling rice wine, lower in alcohol content than 소주]
[Not alcoholic cider — 사이다 is a clear, carbonated soft drink similar to Sprite/7-Up]
~산 is attached after a country name to indicate the origin of a food product (e.g. "호주산" = "from Australia"). If the product is from Korea, "국내산" (domestic) is used instead of "한국산."
[A low, often foldable table used when sitting on the floor to eat, as opposed to 탁자, which refers to a more general/modern table]
Many Korean households have a separate refrigerator dedicated just to kimchi, called 김치냉장고, kept at a different temperature/humidity ideal for storing and fermenting kimchi.
Korean people use 메뉴 to refer to the food that can be served at a restaurant/other place, not to the physical booklet listing the food. In English, "menu" usually refers to the physical booklet, which in Korean is called "메뉴판."
~아/어 주세요 ("please give [me the favor of]...") is extremely common when politely requesting something, so many example sentences with 주다 look like requests rather than the literal verb "to give."
[More formal/neutral sounding than 시키다; commonly used when speaking about the act of ordering itself, e.g. at a counter]
[Often used interchangeably with 주문하다 when ordering food, but 시키다 can also mean "to make someone do something"]
[Literally "to calculate"; used specifically for paying a bill, e.g. at a restaurant or store]
[Used when talking about who pays/covers the cost, as opposed to 계산하다, which is used for the act of settling the bill]
The word "맛" means "taste." So 맛있다 (or 맛이 있다) literally means "to have taste," and 맛없다 (or 맛이 없다) literally means "to not have taste."
Literally "to not have taste" (맛이 없다). See notes on 맛있다.
[In English, "salty" is usually only used when something literally has too much salt. In Korean, 짜다 is used much more broadly to describe anything over-seasoned, so it's heard far more often than its English counterpart.]
[Describes food, or the feeling after eating food, that is heavy/doughy/oily — commonly spaghetti, pizza, bread, or anything with a lot of cheese/wheat. Eating something pickled is a common way to counteract this feeling, which is why pickles are often served with pizza or pasta in Korea.]
[Describes a nutty taste/aroma, most commonly associated with sesame oil (참기름); hard to translate perfectly into English]
아침 also means "morning" (hence 아침식사 literally means "morning meal"), but context always makes clear whether the speaker means "morning" or "breakfast." For example:
저는 아침에 일찍 일어났어요 = I woke up early in the morning
저는 아침을 먹었어요 = I ate breakfast
The same applies to 점심 and 저녁.
Like 아침, 점심 can stand alone (without 식사 attached) to mean "lunch," and context makes it clear whether "lunch" is meant. Unlike 아침, 점심 does not separately mean "midday" the way 아침 means "morning" — in everyday use, 점심 simply refers to the meal.
Like 아침, 저녁 can be used alone (without 식사 attached) to mean "dinner." 저녁 also means "evening," and just as with 아침, context makes it clear whether the speaker means "evening" or "dinner." For example:
저는 저녁에 운동해요 = I exercise in the evening
저는 저녁을 먹었어요 = I ate dinner
There are many types of kimchi, but when Korean people just say "김치" without specifying, they usually mean the kimchi made from Korean cabbage (배추). The full name "배추김치" is rarely necessary — "김치" alone is understood to mean this type.
[Made from radish cut into small cubes; one of the most common banchan alongside 배추김치]
[Made from thinly sliced radish that is seasoned but not fermented, unlike most other kimchi; has a fresher, more salad-like texture]
[Made from cucumber, usually stuffed with a spicy radish/chive filling; lighter and more refreshing than cabbage kimchi]
[Made with whole small "chonggak" radishes, often including the green tops, usually left whole or cut in half. Compare with 열무김치, which uses young summer radish, and 깍두기, which uses diced radish.]
[Made with young summer radish (열무), which has soft leaves and thin roots. Often eaten with cold noodles (열무국수) in summer. Compare with 총각김치, which uses a different, more mature radish.]
[A general term for banchan made from herbs or vegetables that are blanched/cooked and then seasoned, typically with sesame oil, garlic, and salt. 콩나물 무침 is one specific example of 나물.]
[A specific type of 나물 made from soybean sprouts (콩나물), seasoned typically with sesame oil, garlic, and salt]
[More of a soup with one main ingredient and a lot of water, compared to 찌개 and 탕]
[More of a stew with less water than 국, and lots of ingredients boiled together]
[Watery like 국, but boiled for a long time and containing a lot of ingredients, often meat/bones]
[Often eaten in the summer, believed to help restore energy during hot weather]
감자 also means "potato" in Korean, so many foreigners (and even some younger Korean people) incorrectly assume that 감자탕 should contain potatoes. You'll often see potatoes in 감자탕, but this is reportedly a modern phenomenon caused by people ordering 감자탕 and arguing that there should be potatoes in their "potato stew."
During the Korean war, the US military used to give extra food to Korean people on the street. This usually consisted of things like hot-dogs and other similar items, so Korean people at the time took all the ingredients and made a stew out of it.
[Compare with 삼겹살, which has three layers of fat/meat; 오겹살 has five layers, making it slightly fattier]
[Cut across the bone so several small round bones appear in each strip, unlike traditional 갈비 which is cut along the bone; named after Los Angeles, where this cut became popular]
[Despite containing "갈비" (ribs) in the name, 닭갈비 doesn't contain ribs at all — it's stir-fried marinated chicken, usually with vegetables and rice cakes]
Rice cakes (떡) are soft and doughy, and are not the same as the dry, crunchy rice cakes that are common in the West.
General, all-purpose word for "store" or "shop." Compare with the more specific terms below: 시장 (market), 백화점 (department store), 슈퍼 (supermarket), 편의점 (convenience store), and 서점 (bookstore) are all technically types of 가게, but Koreans usually use the specific word rather than 가게 when the type of store is known.
An open-air or general market, as opposed to a single store. See 전통시장 below for the "traditional market" variant.
전통 (traditional) + 시장 (market). Refers to old-style, often outdoor Korean markets, as opposed to a modern supermarket or department store.
Shortened form of 슈퍼마켓 (supermarket), used the same way in everyday speech.
General word for money. Compare with 현금 below, which specifically means "cash" (as opposed to card/electronic payment).
Specifically "cash," used to contrast with paying by card (신용 카드/체크 카드).
Often written/spoken without the space as 신용카드. Compare with 체크 카드 (debit card) below — the two are easily confused.
Also often written without the space as 체크카드. Money is withdrawn directly from your bank account, unlike 신용 카드 (credit card).
A store loyalty/points card. Compare with 할인카드 below (a discount card), which is a different kind of card — one saves up points, the other gives an immediate discount.
The noun/verb-stem "discount," used in compounds like 할인상품 (discounted product) and 할인카드 (discount card), or on its own with 하다/해 주다 ("to give a discount").
Sometimes written 할인 카드 with a space. A physical card that grants a discount, as opposed to 적립카드 (a point/loyalty card that accumulates points over time).
A more native/colloquial word for "price," often used in casual speech and in compounds like 반값 (half price). Compare with 가격 below, which is the more formal/written Sino-Korean equivalent — the two are largely interchangeable but 가격 sounds slightly more formal.
반 (half) + 값 (price).
The more formal, Sino-Korean word for "price," commonly seen in writing (menus, signs, price tags) as well as speech. Compare with 값 above.
가격 (price) + 표 (tag/label/chart).
An attributive word meaning "used/secondhand," placed before a noun (e.g. 중고 신발 "used shoes"). Compare with 중고품 below, which is a standalone noun meaning "a used item."
중고 (used) + 품 (goods/item) — a standalone noun, unlike 중고 above which needs to attach to another noun.
님 is an honorific suffix added when addressing or referring to a customer politely (e.g. in stores). Compare with 점원 below (the store worker) — opposite roles in a transaction.
Refers to the staff member/clerk working at a store, as opposed to 고객(님) (the customer).
Compare with 되팔다 below (to resell).
되- (re-) + 팔다 (to sell).
Used specifically for "paying" an amount (e.g. 돈을 내다, 세금을 내다). Compare with 계산하다 below, which is more about "settling/calculating the payment" at checkout.
Literally "to calculate," used in the context of a store to mean "to pay/settle the bill." Compare with 내다 above.
The examples below use the related noun form 환불 (refund) with 되다/받다, which is very common in everyday speech alongside the plain verb 환불하다.
Literally "to see/look at the market" (장 = market, 보다 = to see), an idiomatic expression for grocery shopping.
The examples below use the related passive form 적립되다 (to be accumulated) and 적립을 받다 (to receive/earn points), which are more natural in everyday speech than the plain active form.
Compare with 입어보다 below (to try something on), which adds 보다 ("to try, see") to this verb.
입다 (to wear) + 보다 (to try, see) — literally "to wear and see."
Compare with 저렴하다 below, a slightly more polite/formal word for "inexpensive," often preferred in customer-facing or business contexts.
A more polite/formal way to say something is "cheap" or reasonably priced, compared to the more casual/blunt 싸다. Often used by salespeople describing their own products.
날씨 = the day-to-day weather conditions. 기후 = climate, the long-term pattern.
비가 오다 / 비가 내리다 = for rain to come / fall. 비 is also part of compounds such as 비옷 (rain jacket).
눈 also means "eye". Context tells you which one is meant: 눈이 오다 = snow comes, 눈이 아프다 = eyes hurt.
이슬비 is a very fine, light rain, lighter than a 소나기 (a sudden shower).
눈바람 literally means snow + wind. 눈보라 is also commonly used for a blizzard or snowstorm.
해 means "sun" here. It also means "year" (올해 = this year) and "harm" in other contexts.
The sun has the verbs 뜨다 (rise) and 지다 (set).
난방 is heating (a building, a room, a heater system). Compare 냉방 (cooling).
You will see these words written on signs indicating that the air conditioner or heater is on, and because of that, the owner of the building (or whatever) wants you to close the door after you come in or leave. For example, you might see "난방중". Another place you will see these is on the control console for the central heating/cooling in a building, where you can choose heat "난방" or cooling "냉방".
냉방 is cooling / air conditioning. Compare 난방 (heating).
You will see these words written on signs indicating that the air conditioner or heater is on, and because of that, the owner of the building (or whatever) wants you to close the door after you come in or leave. For example, you might see "냉방중". Another place you will see these is on the control console for the central heating/cooling in a building, where you can choose heat "난방" or cooling "냉방".
치다 has many meanings that depend on context:
1) for lightning/thunder to strike (번개가 치다, 천둥이 치다)
2) to play/hit (골프를 치다, 테니스를 치다)
It is not the same verb as 치우다 (to clear away).
The word 쌓이다 is used when it snows but the snow doesn't go away, and it continues to pile up more and more.
It is the passive form of 쌓다 (to pile something up).
오다 is the everyday verb for rain/snow coming. 내리다 (to fall down) is also used, and sounds a little more descriptive.
오다 literally means "to come" and is also used for storms and seasons arriving (태풍이 오다, 봄이 오다).
내리다 = for rain/snow to fall down. It focuses on the falling motion, whereas 오다 is the plain everyday verb.
내리다 also means "to get off" (버스에서 내리다) and "to go down".
지다 depends on context:
1) for the sun to set (해가 지다)
2) for flowers to wither/fall (꽃이 지다)
3) to lose (경기에서 지다)
뜨다 depends on context: for the sun to rise (해가 뜨다), to float (물에 뜨다), and to open one's eyes (눈을 뜨다).
덥다 is for hot weather or feeling hot. It is a ㅂ irregular adjective (더워요, 더운, 더워서).
For something hot to the touch (water, food), 뜨겁다 is used.
영상 means "above zero" when talking about temperature, e.g. 영상 3도.
영상 also means "video/footage" in other contexts. Compare 영하 (below zero).
Mainly past tense: "It rained". The sentence pool also lists "It's raining" for this sentence (rain that has come and is still around), but for a plain present "It's raining" use 비가 와요.
치다 here means "to play (golf)", not "to strike (lightning)". Context decides the meaning.
-는데 sets up the background, then the new event follows ("and then").
"(to last)" is implied: the heat wave is expected to continue until next week.
예상되다 = to be expected. -ㅂ니다 is the formal style used in weather forecasts and news.
산길 = mountain path ("(mountain)" path).
미끄럽다 is a ㅂ irregular adjective (미끄러워요). 때문에 = because of (after a noun).
겉옷 = outer clothes (like a jacket). 일교차 = the difference in temperature within a day.
-기 때문에 = because (verb/adjective). 항상 = always.
Literally "I heard the sound of thunder striking". 듣다 is a ㄷ irregular verb (들었어요).
When used as the subject of a sentence, 저 translates to "I," when used as the object of a sentence, "저" translates to "me." For example: "저는 그 여자를 사랑해요" = "I love that girl", "그 여자는 저를 사랑해요" = "That girl loves me"
저 changes to 제 when 이/가 are attached. See Lesson 2 for more information. For example: "제가 한국을 좋아해요" = "I like Korea"
나 is used instead of 저 in informal situations.
When used as the subject of a sentence, 나 translates to "I," when used as the object of a sentence, "나" translates to "me." For example: "나는 그 여자를 사랑해" = "I love that girl", "그 여자는 나를 사랑해" = "That girl loves me"
나 changes to 내 when 이/가 are attached. See Lesson 2 for more information. For example: "내가 한국을 좋아해" = "I like Korea"
저 is used instead of 나 in formal situations.
이 is a type of word called a "관형사," which isn't an adjective, but is another type of word that can be placed before nouns to describe them. In English, "관형사" translates to a "modifier" or "a determiner." 이 is placed before nouns within reaching distance to indicate that one is talking about "this" specific thing. For example: "이 사람" = "this person"
It is easy to distinguish between a determiner and an adjective in Korean. Although both placed before nouns to "describe" them, the dictionary (ordinary) form of an adjective always ends in ~다 and must change in order to describe them. For example, 예쁘다 changes to 예쁜 when placed before a noun to describe it (See Lesson 3 for more information). Determiners keep their original form when placed before a noun. This might be too much grammar for you at this point, but make a note of it.
그 is another example of a "관형사" in Korean. 그 is placed before nouns that are being referred to from context or a previous sentence. For example, if your father is talking about a specific person, you can refer to "that person" by saying "그 사람."
See more information about 관형사 in my description of "이" above.
저 is another example of a "관형사" in Korean. 저 is placed before nouns that are far away (not within reach). For example, if you want to refer to the person across the street, you can refer to "that person" by saying "저 사람."
그 and 저 both translate to "that." This often causes confusion for English speakers.
Also notice that "저" has more than one meaning. Earlier, you saw that "저" means "I/me." Welcome to the world of Korean! Where often times one word has more than one meaning.
Not only used as a simple noun, but also used as a noun that can be described by full sentences. See Lesson 26 for more information about this.
것 can be shortened to 거. 것이 can be shortened to 게
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "이걷"
이것 is often shortened to 이거 in speech.
When 이, 그 or 저 are placed before "것," the result is a compound word. Therefore, when placing "것" after 이, 그 or 저, there should not be a space between the two.
Although it can be translated as "this thing," 이것 itself is a pronoun and can be simplified to translate to "this." For more information, see the explanation in Lesson 1.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "그걷"
그것 is often shortened to 그거 in speech.
Although it can be translated as "that thing," 그것 itself is a pronoun and can be simplified to translate to "that." For more information, see the explanation in Lesson 1.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "저걷"
저것 is often shortened to 저거 in speech.
Although it can be translated as "that thing," 저것 itself is a pronoun and can be simplified to translate to "that." For more information, see the explanation in Lesson 1.
This word appears in Korean Sign Explanation [Video 14]
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "탁짜"
The little table that Korean people use when they sit on the floor to have meals is called a "상." A kitchen table can be referred to more specifically by saying "식탁."
This is often colloquially shortened to "쌤"
선생님 (or 쌤) is often used to broadly refer to anybody in any form of a teaching position, or anybody who works at any position in a school. For example, the maintenance people who work at a school would be referred to as "선생님" within the school.
The formal version of 사람 is "분"
The counter for people is "명" (informal) or "분" (formal). See Lesson 10 for more information
Many new Korean words are simply English words with a Korean pronunciation pronouncing "소파" in Korean will sound like "sofa." Note that there is no way to pronounce the "F" sound in Korean. English words with an "F" that are borrowed to Korean usually use "ㅍ" to make the "F" sound.
On the subway, you will hear "내리실 문은 왼쪽/오른쪽이에요" – "The doors are on your left/right."
On the bus, you will see signs saying "문이 완전히 열릴 때까지 버스에서 내리거나 문에 기대지 마세요" – "Until the door is fully/completely open, don't get off the bus or lean on the door"
This is the first time you are being introduced to a word that must be conjugated in order to be used. Visit Lesson 5 for more information. Any word that ends in "다" must be conjugated to be used. The conjugation of 이다 is different than other words. I introduce all of these conjugations in Lesson 9.
"to be" can be many words in English. For example, I am, he is, they are, I was, they were. 이다 acts as all of these words.
Informally, you can say "응" to mean "yes"
When speaking on the phone, Korean people often say this many times and pronounce it as "데"
In formal situations, "아니요" is more respectful
Person 1: 숙소비가 얼마예요? 10만원? = How much is the lodging fee? 100,000 won?
Person 2: 아니요. 10만원 조금 넘어요 = No. A little more than 100,000 won
The word "개" is usually used for dogs that are not pets.
The counter for animals is "마리." See Lesson 10 for more information.
The sound a dog makes in Korean is "멍멍." This is like saying "woof woof" in English.
A 전화기 usually refers to a typical land-line style phone that nobody uses anymore, and thus, is not said as often as it used to be said. A more common word to use is "핸드폰" (hand-phone, or cell-phone)
Notice that there is no "F" in Korean, and thus, Korean people use "ㅍ" to make the "F" sound
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "식땅"
The Konglish word 레스토랑 is commonly used as well.
This word appears in my Korean Sign Explanation Video 4
Originates from the English pronunciation of "Television."
This is often shortened to "TV" which sounds like "티비" in Korean.
Position words are typically placed after a noun to indicate in which direction in reference to that noun something occurs. ~에 is typically attached to a word of position. For example: "저의 친구는 은행 안에 있어요" = "My friend is in the bank"
안 can also be used to indicate that some action is completed "within" or "inside" a time period. This usage is discussed in Lesson 24. For example: "우리는 한 시간 안에 그 일을 끝내야 돼요" = "We need to finish that job/task within one hour"
The placement of "~에" is usually assumed and therefore omitted. 여기 and ~에서 combine to form 여기서
~에 is typically attached to the location where something/somebody is. For more information, see the explanation in of this lesson.
~이/가 must be attached to the object that is being possessed. For more information, visit Lesson 2.
In English, I would only go to the "hospital" if I was really sick, and I would "go to the doctor" if I had some minor illness. In Korean, they go to the hospital for minor and major problems. This is because even small doctors' offices are referred to as a "병원." If you are really sick, you would probably need to go to a "대학병원."
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "한구거"
"한국말" is a colloquial way to refer to the Korean language.
This is used to refer to one's head or the hair on one's head. For example, if you get a haircut, you can say "머리를 잘랐어요." Note that this does not mean "I cut my head." To specifically refer to the hair on your head, you can use "머리카락"
The formal version of this word is 들다 (usually said as 드시다)
An even more formal version of this word is 잡수시다
~아/어: 먹어, ~ㄴ/은: 먹은, ~ㄴ/는다: 먹는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 먹습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 먹을, ~니: 먹으니, ~ㅁ/음: 먹음, ~(으)려고: 먹으려고, ~(으)시: 먹으시, ~(으)면: 먹으면, ~(으)니: 먹으니
~아/어: 가, ~ㄴ/은: 간, ~ㄴ/는다: 간다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 갑니다, ~ㄹ/을: 갈, ~니: 가니, ~ㅁ/음: 감, ~(으)려고: 가려고, ~(으)시: 가시, ~(으)면: 가면, ~(으)니: 가니
~아/어: 만나, ~ㄴ/은: 만난, ~ㄴ/는다: 만난다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 만납니다, ~ㄹ/을: 만날, ~니: 만나니, ~ㅁ/음: 만남, ~(으)려고: 만나려고, ~(으)시: 만나시, ~(으)면: 만나면, ~(으)니: 만나니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "닫따"
~아/어: 닫아, ~ㄴ/은: 닫은, ~ㄴ/는다: 닫는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 닫습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 닫을, ~니: 닫으니, ~ㅁ/음: 닫음, ~(으)려고: 닫으려고, ~(으)시: 닫으시, ~(으)면: 닫으면, ~(으)니: 닫으니
열다 can be used to open up something that can also be closed – like a door or a window. For example:
It is also commonly used to indicate that one "holds" an event where many people will gather. For example:
~아/어: 열어, ~ㄴ/은: 연, ~ㄴ/는다: 연다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 엽니다, ~ㄹ/을: 열, ~니: 여니, ~ㅁ/음: 엶, ~(으)려고: 열려고, ~(으)시: 여시, ~(으)면: 열면, ~(으)니: 여니
This word can only be used to say that you want a noun. You cannot say that you want to do a verb using 원하다. In order to say "I want to do…" see Lesson 17.
~해: 원해, ~ㄴ/은: 원한, ~ㄴ/는다: 원한다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 원합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 원할, ~니: 원하니, ~ㅁ/음: 원함, ~(으)려고: 원하려고, ~(으)시: 원하시, ~(으)면: 원하면, ~(으)니: 원하니
~아/어: 만들어, ~ㄴ/은: 만든, ~ㄴ/는다: 만든다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 만듭니다, ~ㄹ/을: 만들, ~니: 만드니, ~ㅁ/음: 만듦, ~(으)려고: 만들려고, ~(으)시: 만드시, ~(으)면: 만들면, ~(으)니: 만드니
Attaching 하다 to nouns (usually of Chinese origin) changes that noun into a verb. For example:
~해: 해, ~ㄴ/은: 한, ~ㄴ/는다: 한다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 할, ~니: 하니, ~ㅁ/음: 함, ~(으)려고: 하려고, ~(으)시: 하시, ~(으)면: 하면, ~(으)니: 하니
The noun form of this word "말," translates to speech, or "something that one says."
~해: 말해, ~ㄴ/은: 말한, ~ㄴ/는다: 말한다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 말합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 말할, ~니: 말하니, ~ㅁ/음: 말함, ~(으)려고: 말하려고, ~(으)시: 말하시, ~(으)면: 말하면, ~(으)니: 말하니
In order to say that you don't understand, it is common to use:
~해: 이해해, ~ㄴ/은: 이해한, ~ㄴ/는다: 이해한다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 이해합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 이해할, ~니: 이해하니, ~ㅁ/음: 이해함, ~(으)려고: 이해하려고, ~(으)시: 이해하시, ~(으)면: 이해하면, ~(으)니: 이해하니
좋다 is an adjective that means "good." 좋아하다 is a verb that means "like." For more information, see Lesson 15.
~해: 좋아해, ~ㄴ/은: 좋아한, ~ㄴ/는다: 좋아한다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 좋아합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 좋아할, ~니: 좋아하니, ~ㅁ/음: 좋아함, ~(으)려고: 좋아하려고, ~(으)시: 좋아하시, ~(으)면: 좋아하면, ~(으)니: 좋아하니
For more information on how to conjugate adjectives, see Lesson 4 and Lesson 5.
크다 follows the ㅡ irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
~아/어: 커, ~ㄴ/은: 큰, ~ㅂ/습니다: 큽니다, ~ㄹ/을: 클, ~니: 크니, ~ㅁ/음: 큼, ~(으)려고: 크려고, ~(으)시: 크시, ~(으)면: 크면, ~(으)니: 크니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "작따"
~아/어: 작아, ~ㄴ/은: 작은, ~ㅂ/습니다: 작습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 작을, ~니: 작으니, ~ㅁ/음: 작음, ~(으)려고: 작으려고, ~(으)시: 작으시, ~(으)면: 작으면, ~(으)니: 작으니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "새롭따"
새롭다 follows the ㅂ irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
~아/어: 새로워, ~ㄴ/은: 새로운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 새롭습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 새로울, ~니: 새로우니, ~ㅁ/음: 새로움, ~(으)려고: 새로우려고, ~(으)시: 새로우시, ~(으)면: 새로우면, ~(으)니: 새로우니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "낙따"
This word is not used to describe a person, only an object. Instead, it describes that something is old/worn down. To describe a person you should use 늙다. To describe something that is old (but still nice, like a historical building), you should use 오래되다.
~아/어: 낡아, ~ㄴ/은: 낡은, ~ㅂ/습니다: 낡습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 낡을, ~니: 낡으니, ~ㅁ/음: 낡음, ~(으)려고: 낡으려고, ~(으)시: 낡으시, ~(으)면: 낡으면, ~(으)니: 낡으니
~아/어: 비싸, ~ㄴ/은: 비싼, ~ㅂ/습니다: 비쌉니다, ~ㄹ/을: 비쌀, ~니: 비싸니, ~ㅁ/음: 비쌈, ~(으)려고: 비싸려고, ~(으)시: 비싸시, ~(으)면: 비싸면, ~(으)니: 비싸니
~아/어: 싸, ~ㄴ/은: 싼, ~ㅂ/습니다: 쌉니다, ~ㄹ/을: 쌀, ~니: 싸니, ~ㅁ/음: 쌈, ~(으)려고: 싸려고, ~(으)시: 싸시, ~(으)면: 싸면, ~(으)니: 싸니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "아름답따"
아름답다 follows the ㅂ irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
~아/어: 아름다워, ~ㄴ/은: 아름다운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 아름답습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 아름다울, ~니: 아름다우니, ~ㅁ/음: 아름다움, ~(으)려고: 아름다우려고, ~(으)시: 아름다우시, ~(으)면: 아름다우면, ~(으)니: 아름다우니
~해: 뚱뚱해, ~ㄴ/은: 뚱뚱한, ~ㅂ/습니다: 뚱뚱합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 뚱뚱할, ~니: 뚱뚱하니, ~ㅁ/음: 뚱뚱함, ~(으)려고: 뚱뚱하려고, ~(으)시: 뚱뚱하시, ~(으)면: 뚱뚱하면, ~(으)니: 뚱뚱하니
길다 follows the ㄹ irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
~아/어: 길어, ~ㄴ/은: 긴, ~ㅂ/습니다: 깁니다, ~ㄹ/을: 길, ~니: 기니, ~ㅁ/음: 김, ~(으)려고: 길려고, ~(으)시: 기시, ~(으)면: 길면, ~(으)니: 기니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "조타"
Although this translates to "good," it is often used to say that one "likes" something. The grammar for this is taught in Lesson 15.
~아/어: 좋아, ~ㄴ/은: 좋은, ~ㅂ/습니다: 좋습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 좋을, ~니: 좋으니, ~ㅁ/음: 좋음, ~(으)려고: 좋으려고, ~(으)시: 좋으시, ~(으)면: 좋으면, ~(으)니: 좋으니
Though 너무 means "too," it has gotten to the point in society where Korean people use "너무" to mean "very" as well (especially with the younger generation). Whereas "too" should indicate a negative meaning, 너무 can indicate both a positive and negative meaning.
For example, saying "이것은 너무 맛있어요" would not translate to "this is too delicious" but instead "this is very/so delicious."
This is also used to indicate that somebody is "on the way" somewhere. For example: 저는 집에 가는 길이에요 = I am on my way home. This grammar is taught in Lesson 113.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "버스 정뉴장"
This refers to the bus stop for a public transportation style city bus. For inter-city buses, the word "버스 터미널" (bus terminal) is more frequently used.
This word appears in my Korean Sign Explanation [Video #6]
맛 and 있다 come together to make "delicious" but this literally means "to have taste." Likewise, the direct translation for "맛없다" or (맛이 없다) is "to have no taste"
~아/어: 와, ~ㄴ/은: 온, ~ㄴ/는다: 온다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 옵니다, ~ㄹ/을: 올, ~니: 오니, ~ㅁ/음: 옴, ~(으)려고: 오려고, ~(으)시: 오시, ~(으)면: 오면, ~(으)니: 오니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "끈내다"
It is often more common to use the passive form (끝나다) to indicate that you finished something. For example: "일이 끝났어요" = "The work is finished (which implies that you finished the work)". The grammar for this is talked about in Lesson 14.
~아/어: 끝내, ~ㄴ/은: 끝낸, ~ㄴ/는다: 끝낸다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 끝냅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 끝낼, ~니: 끝내니, ~ㅁ/음: 끝냄, ~(으)려고: 끝내려고, ~(으)시: 끝내시, ~(으)면: 끝내면, ~(으)니: 끝내니
The word "춤" is the noun "dance," as in "a dance." Coupled with the verb "추다" is means "to dance."
~아/어: 춤춰, ~ㄴ/은: 춤춘, ~ㄴ/는다: 춤춘다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 춤춥니다, ~ㄹ/을: 춤출, ~니: 춤추니, ~ㅁ/음: 춤춤, ~(으)려고: 춤추려고, ~(으)시: 춤추시, ~(으)면: 춤추면, ~(으)니: 춤추니
알다 follows the ㄹ irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
~아/어: 알아, ~ㄴ/은: 안, ~ㄴ/는다: 안다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 압니다, ~ㄹ/을: 알, ~니: 아니, ~ㅁ/음: 앎, ~(으)려고: 알려고, ~(으)시: 아시, ~(으)면: 알면, ~(으)니: 아니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "걷따"
걷다 follows the ㄷ irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
~아/어: 걸어, ~ㄴ/은: 걸은, ~ㄴ/는다: 걷는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 걷습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 걸을, ~니: 걷니, ~ㅁ/음: 걸음, ~(으)려고: 걸으려고, ~(으)시: 걸으시, ~(으)면: 걸으면, ~(으)니: 걸으니
~아/어: 배워, ~ㄴ/은: 배운, ~ㄴ/는다: 배운다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 배웁니다, ~ㄹ/을: 배울, ~니: 배우니, ~ㅁ/음: 배움, ~(으)려고: 배우려고, ~(으)시: 배우시, ~(으)면: 배우면, ~(으)니: 배우니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "생가카다"
The noun form of this word translates to "a thought" or "an idea."
Typically the grammatical principle ~ㄴ/다고 precedes 생각하다 as if it is a quoted sentence. For more information, visit Lesson 52.
살다 follows the ㄹ irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
In order to say that you live in a place, it is acceptable to use "살고 있다." For example: 저는 한국에서 살고 있어요. Note that this directly translates to "I am living in Korea", whereas is English we would most likely say "I live in Korea." See Lesson 18.
~아/어: 살아, ~ㄴ/은: 산, ~ㄴ/는다: 산다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 삽니다, ~ㄹ/을: 살, ~니: 사니, ~ㅁ/음: 삼, ~(으)려고: 살려고, ~(으)시: 사시, ~(으)면: 살면, ~(으)니: 사니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "끈나다"
This is the first passive verb you have come across. For more information on passive verbs, visit Lesson 14.
~아/어: 끝나, ~ㄴ/은: 끝난, ~ㄴ/는다: 끝난다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 끝납니다, ~ㄹ/을: 끝날, ~니: 끝나니, ~ㅁ/음: 끝남, ~(으)려고: 끝나려고, ~(으)시: 끝나시, ~(으)면: 끝나면, ~(으)니: 끝나니
A composition of the adverb 잘 (well) and the verb 생기다 (to look like), which means it gets conjugated as a verb. It typically conjugates to the past tense (잘생겼다) even when talking about the present tense.
~아/어: 잘생겨, ~ㄴ/은: 잘생긴, ~ㄴ/는다: 잘생긴다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 잘생깁니다, ~ㄹ/을: 잘생길, ~니: 잘생기니, ~ㅁ/음: 잘생김, ~(으)려고: 잘생기려고, ~(으)시: 잘생기시, ~(으)면: 잘생기면, ~(으)니: 잘생기니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "몯쌩기다"
A composition of the adverb 못 (not well, poorly) and the verb 생기다. Like 잘생기다, it is conjugated as a verb in the past tense.
~아/어: 못생겨, ~ㄴ/은: 못생긴, ~ㄴ/는다: 못생긴다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 못생깁니다, ~ㄹ/을: 못생길, ~니: 못생기니, ~ㅁ/음: 못생김, ~(으)려고: 못생기려고, ~(으)시: 못생기시, ~(으)면: 못생기면, ~(으)니: 못생기니
다르다 follows the 르 irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
When saying something is different "from" something, 와/과/랑/이랑 must be attached to the noun that is being compared. See Lesson 15 for more information.
~아/어: 달라, ~ㄴ/은: 다른, ~ㅂ/습니다: 다릅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 다를, ~니: 다르니, ~ㅁ/음: 다름, ~(으)려고: 다르려고, ~(으)시: 다르시, ~(으)면: 다르면, ~(으)니: 다르니
슬프다 follows the ㅡ irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
~아/어: 슬퍼, ~ㄴ/은: 슬픈, ~ㅂ/습니다: 슬픕니다, ~ㄹ/을: 슬플, ~니: 슬프니, ~ㅁ/음: 슬픔, ~(으)려고: 슬프려고, ~(으)시: 슬프시, ~(으)면: 슬프면, ~(으)니: 슬프니
Although technically a combination of the noun "맛" (taste) and "있다" (to have) 맛있다 is officially seen as one word (literally meaning "to have taste") and the pronunciation of ㅅ in "맛" is transferred to the next syllable. This makes the entire word sound like "마싣따."
Conversely, 맛없다, which means "to not be delicious," is officially seen as two words (literally meaning "to not have taste"). As such, the pronunciation of ㅅ in "맛" is usually not transferred to the next syllable and the entire word sounds like "마덥따"
~아/어: 맛있어, ~ㄴ/은: 맛있는, ~ㅂ/습니다: 맛있습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 맛있을, ~니: 맛있니, ~ㅁ/음: 맛있음, ~(으)려고: 맛있으려고, ~(으)시: 맛있으시, ~(으)면: 맛있으면, ~(으)니: 맛있으니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "재미읻따"
Like the word "맛있다," 재미있다 is made up of "재미" and "있다" (to have). Therefore, even though 재미있다 is an adjective (funny), it is conjugated like 있다.
~아/어: 재미있어, ~ㄴ/은: 재미있는, ~ㅂ/습니다: 재미있습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 재미있을, ~니: 재미있니, ~ㅁ/음: 재미있음, ~(으)려고: 재미있으려고, ~(으)시: 재미있으시, ~(으)면: 재미있으면, ~(으)니: 재미있으니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "만타"
An adjective that means "many," 많다 can be placed before a noun to describe it. For example: 많은 사람은 저를 좋아해요 (many people like me)
However, 많다 is more naturally used by using the ~는 것 principle. For example: "저를 좋아하는 사람은 많아요" (literally: there are many people who like me)
The ~는 것 principle is very difficult to describe, and is talked about in detail from Lessons 26 to 33.
~아/어: 많아, ~ㄴ/은: 많은, ~ㅂ/습니다: 많습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 많을, ~니: 많으니, ~ㅁ/음: 많음, ~(으)려고: 많으려고, ~(으)시: 많으시, ~(으)면: 많으면, ~(으)니: 많으니
The difference between "그" and "저" is the same as the difference between "거기" and "저기." "거기" is used when referring to a place that has already been mentioned, and "저기" is used when you are referring to a place that is farther away than "여기."
거기 and ~에세 form to make "거기서".
저기 and ~에서 form to make "저기서"
When trying to get the attention of somebody – for example, when you want to order something at a restaurant – it is common to say "저기요!" For example: "저기요! 지금 주문할게요!" = "Excuse me! We would like to order now!"
While technically this word means "younger sibling" Korean will refer to a close friend (who is younger than them) using this word. This often leads to dialogues like this:
To distinguish that somebody is actually related to you by blood, they use the word "친동생"
This word is used to refer to an older man whom you don't know. More broadly, it can be applied to the position that men have, for example "버스 아저씨" for "bus driver" or "택시 아저씨" for "taxi driver."
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "하라버지"
You can use this word to refer to anybody who looks the age of a grandfather, not just your own grandfather.
The noun form of this word translates to "expectation"
The passive version of this word (기대되다) is commonly used to say that one is excited for something to happen. For more information on passive verbs, see Lesson 14.
~아/어: 건너, ~ㄴ/은: 건넌, ~ㄴ/는다: 건넌다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 건넙니다, ~ㄹ/을: 건널, ~니: 건너니, ~ㅁ/음: 건넘, ~(으)려고: 건너려고, ~(으)시: 건너시, ~(으)면: 건너면, ~(으)니: 건너니
This word appears in my Korean Sign Explanation Video #1.
~아/어: 던져, ~ㄴ/은: 던진, ~ㄴ/는다: 던진다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 던집니다, ~ㄹ/을: 던질, ~니: 던지니, ~ㅁ/음: 던짐, ~(으)려고: 던지려고, ~(으)시: 던지시, ~(으)면: 던지면, ~(으)니: 던지니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "시러하다"
싫다 is an adjective that means "not good." 싫어하다 is a verb. Therefore, ~을/를 should be attached to the object in the sentence that one does not like.
This word is usually only used if you are leaving something forever or for a very long time. If you want to say that you left your house (and are returning), you should use the words "출발하다" (to depart) or "나가다" (to go out).
~아/어: 떠나, ~ㄴ/은: 떠난, ~ㄴ/는다: 떠난다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 떠납니다, ~ㄹ/을: 떠날, ~니: 떠나니, ~ㅁ/음: 떠남, ~(으)려고: 떠나려고, ~(으)시: 떠나시, ~(으)면: 떠나면, ~(으)니: 떠나니
In English we use similar words to describe that one is bored, and that something is boring. However, in Korean, these are separate words. If you are bored, you can use "심심하다." If something is boring (and thus, making you bored), you can use "지루하다"
마르다 follows the 르 Irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
This is usually used in a negative way.
If you are telling somebody that they look (too) thin, this is usually used in the past tense. For example: 형! 너무 말랐어! = (Brother!) You look so thin!
~아/어: 말라, ~ㄴ/은: 마른, ~ㅂ/습니다: 마릅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 마를, ~니: 마르니, ~ㅁ/음: 마름, ~(으)려고: 마르려고, ~(으)시: 마르시, ~(으)면: 마르면, ~(으)니: 마르니
멀다 follows the ㄹ Irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
~아/어: 멀어, ~ㄴ/은: 먼, ~ㅂ/습니다: 멉니다, ~ㄹ/을: 멀, ~니: 머니, ~ㅁ/음: 멂, ~(으)려고: 멀려고, ~(으)시: 머시, ~(으)면: 멀면, ~(으)니: 머니
Most commonly used as "목 마르다" (literally: dry throat) to indicate that one is thirsty.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "비스타다"
~해: 비슷해, ~ㄴ/은: 비슷한, ~ㅂ/습니다: 비슷합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 비슷할, ~니: 비슷하니, ~ㅁ/음: 비슷함, ~(으)려고: 비슷하려고, ~(으)시: 비슷하시, ~(으)면: 비슷하면, ~(으)니: 비슷하니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "실타"
싫다 can be used to say "one does not like" by attaching ~이/가 to an object. For more information, see Lesson 15.
~아/어: 싫어, ~ㄴ/은: 싫은, ~ㅂ/습니다: 싫습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 싫을, ~니: 싫으니, ~ㅁ/음: 싫음, ~(으)려고: 싫으려고, ~(으)시: 싫으시, ~(으)면: 싫으면, ~(으)니: 싫으니
Like 낡다, 오래되다 can only be used to describe objects – but 낡다 implies that the object in question is also damaged/rugged in some form. Using 오래되다 simply implies that it has been a long time since something was built/released/bought, etc...
~아/어: 오래돼, ~ㄴ/은: 오래된, ~ㅂ/습니다: 오래됐다 (most common past tense form), ~ㄹ/을: 오래될, ~니: 오래되니, ~ㅁ/음: 오래됨, ~(으)려고: 오래되려고, ~(으)시: 오래되시, ~(으)면: 오래되면, ~(으)니: 오래되니
This is sometimes as "배가 고프다"
~아/어: 배고파, ~ㄴ/은: 배고픈, ~ㅂ/습니다: 배고픕니다, ~ㄹ/을: 배고플, ~니: 배고프니, ~ㅁ/음: 배고픔, ~(으)려고: 배고프려고, ~(으)시: 배고프시, ~(으)면: 배고프면, ~(으)니: 배고프니
Often said as "내일모레"
This word is commonly misspelled as "모래" (which actually means "sand")
When talking about a day, "날" should be used. For more information, see Lesson 11.
You can use this word to indicate that something was done for a certain amount of hours. In addition, it can mean "time" as in "last time" or "this time." For more information, visit Lesson 11.
The suffix "화" usually denotes a specific type of shoe. For example: 운동화 (exercise shoes), 실내화 (shoes for inside)
In English, we use the words "watch," "see" and "looking at" in different situations depending on what our eyes are focused on. In Korean, all of those translate to "보다." Therefore, to "watch" a movie in Korean is "영화를 보다".
To say that one was sitting while doing something, you should attach "~아/어서" to 앉다. For example: "저는 앉아서 먹었어요" = "I sat down and ate." The grammar for this is introduced in Lesson 17.
~아/어: 앉아, ~ㄴ/은: 앉은, ~ㄴ/는다: 앉는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 앉습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 앉을, ~니: 앉으니, ~ㅁ/음: 앉음, ~(으)려고: 앉으려고, ~(으)시: 앉으시, ~(으)면: 앉으면, ~(으)니: 앉으니
~아/어: 만져, ~ㄴ/은: 만진, ~ㄴ/는다: 만진다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 만집니다, ~ㄹ/을: 만질, ~니: 만지니, ~ㅁ/음: 만짐, ~(으)려고: 만지려고, ~(으)시: 만지시, ~(으)면: 만지면, ~(으)니: 만지니
~아/어: 자, ~ㄴ/은: 잔, ~ㄴ/는다: 잔다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 잡니다, ~ㄹ/을: 잘, ~니: 자니, ~ㅁ/음: 잠, ~(으)려고: 자려고, ~(으)시: 자시, ~(으)면: 자면, ~(으)니: 자니
In English, there are many different ways to say that you are looking at something (to watch, to see, to look at). In Korean, "보다" takes on all of these meanings.
~아/어: 봐, ~ㄴ/은: 본, ~ㄴ/는다: 본다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 봅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 볼, ~니: 보니, ~ㅁ/음: 봄, ~(으)려고: 보려고, ~(으)시: 보시, ~(으)면: 보면, ~(으)니: 보니
In English, we say that one waits "for" something. In Korean, the common translation for "for" is ~기 위해. However, in Korean the particle "~을/를" is attached to the person/thing that one is waiting for. For example: "저는 친구를 기다리고 있어요" = "I am waiting for my friend."
~아/어: 기다려, ~ㄴ/은: 기다린, ~ㄴ/는다: 기다린다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 기다립니다, ~ㄹ/을: 기다릴, ~니: 기다리니, ~ㅁ/음: 기다림, ~(으)려고: 기다리려고, ~(으)시: 기다리시, ~(으)면: 기다리면, ~(으)니: 기다리니
The noun form of this verb (약속) translates to "a promise," and is often used to refer to plans that somebody has.
For example: "저는 오늘 약속이 있어요" = "I have a promise, or 'I made a promise with somebody today, which means I have plans to meet him/her.'"
듣다 follows the ㄷ irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
~아/어: 들어, ~ㄴ/은: 들은, ~ㄴ/는다: 듣는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 듣습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 들을, ~니: 듣니, ~ㅁ/음: 들음, ~(으)려고: 들으려고, ~(으)시: 들으시, ~(으)면: 들으면, ~(으)니: 들으니
Although there is sometimes overlap in their usages, 듣다 is used when one hears something. However, by adding ~아/어보다 (the grammar of this is taught in Lesson 32) changes the verb into "to try/attempt to hear." In English, the act of trying/attempting to hear something is "listening."
~아/어: 들어봐, ~ㄴ/은: 들어본, ~ㄴ/는다: 들어본다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 들어봅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 들어볼, ~니: 들어보니, ~ㅁ/음: 들어봄, ~(으)려고: 들어보려고, ~(으)시: 들어보시, ~(으)면: 들어보면, ~(으)니: 들어보니
There are many adverbs in Korean that are used in very specific situations to add feeling to the meaning in the sentence. The word "깜짝" is used in sentences where one is surprised. By putting the word "깜짝" before "놀라다," it will make your Korean sound very good!
~아/어: 놀라, ~ㄴ/은: 놀란, ~ㄴ/는다: 놀란다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 놀랍니다, ~ㄹ/을: 놀랄, ~니: 놀라니, ~ㅁ/음: 놀람, ~(으)려고: 놀라려고, ~(으)시: 놀라시, ~(으)면: 놀라면, ~(으)니: 놀라니
빠르다 follows the 르 irregular. See Lesson 7 for more information.
The adverb form of this word is 빨리
~아/어: 빨라, ~ㄴ/은: 빠른, ~ㅂ/습니다: 빠릅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 빠를, ~니: 빠르니, ~ㅁ/음: 빠름, ~(으)려고: 빠르려고, ~(으)시: 빠르시, ~(으)면: 빠르면, ~(으)니: 빠르니
느리다 is used when "slow" has a negative meaning, usually from moving too slow.
For the positive meaning, the adverb "천천히" is used. For example: "천천히 먹어" = "eat slowly"
~아/어: 느려, ~ㄴ/은: 느린, ~ㅂ/습니다: 느립니다, ~ㄹ/을: 느릴, ~니: 느리니, ~ㅁ/음: 느림, ~(으)려고: 느리려고, ~(으)시: 느리시, ~(으)면: 느리면, ~(으)니: 느리니
This word appears in Korean Sign Explanation [Video 16]
교사 refers more to the position of a teacher. You would usually refer to a teacher by calling him/her "선생님." However, if you wanted to tell somebody what your position was, you could use 교사 (선생님 would also work here as well).
In English, we say "work" to refer to what is being done and where it is being done. For example "I am doing work at work." 직장 refers to the location in which you work.
In English, we say "hair" for all of the hair on our body. However, in Korean, 털 is used to refer to any hair that is not on your head. It is also used to refer to the fur of an animal.
The word "저녁" can refer to the evening time, or the meal that is eaten at that time (dinner). To distinguish between them, 저녁식사 (dinner) and 저녁시간 (the evening) can also be used.
The word "점심" can refer to the time around noon, or the meal that is eaten at that time (lunch). To distinguish between them, 점심식사 (lunch) and 점심시간 (noonish) can also be used.
One way and one form of telling somebody to put on clothes is to say "옷 입어." This sounds like "온 이버"
This generally refers to any time before noon, but to refer to specifically refer to something early in the morning "새벽" can be used. "아침" refers to the time from breakfast until around noon.
In English, the words "looking for/searching" and "find" have a similar meaning but are used differently. We use "find" after something is found. However, before something is found we use "look for/search." In Korean, the 찾다 is used for both of these usages. This confusion often leads Korean people to incorrectly say things like "I am finding my brother."
~아/어: 찾아, ~ㄴ/은: 찾은, ~ㄴ/는다: 찾는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 찾습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 찾을, ~니: 찾으니, ~ㅁ/음: 찾음, ~(으)려고: 찾으려고, ~(으)시: 찾으시, ~(으)면: 찾으면, ~(으)니: 찾으니
~아/어: 가르쳐, ~ㄴ/은: 가르친, ~ㄴ/는다: 가르친다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 가르칩니다, ~ㄹ/을: 가르칠, ~니: 가르치니, ~ㅁ/음: 가르침, ~(으)려고: 가르치려고, ~(으)시: 가르치시, ~(으)면: 가르치면, ~(으)니: 가르치니
The noun form of 일하다 (일) literally means "work" (as in, something you need to do). However, it is often used to refer to a task or anything that needs to be done. For example: "저는 내일 할 일이 있어요" = "I have something I need to do tomorrow"
~해: 일해, ~ㄴ/은: 일한, ~ㄴ/는다: 일한다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 일합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 일할, ~니: 일하니, ~ㅁ/음: 일함, ~(으)려고: 일하려고, ~(으)시: 일하시, ~(으)면: 일하면, ~(으)니: 일하니
짓다 follows the ㅅ irregular
~아/어: 지어, ~ㄴ/은: 지은, ~ㄴ/는다: 짓는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 짓습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 지을, ~니: 짓니, ~ㅁ/음: 지음, ~(으)려고: 지으려고, ~(으)시: 지으시, ~(으)면: 지으면, ~(으)니: 지으니
When you use "있다" to indicate that you have something, you must put the particle ~이/가 on the object you have. For example: 저는 펜이 있어요
However, you can attach ~을/을 to that object if you use ~가지고 있다.
갖다 is a shortened version of this word. See Lesson 97 for more information.
~아/어: 가져, ~ㄴ/은: 가진, ~ㄴ/는다: 가진다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 가집니다, ~ㄹ/을: 가질, ~니: 가지니, ~ㅁ/음: 가짐, ~(으)려고: 가지려고, ~(으)시: 가지시, ~(으)면: 가지면, ~(으)니: 가지니
잠그다 follows the ㅡ irregular
~아/어: 잠가, ~ㄴ/은: 잠근, ~ㄴ/는다: 잠근다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 잠급니다, ~ㄹ/을: 잠글, ~니: 잠그니, ~ㅁ/음: 잠금, ~(으)려고: 잠그려고, ~(으)시: 잠그시, ~(으)면: 잠그면, ~(으)니: 잠그니
~아/어버리다 is added to some verbs to express the emotion that something was done and "thrown away" at the same time. It is commonly attached to 잊다 to express that something was "forgotten and thrown away."
~아/어: 잊어, ~ㄴ/은: 잊은, ~ㄴ/는다: 잊는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 잊습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 잊을, ~니: 잊으니, ~ㅁ/음: 잊음, ~(으)려고: 잊으려고, ~(으)시: 잊으시, ~(으)면: 잊으면, ~(으)니: 잊으니
돕다 is an irregular ㅂ irregular. ㅂ changes to 오 when ~아/어 is added. However, ㅂ changes to 우 when any other vowel is added.
~아/어주다 is commonly added to this word, because usually when one helps somebody, it is a form of "giving"
~아/어: 도와, ~ㄴ/은: 도운, ~ㄴ/는다: 돕는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 돕습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 도울, ~니: 돕니, ~ㅁ/음: 도움, ~(으)려고: 도우려고, ~(으)시: 도우시, ~(으)면: 도우면, ~(으)니: 도우니
When giving something to a person who deserves respect, 드리다 is used.
Often conjugated in the imperative voice (for example, ~세요) to ask for something. For example: "밥을 많이 주세요" = "Give me lots of rice"
Often gets placed after a verb if somebody does an action for somebody. For example: "이것을 만들어 주세요" = "Please, make this for me"
See Lesson 41 for more information.
~아/어: 줘, ~ㄴ/은: 준, ~ㄴ/는다: 준다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 줍니다, ~ㄹ/을: 줄, ~니: 주니, ~ㅁ/음: 줌, ~(으)려고: 주려고, ~(으)시: 주시, ~(으)면: 주면, ~(으)니: 주니
In every way, 맞다 looks, feels and sounds like an adjective. However, in Korean 맞다 is a verb. In most cases this is irrelevant, but keep this in mind when conjugating.
~아/어: 맞아, ~ㄴ/은: 맞은, ~ㄴ/는다: 맞는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 맞습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 맞을, ~니: 맞으니, ~ㅁ/음: 맞음, ~(으)려고: 맞으려고, ~(으)시: 맞으시, ~(으)면: 맞으면, ~(으)니: 맞으니
쉽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 쉬워, ~ㄴ/은: 쉬운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 쉽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 쉬울, ~니: 쉬우니, ~ㅁ/음: 쉬움, ~(으)려고: 쉬우려고, ~(으)시: 쉬우시, ~(으)면: 쉬우면, ~(으)니: 쉬우니
덥다 follows the ㅂ irregular
덥다 is only used to talk about the weather or one's body, not the temperature of objects.
~아/어: 더워, ~ㄴ/은: 더운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 덥습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 더울, ~니: 더우니, ~ㅁ/음: 더움, ~(으)려고: 더우려고, ~(으)시: 더우시, ~(으)면: 더우면, ~(으)니: 더우니
그립다 follows the ㅂ irregular
"보고 싶다" can is used when one misses a person.
In English "to miss" is a verb. 그립다 is an adjective in Korean that describes the feeling that is felt when one misses something. It is more commonly used when one misses a non-person. As an adjective, it must get treated as one. Therefore, in order to say that one misses something, it is commonly used in the Subject – Object – Adjective form that is taught in Lesson 15.
~아/어: 그리워, ~ㄴ/은: 그리운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 그립습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 그리울, ~니: 그리우니, ~ㅁ/음: 그리움, ~(으)려고: 그리우려고, ~(으)시: 그리우시, ~(으)면: 그리우면, ~(으)니: 그리우니
귀엽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 귀여워, ~ㄴ/은: 귀여운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 귀엽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 귀여울, ~니: 귀여우니, ~ㅁ/음: 귀여움, ~(으)려고: 귀여우려고, ~(으)시: 귀여우시, ~(으)면: 귀여우면, ~(으)니: 귀여우니
춥다 follows the ㅂ irregular
춥다 is only used to talk about the weather or one's body, not the temperature of objects.
~아/어: 추워, ~ㄴ/은: 추운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 춥습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 추울, ~니: 추우니, ~ㅁ/음: 추움, ~(으)려고: 추우려고, ~(으)시: 추우시, ~(으)면: 추우면, ~(으)니: 추우니
어렵다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 어려워, ~ㄴ/은: 어려운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 어렵습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 어려울, ~니: 어려우니, ~ㅁ/음: 어려움, ~(으)려고: 어려우려고, ~(으)시: 어려우시, ~(으)면: 어려우면, ~(으)니: 어려우니
더럽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 더러워, ~ㄴ/은: 더러운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 더럽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 더러울, ~니: 더러우니, ~ㅁ/음: 더러움, ~(으)려고: 더러우려고, ~(으)시: 더러우시, ~(으)면: 더러우면, ~(으)니: 더러우니
바쁘다 follows the ㅡ irregular
~아/어: 바빠, ~ㄴ/은: 바쁜, ~ㅂ/습니다: 바쁩니다, ~ㄹ/을: 바쁠, ~니: 바쁘니, ~ㅁ/음: 바쁨, ~(으)려고: 바쁘려고, ~(으)시: 바쁘시, ~(으)면: 바쁘면, ~(으)니: 바쁘니
See Lesson 15 for more information
~아/어: 같아, ~ㄴ/은: 같은, ~ㅂ/습니다: 같습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 같을, ~니: 같으니, ~ㅁ/음: 같음, ~(으)려고: 같으려고, ~(으)시: 같으시, ~(으)면: 같으면, ~(으)니: 같으니
부드럽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 부드러워, ~ㄴ/은: 부드러운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 부드럽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 부드러울, ~니: 부드러우니, ~ㅁ/음: 부드러움, ~(으)려고: 부드러우려고, ~(으)시: 부드러우시, ~(으)면: 부드러우면, ~(으)니: 부드러우니
예쁘다 follows the ㅡ irregular
~아/어: 예뻐, ~ㄴ/은: 예쁜, ~ㅂ/습니다: 예쁩니다, ~ㄹ/을: 예쁠, ~니: 예쁘니, ~ㅁ/음: 예쁨, ~(으)려고: 예쁘려고, ~(으)시: 예쁘시, ~(으)면: 예쁘면, ~(으)니: 예쁘니
일찍 is an adverb. The opposite of "early" is typically 늦다 which is an adjective. 늦게 can be used as the adverb to have the meaning of "late." For example: "우리는 일찍 도착했어요" = "We arrived early", "우리는 늦게 도착했어요" = "We arrived late (it would be awkward to say 'lately' in English)"
If the last letter of a word stem ends in ㅂ (쉽다 = easy), the ㅂ changes to 우 when adding a vowel. 우 then gets added to the next syllable in the conjugated word.
This is mostly done with adjectives.
(Some of the few verbs where this rule applies are: 줍다 = to pick up, 눕다 = to lie down.)
In the words “돕다” (to help) and “곱다” (an uncommon way to say “beautiful”) ㅂ changes to 오 instead of 우, only when ~아/어 (or any derivative like ~았/었다 or ~아/어요*) is added.
When adding any other vowel, ㅂ changes to 우.
If the vowel in the second last syllable is ㅏ or ㅗ, 아 is added.
If the vowel in the second last syllable is anything other than ㅏ or ㅗ, 어 is added.
When ~아/어 is added to a stem where the last letter is ㅡ, ~아/어 merges to the stem and the ㅡ is eliminated.
This merging of ~아/어 to the stem occurs when ~아/어 is added, or any of its derivatives, including ~아/어요 and past tense conjugations like ~았/었어 or ~았/었어요.
This irregular only applies when adding ~아/어 (or any of its derivatives) to a stem and not when adding any other grammatical principles that starts with a vowel or consonant.
When adding ~아/어 to these words, an additional ㄹ is created and placed in the syllable preceding 르 as the last consonant.
The 르 also gets changed to either 러 or 라 (depending on if you are adding 어 or 아).
This is done to both verbs and adjectives (the only exceptions are 따르다 = to follow/to pour; and 푸르다 = to be calming blue).
This is a combination of the adjective "검다" (black) and "색" (color). Put together, the word is a noun that means "the color black," but is often placed before nouns to describe them (like an adjective) anyways. Therefore, you can often see this (and other words of color) used before a noun to describe it and also at the end of a sentence (attached to 이다).
When Korean people describe something by color in English, they will often say something like "I like the black-colored shirt." This is the result of them directly translating "검은색 셔츠," whereas in English we would just say "black shirt."
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "음뇨수"
This is commonly used to refer to drinks like Coke, cider (which is similar to Sprite) and other carbonated beverages.
This word appears in my Korean Sign Explanation Video 5.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "어제빰"
When two nouns are combined together to make one noun, and the first noun does not end in a consonant, the consonant 'ㅅ' is added purely for ease of pronunciation.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "낟"
놀다 follows the ㄹ irregular
Although "playing" is usually reserved for kids in English, adults in Korean will also say that they "play" with friends. This typically means that they met and had a good time.
~아/어: 놀아, ~ㄴ/은: 논, ~ㄴ/는다: 논다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 놉니다, ~ㄹ/을: 놀, ~니: 노니, ~ㅁ/음: 놈, ~(으)려고: 놀려고, ~(으)시: 노시, ~(으)면: 놀면, ~(으)니: 노니
쓰다 follows the ㅡ irregular
사용하다 is another common way to say "use"
~아/어: 써, ~ㄴ/은: 쓴, ~ㄴ/는다: 쓴다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 씁니다, ~ㄹ/을: 쓸, ~니: 쓰니, ~ㅁ/음: 씀, ~(으)려고: 쓰려고, ~(으)시: 쓰시, ~(으)면: 쓰면, ~(으)니: 쓰니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "실쑤하다"
The noun form of this word ("실수") translates to "a mistake"
By adding "~하다" you can say "to make a mistake"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "잡따"
~아/어: 잡아, ~ㄴ/은: 잡은, ~ㄴ/는다: 잡는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 잡습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 잡을, ~니: 잡으니, ~ㅁ/음: 잡음, ~(으)려고: 잡으려고, ~(으)시: 잡으시, ~(으)면: 잡으면, ~(으)니: 잡으니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "익따"
~아/어: 읽어, ~ㄴ/은: 읽은, ~ㄴ/는다: 읽는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 읽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 읽을, ~니: 읽으니, ~ㅁ/음: 읽음, ~(으)려고: 읽으려고, ~(으)시: 읽으시, ~(으)면: 읽으면, ~(으)니: 읽으니
내다 can have many other meanings. See Lesson 14 for more information.
~아/어: 내, ~ㄴ/은: 낸, ~ㄴ/는다: 낸다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 냅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 낼, ~니: 내니, ~ㅁ/음: 냄, ~(으)려고: 내려고, ~(으)시: 내시, ~(으)면: 내면, ~(으)니: 내니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "받따"
See Lesson 14 for more information
~아/어: 받아, ~ㄴ/은: 받은, ~ㄴ/는다: 받는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 받습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 받을, ~니: 받으니, ~ㅁ/음: 받음, ~(으)려고: 받으려고, ~(으)시: 받으시, ~(으)면: 받으면, ~(으)니: 받으니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "도차카다"
~해: 도착해, ~ㄴ/은: 도착한, ~ㄴ/는다: 도착한다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 도착합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 도착할, ~니: 도착하니, ~ㅁ/음: 도착함, ~(으)려고: 도착하려고, ~(으)시: 도착하시, ~(으)면: 도착하면, ~(으)니: 도착하니
The noun form of this word ("여행") translates to "a trip"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "완벼카다"
The noun form of this word "완벽" translates to "perfection"
This is used to indicate that you are sick (with a cold or something similar), and to indicate that a part of your body is sore.
~아/어: 아파, ~ㄴ/은: 아픈, ~ㅂ/습니다: 아픕니다, ~ㄹ/을: 아플, ~니: 아프니, ~ㅁ/음: 아픔, ~(으)려고: 아프려고, ~(으)시: 아프시, ~(으)면: 아프면, ~(으)니: 아프니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "점따"
~아/어: 젊어, ~ㄴ/은: 젊은, ~ㅂ/습니다: 젊습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 젊을, ~니: 젊으니, ~ㅁ/음: 젊음, ~(으)려고: 젊으려고, ~(으)시: 젊으시, ~(으)면: 젊으면, ~(으)니: 젊으니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "늑따"
This is typically only used when somebody is actually old, not when somebody is comparatively older than somebody else.
~아/어: 늙어, ~ㄴ/은: 늙은, ~ㅂ/습니다: 늙습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 늙을, ~니: 늙으니, ~ㅁ/음: 늙음, ~(으)려고: 늙으려고, ~(으)시: 늙으시, ~(으)면: 늙으면, ~(으)니: 늙으니
나쁘다 follows the ㅡ irregular
~아/어: 나빠, ~ㄴ/은: 나쁜, ~ㅂ/습니다: 나쁩니다, ~ㄹ/을: 나쁠, ~니: 나쁘니, ~ㅁ/음: 나쁨, ~(으)려고: 나쁘려고, ~(으)시: 나쁘시, ~(으)면: 나쁘면, ~(으)니: 나쁘니
바로 can be used to indicate that something happens immediately (in terms of time) or that something is "immediately" close to something (in terms of space).
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "즉씨"
즉시 can only be used to indicate that something happens immediately (in terms of time). It is less common than 바로.
This word appears in my Korean Sign Explanation Video 4.
In English, we would never say "very sometimes," but in Korean "아주 가끔" is commonly used to stress that something happens "only sometimes."
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "마니"
This is the adverb form of "많다"
안 is placed before a verb or adjective to turn it into a negative word. The meaning is synonymous to ~지 않다.
In the first sentence, “hospital” is the thing that you are building – so it is an object, which requires you to use the 을/를 particle.
In the second sentence, the hospital is the place in which you went to – so it is a place, which requires it to have the 에 particle.
When adding these types of adverbs to sentences, no particle needs to be attached.
While other adverbs are generally free to be placed anywhere in a sentence, adverbs like this that indicate a degree to which something is done are typically placed immediately before the verb.
You can use more than one adverb in a sentence.
Though you can do that, using two adverbs that indicate the ‘degree of something’ is generally not done in Korean.
There are two ways you can make a sentence negative:
1. By adding 안, which acts as an adverb in the sentence. 안 is typically placed immediately before the final verb or adjective.
2. By adding ~지 않다 to the stem of the final verb or adjective. 않다 then becomes the verb or adjective in that sentence and must be conjugated accordingly.
Many adjectives end in ~하다. It is unnatural to remove the ~하다 in these words and place “안” between them. You can’t separate an adjective and “act” on it with ~하다 because they are adjectives. For example, the following would be incorrect:
- 저는 행복을 안 해요 (This does not mean “I am not happy”)
However, you could use ~지 않다 on a -하다 adjective or place “안” before the word without separating it.
This refers to the signs that hang outside stores or other places of businesses, not the traffic signs on the road.
지하 means "underground." 철 means "train." In theory this word means "underground train," but it is often used to refer to the metro system in general.
One of the usages of 되다 is to make a verb change to the passive voice. This is introduced in Lesson 14. For example: "점심이 학교에 준비되었어요" = "The lunch was provided by the school"
In addition to this, there are many ways 되다 can be used. This is just a small sample:
To indicate that one becomes something: "미래에 저는 의사가 되고 싶어요" = "I want to be a doctor in the future", "저는 언젠가 선생님이 되고 싶어요" = "I want to become a teacher someday"
To indicate that you have been doing something for a certain amount of time: "밥을 먹은 지 5분 됐어요" = "I have been eating for 5 minutes", "운동한 지 오래 됐어요?" = "Have you been exercising for a long time?"
To indicate that something that something is "ready" or "done" or "finished": "밥이 아직 안 됐어요" = "The rice isn't ready yet", "저는 갈 준비 됐어요" = "I am ready to go", "Wifi가 잘 안 돼요" = "The WiFi doesn't work well"
To indicate that one can or cannot do something: "지금 가도 돼요?" = "May I go now?", "안 가도 돼요" = "You don't have to go"
~아/어: 돼, ~ㄴ/은: 된, ~ㄴ/는다: 된다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 됩니다, ~ㄹ/을: 될, ~니: 되니, ~ㅁ/음: 됨, ~(으)려고: 되려고, ~(으)시: 되시, ~(으)면: 되면, ~(으)니: 되니
~해: 시작해, ~ㄴ/은: 시작한, ~ㄴ/는다: 시작한다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 시작합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 시작할, ~니: 시작하니, ~ㅁ/음: 시작함, ~(으)려고: 시작하려고, ~(으)시: 시작하시, ~(으)면: 시작하면, ~(으)니: 시작하니
The noun form of this word ("행동") translates to "an action."
This meaning is not "to act" in the sense of an actor or actress. Instead, this meaning is similar to somebody doing something, for example: "act responsibly".
~해: 행동해, ~ㄴ/은: 행동한, ~ㄴ/는다: 행동한다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 행동합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 행동할, ~니: 행동하니, ~ㅁ/음: 행동함, ~(으)려고: 행동하려고, ~(으)시: 행동하시, ~(으)면: 행동하면, ~(으)니: 행동하니
~아/어: 잃어, ~ㄴ/은: 잃은, ~ㄴ/는다: 잃는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 잃습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 잃을, ~니: 잃으니, ~ㅁ/음: 잃음, ~(으)려고: 잃으려고, ~(으)시: 잃으시, ~(으)면: 잃으면, ~(으)니: 잃으니
Sometimes you will find two verbs connected by "~아/어". This grammatical principle is fairly complex and isn't discussed in great detail until Lesson 70.
A basic explanation for now is that "~아/어" essentially has no real meaning, and that the meaning of both verbs comes out. "버리다" is probably the most common verb that you will find after a verb and ~아/어. Constructions in this format "(verb + ~아/어 + 버리다) add emotion to a sentence. The emotion is as if something was "thrown away" or done without any real thinking of the consequences.
~아/어: 잃어버려, ~ㄴ/은: 잃어버린, ~ㄴ/는다: 잃어버린다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 잃어버립니다, ~ㄹ/을: 잃어버릴, ~니: 잃어버리니, ~ㅁ/음: 잃어버림, ~(으)려고: 잃어버리려고, ~(으)시: 잃어버리시, ~(으)면: 잃어버리면, ~(으)니: 잃어버리니
The word 입히다 is used when you are putting the clothes on somebody else
~아/어: 입어, ~ㄴ/은: 입은, ~ㄴ/는다: 입는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 입습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 입을, ~니: 입으니, ~ㅁ/음: 입음, ~(으)려고: 입으려고, ~(으)시: 입으시, ~(으)면: 입으면, ~(으)니: 입으니
The word 벗기다 is used when you are taking the clothes off of somebody else
~아/어: 벗어, ~ㄴ/은: 벗은, ~ㄴ/는다: 벗는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 벗습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 벗을, ~니: 벗으니, ~ㅁ/음: 벗음, ~(으)려고: 벗으려고, ~(으)시: 벗으시, ~(으)면: 벗으면, ~(으)니: 벗으니
~아/어: 웃어, ~ㄴ/은: 웃은, ~ㄴ/는다: 웃는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 웃습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 웃을, ~니: 웃으니, ~ㅁ/음: 웃음, ~(으)려고: 웃으려고, ~(으)시: 웃으시, ~(으)면: 웃으면, ~(으)니: 웃으니
부끄럽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
This word is more common than you would think. Korean people are generally very shy and thus, this word is used a lot. It is an irregular adjective. See Lesson 7 for more information.
The addition of ~아/어하다 is commonly done when the speaker is not the person who is shy. This grammar is explained in Lesson 105
~아/어: 부끄러워, ~ㄴ/은: 부끄러운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 부끄럽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 부끄러울, ~니: 부끄러우니, ~ㅁ/음: 부끄러움, ~(으)려고: 부끄러우려고, ~(으)시: 부끄러우시, ~(으)면: 부끄러우면, ~(으)니: 부끄러우니
Generally a wider length of time than "지금" or "이제"
When you add ~ㄹ/을 to a stem of a word that ends in ㄹ, the ㄹ is dropped and ㄹ is attached directly to the stem. In effect, you removed something and replace it with exactly the same thing.
For example:
This can be used in sentences when you are talking about the first time something is being done. Or it can be used as an adverb to have the meaning "in the beginning"
See below in this lesson for more information.
There are two similar but different meanings for the word "last" in English. 마지막 is used for only ONE of those meanings. 마지막 is used to talk about something that is the last thing in the end of sequence – as in "first meal… second meal… third meal… fourth meal… last meal." It is NOT used to talk about something in the past, as in "last night I went to bed late." See below in this lesson for more information.
This can be added as a counter after a number to mean 1st/2nd/3rd/etc.
When saying "first", "첫" replaces "한".
After "first," you can use the regular Korean numbers. Just like with counters, the numbers 2 - 4 change when 번째 follows.
After the number four, the words don't change when adding 번째.
Can be shortened to "첫째" in some situations, usually when the following word is a counter or somebody's children. For example: "첫째 아들" = "first son", "첫째 주" = "first week"
Can be shortened to "둘째" in some situations, usually when the following word is a counter or somebody's children. For example: "둘째 아들" = "second daughter", "둘째 날" = "second day"
Counters are used in Korean to count various things. Different counters are used for things like people, books, animals, etc. "개" is the general counter that can be used to count most things that don't have a specific counter (or if you don't know the specific counter-word for something). See below in this lesson for more information.
This can be used to indicate the amount of times something is done. In the end, it acts as an adverb and particles are not usually attached to it.
When telling time, "시" is put after the hour. For example: 5시 = 5:00
When talking about "hours," the word "시간" is used. See Lesson 11 for more information.
When telling time, "분" is put after the minute. It also means "minute" in regular situations. See Lesson 11 for more information.
When using a number before "살," you should use the Korean numbers. However, once you get above 50, it is not uncommon to use the Chinese numbers.
If I asked 100 people in Canada what their job is, I would probably only get the answer "office worker" a few times. In Korea however, probably 50% of the people would respond with "office worker." Many Korean people work for big companies in offices, not all doing the same thing obviously, but I'm not exactly sure what they're all doing in there. Korea has no real natural resources, so the major industry is just "working and business."
You will see the suffix "원" attached to different words to refer to people.
You will see the suffix "사" attached to different words that indicate some sort of specialized job. For example: 의사 (doctor), 교사 (teacher), 강사 (instructor)
This is not the same "사" in 요리사.
"기사님" is common when talking to bus and taxi drivers
"뛰다" is another common way to say "to run"
~아/어: 달려, ~ㄴ/은: 달린, ~ㄴ/는다: 달린다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 달립니다, ~ㄹ/을: 달릴, ~니: 달리니, ~ㅁ/음: 달림, ~(으)려고: 달리려고, ~(으)시: 달리시, ~(으)면: 달리면, ~(으)니: 달리니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "죽따"
~아/어: 죽어, ~ㄴ/은: 죽은, ~ㄴ/는다: 죽는다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 죽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 죽을, ~니: 죽으니, ~ㅁ/음: 죽음, ~(으)려고: 죽으려고, ~(으)시: 죽으시, ~(으)면: 죽으면, ~(으)니: 죽으니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "두렵따"
두렵다 follows the ㅂ irregular
무섭다 and 두렵다 both translate to "scary." 무섭다 is more typically used to describe the feeling of being scared, usually as it applies to something shocking or something outright scary like snakes or spiders. 두렵다 is more about psychological things in the future, like the fear of death or the fear of tomorrow.
두렵다 and 무섭다 typically describe that something is scary, but it can be used to indicate that you are scared of that thing by using the Subject – Object – Adjective form introduced in Lesson 15.
~아/어: 두려워, ~ㄴ/은: 두려운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 두렵습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 두려울, ~니: 두려우니, ~ㅁ/음: 두려움, ~(으)려고: 두려우려고, ~(으)시: 두려우시, ~(으)면: 두려우면, ~(으)니: 두려우니
The noun form of this word translates to "abnormality"
~해: 이상해, ~ㄴ/은: 이상한, ~ㅂ/습니다: 이상합니다, ~ㄹ/을: 이상할, ~니: 이상하니, ~ㅁ/음: 이상함, ~(으)려고: 이상하려고, ~(으)시: 이상하시, ~(으)면: 이상하면, ~(으)니: 이상하니
Used to indicate how long something is being done. Often placed after an indication of time.
For example: "10분 동안" = "10 minutes"
In this same sense, it can be placed after a noun that describes a time. For example: "방학 동안" = "during vacation", "수업 시간 동안" = "during class time"
Also used with ~는 것 (Introduced in Lesson 26) to say "while." For example: "제가 공부하는 동안" = "while I was studying"
When counting months, you can either use 달 or 개월. When using 달, you must use the pure Korean numbers, and when using 개월, you must use the Sino-Korean numbers. There is no difference in meaning, and both are used frequently
날 is used as a stand alone word and not counted. It is used when talking about a specific day by itself.
When counting the number of days, you can usually say something like "5일" (five days). However, for a small number of days (one day, two days) there is a special word that corresponds to that number of days. "일 일" to mean "one day" would never be used.
When counting the number of days, you can usually say something like "5일" (five days). However, for a small number of days (one day, two days) there is a special word that corresponds to that number of days. "이 일" to mean "two days" would be used, but 이틀 would be more common.
Even though "사" ('four') is in the word "사흘," I assure you that 사흘 means "3 days." Many Korean people think that "사흘" actually means "four days," and I have pwned some Korean people by showing them that it actually means "three days" by looking it up in the Korean-Korean dictionary with them.
지난 can be placed before some indicators of time to mean "last ...."
There are two similar but different meanings for the word "last" in English. 지난 is used for only ONE of those meanings. 지난 is used to talk about something in the past, as in "last night I went to bed late." It is not used to talk about the last thing in a sequence. See Lessons 10 and 11 for more information.
This word appears in Korean Sign Explanation [Video 12]
This can be used as an adverb, for example: "저는 보통 아침 식사를 안 먹어요" = "I usually don't eat breakfast"
It can also be used before a noun to mean "typical" or "usual" for example: "그것은 보통 일이에요" = "That is (just) typical work"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "닥"
Typically, the pronunciation of words with four-letter syllables merge with the pronunciation of an attaching grammatical principle. For example, "값" is pronounced as "kap" but 값을 is pronounced as "갑슬." However, the ㄹ in 닭 is usually not pronounced in these cases. For example, 닭을 is usually pronounced as "닥을" or "다글" and 닭이 is usually pronounced as "다기" or "닥이."
When eating Western style chicken (like in KFC), Korean people use the word "치킨"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "속싸기다"
~아/어: 속삭여, ~ㄴ/은: 속삭인, ~ㄴ/는다: 속삭인다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 속삭입니다, ~ㄹ/을: 속삭일, ~니: 속삭이니, ~ㅁ/음: 속삭임, ~(으)려고: 속삭이려고, ~(으)시: 속삭이시, ~(으)면: 속삭이면, ~(으)니: 속삭이니
~아/어: 바꿔, ~ㄴ/은: 바꾼, ~ㄴ/는다: 바꾼다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 바꿉니다, ~ㄹ/을: 바꿀, ~니: 바꾸니, ~ㅁ/음: 바꿈, ~(으)려고: 바꾸려고, ~(으)시: 바꾸시, ~(으)면: 바꾸면, ~(으)니: 바꾸니
~아/어: 넘어져, ~ㄴ/은: 넘어진, ~ㄴ/는다: 넘어진다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 넘어집니다, ~ㄹ/을: 넘어질, ~니: 넘어지니, ~ㅁ/음: 넘어짐, ~(으)려고: 넘어지려고, ~(으)시: 넘어지시, ~(으)면: 넘어지면, ~(으)니: 넘어지니
This word less common and more difficult than "읽다." When using 독서하다, within the meaning of the verb is that one is reading a book. You don't need to include the object "책" if using this verb. It is common in its noun form "독서" to refer to the noun of reading a book.
~아/어: 마셔, ~ㄴ/은: 마신, ~ㄴ/는다: 마신다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 마십니다, ~ㄹ/을: 마실, ~니: 마시니, ~ㅁ/음: 마심, ~(으)려고: 마시려고, ~(으)시: 마시시, ~(으)면: 마시면, ~(으)니: 마시니
This word appears in my Korean Sign Explanation Video #6
~아/어: 내려, ~ㄴ/은: 내린, ~ㄴ/는다: 내린다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 내립니다, ~ㄹ/을: 내릴, ~니: 내리니, ~ㅁ/음: 내림, ~(으)려고: 내리려고, ~(으)시: 내리시, ~(으)면: 내리면, ~(으)니: 내리니
Aside from literally meaning "to come out" Korean people use this word to say that somebody is "in" a movie or TV show. In English, I would say "Will Smith is in Men in Black." In Korean, they would say "Will Smith은 Men in Black에 나왔어요."
~아/어: 나와, ~ㄴ/은: 나온, ~ㄴ/는다: 나온다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 나옵니다, ~ㄹ/을: 나올, ~니: 나오니, ~ㅁ/음: 나옴, ~(으)려고: 나오려고, ~(으)시: 나오시, ~(으)면: 나오면, ~(으)니: 나오니
~아/어: 나가, ~ㄴ/은: 나간, ~ㄴ/는다: 나간다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 나갑니다, ~ㄹ/을: 나갈, ~니: 나가니, ~ㅁ/음: 나감, ~(으)려고: 나가려고, ~(으)시: 나가시, ~(으)면: 나가면, ~(으)니: 나가니
The word 씌우다 is used when covering somebody's head with something. The most common case this would come up is when holding an umbrella for somebody.
모르다 follows the 르 irregular
Although "모르겠다" is technically the future tense of the word, it is often used in the present tense to mean "I don't know."
~아/어: 몰라, ~ㄴ/은: 모른, ~ㄴ/는다: 모른다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 모릅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 모를, ~니: 모르니, ~ㅁ/음: 모름, ~(으)려고: 모르려고, ~(으)시: 모르시, ~(으)면: 모르면, ~(으)니: 모르니
~아/어: 사, ~ㄴ/은: 산, ~ㄴ/는다: 산다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 삽니다, ~ㄹ/을: 살, ~니: 사니, ~ㅁ/음: 삶, ~(으)려고: 사려고, ~(으)시: 사시, ~(으)면: 사면, ~(으)니: 사니
팔다 follows the ㄹ irregular
~아/어: 팔아, ~ㄴ/은: 판, ~ㄴ/는다: 판다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 팝니다, ~ㄹ/을: 팔, ~니: 파니, ~ㅁ/음: 팖, ~(으)려고: 팔려고, ~(으)시: 파시, ~(으)면: 팔면, ~(으)니: 파니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "얄따"
This is not used to talk about people, only when talking about objects being thin
~아/어: 얇아, ~ㄴ/은: 얇은, ~ㅂ/습니다: 얇습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 얇을, ~니: 얇으니, ~ㅁ/음: 얇음, ~(으)려고: 얇으려고, ~(으)시: 얇으시, ~(으)면: 얇으면, ~(으)니: 얇으니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "적땅하다"
This word is often used in the adverb form to make "적당히" (moderately)
~아/어: 어려, ~ㄴ/은: 어린, ~ㅂ/습니다: 어립니다, ~ㄹ/을: 어릴, ~니: 어리니, ~ㅁ/음: 어림, ~(으)려고: 어리려고, ~(으)시: 어리시, ~(으)면: 어리면, ~(으)니: 어리니
~아/어: 기뻐, ~ㄴ/은: 기쁜, ~ㅂ/습니다: 기쁩니다, ~ㄹ/을: 기쁠, ~니: 기쁘니, ~ㅁ/음: 기쁨, ~(으)려고: 기쁘려고, ~(으)시: 기쁘시, ~(으)면: 기쁘면, ~(으)니: 기쁘니
쪽 is a noun, but a special noun. I refer to these sometimes as "pseudo-nouns" in my lessons. Other nouns like this are 적 (Lesson 32) and 수 (Lesson 45). 쪽 can only ever be used when some sort of context is given to it.
I talk about the use of 쪽 in a Korean sign in this Youtube Video.
몇 is placed before a counter to ask "how many" of something. For example: "펜 몇 개 있어요?" = "How many pens do you have" (see Lesson 22 for more information)
몇 can also be used to mean "some." For example: "저는 사과 몇 개를 샀어요" = "I bought some apples" (see Lesson 12 for more information)
Often used at the start of sentences to mean "actually..." When used like this, it is common to colloquially say "실은..."
Also commonly used as the noun in a quoted version of ~는 것. For example: "그녀는 아이가 죽었다는 사실을 숨겼어요" = "She hid (the fact that) her child died"
See Lesson 52 for more information on this.
It can also be used to literally mean "fact"
'독도는 우리땅이다' is a famous saying that Korean people use to express that Dokdo, the disputed territory between Korea and Japan belongs to Korea. This was written on a sign by a fan during the 2012 Olympics in London and when the Korean team one, a Korean player took the sign and ran around the field with it. The player got in a lot of trouble for bringing political elements into the Olympics. By the way, Dokdo does belong to Korea.
There are many adverbs that are used in specific situations to give a sentence feel or emphasis. To indicate that one "sprang" up, the adverb 벌떡 can be used.
일어나다 literally means "to get up" from a sitting/laying position to a standing position. However, it is often used to indicate that one "wakes up" because one usually "gets up" from bed when they wake up. As such, the translation of "일어나다" could be "to get up" or "to wake up" depending on the situation.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "드러오다"
Formed by combining 들다 (to enter) and 오다 (to come). See Lesson 15 for more information.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "드러가다"
Formed by combining 들다 (to enter) and 가다 (to go). See Lesson 15 for more information.
"들어가세요" is often said to people when they leave a place, almost as a greeting like "goodbye."
Often used with ~아/어 있다 to indicate that something contains something. For example: "김치에 고추가 들어가 있어요" = "There is red peppers in 김치"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "입짱하다"
The noun form of this word translates to "admission"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "흥미롭따"
흥미롭다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 흥미로워, ~ㄴ/은: 흥미로운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 흥미롭습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 흥미로울, ~니: 흥미로우니, ~ㅁ/음: 흥미로움, ~(으)려고: 흥미로우려고, ~(으)시: 흥미로우시, ~(으)면: 흥미로우면, ~(으)니: 흥미로우니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "늗따"
This is often irrelevant, but 늦다 is both a verb and an adjective. As a verb, it usually indicates that one arrives late. For example: "우리가 늦어서 죄송해요" = "Sorry we arrived late"
It is often used as an adjective to describe a time that is late. For example: "우리는 늦은 저녁을 먹었어요" = "We ate a late dinner"
As an adjective, ~게 is often added to it in order to create an adverb. For example: "그녀는 언제나 늦게 와요" = "She comes late every time"
In addition to meaning "cool" (as in temperature), this word is often used to describe the feeling you get when somebody gives you a massage.
The noun form of this word translates to "jealousy" or "envy"
Often used as "질투가 나다." See Lesson 14 for more information on how the word "나다" works in these situations.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "맵따"
맵다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 매워, ~ㄴ/은: 매운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 맵습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 매울, ~니: 매우니, ~ㅁ/음: 매움, ~(으)려고: 매우려고, ~(으)시: 매우시, ~(으)면: 매우면, ~(으)니: 매우니
This word appears in my Korean Sign Explanation Video #3.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "무겁따"
무겁다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 무거워, ~ㄴ/은: 무거운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 무겁습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 무거울, ~니: 무거우니, ~ㅁ/음: 무거움, ~(으)려고: 무거우려고, ~(으)시: 무거우시, ~(으)면: 무거우면, ~(으)니: 무거우니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "가볍따"
가볍다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 가벼워, ~ㄴ/은: 가벼운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 가볍습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 가벼울, ~니: 가벼우니, ~ㅁ/음: 가벼움, ~(으)려고: 가벼우려고, ~(으)시: 가벼우시, ~(으)면: 가벼우면, ~(으)니: 가벼우니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "익쑤카다"
The most common definition of 익숙하다 is "to be familiar with," but in sentences I prefer to use "to be used to."
For example, if you buy a new pair of shoes, and you still kind of prefer your previous shoes, you could say "새로운 신발에 아직 익숙하지 않아요." ("I'm not used to the new shoes yet").
It is hard for an English speaker to understand this word. "냄새" is a noun that means "smell." If you want to say that something is smelly (adjective), you need to use the verb 나다, which is very confusing. 나다 acts as a passive verb which is introduced in Lesson 14.
For a positive/good smell, the word "향" is more commonly used.
The verb form of this word translates to "to remember"
The word 나다 is often used to indicate that a memory "comes" up. See Lesson 14 for more information.
The passive form of this word is "꺼지다" (to be turned off)
끄다 follows the ㅡ irregular
~아/어: 꺼, ~ㄴ/은: 끈, ~ㄴ/는다: 끈다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 끕니다, ~ㄹ/을: 끌, ~니: 끄니, ~ㅁ/음: 끔, ~(으)려고: 끄려고, ~(으)시: 끄시, ~(으)면: 끄면, ~(으)니: 끄니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "숨따"
This is used when somebody hides his/herself. When hiding an object, 숨기다 is used.
When hiding oneself, the word 숨다 is used. For example: "저는 박스 뒤에 숨었어요"
However, when hiding an object, 숨기다 is used.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "노타"
The passive form of this word is "놓이다" (to be placed on something)
눕다 follows the ㅂ irregular
The word 눕히다 is used to indicate that you laid another person down
~아/어: 누워, ~ㄴ/은: 누운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 눕습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 누울, ~니: 누우니, ~ㅁ/음: 누움, ~(으)려고: 누우려고, ~(으)시: 누우시, ~(으)면: 누우면, ~(으)니: 누우니
See Lesson 71 for more information
Words ending in 내다 can usually be switched to end in 나다 to change the meaning from active to passive (and vice-versa). However, not all words ending in 나다 have an equivalent 내다 verb (and vice-versa). 나다 and 내다 can be used as standalone verbs as well as be attached to other words. Both of their meanings are very complex and depend heavily on the situation. When used by itself, it usually translates to "pay" or to "submit". For example:
However, it can be found attached to many words that also have a 나다 (passive) equivalent:
The noun form of this word translates to "impression"
More commonly used as 감동받다 (to be impressed) and 감동시키다 (to impress)
To indicate that you went from the sitting/lying down position to standing, the word "일어나다" (to get up) should be used.
Words ending in 나다 can usually be switched to end in 내다 to change the meaning from passive to active (and vice-versa). However, not all words ending in 나다 have an equivalent 내다 verb (and vice-versa). 나다 and 내다 can be used as standalone verbs as well as be attached to other words. Both of their meanings are very complex and depend heavily on the situation. I discuss this more deeply in this lesson. Furthermore, a detailed list of many ways 나다 can be used is shown in Lesson 128.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "노이다"
The active form of this word is "놓다" (to put down)
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "속따"
The active form of this word is "속이다" (to trick)
It can also be used as a noun, for example:
Korean people can’t explain the difference between 안 and 속.
속 is more commonly used when, if you enter something, the place will be filled with stuff and is not “empty”. Conversely, “안” would be more commonly used when, if you enter something, the place is basically empty.
For example, if you enter water or if you enter your body. In both cases, “속” would be used to refer to the inside of a body, or the inside of water. If you enter your body, it is filled with stuff, and if you enter the water, it is still all water.
The opposite is if you are talking about a room, or a building. You can go into those places and it is relatively empty.
들다 follows the ㄹ irregular
들다 can be used in many different ways. "to lift/carry/hold something" is one of the main overarching usages. See below in this lesson for more information
~아/어: 들어, ~ㄴ/은: 든, ~ㄴ/는다: 든다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 듭니다, ~ㄹ/을: 들, ~니: 드니, ~ㅁ/음: 듦, ~(으)려고: 들려고, ~(으)시: 드시, ~(으)면: 들면, ~(으)니: 드니
들다 can be used in many different ways. "to enter, go into" is one of the main overarching usages. See below in this lesson for more information
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "가저오다"
This is not used when you "bring" a person somewhere. Instead, the word "데려오다" is used
가져오다 often translates to "to bring" and 가져가다 often translates to "to take." However, the translation of "to bring" could work for both 가져오다 and 가져가다.
가지다 means "to possess" and "오다" and "가다" mean "to come" and "to go" respectively. Deciding to use 가져오다 or 가져가다 depends on the point of reference of the acting agent in the sentence to the speaker. Specifically, whether the acting agent is coming or going to the location in question.
Imagine you have money at your house, and you will go to your friend's house later to give it to him. Therefore, you will have to "bring" or "take" (same meaning) that money with you when you head over there. If you are currently at your house and are talking to your friend about what you will do, you should use the word "가져가다" because you are going to your friend's house while in possession of the money (저는 돈을 가져갈 거예요). In this example, 가져가다 is used and the best English translation would be "I will bring the money."
However, imagine you have already arrived at your friend's house with the money. You can use the word "가져오다" because you came to your friend's house while in possession of the money (저는 돈을 가져왔어요). In this example, 가져오다 is used and the best English translation would be "I brought the money."
People would read those two examples and think "Oh, so if it is something happening in the future – I should use 가져가다 and if it is something happening in the past, I should use 가져오다."
No. It has nothing to do with the tense of the sentence. It has everything to do with the point of reference of the acting agent of the sentence to the speaker.
For example, imagine you are at your house with the money. If your friend wants to tell you to "bring the money," he should use the word "가져오다" because you are coming (not going) to him. To his reference, you are "coming." In this case, 가져오다 should be used.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "가저가다"
This is not used when you "take" a person somewhere. Instead, the word "데려가다" is used
돌다 follows the ㄹ irregular
돌리다 is used when one turns an object. 돌다 can be used when one turns his/her body.
~아/어: 돌아, ~ㄴ/은: 돈, ~ㄴ/는다: 돈다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 돕니다, ~ㄹ/을: 돌, ~니: 도니, ~ㅁ/음: 돎, ~(으)려고: 돌려고, ~(으)시: 도시, ~(으)면: 돌면, ~(으)니: 도니
A compound verb made up of "돌다" and "보다"
A compound verb made up of "돌다" and "가다." If you are currently in a place and are talking about returning to another place. For example, if you are from Canada but currently in Korea and talking about returning to Canada (i.e. going back to Canada), you should use this word instead of "돌아오다."
A compound verb made up of "돌다" and "오다." If you are currently in a place and are talking about returning to the same place. For example, if you are from Canada talking about returning to Canada (i.e. coming back to Canada), you should use this word instead of "돌아가다."
A compound verb made up of "돌리다" and "주다"
걸다 follows the ㄹ irregular
~아/어: 걸어, ~ㄴ/은: 건, ~ㄴ/는다: 건다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 겁니다, ~ㄹ/을: 걸, ~니: 거니, ~ㅁ/음: 검, ~(으)려고: 걸려고, ~(으)시: 거시, ~(으)면: 걸면, ~(으)니: 거니
The noun form of this word translates to "marriage"
부르다 follows the 르 irregular
When used to say that one "calls" something by a certain name, "라고" is usually used in the sentence. See Lesson 52 for more information.
~아/어: 불러, ~ㄴ/은: 부른, ~ㄴ/는다: 부른다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 부릅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 부를, ~니: 부르니, ~ㅁ/음: 부름, ~(으)려고: 부르려고, ~(으)시: 부르시, ~(으)면: 부르면, ~(으)니: 부르니
고르다 follows the 르 irregular
~아/어: 골라, ~ㄴ/은: 고른, ~ㄴ/는다: 고른다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 고릅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 고를, ~니: 고르니, ~ㅁ/음: 고름, ~(으)려고: 고르려고, ~(으)시: 고르시, ~(으)면: 고르면, ~(으)니: 고르니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "너타"
The noun form of this word translates to "an explanation"
자랑스럽다 translates to "to be proud"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to “똑깓다”
When comparing two things by saying they are the same, it is more common to use 똑같다 instead of 같다. For example, instead of saying:
It would be more natural to say:
See below in this lesson for more information
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "자랑스럽따"
자랑스럽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
자랑스럽다 is an adjective. To indicate that you are proud of something/somebody, the particle ~이/가 must be attached to the object of the sentence. See Lesson 15 for more information.
~아/어: 자랑스러워, ~ㄴ/은: 자랑스러운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 자랑스럽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 자랑스러울, ~니: 자랑스러우니, ~ㅁ/음: 자랑스러움, ~(으)려고: 자랑스러우려고, ~(으)시: 자랑스러우시, ~(으)면: 자랑스러우면, ~(으)니: 자랑스러우니
The function of “또 다르다” is hard to explain, but it is easier to explain (and understand) if you think of it as two separate words (which it actually is). It is a combination of the adjective “다르다” and the adverb “또”, which is used when something happens again.
“또 다르다” is used when one particular thing has already been described, and you are explaining another thing. For example, imagine you are sitting in a meeting with your coworkers discussing potential problems for a plan. People are all discussing the problems they see, and you can point out:
In this same respect, you can say the following sentence, and although the translation in English is similar, try to understand the difference in adding “또”:
In this, maybe the person saw one movie, and then again saw a different movie.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "시끄럽따"
시끄럽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 시끄러워, ~ㄴ/은: 시끄러운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 시끄럽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 시끄러울, ~니: 시끄러우니, ~ㅁ/음: 시끄러움, ~(으)려고: 시끄러우려고, ~(으)시: 시끄러우시, ~(으)면: 시끄러우면, ~(으)니: 시끄러우니
드물다 follows the ㄹ irregular
~아/어: 드물어, ~ㄴ/은: 드문, ~ㅂ/습니다: 드뭅니다, ~ㄹ/을: 드물, ~니: 드무니, ~ㅁ/음: 드묾, ~(으)려고: 드물려고, ~(으)시: 드무시, ~(으)면: 드물면, ~(으)니: 드무니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "자연스럽따"
자연스럽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 자연스러워, ~ㄴ/은: 자연스러운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 자연스럽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 자연스러울, ~니: 자연스러우니, ~ㅁ/음: 자연스러움, ~(으)려고: 자연스러우려고, ~(으)시: 자연스러우시, ~(으)면: 자연스러우면, ~(으)니: 자연스러우니
The noun form of this word translates to "disappointment"
실망하다 describes the feeling of being disappointed. 실망스럽다 describes something that is disappointing. 실망스럽다 is sometimes used in sentences that translate to one's feelings being "disappointed" using the Subject – Object – Adjective form. See Lesson 16.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "실망스럽따"
실망스럽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
실망하다 describes the feeling of being disappointed. 실망스럽다 describes something that is disappointing. 실망스럽다 is sometimes used in sentences that translate to one's feelings being "disappointed" using the Subject – Object – Adjective form. See below in this lesson for more information.
~아/어: 실망스러워, ~ㄴ/은: 실망스러운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 실망스럽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 실망스러울, ~니: 실망스러우니, ~ㅁ/음: 실망스러움, ~(으)려고: 실망스러우려고, ~(으)시: 실망스러우시, ~(으)면: 실망스러우면, ~(으)니: 실망스러우니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "사랑스럽따"
사랑스럽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 사랑스러워, ~ㄴ/은: 사랑스러운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 사랑스럽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 사랑스러울, ~니: 사랑스러우니, ~ㅁ/음: 사랑스러움, ~(으)려고: 사랑스러우려고, ~(으)시: 사랑스러우시, ~(으)면: 사랑스러우면, ~(으)니: 사랑스러우니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "만조카다"
The noun form of this word translates to "satisfaction"
만족하다 describes the feeling of being satisfied. 만족스럽다 describes something that is satisfactory. 만족스럽다 is sometimes used in sentences that translate to one's feelings being "satisfied" using the Subject – Object – Adjective form. See Lesson 16.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "만족스럽따"
만족스럽다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 만족스러워, ~ㄴ/은: 만족스러운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 만족스럽습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 만족스러울, ~니: 만족스러우니, ~ㅁ/음: 만족스러움, ~(으)려고: 만족스러우려고, ~(으)시: 만족스러우시, ~(으)면: 만족스러우면, ~(으)니: 만족스러우니
개 can be used as a counter for 연필 for simplicity, but a more specific counter when counting pencils is "자루."
"색" is used after the words of most colors.
For example: 빨간색 (red), 노란색 (yellow), 녹색 (green)
You should not use "그" when "he" refers to somebody who deserves high respect.
You should not use "그녀" when "she" refers to somebody who deserves high respect.
"회화" is usually placed after the name of a language to refer to the conversation aspect of that language. It is not used to mean "to have a conversation." The words 이야기하다 or 대화하다 should be used for that meaning.
Just like in English, this word can be used to refer to the general area of one's chest, or a woman's breasts. It can also be used to refer to one's "heart."
근처 and 가깝다 are words that have similar meanings. 근처 is actually a noun but I feel it acts and feels like an adverb. 가깝다 is an adjective, which means it can predicate sentences and describe upcoming nouns. 근처 is most commonly used after a noun (like 위, 안, 밑, 뒤, etc…) to mean "close to…"
It can also be used to generally just mean "close" to here. In these cases, 여기 can be omitted.
This can be used before a noun to describe it. For example: "최근 날씨가 추워요" = "The recent weather is cold"
It can also be used with ~에 to generally mean "recently." For example: "최근에 사람이 많이 와요" = "Recently, many people have been coming"
풀다 follows the ㄹ irregular
~아/어: 풀어, ~ㄴ/은: 푼, ~ㄴ/는다: 푼다, ~ㅂ/습니다: 풉니다, ~ㄹ/을: 풀, ~니: 푸니, ~ㅁ/음: 풂, ~(으)려고: 풀려고, ~(으)시: 푸시, ~(으)면: 풀면, ~(으)니: 푸니
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "가깝따"
가깝다 follows the ㅂ irregular
~아/어: 가까워, ~ㄴ/은: 가까운, ~ㅂ/습니다: 가깝습니다, ~ㄹ/을: 가까울, ~니: 가까우니, ~ㅁ/음: 가까움, ~(으)려고: 가까우려고, ~(으)시: 가까우시, ~(으)면: 가까우면, ~(으)니: 가까우니
This is a word that is difficult to translate. It's usually used on things that are physically straining. However, something mentally straining (like solving a math problem) could also be '힘들다' because those types of things might also elicit a physical response as well.
You'd be surprised how often you hear this word in Korean. Everything is '힘들다.'
Used as a conjunctive adverb, usually between two sentences.
Pears in Korea look more like apples, not like typical western pears.
Young people often say "당근당근" to mean "obviously." The actual word for obviously is "당연하다," but because of the similar pronunciation, "당근" is often used as a joke.
A Korean radish is different from a western radish. In Canada, I am used to radishes that are red on the outside and about the size of a golf-ball. Korean radishes are about the size of an American football and green and white in color.
In English "rich" is an adjective. Though there is an adjective in Korean that means "rich," the noun "부자" is more commonly used. Note that this is not an adjective, but a noun that means a "rich person." Therefore, when indicating that somebody is rich, Korean people usually attach 이다 to 부자. For example: "저의 친구는 부자야" = "My friend is (a) rich (person)"
Often found in the name of cities in Korea. For example: 부산, 울산, etc...
Often used to denote the names of neighborhoods that are near a particular mountain or related to mountains. For example: 도봉산, 안산, etc...
머무르다 follows the 르 irregular
머무르다 can be used as 머물다, which is actually a shortened version of 머무르다.
머무르다 can be used any way and with any grammatical principle, but must be used in accordance with the 르 irregular. For example: "한국에서 온 교환학생이 우리 집에서 1년 동안 머물렀어요" = "A Korean exchange student stayed at our house for a year"
However, 머물다 cannot be used with all grammatical principles.
Any grammatical principle that starts with a consonant (and there is no option other than that one consonant), can be added to 머물다. For example: 머물자, 머물고, 머물겠다, 머물지 않다
If a grammatical principle that is added to 머물다 is a vowel – and there is no other option other than a vowel – then that grammatical principle cannot be added to 머물다. The two most common grammatical principles where this occurs is when conjugating in the past or present tenses. For example: 머물다 + ~아/어(요) = ~~머물어요~~ – this is incorrect. 머물다 + ~았/었어요 = ~~머물었어요~~ – this is incorrect
See Lesson 97 for more information.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "반갑따"
반갑다 follows the ㅂ irregular
As a beginner, you will mostly use 반갑다 when you say "만나서 반갑습니다," or as "반갑게" as shown in the examples below.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "놉따"
To increase (or to heighten) something, the verb 높이다 can be used.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "낟따"
To decrease (or to lower) something, the verb 낮추다 can be used.
This is used instead of "사람" when the person deserves high respect. "분" is also used instead of "명" as a counter when the person deserves high respect.
Often used with the ~는 것 conjugation of ~ㄴ/는다는 것. See Lesson 52 for more information.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "계사눤"
계산하다 means "to pay" or "to calculate"
The word 오전 generally refers to anything before noon, but 새벽 is used to refer to something that is really early in the morning. Typically, 새벽 refers to the time before the sun rises.
It is easy to understand the meaning of 내부 and 외부 if you understand their simple Hanja origins. 내 (內) means "inside" and 외 (外) means "outside." You don't need to worry about the Chinese characters just yet, but knowing that 외 and 내 usually have these meanings can help you tremendously when learning new words. If you want to go further, 부 (部) (as in, 내부 and 외부) means "part." 내부 then means "the inside part/the inside", and 외부 means "the outside part/the outside."
궁금하다 often translates to "to wonder," which makes learners assume that it is a verb. Rather, 궁금하다 is an adjective and is more about the feeling of wondering (or being curious) about something.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "안타깝따"
안타깝다 follows the ㅂ irregular
키 means "height" in Korean, but not the "height" of a building or some other object. It is only used when talking about the height of a person. "크다" means 'big.' The adjective for tall is 키가 크다, which just indicates that your height is big.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "걱쩡하다"
More commonly used in the passive voice (걱정되다 = to be worried)
In most situations, removing ~하다 from a word and placing "마" after it is unnatural. However, in this case "걱정 마" is very common.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "씯따"
When washing one's hair, the verb "감다" must be used.
"이야기" means "conversation, story," but the verb "이야기하다" means "to have a conversation with/to talk with." 이야기(하다) is often shortened to 얘기(하다).
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "좁따"
Korean people would use the word "좁다" in make cases where English people would use the word "small." Especially if an apartment or room is small, Korean people would say "방이 좁다." The direct English translation of "this room is narrow" is unnatural in English.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "널따"
넓다 means "wide" but Korean people often say "넓다" when in English we would say "big." Usually when they talk about how 'big' a room/house is, they will say that it is very "넓어." In English, it would be awkward to say "This place is so wide!!"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "알라카다"
Essentially the same meaning as "편하다," but much less common. 안락하다 would be more related to abstract things like the mood of a place or one's life, whereas 편하다 would be more related to physical things that you can feel (like a bed being comfortable)
This can be used to indicate that one does something more with a noun, for example: "저는 밥을 더 먹고 싶어요" = "I want to eat more rice"
It can also be used with an adjective. For example: "그 여자가 더 예뻐요" = "That girl is prettier (more pretty)"
It can also be used with an adverb. For example: "저는 더 빨리 가고 싶어요" = "I want to go faster (more fast)"
Very similar (if not identical) to 가장
Placed in a sentence with an adverb or adjective to indicate that something is (done) "most."
For example, with an adjective: "그 여자가 제일 예뻐요" = "that girl is the prettiest (the most pretty)"
With an adverb: "저는 달리기를 제일 빨리 할 수 있어요" = "I can run the fastest (the most fast)"
In most cases, it can't be used without an adjective or adverb. These would require the use of some kind of adverb, for example: "저는 제일 잘 운동해요" = "I exercise the best"
However, it can be used without an adjective or adverb in some cases. Most commonly with 좋아하다 and 싫어하다. For example: "저는 그 사람을 제일 싫어해요" = "I dislike that person the most"
여러 is an adverb that is placed before nouns to describe them
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "옏"
Placed before certain nouns to indicate that noun is from a long time ago.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "잘몯"
This word would normally be easy, however it is more difficult than it needs to be because 잘못 (without a space) and 잘 못 (with a space) have two different meanings. See Lesson 20 for more information.
This word appears in Korean Sign Explanation [Video 10]
It is hard to imagine this being a noun based on the translation about, but grammatically it is a noun. By putting 이상 after something, it can have the meaning of "more than." For example: "열여덟 살 이상" = "over 18 years of age", "두 명 이상" = "more than two people"
It is common to use "더 이상" to indicate that one will not do something "anymore." For example: "저는 이 영화를 더 이상 보고 싶지 않아요" = "I don't want to watch this movie anymore"
The main meaning of 잘하다 is "to do something well." To use 잘하다, simply place a noun in a sentence with 잘하다 as the verb. For example: "나는 수영을 잘해" = "I swim well"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "모타다"
못하다 has the opposite meaning of 잘하다. For example: "나는 수영을 못해" = "I am bad at swimming"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "퇴지카다"
The noun form of this word translates to "retirement"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "접쑤하다"
접수하다 is a weird word. It technically means "to receive," but it usually used when the subject is giving something. It doesn't make much sense, but that is how it is used.
This word is not said very often. You will see it written more commonly than you will hear it spoken.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "통여카다"
The noun form of this word translates to "interpretation"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "버녀카다"
The noun form of this word translates to "translation"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "젇따"
젓다 follows the ㅅ irregular
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "헫깔리다"
Learners sometimes think that 헷갈리다 is an adjective that describes something as "confusing." However, 헷갈리다 is a verb which describes the mental struggle that goes on in one's head when confused (often when having to remember or choose from multiple choices).
늘다 follows the ㄹ irregular
This is the passive form of the active verb "늘리다"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "어둡따"
어둡다 follows the ㅂ irregular
After you finish a meal, it is polite to say "잘 먹었습니다"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "몯"
The usage of 못 is very complex. See below in this lesson for more information.
The specific words for father- and mother-in-law are 장인 and 장모님, respectively. However, it is common to politely refer to them as "father" and "mother" using ~님 as shown in the example below.
This is usually used between two nouns or certain adverbs (usually a place or time), not between two verbs or adjectives. In order to see how to say "or" with verbs and adjectives, see Lesson 55.
Often used as an adverb, for example: "물론 와도 돼요!" = "Of course you can come!"
It can also be used as a noun (predicated with 이다). For example: "돈을 줄 것은 물론이죠" = "Of course I will give you the money"
This word does not mean the "news" that you see on TV. Rather, it is the word to describe a piece of information, that we often call "news" in English.
Usually, by adding 식 to the end of a noun in Korean, the noun turns into some sort of a ceremony.
결혼 + 식 = marriage ceremony (wedding)
See Lesson 50 for more information.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "코딱찌"
코딱지만큼 is an idiom to say something is really small, for example: 아빠가 코딱지만큼 먹었어요 = Dad only ate a little bit!
This often translates to "enter a hospital," but it actually used to say that one enters a hospital, and then gets admitted. You would not use this word if you enter a hospital to visit somebody or to do some other task there.
The opposite of 입원하다, this is not used to indicate that you leave a hospital. It is used when somebody has completed their treatment and is okay to leave the hospital.
In English the words "beat" and "win" are slightly different. However, in Korean, 이기다 is used for both of these words.
타다 is another one of those verbs that has so many meanings depending on the situation. One of the most common meanings, however, is to "ride." It can be used in a wide variety of situations where you are on something that is moving (boat, horse, taxi, subway, elevator, bus)
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "즐겁따"
즐겁다 follows the ㅂ irregular
When used as the subject of a sentence, 누구 changes to 누가.
Particles like ~부터 and ~까지, which are often used to indicate from/until when something happens can be attached to 언제 to indicate that it is unknown "from/until when" something happens.
언제 can also be attached to "이다" to ask "when" something is. In these cases as well, it replaces the noun that would normally be attached to 이다. For example: "결혼식은 언제야?" = "When is the wedding?"
The particle ~까지 is commonly attached to 어디. ~부터 is not commonly attached to 어디 for the same reason that ~부터 is not commonly attached to a place, as described in Lesson 12.
Like 언제, it can also be used as the noun before 이다 to ask where something "is." For example: "어디야?" = "Where are you?" This is really only done when speaking to a person, and you are asking him/her directly where he/she is. When asking where another person, or another thing is, it is more natural to use 있다 in the sentence.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "역씨"
Similar to the particle ~도. However, 역시 does not get added directly to nouns.
역시 also gets placed as an adverb in sentences for feeling when the speaker says something that is "as expected."
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "면멷"
Usually placed before a word meaning "people" to mean "some ____"
벌써 can be used to indicate that one action has "already" happened. These actions are usually finished when then speaker uses "벌써."
It can also be used to indicate that an action happens earlier than expected. These actions don't have to be finished for the speaker to use 벌써.
이미 can replace 벌써 in the first usage described above, but not the second one. That is, it can be used to indicate that one action has "already" happened.
Incredibly common word that is used in very important situations. 자리 is some area of space, but not really 3-dimensional space. It is more space on the ground or something similar to that. For example, if somebody is standing where you are standing, you could say "get out of my place/my spot!" In that case, you can use 자리. In practice, it is very commonly used to have the meaning "seat".
This word is most commonly used to refer to people coming to pick up garbage (garbage collection). You would think that this word wouldn't be very common (how often do you talk about garbage collection), but it is used fairly often if you live in Korea.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "찓따"
If you want to say that you ripped a hole in your clothes, you can also use the idiom "빵구가 났다"
A combination of the words 다니다 and 오다. This word is often used in greetings, to indicate that one will go, and then come back.
얼마나 is a very common adverb that means "how" but is very different from 어떻게. 얼마나 is a word that is placed before adjectives and adverbs to mean "how (adjective/adverb). You can also put "얼마" before 이다 to ask "how much does this cost?"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "멷"
Used before a counter to ask how many of something. Also used to ask about one's age.
The difference between 어떤, 무슨 and 어느 is discussed at length in this lesson.
어떤 can mean "which" as in "which sport do you like best?" But it can also mean "some." How do you differentiate if "어떤" means some or which? If the sentence is a question, it will usually mean "which." If the sentence is not a question, it will usually mean "some."
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "바깓"
This can be placed before a noun to describe it or to refer to the outside in general.
Technically a noun, but usually the translation makes it sound like it is a verb with an emphasis attached to it.
This word is usually used by itself at the top of messages (or as the subject of an e-mail) to indicate that the message is a "must read"
This word has three main usages:
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "초록쌕"
Color words that end in "색" are nouns. However, these words are often used like adjectives by placing them before a noun.
When you want to say that your "back hurts," you should say "허리가 아파요" – which translates to "my hip hurts."
Compound verb of 내리다 and 가다.
This is also used to refer to going down (geographically) in the country.
푸르다 gets conjugated into 푸르러(요) when ~아/어 is added to it.
I don't know of any other word that acts like this.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "노라타"
노랗다 follows the ㅎ irregular
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "빨가타"
빨갛다 follows the ㅎ irregular
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "하야타"
하얗다 follows the ㅎ irregular
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "까마타"
까맣다 follows the ㅎ irregular
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "파라타"
파랗다 follows the ㅎ irregular
It is hard to describe the meaning of 이렇다, 그렇다 and 저렇다 without any other grammatical principle added to it. Much like 이, 그 and 저 can mean "this," "that" and "that;" 이렇다, 그렇다 and 저렇다 can mean "like this," "like that" and "like that."
It is easier to describe and understand the meaning of these words when other grammatical principles are attached to it. ~ㄴ/은 (Lesson 4) is often added to 이렇다 (to create 이런) to describe a noun.
~게 (Lesson 8) is often added to 이렇다 (to create 이렇게) to turn it into an adverb.
When Korean people ask a "why" question, they often stress "why" by using 이렇게.
It is easier to describe and understand the meaning of these words when other grammatical principles are attached to it. ~ㄴ/은 (Lesson 4) is often added to 그렇다 (to create 그런) to describe a noun.
~게 (Lesson 8) is often added to 그렇다 (to create 그렇게) to turn it into an adverb.
Many other grammatical principles are commonly added to 그렇다. I discuss this more in the actual lesson below.
It is easier to describe and understand the meaning of these words when other grammatical principles are attached to it. ~ㄴ/은 (Lesson 4) is often added to 저렇다 (to create 저런) to describe a noun.
~게 (Lesson 8) is often added to 저렇다 (to create 저렇게) to turn it into an adverb.
Placed immediately before a noun to say "most."
Often times "의" is attached to 대부분 when it describes an upcoming noun.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "종뉴"
종류 and 가지 have the same meaning. They are used as a counter when you are talking about types of things.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "뜨겁따"
뜨겁다 follows the ㅂ irregular
Only used to describe objects when they are hot. Not when describing the weather and usually not when describing one's body temperature. It would only be used to describe a body temperature if somebody's body is hot to the touch.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "차갑다"
차갑다 follows the ㅂ irregular
Only used to describe objects when they are cold. Not when describing the weather and usually not when describing one's body temperature. It would only be used to describe a body temperature if somebody's body is cold to the touch.
Used to indicate that something was done before a certain time, for example: "저는 2주 전에 남동생을 만났어요" = "I met my brother 2 weeks ago"
Also used to indicate that something happens before an action: "한국에 오기 전에 저는 한국어를 배웠어요" = "I learned Korean before I came to Korea"
Used to indicate that something was done after a certain time, for example: "수업은 2분 후에 끝날 거예요" = "Class will finish 2 minutes from now"
Also used to indicate that something happens after an action: "밥을 먹은 후에 친구를 만났어요" = "After I ate, I met a friend"
This looks like the dictionary form of this word should be "모드다" and ~ㄴ/은 is added to is to describe an upcoming noun. 모든 is the dictionary form of this word. It is placed before nouns to mean "all/every…"
This word is similar to the words 곳 and 장소.
A deeper discussion of 데, specifically distinguishing it from 때 and ~는데 can be found in Lesson 76 and Lesson 77.
In English the word "menu" is only about the physical book where foods are written in a restaurant. In Korean people use the word "메뉴" when talking about the types of food served at a restaurant. Therefore, you will often hear things like "이 식당의 메뉴는 어때요?" (What do you think about the types of food at this restaurant?)
I believe the word was originally "아기" but through constant mispronunciation, the word has now evolved to "애기."
People often call their boyfriend or girlfriend "애기." This makes some people sick.
Very common noun that you can use to say "I am interested" in something. "~에" is added to the thing you are interested in, and 관심 is followed by ~이 있다. Translates directly to "I have interest in ____."
The word "아주머니" is commonly used as well
아줌마 and 아주머니 are commonly used to refer to an older woman that you don't know the name of, or even do know the name of but aren't close enough to call her by her name. This also extends to older women who work in a restaurant.
The age that you could call a female an "아줌마" is ambiguous, but I would say that somewhere between late-thirties to mid-sixties would be appropriate. Any younger, and you would probably be offending a younger woman by thinking she is too old. Any older, and you are better off calling the woman "할머니."
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "목쩍찌"
As you know, "목적" translates to "goal." 지 is a common Hanja character (地) that refers to land or a place. Together, "목적지" literally refers to the "goal" place or "the place one is headed towards." This is easier translated to just "destination."
This word is commonly yelled by Korean people if somebody asks a question to a large group. The group is usually students, but they could also be contestants on a game show or some quiz show on TV. It is common for the person who knows the correct answer to raise his/her hand and yell "정답!"
지역 and 구역 are often confused. 지역 is more about the area of a city or country. Like 경기도 지역 (the area of 경기 province) or something like that. 구역 is more about the area of any other place, like a specific designated area of a building or park or something like that (for example, 견인구역 = tow away zone)
In English, we call athletes who play game-like sports "players." For example, a basketball "player." However, other athletes are not called "players," for example, it would be unnatural to call a swimmer a "swimming player." In Korean, the word 선수 is used to refer to any athlete of any sport.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "목쑴"
This word translates to "life" but is usually used when one 'loses,' 'saves,' or 'dedicates' a life.
Although this typically translates to "waist," Korean people often say "허리(가) 아프다" when their lower-back is sore. For example, if somebody came home after a hard day of work with lots of standing around and/or physical labor, he/she would say "아우! 허리 아파!" In English, it would be unnatural to say "Ahh! My waist hurts!" It would be more natural to say "My back hurts."
This word is usually placed before a noun to describe it as something that is "normal" or "not special." For example: "일반 사람" = "most people (typical people - the people who are typical)"
If you place 사이 after nouns, it represents the space between them. For example: "저는 차 두 대 사이에서 서 있어요" = "I am standing between two cars"
It is also used to indicate that the relationship "between" people: "저와 학생들 사이는 좋아요" = "The relationship between my students and me is good"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "박"
밖 can be placed after a noun to mean "outside" of that noun. For example: "건물 밖에" = "outside the building"
It can also be used on its own to refer to "outside" in general. For example: "밖이 너무 추워요" = "It's so cold outside!"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "깍따"
As you can see, there are many possible translations for this word. It generally refers to the action of "cutting" something. In English, depending on what you cut, the word might change.
This word can be used to indicate that one recognizes (or does not recognize) something, usually because of a change in appearance. When used like this, "알아보다" is formed by combining the meanings of the words "알다" (to know) and "보다" (to see). For example: "머리를 깎아서 못 알아봤어요" = "I couldn't recognize you because you cut your hair"
It can also be formed by combining "알다" (to know) with the grammatical principle ~아/어보다 (to try to), which is introduced in Lesson 32. When used like this, the translation is closer to "to try to know," and is often used when somebody looks into something new. For example: "저는 캐나다 숙소를 알아봐야 돼요" = "I need to look into places to stay in Canada"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "극뽀카다"
The noun form of this word ("극복") translates to something like "conquest"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "합껴카다"
The noun form of this word ("합격") translates to something like "acceptance"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "결쩡하다"
The noun form of this word ("결정") translates to "a decision."
The formal version of this word (when asking a question to somebody who deserves high respect) is 여쭈다 (often combined with ~아/어보다 to say "여쭤보다")
The original word for "to ask" is 묻다, but it is much more commonly used as "물어보다," which puts a spin on the meaning of the word to "to try to ask about" (the grammar of adding ~아/어보다 to a verb is introduced in Lesson 32).
To prevent confusion between "묻다" (to ask) and "물다" (to bite), Korean people often use "물어보다" to mean "to ask."
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "계소카다"
"계속" is used as an adverb that means "always" or "continually/continuously"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "다파다"
The noun form of this word ("답") translates to "an answer"
When answering a letter or e-mail, the word "답장하다" is more commonly used.
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "깨끄타다"
The adverb form of this verb can be 깨끗하게 or 깨끗이, which both translate to "cleanly"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "남따"
This word is often used in the present tense, the past tense or with ~아/어 있다 attached. Each has a very similar meaning. For example: "두 개 남아요" = "Two are left"
The word 공짜(로) is very similar to 무료(로). 무료 is quite easy to remember if you know the Hanja characters: 無(무) = nothing, without; 料(요/료) = money, fee
When used as an adverb, ~로 is often attached to 무료. For example: "캐나다 사람들은 병원에서 치료를 무료로 받을 수 있어요" = "Canadian people can receive treatment at hospitals free of charge"
It is often placed before a noun, acting like an adjective that describes the upcoming noun. When used like this, ~로 is usually not used. For example: "캐나다 사람들은 병원에서 무료 치료를 받을 수 있어요" = "Canadian people can receive free treatment at hospitals"
The pronunciation of this word is closer to "영업 씨간"
Although "영업" is a word by itself (which is one meaning of the word "business"), for a beginner of Korean the most common place you will see this word is as "영업 시간," which refers to the time that a business is in operation during the day. You would most likely see this written on a sign outside of a store/restaurant or any type of business to indicate their hours.