A Beginner Guide to Korean Language and Culture

Korean Language

1. Key Vocabulary

1. 한국 사람 = Korean person
2. 한국어 = Korean language
3. 한국인 = Korean person
4. 한국 역사 = Korean history
5. 한국 문화 = Korean culture
6. 한국 경제 = Korean economy
7. 한국 전쟁 = The Korean War
8. 한국주식시장 = Korean stock market
9. 대한민국 = Republic of Korea
10. 사람 (saram) = person
11. 집 (jip) = house
12. 차 (cha) = car
13. 책 (chaek) = book
14. 컴퓨터 (keompyuteo) = computer
15. 학교 (hakgyo) = school
16. 선생님 (seonsaengnim) = teacher
17. 학생 (haksaeng) = student
18. 의자 (uija) = chair
19. 탁자 (takja) = table
20. 침대 (chimdae) = bed
21. 문 (mun) = door
22. 창문 (changmun) = window
23. 나무 (namu) = tree
24. 꽃 (kkot) = flower
25. 고양이 (goyangi) = cat
26. 강아지 (gangaji) = dog
27. 음악 (eumak) = music
28. 영화 (yeonghwa) = movie
29. 사진 (sajin) = photo, picture
30. 밥 (bap) = rice, meal
31. 물 (mul) = water
32. 커피 (keopi) = coffee
33. 책상 (chaeksang) = desk
34. 전화 (jeonhwa) = telephone
35. 하늘 (haneul) = sky
36. 바다 (bada) = sea, ocean
37. 산 (san) = mountain
38. 길 (gil) = road, street
39. 도시 (dosi) = city
40. 음식 (eumsik) = food
41. 옷 (ot) = clothes
42. 친구 (chingu) = friend
43. 가족 (gajok) = family
44. 시간 (sigan) = time
45. 날씨 (nalssi) = weather
46. 날짜 (naljja) = date
47. 색깔 (saekkkal) = color
48. 가격 (gagyeok) = price
49. 운동 (undong) = exercise, sport
50. 여자 = woman

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2. Example Sentences

Here are some example sentences that will help you understand the structure of Korean sentences:

1. 저는 7년 동안 한국에서 살았어요 = I lived in Korea for seven years
2. 저는 내년에 한국에 갈 거예요 = I will go to Korea next year
3. 저의 어머니는 올해 한국에 올 것입니다 = My mom will come to Korea this year
4. 저는 한국어를 한국에서 배웠어요 = I learned Korean in Korea
5. 고등학교는 한국에서 어려워요 = High school is difficult in Korea
6. 그 집은 한국에서 지어졌어요 = That house was built in Korea
7. 저는 한국에서 살고 있어요 = I live in Korea
8. 저는 책을 좋아해요 = I like books.
9. 저는 아침마다 운동해요 = I exercise every morning.
10. 그 사람은 영어를 잘해요 = That person speaks English well.
11. 저는 도서관에서 책을 읽어요 = I read books in the library.
12. 우리는 커피숍에서 만나요 = We meet at the coffee shop.
13. 오늘은 일찍 일어났어요 = I woke up early today.
14. 그 영화는 재미없었어요 = That movie was not interesting.
15. 저는 친구와 함께 여행해요 = I travel with my friend.
16. 이 방은 매우 깨끗해요 = This room is very clean.
17. 제 동생은 학교에 가요 = My younger sibling goes to school.
18. 저는 요즘 바빠요 = I’m busy these days.
19. 그 여자는 매우 친절해요 = That woman is very kind.
20. 오늘은 정말 덥네요 = It’s really hot today.
21. 저는 사무실에서 일해요 = I work in an office.
22. 그들은 매일 저녁에 운동해요 = They exercise every evening.
23. 저는 매주 영화관에 가요 = I go to the cinema every week.
24. 저는 수영을 잘 해요 = I swim well.
25. 이 도시는 아름다워요 = This city is beautiful.
26. 오늘은 쉬는 날이에요 = Today is a day off.
27. 제 친구는 고양이를 키워요 = My friend has a cat.
28. 저는 매일 아침에 커피를 마셔요 = I drink coffee every morning.
29. 저는 커피를 마셔요 = I drink coffee.
30. 내일은 날씨가 좋아요 = The weather will be good tomorrow.
31. 저는 매일 운동해요 = I exercise every day.
32. 그 사람은 학생이에요 = That person is a student.
33. 제 친구는 한국에 살아요 = My friend lives in Korea.
34. 이 음식은 맛있어요 = This food is delicious.
35. 저는 오늘 일을 해요 = I work today.
36. 우리는 도서관에서 공부해요 = We study in the library.
37. 저는 한국어를 배우고 있어요 = I am learning Korean.
38. 그 영화는 재미있었어요 = That movie was interesting.
39. 이 탁자는 예뻐요 = This table is pretty.
40. 저는 사무실에서 일해요 = I work in an office.
41. 내일은 수업이 있어요 = I have class tomorrow.
42. 저는 주말에 친구를 만나요 = I meet my friend on the weekend.
43. 여기는 너무 추워요 = It is very cold here.
44. 그 사람은 의사예요 = That person is a doctor.
45. 저는 한국 음식을 좋아해요 = I like Korean food.
46. 오늘은 학교에 가요 = I am going to school today.
47. 저는 영어를 잘 해요 = I speak English well.
48. 우리는 같이 영화를 봐요 = We watch a movie together.
49. 그 책은 너무 길어요 = That book is very long.
50. 저는 주말마다 운동해요 = I exercise every weekend.
51. 오늘 저녁에 친구를 만날 거예요 = I will meet my friend tonight.
52. 이 도시는 아주 커요 = This city is very big.
53. 저는 집에서 쉬어요 = I rest at home.
54. 제 형은 고양이를 좋아해요 = My older brother likes cats.
55. 저는 학교에서 공부해요 = I study at school.
56. 이 컴퓨터는 새로 샀어요 = I bought this computer recently.
57. 우리는 같이 저녁을 먹어요 = We eat dinner together.
58. 저는 한국 음식을 좋아해요 = I like Korean food.
59. 저는 책을 읽어요 = I read a book.
60. 이것은 탁자이다 = This is a table.

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3. Basic Vocabulary

Here are some common words that will be useful as you begin learning:

• 도시 = city
• 이름 = name
• 저 = I, me (formal)
• 나 = I, me (informal)
• 남자 = man
• 여자 = woman
• 이 = this
• 그 = that
• 저 = that (when something is far away)
• 것 = thing
• 이것 = this (thing)
• 그것 = that (thing)
• 저것 = that (thing)
• 의자 = chair
• 탁자 = table
• 선생님 = teacher
• 침대 = bed
• 집 = house
• 차 = car
• 사람 = person
• 책 = book
• 컴퓨터 = computer
• 나무 = tree/wood
• 소파 = sofa
• 중국 = China
• 일본 = Japan
• 문 = door
• 의사 = doctor
• 학생 = student
• 이다 = to be
• 네 = yes
• 아니 = no

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4. Greeting Words

In Korean, the way you greet someone can depend on the level of formality. Here are some essential phrases:

• 안녕하세요 = Hello (polite)
• 감사하다 and 고맙다 are commonly used to say “thank you,” but they are usually conjugated.
• 잘 지내세요? = How are you? (polite)
• 제발 = Please

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5. Sentence Word Order

Korean sentences follow a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order, which is different from English's Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). For example:

• 저는 책을 읽어요 = I read a book ("I book read")

Understanding Subject and Object

The subject is the person or thing performing the action, while the object is the recipient of the action. Let’s look at some examples in English:

• I went to the park
• I will go to the park
• My mom loves me
• He loves me
• The dog ran fast
• The clouds cleared up

In English, the subject always comes before the verb. In Korean, however, the subject will be followed by a particle and then the verb.

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6. Two Ways to Say "I" or "Me"

Korean has two different ways to say "I" or "me" based on formality:

1. 나 = "I" (informal)
2. 저 = "I" (formal)

You will learn more about when to use these forms in later lessons.

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7. Korean Particles (~는/은 and ~를/을)

In Korean, particles are used to indicate the role of each word in a sentence. These particles are attached to the words, and they are essential for understanding the structure of a sentence. There is no direct equivalent in English.

• 는/은 (subject particles)

  • Use 는 after a word ending in a vowel.
  • Use 은 after a word ending in a consonant.

• 를/을 (object particles)

  • Use 를 after a word ending in a vowel.
  • Use 을 after a word ending in a consonant.

Examples:

• I speak Korean = I는 Korean을 speak
  • 는 is attached to “I” (subject)
  • 을 is attached to “Korean” (object)

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8. Using "To Be" (이다)

The verb 이다 means “to be” in Korean and is used to describe identity or state of being. The word 이다 is often used with nouns and can be conjugated as am, is, or are depending on the context.

For example:

• 나는 남자이다 = I am a man
• 나는 여자이다 = I am a woman
• 나는 선생님이다 = I am a teacher
• 나는 사람이다 = I am a person

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9. This and That (이/그/저)

In Korean, there are specific words for "this" and "that" that depend on the proximity of the object:

• 이 = this (close to the speaker)
• 그 = that (near the listener)
• 저 = that (far from both the speaker and listener)

Examples:

• 이 사람 = This person
• 그 사람 = That person
• 저 사람 = That person (far away)

When combined with 이다, you can make sentences like:

• 이것은 탁자이다 = This (thing) is a table
• 그것은 차이다 = That (thing) is a car
• 저것은 침대이다 = That (thing) is a bed