learn korean

Useful Korean Phrases and Expressions
In Store - Korean Vocabulary - Things
English Korean Pronunciation
Do you have…? …있나요? …innayo?
- shirts 셔츠 [ syeo-cheu ]
- pants 바지 [ ba-ji ]
- caps 모자 [ mo-ja ]
- shoes 신발 [ sin-bal ]
Do you have this in…? 이거…로 있나요? Igeo…ro innayo?
- red 빨간색으로 [ bbal-gan-sae-geu-ro ]
- large 큰걸로 [ keun-geol-lo ]
- small 작은걸로 [ ja-geun-geol-lo ]
I’m looking for… 전…를 원해요. Jeon…reul wonhaeyo.
- something particular 뭔가 특별한 것 [ mwon-ga-teuk-byeol-han-geot ]
- something large 뭔가 큰 것 [ mwon-ga-keun-geot ]
- something small 뭔가 작은 것 [ mwon-ga-ja-geun-geot ]
- something cheaper 더 싼 것 [ deo-ssan-geot ]
Where can I find…? …는 어디 있나요? …neun eodi innayo?
- apples 사과 [ sa-gwa ]
- tomatoes 토마토 [ to-ma-to ]
- tuna fish 참치 [ cham-chi ]
- beer 맥주 [ maek-ju ]
How much is this? 이거 얼마예요? Igeo eolmayeyo?
I will pay with a credit card 신용카드로 지불하겠습니다. Sinyongkadeuro jibulhagetsseumnida.
- one-time payment 일시불 [ il-si-bul ]
- pay over three months 3 개월 할부 [ sam-gae-wol-hal-bu ]
Could you give a discount? 좀 깎아주세요. Jom ggaggajuseyo.
Please give me a receipt. 영수증을 주세요. Yeongsujeungeul juseyo.
Please, put it in the envelope. 봉투에 담아 주세요. Bongtue dama juseyo.
Could gift wrap it please? 선물 포장해 주세요. Seonmul pojanghae juseyo.
Give me a refund. 환불해 주세요. Hwanbulhae juseyo.
I’d like to exchange this. 교환해 주세요. Gyohwanhae juseyo.
Give… …주세요. …juseyo.
- 1 geun/ 2 geun (Korean measurement - 1 geun = 600 grams) 1 근/ 2 근 [ han-geun/ du-geun ]
- 100 grams/ 200 grams 100 그람/ 200 그람 [ baek-geu-ram/ i-baek-geu-ram ]
- five thousand won worth 오천원어치 [ o-cheon-won-eo-chi ]
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Learn Korean Language Lesson 32 - Korean Question Word - How
Continue from Lesson 31 - Korean Conjunction - And. Today we come to learn Korean question word - how. In this learn Korean language lesson, we will learn question word - how - 어때요 [ eo-ddae-yo ]. It has the same meaning as English question word - how. However, in Korean, it is use to give a suggestion. So, even though we use it like English word - how, but we use it to suggest, propose or offer something in a friendly manner such as how is something or how is someone? Let’s start!
Korean Question Word - How
When proposing or offering something in a friendly manner, you can use 어때요? It is commonly used to ask for the listener’s thought about the speaker’s proposal. You can simply add 어때요? to the end of the noun. The intonation rises up in the end of the sentence. Like in Comparison of Korean and English and How are English words pronounced in Korean? Together with Korean Subject Marker 이 or 가, The formula “…이/가 어때요?” means “how is something/someone?” Korean Topic Marker 은 or 는 can be use with question word - how - 어때요 too. However, it is use when one wants to stress a new topic.
You may need to refer back both learn Korean language Lesson 4 for Korean topic marker and Lesson 11 for Korean subject marker and understand the difference between both of them. Basically, they are most commonly used noun particles are those used to mark the subject of the sentence and those used to mark the topic of a sentence. Use topic marker 은/는 after the noun and then ask 어때요? The formula “(noun)은/는 어때요?” means “How about (noun)?”
“…가 어때요?” is used with nouns ending in a vowel and “…이 어때요?” is used with nouns that end in a consonant.
“…는 어때요?” is used with nouns ending in a vowel and “…은 어때요?” is used with nouns that end in a consonant.
Read examples below:
• 한국어 공부가 어때요? [ han-gu-geo-gong-bu-ga-eo-ddae-yo ] - How do you like studying Korean?
• 동대문 시장이 어때요? [ dong-dae-mun-si-jang-i-eo-ddae-yo ] - How is Dongdaemun market?
• 오늘 날씨가 어때요? [ o-neul-nal-ssi-ga-eo-ddae-yo ] - How is the weather today?
• 김치가 어때요? [ kim-chi-ga-eo-ddae-yo ] - How do you like Kimchi?
• 토요일은 어때요? [ to-yo-il-eun-eo-ddae-yo ] - How about Saturday.
Be careful!
When connecting this word to Korean verbs which refer to an action (view also Korean adjectives), add “…는 게 어때요?” to the end of the verb stem.
• 커피가 어때요? [ keo-pi-ga-eo-ddae-yo ] - how about coffee?
• 내일 집에서 쉬는 게 어때요? [ nae-il-ji-be-seo-swi-neun-ge-eo-ddae-yo ] - How about resting at home tomorrow?
Learn Korean Language Flashback
Do you remember that we have learned Korean Place Marker in learn Korean language lesson 15? We use the particle -에서 together with Korean verb 오다 to ask someone about their nationality. “에서 오다” means “from”. Use that formula with Korean Question Word - Where 어디 to ask “Where are you from?”, you can say “어디에서 왔어요?” [ eo-di-e-seo-wa-sseo-yo ]. When answering a question, the question and answer can be almost the same by replacing the 어디 to Countries.
• 빌리는 캐나다에서 왔어요. [ bil-li-neun-kae-na-da-e-seo-wa-sseo-yo ] - Billy is from Canada.
• 친구가 미국에서 와요. [ chin-gu-ga-mi-guk-e-seo-wa-yo ] - A friend of mine is coming from America.
• 저는 일본에서 왔어요. [ jeo-neun-il-bon-e-seo-wa-sseo-yo ] - I’m from Japan.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Korean Language Reading Practice
In Korean
샐리 : 다니엘 씨, 어제 뭐 했어요?
다니엘 : 친구를 만나서 시장에 갔어요.
샐리 : 시장에 가서 뭐 했어요?
다니엘 : 시장에 가서 옷을 샀어요. 그리고 영화를 봤어요.
샐리 : 그리고 집에 왔어요?
다니엘 : 아니요. 커피숍에 가서 차를 마셨어요. 샐리 씨는 뭐 했어요?
샐리 : 저는 집에서 그냥 쉬었어요.
In English
Sally : What did you do yesterday, Daniel?
Daniel : I met my friend and went to the market.
Sally : What did you do at the market?
Daniel : I bought (some) clothes. Then I watched a movie.
Sally : Then did you go home?
Daniel : No, I went to a coffee shop and had tea. What did you do, Sally?
Sally : I just rested at home (for no special reason).
Korean Vocabulary
• 어제 [ eo-je ] - yesterday
• 만나다 [ man-na-da ] - to meet
• 시장 [ si-jang ] - market
• 옷 [ ot ] - clothes
• 사다 [ sa-da ] - to buy
• 영화 [ yeong-hwa ] - movie
• 커피숍 [ keo-pi-syop ] - coffee shop
• 차 [ cha ] - tea
• 쉬다 [ swi-da ] - to rest
Korean Expressions
• 어제 뭐 했어요? [ eo-je-mwo-hae-sseo-yo ] - What did you do yesterday?
• 친구를 만나서 시장에 갔어요. [ chin-gu-reul-man-na-seo-si-jang-e-ga-sseo-yo ] - I met my friend and went to the market.
• 시장에 가서 뭐 했어요? [ si-jang-e-ga-seo-mwo-hae-sseo-yo ] - What did you do at the market?
• 시장에 가서 옷을 샀어요. [ si-jang-e-ga-seo-o-seul-sa-sseo-yo ] - I bought (some) clothes.
• 그리고 영화를 봤어요. [ geu-re-go-yeong-hwa-reul-bwa-sseo-yo ] - Then I watched a movie.
• 그리고 집에 왔어요? [ geu-ri-go-ji-be-wa-sseo-yo ] - Then did you go home?
• 커피숍에 가서 차를 마셨어요. [ keo-pi-syop-e-ga-seo-cha-reul-ma-syeo-sseo-yo ] - I went to a coffee shop and had tea.
• 저는 집에서 그냥 쉬었어요. [ jeo-neun-ji-be-seo-geu-nyang-swi-eo-sseo-yo ] - I just rested at home (for no special reason).
Korean Conjunction - 서 is used when a subject performs two actions one after the other. It signifies that the second action occurs in connection with the first, but follows after it in time sequence. For Korean Verbs - 만나다, 사다 and 쉬다, by adding appropriate Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings and Korean Past Tense it will become 만났어요, 샀어요 and 쉬었어요 which are commonly used in everyday life (view Korean Sentence Ending Form). Have you learned something from the Korean Language Reading Practice above? Continue to Korean Language Reading Practice 18. Korean Language Reading Practice is a short lesson. Hope you will like it. Have a nice day.
Credit: Seoul National University
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Learn Korean Language Lesson 13 - Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings

Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 12 - Korean Linking Verb. Today, we will Learn Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings form. We knew that there are two ways when you start a conversation in Learn Korean Language Lesson 2 - Korean Basic Conversation, whether formally or informally and the difference between both of them is the Sentence Ending Form, the only difficulty in learning Korean is the question about when to use formal language? Let’s learn it in more details.
Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings
We have seen the Korean Sentence Ending Form and understand the differences between Korean Sentence Ending Formal Polite Form and Informal Polite Form in Learn Korean Language Lesson 3 - Korean Sentence Ending Form. -아요/어요 [ a-yo/eo-yo ] are casual but polite sentence endings which are commonly used in everyday life such as shopping, buying tickets, and asking directions etc, etc. It is use to form all present tense verbs (verbs in the present tense). When a verb stem ends with the vowel ㅏ or ㅗ, -아요 is added. See examples below.
• 가다 [ ga-da ] + -아요 = 가요 [ ga-yo ] - to go
• 사다 [ sa-da ] + -아요 = 사요 [ sa-yo ] - to buy
• 자다 [ ja-da ] + -아요 = 자요 [ ja-yo ] - to sleep
• 오다 [ o -da ] + -아요 = 와요 [ wa-yo ] - to come
• 보다 [ bo-da ] + -아요 = 봐요 [ bwa-yo ] - to see
• 살다 [ sal-da ] + -아요 = 살아요[ sa-ra-yo ] - to live
• 만나다 [ man-na-da ] + -아요 = 만나요 [ man-na-yo ] - to meet
When a verb stem ends with a vowel other than ㅏ or ㅗ, -어요 is added. But verb stems ending with a vowel ㅣ, ㅣ + -어요 results in -여요. For example, 마시다 becomes 마셔요 and 가르치다 becomes 가르쳐요.
• 주다 [ ju-da ] + -어요 = 줘요 [ jwo-yo ] - to give
• 먹다 [ meok-da ] + -어요 = 먹어요 [ meo-geo-yo ] - to eat
• 읽다 [ il-da ] + -어요 = 읽어요 [ il-geo-yo ] - to read
• 배우다 [ bae-u-da ] + -어요 = 배워요 [ bae-wo-yo ] - to learn
• 마시다 [ ma-si-da ] + -어요 = 마셔요 [ ma-syeo-yo ] - to drink
• 가르치다 [ ga-reu-chi-da ] + -어요 = 가르쳐요 [ ga-reu-chyeo-yo ] - to teach
When a verb stem ends with -하다 [ ha-da ] becomes -해요 [ hae-yo ]. -하다 is verbs “‘to do”. Many nouns can be made into present tense by adding the verb -해요. See examples below.
• 일하다 [ il-ha-da ] + -해요 = 일해요 [ il-hae-yo ] - to work
• 공부하다 [ gong-bu-ha-da ] + -해요 = 공부해요 [ gong-bu-hae-yo ] - to study
• 운동하다 [ un-dong-ha-da ] + -해요 = 운동해요 [ un-dong-hae-yo ] - to exercise
• 전화하다 [ jeon-hwa-ha-da ] + -해요 = 전화해요 [ jeon-hwa-hae-yo ] - to make a phone call
• 요리하다 [ yo-ri-ha-da ] + -해요 = 요리해요 [ yo-ri-hae-yo ] - to cook
• 운전하다 [ un-jeon-ha-da ] + -해요 = 운전해요 [ un-jeon-hae-yo ] - to drive
• 수영하다 [ su-yeong-ha-da ] + -해요 = 수영해요 [ su-yeong-hae-yo ] - to swim
Raising your intonation makes the Korean sentence into a question like we have learned in Comparison of Korean and English. View Korean verbs list. Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 14 - Korean Object Marker.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Learn Korean Language Lesson 28 - Korean Past Tense

Continue from Learn Korean Language Lesson 27 - Korean Present Tense. Today we come to Learn Korean Lesson 28 - Korean Past Tense. In this Learn Korean Language Lesson, You will learn how to answer Korean question like “what did you do yesterday?” and ask them to your Korean friends. To put action verbs (Korean Verbs) and descriptive verbs (Korean Adjectives) into the past tense, first think of the present tense or Korean Informal Polite Sentence Endings, and replace “요” with “ㅆ어요”.
Korean Past Tense
The rule above works with all verbs, including Korean irregular verbs (we will learn this in the future). Do you remember that we added 아요/어요/해요 behind a verb to make sentences in Korean? Korean past tense is very easy, just adding 았어요/었어요/했어요 to a verb or adjective stem makes it past tense. When a verb or adjective stem ends with ㅏ or ㅗ, -았어요 is added. See examples below.
• 가다 [ ga-da ] + -았어요 = 갔어요 [ ga-sseo-yo ] - to go
• 사다 [ sa-da ] + -았어요 = 샀어요 [ sa-sseo-yo ] - to buy
• 자다 [ ja-da ] + -았어요 = 잤어요 [ ja-sseo-yo ] - to sleep
• 오다 [ o-da ] + -았어요 = 왔어요 [ wa-sseo-yo ] - to come
• 보다 [ bo-da ] + -았어요 = 봤어요 [ bwa-sseo-yo ] - to see
• 살다 [ sal-da ] + -았어요 = 살았어요 [ sa-ra-sseo-yo ] - to live
• 만나다 [ man-na-da ] + -았어요 = 만났어요 [ man-na-sseo-yo ] - to meet
• 비싸다 [ bi-ssa-da ] + -았어요 = 비쌌어요 [ bi-ssa-sseo-yo ] - to be expensive
Korean sentences in past tense -았어요.
• 한국에 갔어요. [ han-guk-e-ga-sseo-yo ] - I went to Korea.
• 친구를 만났어요. [ chin-gu-reul-man-na-sseo-yo ] - I met (my) friend.
• 영화를 봤어요. [ yeong-hwa-reul-bwa-sseo-yo ] - I watched a movie.
• 사과가 비쌌어요. [ sa-gwa-ga0bi-ssa-sseo-yo ] - Apples were expensive.
• 지난주에 조금 바빴어요. [ ji-nan-ju-e-jo-geum-ba-bba-sseo-yo ] - I was a little busy last week.
When a verb or adjective stem ends with any other vowel, other thanㅏ or ㅗ, -었어요 is added.
• 주다 [ ju-da ] + -었어요 = 줬어요 [ jwo-sseo-yo ] - to give
• 먹다 [ meok-da ] + -었어요 = 먹었어요 [ meo-geo-sseo-yo ] - to eat
• 읽다 [ il-da ] + -었어요 = 읽었어요 [ il-geo-sseo-yo ] - to read
• 배우다 [ bae-u-da ] + -었어요 = 배웠어요 [ bae-wo-sseo-yo ] - to learn
• 만들다 [ man-deul-da ] + -었어요 = 만들었어요 [ man-deu-reo-sseo-yo ] - to make
Korean sentences in past tense -었어요.
• 밥을 먹었어요. [ bap-eul-meo-geo-sseo-yo ] - I ate (my) meal.
• 책을 읽었어요. [ chaek-eul-il-geo-sseo-yo ] - I read a book.
• 음식을 만들었어요. [ eum-sik-eul-man-deu-reo-sseo-yo ] - I cooked (some) food.
We have learned that when verb stems ending with a vowel ㅣ, ㅣ + -어요 results in -여요. For example, 마시다 becomes 마셔요 and 가르치다 becomes 가르쳐요. Adding -었어요 to a verb or adjective stem ending with vowel ㅣ results in -였어요.
• 가르치다 [ ga-reu-chi-da ] + -었어요 = 가르쳤어요 [ ga-reu-chyeo-sseo-yo ] - to teach
• 마시다 [ ma-si-da ] + -었어요 = 마셨어요 [ ma-syeo-sseo-yo ] - to drink
Korean sentences in past tense -였어요.
• 일본어를 가르쳤어요. [ il-bon-eo-reul-ga-reu-chyeo-sseo-yo ] - I taught Japanese.
• 물을 마셨어요. [ mu-reul-ma-syeo-sseo-yo ] - I drank water.
When a verb or adjective ends with -하다 [ ha-da ], change 하다 to -했어요. -하다 is verbs “to do”. Many nouns can be made into past tense by adding the verb -했어요. See examples below and continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 29 - Korean Time.
• 일하다 [ il-ha-da ] + -했어요 = 일했어요 [ il-hae-sseo-yo ] - to work
• 공부하다 [ gong-bu-ha-da ] + -했어요 = 공부했어요 [ gong-bu-hae-sseo-yo ] - to study
• 운동하다 [ un-dong-ha-da ] + -했어요 = 운동했어요 [ un-dong-hae-sseo-yo ] - to exercise
• 전화하다 [ jeon-hwa-ha-da ] + -했어요 = 전화했어요 [ jeon-hwa-hae-sseo-yo ] - to make a phone call
• 요리하다 [ yo-ri-ha-da ] + -했어요 = 요리했어요 [ yo-ri-hae-sseo-yo ] - to cook
• 운전하다 [ un-jeon-ha-da ] + -했어요 = 운전했어요 [ un-jeon-hae-sseo-yo ] - to drive
• 수영하다 [ su-yeong-ha-da ] + -했어요 = 수영했어요 [ su-yeong-hae-sseo-yo ] - to swim
• 청소하다 [ cheong-so-ha-da ] + -했어요 = 청소했어요 [ cheong-so-hae-sseo-yo ] - to clean
• 빨래하다 [ bbal-lae-ha-da ] + -했어요 = 빨래했어요 [ bbal-lae-hae-sseo-yo ] - to do laundry
• 복잡하다 [ bok-jap-ha-da ] + -했어요 = 복잡했어요 [ bok-jap-hae-sseo-yo ] - to be crowded
Korean sentences in past tense -했어요.
• 방을 청소했어요. [ bang-eul-cheong-so-hae-sseo-yo ] - I cleaned my room.
• 친구가 전화했어요. [ chin-gu-ga-jeon-hwa-hae-sseo-yo ] - A friend of mine called.
• 어제 빨래했어요. [ eo-je-bbal-lae-hae-sseo-yo ] - I did laundry yesterday.
• 어제 공원에서 운동했어요. [ eo-je-gong-won-e-seo-un-dong-hae-sseo-yo ] - I exercised at the park yesterday.
• 길이 복잡했어요. [ gil-i-bok-jap-hae-sseo-yo ] - The road was crowded.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Korean Verbs - 동사 [ dong-sa ]
Meaning Korean Verbs Pronunciation
not to have enough 모자라다 [ mo-ja-ra-da ]
not to know 모르다 [ mo-reu-da ]
to arrive 도착하다 [ do-chak-ha-da ]
to ask 묻다 [ mut-da ]
to ask a question 질문하다 [ jil-mun-ha-da ]
to be careful 조심하다 [ jo-sim-ha-da ]
to be in fashion 유행하다 [ yu-haeng-ha-da ]
to be in sight/ to show (이/가) 보이다/ (을/를) 보이다 (i/ga) [ bo-i-da ]/ (eul/reul) [ bo-i-da ]
to be, to exist (honorific) 계시다 [ kye-si-da ]
to become 되다 [ doe-da ]
to buy 사다 [ sa-da ]
to catch a cold (감기에) 걸리다 (gam-gi-e) [ geol-ri-da ]
to change 바꾸다 [ ba-ggu-da ]
to close 닫다 [ dat-da ]
to come 오다 [ o-da ]
to come back 돌아오다 [ do-ra-o-da ]
to come in 들어오다 [ deu-reo-o-da ]
to congratulate 축하하다 [ chuk-ka-ha-da ]
to cough 기침(을) 하다 [ gi-chim(eul)-ha-da ]
to cry 울다 [ ul-da ]
to cut down 깎다 [ ggak-da ]
to dance 춤추다 [ chum-chu-da ]
to depart 출발하다 [ chul-bal-ha-da ]
to die 죽다 [ juk-da ]
to dine/to have a meal 식사하다 [ sik-sa-ha-da ]
to dislike 싫어하다 [ sil-reo-ha-da ]
to do 하다 [ ha-da ]
to do homework 숙제하다 [ suk-je-ha-da ]
to drink 마시다 [ ma-si-da ]
to drive 운전하다 [ un-jeon-ha-da ]
to eat 먹다 [ meok-da ]
to eat (honorific) 잡수시다 (잡수다) [ jap-su-si-da (jap-su-da) ]
to excuse 실례하다 [ sil-rye-ha-da ]
to exercise 운동하다 [ un-dong-ha-da ]
to find 찾다 [ chat-da ]
to follow 따라 하다 [ dda-ra-ha-da ]
to get up 일어나다 [ i-reo-na-da ]
to give 주다 [ ju-da ]
to give (honorific) 드리다 [ deu-ri-da ]
to give a help 도와주다 [ do-wa-ju-da ]
to go 가다 [ ga-da ]
to go in 들어가다 [ deu-reo-ga-da ]
to go on a date 데이트하다 [ de-i-teu-ha-da ]
to have a meeting 회의하다 [ hoe-i-ha-da ]
to have food (honorific) 드시다 (들다) [ deu-si-da (deul-da) ]
to help 돕다 [ dop-da ]
to introduce 소개하다 [ so-gae-ha-da ]
to invite 초대하다 [ cho-dae-ha-da ]
to learn 배우다 [ bae-u-da ]
to leave 떠나다 [ ddeo-na-da ]
to like 좋아하다 [ jo-a-ha-da ]
to listen 듣다 [ deut-da ]
to live 살다 [ sal-da ]
to look around 구경하다 [ gu-gyeong-ha-da ]
to love 사랑하다 [ sa-rang-ha-da ]
to make 만들다 [ man-deul-da ]
to make a phone call 전화하다 [ jeon-hwa-ha-da ]
to marry 결혼하다 [ gyeo-ron-ha-da ]
to meet 만나다 [ man-na-da ]
to meet (honorific) 뵙다 [ boep-da ]
to move 이사하다 [ i-sa-ha-da ]
to open 열다 [ yeol-da ]
to paint, to draw a picture 그리다 [ geu-ri-da ]
to practice 연습하다 [ yeon-seup-ha-da ]
to prepare/get ready 준비하다 [ jun-bi-ha-da ]
to rain 비가 오다 [ bi-ga-o-da ]
to read 읽다 [ il-da ]
to receive 받다 [ bat-da ]
to return, to go back 돌아가다 [ do-ra-ga-da ]
to ride 타다 [ ta-da ]
to say 말하다 [ mal-ha-da ]
to see 보다 [ bo-da ]
to sell 팔다 [ pal-da ]
to send 보내다 [ bo-nae-da ]
to shop 쇼핑하다 [ syo-ping-ha-da ]
to sing 노래하다 [ no-rae-ha-da ]
to sit 앉다 [ an-da ]
to sleep 자다 [ ja-da ]
to sleep (honorific) 주무시다 [ ju-mu-si-da ]
to smoke (담배를) 피우다 (dam-bae-reul) [ pi-u-da ]
to snow 눈이 오다 [ nun-i-o-da ]
to start 시작하다 [ si-jak-ha-da ]
to study 공부하다 [ gong-bu-ha-da ]
to swim 수영하다 [ su-yeong-ha-da ]
to take (time) (시간이) 걸리다 (si-gan-i) [ geol-ri-da ]
to take a picture (사진을) 찍다 (sa-jin-eul) [ jjik-da ]
to take a rest 쉬다 [ swi-da ]
to take a shower 샤워하다 [ sya-wo-ha-da ]
to talk 이야기하다/얘기하다 [ i-ya-gi-ha-da/yae-gi-ha-da ]
to teach 가르치다 [ ga-reu-chi-da ]
to thank 감사하다 [ gam-sa-ha-da ]
to transfer 갈아타다 [ ga-ra-ta-da ]
to travel 여행하다 [ yeo-haeng-ha-da ]
to use 사용하다 [ sa-yong-ha-da ]
to use a computer 컴퓨터하다 [ keom-pyu-teo-ha-da ]
to visit 방문하다 [ bang-mun-ha-da ]
to wait 기다리다 [ gi-da-ri-da ]
to wear 입다 [ ip-da ]
to work 일하다 [ il-ha-da ]
to write/ to use 쓰다 [ sseu-da ]
Korean Vocabulary - Sports
Korean Question Word - What Kind Of
무슨 allows you to ask about details or characteristic about something. 무슨 can be used with nouns such as 운동 (sports), 영화 (movies), 요일 (name of the week or day), 음식 (food), 계절 (season) to form questions like stated above.
• 무슨 영화예요? [ mu-seun-yeong-hwa-ye-yo ] - What kind of movie?
• 무슨 운동이에요? [ mu-seun-un-dong-i-e-yo ] - What kind of sport?
• 무슨 요일이에요? [ mu-seun-yo-il-i-e-yo ] - What kind of day of the week?
• 무슨 음식이에요? [ mu-seun-eum-sik-i-e-yo ] - What kind of food?
• 무슨 계절이에요? [ mu-seun-kye-jeol-i-e-yo ] - What kind of season?
무슨 can also be use with 날 [ nal ] to ask about occasions (time). We will learn 날 in the future. Below are some examples of Korean Question Word - 무슨 - what kind of?
• 무슨 책을 읽어요? [ mu-seun-chae-geul-il-geo-yo ] - What kind of book are you reading?
• 무슨 음악을 좋아해요? [ mu-seun-eum-ak-eul-joh-a-hae-yo ] - What kind of music do you like?
• 무슨 차를 마셔요? [ mu-seun-cha-reul-ma-syeo-yo ] - What kind of tea are you drinking?
• 오늘은 무슨 요일이에요? [ o-neul-eun-mu-seun-yo-il-i-e-yo ] - What(kind of) day is it today?
• 매년 2월 14일이 무슨 날이에요? [ mae-nyeon-i-wol-sip-sa-il-i-mu-seun-nal-i-e-yo ] - What (kind of) day is February 14th every year?
책 - book, 읽어요 - read, 음악 - music, 좋아해요 - like, 차 - tea, 마셔요 - drink, 오늘 - today, and 매년 - every year. There are many more Korean interrogative sentence can be formed by 무슨, but for now, we learn the easiest first, we will go into more depth as we move on. Practice your Korean reading skills in Korean Reading Practice 4 - What kind of work do you do? Then, continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 9 - Korean Question Word - Who/Whose.
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Korean Vocabulary - Time
Time - 시간 [ si-gan ]
English Korean Pronunciation
Calendar 달력 [ dal-lyeok ]
Solar calendar 양력 [ yang-nyeok ]
Lunar calendar 음력 [ eum-nyeok ]
Last year 작년 [ jang-nyeon ]
This year 올해 [ o-rae ]
Next year 내년 [ nae-nyeon ]
Last month 지난 달 [ ji-nan-dal ]
This month 이번 달 [ i-beon-dal ]
Next month 다음 달 [ da-eum-dal ]
Last week 지난 주 [ ji-nan-ju ]
This week 이번 주 [ i-beon-ju ]
Next week 다음 주 [ da-eum-ju ]
Yesterday 어제 [ eo-je ]
Today 오늘 [ o-neul ]
Tomorrow 내일 [ nae-il ]
감사합니다 - Thank you!
Korean Question Word - Who/Whose
Use 누구 like English question word- who/whose. Korean Question Word - 누구 (who/whose) same as 무슨 (what kind of) same as 어느 (which) followed by a noun and goes at the beginning of the sentences and doesn’t used together with 예요. For the time being, just remember that only 뭐 goes at the end of the sentences. 누구 can be used with noun plus 이에요/예요 (Korean Sentence Endings Expressing Identification). Nouns such as 첵 (book), 연필 (pencil), 핸드폰 (cellphone), 가방 (bag), and many more (view Korean Vocabulary - Things) to form questions like stated above.
• 누구세요? [ nu-gu-se-yo ] - Who’s there? or Who is it?
• 누구 거예요? [ nu-gu-geo-ye-yo ] - Whose is it?
• 누구 연필이에요? [ nu-gu-yeon-pil-i-e-yo ] - Whose pencil is it?
• 누구 가방이에요? [ nu-gu-ga-bang-i-e-yo ] - Whose bag is it?
누구 can be use with informal polite Korean Sentence Ending Form 세요 to ask question - 누구세요? means who’s there? or who is it?. 누구 거예요? is the same as asking 누구 책이에요? In here, 거 substitutes for 책. 거 is used in colloquial conversation, while 것 is used more in writing. Generally, 것 means a thing, an object, a matter or an affair.
Differences between Korean question words 무슨 (what kind of) and 어느 (which) and 누구 (whose) - 무슨 ask about ask about something details or characteristic, 어느 is asking someone to make a choice among multiple things. whereas 누구 is asking about belonging to which person or people.
• 무슨 책이에요? [ mu-seun-chaek-i-e-yo ] - What kind of book is it?
• 어느 책이에요? [ eo-neu-chaek-i-e-yo ] - Which book is it?
• 누구 책이에요? [ nu-gu-chaek-i-e-yo ] - Whose book is it?
There are many more Korean interrogative sentence can be formed by 누구, but for now, we learn the easiest first, we will go into more depth as we move on. Continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 10 - Korean Demonstrative Adjectives - This/That/That. n’t same as 뭐.
Korean Question Word - Which
뭐 is always used together with 예요 to ask questions and is place at the end of the sentences. 어느 followed by a noun and goes at the beginning of the sentences and doesn’t used together with 예요. 어느 allows you to ask someone to specify which among a category or group of objects. 어느 can be used with nouns such as 나라 (country), 회사 (company), 학교 (school) to form questions like stated above.
• 어느 나라 사람이에요? [ eo-neu-na-ra-sa-ram-i-e-yo ] - Which country are you from?
• 어느 학교 학생이에요? [ eo-neu-hak-gyo-hak-saeng-i-e-yo ] - Which school are you from?
• 어느 회사 에서 일해요? [ eo-neu-hoe-sa-e-seo-il-hae-yo ] - Which company you work at?
• 어느 대학교 에서 공부해요? [ eo-neu-dae-hak-gyo-e-seo-gong-bu-hae-yo ] - Which university you study at?
학교 means school in Korean refer to primary and secondary school. For university, 대 is added in front of 학교, 대학교 means university. Curious about Educational System of Korea? The answer for Korean question word 어느 above can be normal sentences as below:
• 저는 한국 사람이에요. [ jo-neun-han-guk-sa-ram-i-e-yo ] - I am Korean.
• 저는 일본어학교 학생이에요. [ jo-neun-il-bon-eo-hak-gyo-hak-saeng-i-e-yo ] - I am Japanese school student.
• 저는 자동차회사 에서 일해요. [ jo-neun-ja-dong-cha-hoe-sa-e-seo-il-hae-yo ] - I work at a car company.
• 저는 한국대학교 에서 공부해요. [ jo-neun-han-guk-dae-hak-gyo-e-seo-gong-bu-hae-yo ] - I study at Korea university.
일해요 and 공부해요 are Korean verbs, 일해요 means work, 공부해요 means study, 에서 means at. We will learn this in the future, do Korean Language Exercises 2 and practice your Korean reading skills in Korean Reading Practice 3 - What is your name? Then, continue to Learn Korean Language Lesson 8 - Korean Question Word - What Kind Of.
Korean Language Reading Practice
In Korean
안녕하세요? 저는 마이클이에요.
미국 사람이에요. 제 고향은 시카고예요.
저는 학생이에요. 제 전공은 경제학 이에요.
만나서 반가워요.
In English
Hello, I am Michael.
I am American. My hometown is Chicago.
I am a student. My major is Economics.
Nice to meet you.
Korean Vocabulary
• 고향 [ go-hyang ] - hometown
• 시카고 [ si-ka-go ] - Chicago
• 전공 [ jeon-gong ] - major
• 경제학 [ gyeong-je-hak ] - Economics
Korean Expressions
• 안녕하세요? [ an-nyeong-ha-se-yo ] - Hello?
• 저는 마이클이에요. [ jo-neun-ma-i-keul-i-e-yo ] - I am Michael.
• 미국 사람이에요. [ mi-guk-sa-ram-i-e-yo ] - I am American.
• 제 고향은 시카고예요. [ je-go-hyang-eun-si-ka-go-ye-yo ] - My hometown is Chicago.
• 저는 학생이에요. [ jo-neun-hak-saeng-i-e-yo ] - I am a student.
• 제 전공은 경제학 이에요. [ je-jeon-gong-eun-gyeong-je-hak-i-e-yo ] - My major is Economics.
• 만나서 반가워요. [ man-na-seo-ban-ga-wo-yo ] - Nice to meet you.
You may come from other countries, so you just need to change the name of the countries where you from. For examples, if you are from Korea, you just need to change the word - 시카고 to 한국, for the name of the countries, you may need to view: Korean Vocabulary - Countries. Michael introduce himself by first telling others his Korean names, his nationality, his hometown and his occupation (view Korean Vocabulary - Occupations). This is a nice example when you introduce yourself to Korean and in the end, add 만나서 반가워요 to show politeness. This expression is used to a person at a first meeting, 반가워요 delivers the same meaning. Korean Language Reading Practice is a short lesson. Hope you will like it. Continue to Korean Language Reading Practice 2 - Yes/No.
Credit: Seoul National University
감사합니다 - Thank you!
orean Adjectives
Korean Adjectives - 형용사 [ hyeong-yong-sa ]
Meaning Korean Adjective Pronunciation
to be/to exist 있다 [ it-da ]
to be all right 괜찮다 [ gwaen-chan-da ]
to be bad 나쁘다 [ na-bbeu-da ]
to be beautiful 아름답다 [ a-reum-dap-da ]
to be big 크다 [ keu-da ]
to be busy 바쁘다 [ ba-bbeu-da ]
to be cheap 싸다 [ ssa-da ]
to be cold 차갑다 [ cha-gap-da ]
to be cold 춥다 [ chup-da ]
to be comfortable 편하다 [ pyeon-ha-da ]
to be convenient 편리하다 [ pyeon-ri-ha-da ]
to be cool 시원하다 [ si-won-ha-da ]
to be cute 귀엽다 [ gwi-yeop-da ]
to be delicious 맛있다 [ ma-sit-da ]
to be different 다르다 [ da-reu-da ]
to be difficult 어렵다 [ eo-ryeop-da ]
to be easy 쉽다 [ swip-da ]
to be expensive 비싸다 [ bi-ssa-da ]
to be far 멀다 [ meol-da ]
to be fast 빠르다 [ bba-reu-da ]
to be full 배부르다 [ bae-bu-reu-da ]
to be glad 기쁘다 [ gi-bbeu-da ]
to be good 좋다 [ jo-da ]
to be good-natured 착하다 [ chak-ha-da ]
to be grateful 고맙다 [ go-map-da ]
to be hard 힘들다 [ him-deul-da ]
to be healthy 건강하다 [ geon-gang-ha-da ]
to be heavy 무겁다 [ mu-geop-da ]
to be hot 뜨겁다 [ ddeu-geop-da ]
to be hot (spicy) 맵다 [ maep-da ]
to be how 어떻다 [ eo-ddeo-da ]
to be hungry 배고프다 [ bae-go-peu-da ]
to be interesting 재미있다 [ jae-mi-it-da ]
to be jammed, crowded 복잡하다 [ bok-jap-ha-da ]
to be kind 친철하다 [ chin-cheol-ha-da ]
to be late 늦다 [ neut-da ]
to be long 길다 [ gil-da ]
to be many 많다 [ man-da ]
to be near 가깝다 [ ga-ggap-da ]
to be noisy 시끄럽다 [ si-ggeu-reop-da ]
to be not/there is no… 없다 [ eob-da ]
to be pretty 예쁘다 [ ye-bbeu-da ]
to be sad 슬프다 [ seul-peu-da ]
to be scared 무섭다 [ mu-seop-da ]
to be shamed 창피하다 [ chang-pi-ha-da ]
to be short 짧다 [ jjal-da ]
to be sick 아프다 [ a-peu-da ]
to be small 작다 [ jak-da ]
to be sorry 미안하다 [ mi-an-ha-da ]
to be sorry (honorific) 죄송하다 [ joe-song-ha-da ]
to be strange, weird 이상하다 [ i-sang-ha-da ]
to be stylish 멋있다 [ meo-sit-da ]
to be tasteless, plain 싱겁다 [ sing-geop-da ]
to be the same 같다 [ gat-da ]
to be tired 피곤하다 [ pi-gon-ha-da ]
to be uncomfortable 불편하다 [ bul-pyeon-ha-da ]
to be uninteresting 재미없다 [ jae-mi-eob-da ]
to be unpleasant 싫다 [ sil-da ]
to be glad 기쁘다 [ gi-bbeu-da ]
View Korean Verbs. However, please be careful of Korean Irregular Verbs. For more
Korean Vocabulary – Means of Transportation
Means of Transportation - 교통 기관 [ gyo-tong-gi-gwan ]
English Korean Pronunciation
Airliner 정기여객기 [ jeong-gi-yeo-gaek-gi ]
Airplane 비행기 [ bi-haeng-gi ]
Airship 비행선 [ bi-haeng-seon ]
Bicycle 자전거 [ ja-jeon-geo ]
Bus 버스 [ beo-seu ]
Canoe 카누 [ ka-nu ]
Car 자동차 [ ja-dong-cha ]
Dog Sled 개 썰매 [ gae-sseol-mae ]
Estate Car/Station Wagon 스테이션 왜건 [ seu-te-i-syeon-wae-geon ]
Express Bus 고속버스 [ go-sok-beo-seu ]
Ferry 나룻배 [ na-rut-bae ]
Glider 글라이더/활공기 [ geul-la-i-deo/hwal-gong-gi ]
Helicopter 헬리기 [ hel-li-gi ]
Hovercraft 호버크래프트 [ ho-beo-keu-rae-peu-teu ]
Jeep 지프차 [ ji-peu-cha ]
Jet Liner 제트 여객기 [ je-teu-yeo-gaek-gi ]
Jet Plane 제트기 [ je-teu-gi ]
Jet Ski 제트스키 [ je-teu-seu-ki ]
Limousine 리모진 [ ri-mo-jin ]
Motor Boat 모터보트 [ mo-teo-bo-teu ]
Motor Scooter 모터 스쿠터 [ mo-teo-seu-ku-teo ]
Ocean Liner 원양 정기선 [ won-yang-jeong-gi-seon ]
On foot 걸어서 [ geol-eo-seo ]
Passenger Car 승객 자동차 [ seung-gaek-ja-dong-cha ]
Passenger Plane 여객기 [ yeo-gaek-gi ]
Row Boat 노젓는 배 [ no-jeot-neun-bae ]
Sailboat 돛단배 [ dot-dan-bae ]
Scooter 스쿠터 [ seu-ku-teo ]
Ship, boat 배 [ bae ]
Sleigh 썰매 [ sseol-mae ]
Snowmobile 설상차 [ seol-sang-cha ]
Street Car 전차 [ jeon-cha ]
Subway 지하철 [ ji-ha-cheol ]
Taxi 택시 [ taek-si ]
Train 기차 [ gi-cha ]
Truck 픽업 [ pik-eop ]
Van 봉고차 [ bong-go-cha ]
감사합니다 - Thank you!