Korean · Vocabulary

100 Basic Korean Words Every Beginner Should Know

These are the words that come up most in everyday Korean. Master these 100 words and you will understand a surprising amount of what you hear in K-dramas, on the street, and in restaurants. Start here.

Mia · phrasesbymia.com · 8 min read

The Most Common Korean Words

These are the words that come up again and again in everyday Korean. Learn these first and everything else gets easier.

나

I / Me

너

neo

You

우리

uri

We / Our

이것

igeot

This

저것

jeogeot

That

뭐

mwo

What

어디

eodi

Where

언제

eonje

When

왜

wae

Why

어떻게

eotteoke

How

네

Yes

아니요

aniyo

joayo

Good / Like

나빠요

nappayo

Bad

크다

keuda

Big

작다

jakda

Small

많다

manta

Many / Much

조금

jogeum

A little

지금

jigeum

Now

오늘

oneul

Today

People and Relationships

사람

saram

Person

친구

chingu

Friend

가족

gajok

Family

엄마

eomma

Mom

아빠

appa

Dad

오빠

oppa

Older brother (girl)

언니

eonni

Older sister (girl)

남자

namja

Man / Male

여자

yeoja

Woman / Female

아이

Child

Places and Things

집

jip

Home / House

학교

hakgyo

School

병원

byeongwon

Hospital

가게

gage

Store / Shop

식당

sikdang

Restaurant

카페

kape

Cafe

길

gil

Road / Way

버스

beoseu

Bus

지하철

jihacheol

Subway

화장실

hwajangsil

Bathroom

Food and Drink

음식

eumsik

Food

물

mul

Water

밥

bap

Rice / Meal

고기

gogi

Meat

채소

chaeso

Vegetables

과일

gwail

Fruit

커피

keopi

Coffee

차

cha

Tea

맛있다

masitda

Delicious

맵다

maepda

Spicy

Key Verbs

가다

gada

To go

오다

oda

To come

먹다

meokda

To eat

마시다

masida

To drink

보다

boda

To see

듣다

deutda

To hear

말하다

malhada

To speak

알다

alda

To know

있다

itda

To have / exist

없다

eopda

To not have

하다

hada

To do

사다

sada

To buy

주다

juda

To give

받다

batda

To receive

읽다

ikda

To read

쓰다

sseuda

To write

자다

jada

To sleep

일어나다

ireonada

To wake up

앉다

anda

To sit

서다

seoda

To stand

Useful Adjectives

좋다

jota

Good

나쁘다

nappeuda

Bad

새

sae

New

오래된

oraedoen

Old

빠르다

ppareuda

Fast

느리다

neurida

Slow

예쁘다

yeppeuda

Pretty

귀엽다

gwiyeopda

Cute

재미있다

jaemiitda

Interesting / Fun

피곤하다

pigonhada

Tired

행복하다

haengbokhada

Happy

슬프다

seulpeuda

Sad

쉽다

swipda

Easy

어렵다

oryeopda

Difficult

비싸다

bissada

Expensive

싸다

ssada

Cheap

덥다

deopda

Hot

춥다

chupda

Cold

배고프다

baegopda

Hungry

배부르다

baebureuda

Full

Numbers and Time

하나

hana

One

둘

dul

Two

셋

set

Three

넷

net

Four

다섯

daseot

Five

오늘

oneul

Today

내일

naeil

Tomorrow

어제

eoje

Yesterday

지금

jigeum

Now

나중에

najunge

Later

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