101 Most Useful Korean Words and Phrases

101 Most Useful Korean Words and Phrases

While there is no perfectly accurate way to measure progress in Korean learning, or in any language for that matter, the size of your vocabulary is most likely the most important factor to consider. Some words and phrases are more useful than other so with that in mind, we decided to compile a list of what we think are the 101 most useful words and phrases in the Korean language. A few different factors was taken into consideration, like importance to the Korean culture (including k-dramas and k-pop), how likely you are to use, or hear, them as a beginner, and how early they tend to appear in the textbooks. A good balance also felt important. Anyway, if you know the meaning of all of these, you are indeed off to a good start!

Both the romanized reading and the hangul are listed to accomodate both those who have yet to learn hangul and those who already have.

How many do you know?

Everyday Phrases (Written in polite form unless otherwise mentioned)

1. 안녕하세요 (annyeong-haseyo) – Hello, Good day, Good morning, Good Evening

2. 감사합니다 (kamsahamnida) – Thank you

3. 만나서 반가워요 (mannaseo bangawoyo) – Nice to meet you

4. 오랜만이에요 (orenmanieyo) – Long time no see

5. 잘자요 (jaljayo)- Good night

6. 맛있어요 (masisseoyo) – It’s delicious

7. 네 (ne) – Yes

8. 아니요 (aniyo) – No

9. 몇 살이에요? (myut-sal-ee-eh-yo?) – How old are you?

10. 잘 지냈어요? (Jal ji-naesso-yo?)- How have you been doing?

11. 실례지만 (shilejiman)… – Excuse me, but…

12. 사랑해 (saranghae) – I love you (Informal)

13. 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) – I’m sorry.

14. 미안해요 (mianhaeyo)- I’m sorry.

15. 보고싶어 (bogoshipo) – I miss you (informal)

16. …주세요 (…juseyo)- Please, give me…

17. 재미있어요 (jaemi-isseoyo) – It’s fun/interesting

18. 이름이 뭐예요? (ireumi mwoyeyo?) – What is your name?

19. 괜찮아요 (gwenchanayo)- I’m ok

20. 지금 몇 시예요?  (jigeum myut shiyeyo?) – What time is it?

Food

21. 소주 (soju)  – Soju

22. 막걸리 (makgeolli) – Makgeolli

23. 맥주 (maekju) – Beer

24. 김치 (kimchi) – Kimchi

25. 비빔밥 (bibimbap) – Bibimbap

26. 술 (sul) – Alcohol

27. 물 (mul) – Water

28. 식당 (sikdang) – Restaurant

Verbs (Dictionary form)

29. 마시다 (mashi-da) -To Drink

30. 먹다 (meok-da) – To Eat

31. 자다 (ja-da)- To Sleep

32. 가다 (ka-da) – To Go

33. 오다 (o-da) – To Come

34. 모르다 (moreu-da) – To not know

35. 알다 (al-da) – To know

36. 있다 (itt-da) – To exist, to have

37. 없다 (eop-da) – To not exist

38. 이다 (i-da) – To be

39. 하다 (ha-da) – To do

40. 살다 (sal-da) – To live

41. 생각하다 (saenggakha-da) – To think

42. 만나다 (manna-da) – To meet

43. 사다 (sa-da) – To buy

44. 좋아하다 / 좋다 (joaha-da / joh-da) – To like

45. 싫어하다 / 싫다 (shiroha-da / shil-da) – To dislike

Appearance (Adjectives in dictionary form)

46. 예쁘다 (yeppuda)- To be pretty

47. 잘생겼다 (jal-saeng-gyeotta) – To be handsome

48. 아름답다 (arumdabda) – To be beautiful

49. 귀엽다 (gwiyeobda) – To be cute

Animals

50. 강아지 (gangaji) – Puppy – 개 (kae) means dog

51. 고양이 (goyangi) – Cat

Shopping

52. 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?) – How much is this?

53. 값 (gab) – Price

54. 가게 (kage) – Store

55. 옷 (ott) – Clothes

56. 모자 (moja) – Hat

Technology

57. 핸드폰 (haendeupon) – Cell phone

58. 전화 (jeonhwa) – Phone

59. 컴퓨터 (keompyuteo) – Computer

60. 카톡 (katok) – Short for Kakao Talk – Popular chatting app in Korea

61. 자동차 (jadongcha) – Car

Family

62. 오빠 (oppa) – Older brother (used by female)

63. 누나 (noona) – Older sister (used by male)

64. 언니 (eonni) – Older sister (used by female)

65. 형 (hyeong) – Older brother (used by male)

66. 아버지 (abeoji) – Dad

67. 어머니 (eomeoni) – Mom

68. 동생 (dongsaeng) – Younger sibling

69. 가족 (kajok)- Family

70. 집 (jib) – House

School

71. 학교 (hakkyo)- School

72. 학생 (haksaeng)- Student

73. 책 (chaek) – Book

74. 가방 (kabang) – Bag

Countries

75. 나라 (nara) – Country

76. 한국 (hankook) – Korea

77. 일본 (ilbon) – Japan

78. 중국 (jungguk) – China

79. 미국 (miguk)- America

80. 영국 (yeongguk) – England

81. 한국어 (hangukeo) – Korean language

Other

82. 왜 (wae) – why

83. 무엇 (mooeot) – what

84. 언제 (eonje) – when

85. 아줌마 (ajumma) – older woman

86. 아저씨 (ajusshi) – somewhat old, middle-aged, man

87. 누구 (nugu) – who

88. 노래 (norae) – Song – 노래방 (noraebang) means karaoke room

89. 음악 (eumak) – Music

90. 시간 (shigan) – Time

91. 오늘 (oneul) – Today

92. 내일 (naeil)- Tomorrow

93. 어제 (eoje) – Yesterday

94. 조금 (jogeum) – A little

95. 어디 (eodi)- where

96. 미쳤어? (michyeosseo) – Are you crazy? (informal)

97. 안돼 (andwae) – No way, don’t (do it), can’t be (informal)

98. 찐자 (jinjja) – Really – Often used as a question.

99. 대박 (daebak)- Awesome, great! (slangish word)

100. 어떡해? (eotteoke?)- What am I supposed do?  (informal)

101. 영화 (yeonghwa) – Movie

 

If you have any questions or something else you want to say (maybe we missed a word that you think should be on the list?), make sure to leave a comment and we will do our best to help you out!

By: Kimchi Cloud