Mastering Basic Korean Verbs: A Guide to Everyday Actions
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| Korean Language |
Learning Korean can be an exciting journey, and one of the most essential building blocks is mastering the most commonly used verbs. In this post, we’ll focus on 200 essential Korean verbs that cover a wide range of everyday actions and experiences. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, these verbs are a great starting point to help you communicate more effectively in Korean.
Verb List
- 가다 (gada) – to go
- 오다 (oda) – to come
- 먹다 (meokda) – to eat
- 마시다 (masida) – to drink
- 보다 (boda) – to see, to watch
- 하다 (hada) – to do
- 자다 (jada) – to sleep
- 일어나다 (ireonada) – to wake up, to rise
- 읽다 (ikda) – to read
- 쓰다 (sseuda) – to write, to use
- 가르치다 (gareuchida) – to teach
- 배우다 (baeuda) – to learn
- 웃다 (utda) – to laugh
- 울다 (ulda) – to cry
- 생각하다 (saenggakhada) – to think
- 이해하다 (ihaehada) – to understand
- 알다 (alda) – to know
- 모르다 (moreuda) – to not know
- 만나다 (mannada) – to meet
- 가져가다 (gajyeogada) – to take, to bring
- 놓다 (nota) – to put, to place
- 들다 (deulda) – to hold, to lift
- 넣다 (neota) – to put in
- 빠지다 (ppajida) – to fall, to sink
- 도와주다 (dowajuda) – to help
- 잡다 (jabda) – to catch, to hold
- 찾다 (chatda) – to find
- 보내다 (bonaeda) – to send
- 기다리다 (gidarida) – to wait
- 준비하다 (junbihada) – to prepare
- 청소하다 (cheongsohada) – to clean
- 운동하다 (undonghada) – to exercise
- 쉬다 (swida) – to rest
- 가르마를 타다 (gareumareul tada) – to part (one’s hair)
- 펼치다 (pyeolchida) – to unfold, to spread
- 이사하다 (isahada) – to move (house)
- 다시 하다 (dashi hada) – to do again
- 살다 (salda) – to live
- 죽다 (jukda) – to die
- 잃다 (ilta) – to lose
- 만들다 (mandeulda) – to make
- 하다 (hada) – to do, to make (as in making an action)
- 배다 (baeda) – to carry, to bear (a child)
- 보다 (boda) – to look at, to view
- 배우다 (baeuda) – to study, to learn
- 피다 (pida) – to bloom (flower)
- 달리다 (dallida) – to run
- 운전하다 (unjeonhada) – to drive
- 끄다 (kkeuda) – to turn off, to extinguish
- 켜다 (kyeoda) – to turn on, to light
- 앉다 (anda) – to sit
- 일어나다 (ireonada) – to stand up, to get up
- 기다리다 (gidarida) – to wait
- 전화하다 (jeonhwahada) – to call (on the phone)
- 행복하다 (haengbokhada) – to be happy
- 슬프다 (seulpeuda) – to be sad
- 늦다 (neutda) – to be late
- 빠르다 (ppareuda) – to be fast
- 느리다 (neurida) – to be slow
- 덥다 (deopda) – to be hot (weather, temperature)
- 춥다 (chupda) – to be cold (weather, temperature)
- 멀다 (meolda) – to be far
- 가깝다 (gakkapda) – to be close
- 맵다 (maepda) – to be spicy
- 짧다 (jjalbda) – to be short (length)
- 길다 (gilda) – to be long (length)
- 비슷하다 (biseuthada) – to be similar
- 다르다 (dareuda) – to be different
- 좋다 (jota) – to be good
- 나쁘다 (nappeuda) – to be bad
- 어렵다 (eoryeopda) – to be difficult
- 쉽다 (swipda) – to be easy
- 강하다 (ganghada) – to be strong
- 약하다 (yakhada) – to be weak
- 웃기다 (utgida) – to be funny, to make someone laugh
- 부르다 (bureuda) – to call (someone), to sing
- 팔다 (palda) – to sell
- 사다 (sada) – to buy
- 받다 (batda) – to receive
- 보내다 (bonaeda) – to send
- 묻다 (mutda) – to ask
- 대답하다 (daedaphada) – to answer
- 기록하다 (girokhada) – to record
- 선택하다 (seontaekhada) – to choose
- 결정하다 (gyeoljeonghada) – to decide
- 약속하다 (yaksokhada) – to promise
- 기록하다 (girokhada) – to write down, to record
- 믿다 (mitda) – to believe
- 잃어버리다 (ilheobeorida) – to lose (something)
- 찾다 (chatda) – to search, to find
- 구경하다 (gugyeonghada) – to look around, to sightsee
- 타다 (tada) – to ride (a vehicle, a horse)
- 걷다 (geotda) – to walk
- 달리다 (dallida) – to run
- 타다 (tada) – to burn, to catch fire
- 끄다 (kkeuda) – to turn off, to extinguish
- 켜다 (kyeoda) – to turn on, to light
- 입다 (ipda) – to wear, to put on
- 벗다 (beotda) – to take off (clothes)
- 씻다 (ssitda) – to wash (oneself, dishes, etc.)
- 좋아하다 (joahada) – to like
- 싫어하다 (silheohada) – to dislike
- 사라지다 (sarajida) – to disappear
- 남다 (namda) – to remain
- 죽이다 (jugida) – to kill
- 살리다 (sallida) – to save (a life)
- 닫다 (datda) – to close, to shut
- 열다 (yeolda) – to open
- 참다 (chamda) – to endure, to tolerate
- 피하다 (pihada) – to avoid
- 떠나다 (tteonada) – to leave, to depart
- 돌아가다 (doraganda) – to return, to go back
- 돌아오다 (doraoda) – to return, to come back
- 도망가다 (domanggada) – to escape, to run away
- 찾아가다 (chajagada) – to visit, to go to
- 찾아오다 (chajaoda) – to visit, to come to
- 배달하다 (baedalhada) – to deliver
- 배송하다 (baesonghada) – to ship, to deliver (goods)
- 계획하다 (gyehoehada) – to plan
- 초대하다 (chodaehada) – to invite
- 응원하다 (eungwonhada) – to cheer, to support
- 약속하다 (yaksokhada) – to promise
- 자랑하다 (jaranghada) – to brag, to boast
- 기록하다 (girokhada) – to record, to write down
- 걱정하다 (geokjeonghada) – to worry
- 희망하다 (huimanghada) – to hope
- 도전하다 (dojeonhada) – to challenge
- 성공하다 (seonggonghada) – to succeed
- 실패하다 (silpaehada) – to fail
- 기억하다 (gieokhada) – to remember
- 잊다 (itda) – to forget
- 설명하다 (seolmyeonghada) – to explain
- 연습하다 (yeonseuphada) – to practice
- 복습하다 (bokseuphada) – to review
- 시험하다 (siheomhada) – to test
- 조사하다 (josahada) – to investigate, to research
- 찾다 (chatda) – to look for, to find
- 연결하다 (yeongyeolhada) – to connect
- 단장하다 (danjanghada) – to decorate, to groom
- 세우다 (seuda) – to stop (a vehicle), to set up
- 기대하다 (gidaehada) – to expect, to look forward to
- 작업하다 (jageophada) – to work, to operate
- 사용하다 (sayonghada) – to use
- 도움하다 (doumhada) – to help
- 무시하다 (musihada) – to ignore
- 존경하다 (jonyeonghada) – to respect
- 사라지다 (sarajida) – to vanish, to disappear
- 깨다 (kkaeda) – to wake up, to break (something)
- 방문하다 (bangmunhada) – to visit
- 치다 (chida) – to hit, to strike, to play (a sport like tennis)
- 넘어지다 (neomeojida) – to fall down
- 살피다 (salpida) – to look around, to examine
- 뛰다 (ttwida) – to jump, to run
- 쓰러지다 (sseureojida) – to collapse, to fall over
- 터지다 (teojida) – to burst, to explode
- 나가다 (nagada) – to go out
- 들어가다 (deureogada) – to go in, to enter
- 앉히다 (anchida) – to make (someone) sit down
- 세다 (seda) – to be strong, to count
- 잃어버리다 (ilheobeorida) – to lose (something)
- 남기다 (namgida) – to leave behind, to save
- 깨다 (kkaeda) – to wake up, to break
- 남다 (namda) – to remain, to be left over
- 얻다 (eodda) – to get, to obtain
- 버리다 (beorida) – to throw away
- 묶다 (mukda) – to tie, to bind
- 붙다 (butda) – to stick, to adhere
- 눕다 (nupda) – to lie down
- 핥다 (haltda) – to lick
- 떠들다 (tteodeulda) – to make noise, to talk loudly
- 대답하다 (daedaphada) – to answer
- 끝나다 (kkeunnada) – to finish, to end
- 시작하다 (sijakhada) – to start, to begin
- 열리다 (yeollida) – to be opened
- 닫히다 (dathida) – to be closed
- 합하다 (hapada) – to combine, to unite
- 나가다 (nagada) – to leave, to go out
- 들다 (deulda) – to carry, to hold
- 그리다 (geurida) – to draw, to paint
- 타다 (tada) – to burn, to get burned
- 뜨다 (tteuda) – to float, to rise
- 떠나다 (tteonada) – to depart, to leave
- 비다 (bida) – to be empty, to be vacant
- 채우다 (chaeuda) – to fill
- 붙이다 (butida) – to stick, to attach
- 찢다 (jjitda) – to tear
- 세우다 (seuda) – to set up, to stop (a vehicle)
- 바꾸다 (bakkuda) – to change, to exchange
- 배신하다 (baesinhada) – to betray
- 돌리다 (dollida) – to turn, to rotate
- 보호하다 (bohohada) – to protect, to defend
- 이기다 (igida) – to win
- 지다 (jida) – to lose
- 쫓다 (jjotda) – to chase, to pursue
- 따르다 (ttareuda) – to follow, to obey
- 배우다 (baeuda) – to study, to learn
- 피하다 (pihada) – to avoid
- 외우다 (oeuda) – to memorize
- 느끼다 (neukkida) – to feel, to sense
- 기대다 (gidaeda) – to lean on, to rely on
Some Common verbs with examples
1. 가다 (gada) – to go
The verb 가다 is one of the most basic and useful verbs in Korean. It’s used when talking about movement from one place to another, similar to "to go" in English.
Example: 학교에 가다 (hakgyoe gada) – to go to school.
2. 오다 (oda) – to come
On the flip side of 가다, we have 오다, which means "to come." It’s commonly used when someone is coming to your location.
Example: 집에 오다 (jibe oda) – to come home.
3. 먹다 (meokda) – to eat
If you're planning to eat in Korea, you’ll need to know 먹다.
Example: 밥을 먹다 (bapeul meokda) – to eat rice.
4. 마시다 (masida) – to drink
Use 마시다 when talking about drinking something.
Example: 물을 마시다 (mureul masida) – to drink water.
5. 보다 (boda) – to see, to watch
보다 is essential for talking about looking at or watching something.
Example: 영화를 보다 (yeonghwareul boda) – to watch a movie.
6. 하다 (hada) – to do
This verb is extremely versatile, as it means "to do" and is often used in combination with other words to create many different expressions.
Example: 운동하다 (undonghada) – to exercise.
7. 자다 (jada) – to sleep
Talking about sleep is easy with 자다.
Example: 잠을 자다 (jameul jada) – to sleep.
8. 일어나다 (ireonada) – to wake up, to rise
The opposite of 자다 is 일어나다, which means to wake up or get out of bed.
Example: 아침에 일어나다 (achime ireonada) – to wake up in the morning.
9. 읽다 (ikda) – to read
Use 읽다 when referring to reading.
Example: 책을 읽다 (chaegeul ikda) – to read a book.
10. 쓰다 (sseuda) – to write, to use
쓰다 can mean both "to write" and "to use," depending on the context.
Example: 편지를 쓰다 (pyeonjireul sseuda) – to write a letter.
11. 가르치다 (gareuchida) – to teach
If you're teaching someone, you’ll use 가르치다.
Example: 영어를 가르치다 (yeongeoreul gareuchida) – to teach English.
12. 배우다 (baeuda) – to learn
배우다 is used when you're learning something new.
Example: 한국어를 배우다 (hangugeoreul baeuda) – to learn Korean.
13. 웃다 (utda) – to laugh
The verb 웃다 is used when referring to laughing or smiling.
Example: 웃다 (utda) – to laugh.
14. 울다 (ulda) – to cry
In contrast to 웃다, 울다 means "to cry."
Example: 울다 (ulda) – to cry.
15. 생각하다 (saenggakhada) – to think
Use 생각하다 when talking about thinking or pondering.
Example: 생각하다 (saenggakhada) – to think.
16. 이해하다 (ihaehada) – to understand
이해하다 is a very useful verb for expressing understanding.
Example: 이해하다 (ihaehada) – to understand.
17. 알다 (alda) – to know
알다 is used when you know something or someone.
Example: 이름을 알다 (ireumeul alda) – to know the name.
18. 모르다 (moreuda) – to not know
모르다 is the opposite of 알다 and means "to not know."
Example: 나는 몰라요 (naneun mollayo) – I don’t know.
19. 만나다 (mannada) – to meet
Use 만나다 when you’re meeting someone.
Example: 친구를 만나다 (chingu-reul mannada) – to meet a friend.
20. 가져가다 (gajyeogada) – to take, to bring
가져가다 means "to take" or "to bring" something.
Example: 책을 가져가다 (chaegeul gajyeogada) – to take a book.
21. 놓다 (nota) – to put, to place
놓다 is used when putting or placing something down.
Example: 책을 놓다 (chaegeul nota) – to put the book down.
22. 들다 (deulda) – to hold, to lift
들다 means to hold or carry something.
Example: 가방을 들다 (gabang-eul deulda) – to lift a bag.
23. 넣다 (neota) – to put in
Use 넣다 when you are putting something into something else.
Example: 가방에 넣다 (gabang-e neota) – to put in the bag.
24. 빠지다 (ppajida) – to fall, to sink
빠지다 is used when something falls or sinks.
Example: 물에 빠지다 (mure ppajida) – to fall into water.
25. 도와주다 (dowajuda) – to help
도와주다 is a verb that’s helpful when offering assistance.
Example: 도와주세요 (dowajuseyo) – Please help me.
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