Korean · Vocabulary

50 Korean Adjectives Every Beginner Should Know

Korean adjectives work differently from English. They can act like verbs, and once you understand that pattern, they become one of the most powerful tools in your Korean vocabulary. Here are the 50 most useful ones.

M
Mia · phrasesbymia.com · 8 min read

Korean Adjectives Work Differently

In Korean, adjectives can act as verbs. Instead of saying "The food is delicious" you say "The food deliciousing." Once that clicks, using adjectives becomes much more natural.

Describing Size and Quantity

크다
keuda
Big
작다
jakda
Small
많다
manta
Many / Much
적다
jeokda
Few / Little
길다
gilda
Long
짧다
jjalda
Short
넓다
neolda
Wide
좁다
jopda
Narrow
높다
nopda
High / Tall
낮다
natda
Low

Describing Feeling and State

좋다
jota
Good
나쁘다
nappeuda
Bad
재미있다
jaemiitda
Fun / Interesting
재미없다
jaemieopda
Boring
피곤하다
pigonhada
Tired
배고프다
baegopda
Hungry
배부르다
baebureuda
Full
아프다
apeuda
Sick / Painful
건강하다
geonganghada
Healthy
행복하다
haengbokhada
Happy
슬프다
seulpeuda
Sad
화나다
hwanada
Angry
무섭다
museopda
Scared
외롭다
oeropda
Lonely
긴장하다
ginjanghada
Nervous

Describing Appearance

예쁘다
yeppeuda
Pretty
잘생기다
jalsaenggida
Handsome
귀엽다
gwiyeopda
Cute
멋있다
meositda
Cool / Stylish
못생기다
motsaenggida
Unattractive
뚱뚱하다
ttungttunghada
Chubby
날씬하다
nalssinhada
Slim
키가 크다
kiga keuda
Tall
키가 작다
kiga jakda
Short
어리다
eorida
Young

Describing Things and Places

새롭다
saeropda
New
오래되다
oraedoeda
Old
깨끗하다
kkaekkeuthada
Clean
더럽다
deoropda
Dirty
조용하다
joyonghada
Quiet
시끄럽다
sikkeureopda
Noisy
따뜻하다
ttatteutada
Warm
차갑다
chagapda
Cold
비싸다
bissada
Expensive
싸다
ssada
Cheap
쉽다
swipda
Easy
어렵다
oryeopda
Difficult
빠르다
ppareuda
Fast
느리다
neurida
Slow
맛있다
masitda
Delicious

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