2400+ Essential Korean Vocabulary Words: A Frequency Dictionary of the Most Common Korean Words in Context

By Fluency Pro

Do you want to expand your Korean vocabulary, but don't know where to start?

Our book of over 2400 essential Korean vocabulary words will help you accelerate your understanding of this exciting language. By focusing on these frequently used Korean words, you will quickly build a solid foundation to communicate effectively in a wide range of contexts.

Through this frequency dictionary, you will better understand the patterns and structures of Korean. You will start to see how nouns, compound words, adjectives and verbs are used in context, and how they fit together to form basic sentences.

In this book, you will discover:

 

• Over 2400 common Korean phrases organized by an easy-to-follow structure
• Each entry includes a Korean word in English, as well as its usage in a sentence
• Each term is indicated in bold for easy learning
• Learn the most common types of nouns, organized by people, places and things.

Become a better Korean speaker with this handy guide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CB Books
• Release date: Dec 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223367840

Book preview

2400+ ESSENTIAL KOREAN VOCABULARY WORDS

A FREQUENCY DICTIONARY OF THE MOST COMMON KOREAN WORDS IN CONTEXT

FLUENCY PRO

Disclaimer

Without the publisher's prior written consent, no portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the United States Copyright Act of 1976. Although every precaution has been taken in preparing this book, the publisher is not liable for any mistakes, omissions, or damages resulting from the use of the material included within. This book is intended solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The opinions presented are those of the author alone and should not be construed as professional advice or directives. The reader's activities are his or her own responsibility. The author and publisher take no responsibility or liability for the purchaser or reader of these contents. The reader is responsible for his or her own usage of any products or techniques referenced in this publication.

2400+ Essential Korean Vocabulary Words

First Edition: March 25, 2023

Copyright © 2023 Caliber Brands Inc.

Cover images licensed through Shutterstock

CONTENTS

Introduction

How This Book is Formatted

NOUNS

THINGS

PLACES

PEOPLE

FOOD

VERBS

ADJECTIVES

COMPOUND WORDS

INTRODUCTION

Welcome! Learning a new language is a rewarding experience and Korean is no exception for many reasons.

Firstly, South Korea is a significant economic force in the global market, and proficiency in Korean can offer a distinct advantage when pursuing business opportunities with Korean firms or seeking employment within them. Plus, Korean pop culture, or K-pop, has become a worldwide phenomenon. Being able to understand the lyrics and watch TV shows and movies without subtitles can be a major motivation for learning Korean.

If you're planning to travel to Korea, it’s always more fun to be able to communicate with locals and immerse yourself in the culture, and learning basic Korean words can go a long way in making your trip more enjoyable.

Finally, learning Korean can also be a great way to challenge yourself and expand your horizons. It's a unique and fascinating language with its own alphabet, grammar, and pronunciation, and it can be a fun and rewarding experience to learn something new and different.

A Korean frequency dictionary is useful since it can help you learn the most important words quickly. Building a foundation of fundamental vocabulary is the first step toward communicating successfully in everyday situations, and studying the most frequently used terms is a good place to start. If you want to study Korean for work or vacation, this can be quite helpful.

A Korean frequency dictionary can help with more than just memorizing words; it can also boost comprehension. Learning the most frequently used terms is a great first step toward recognizing patterns in Korean sentence structures and syntax.

HOW THIS BOOK IS FORMATTED

In this book, you will find over 2400 common Korean words organized by usage. Each entry includes a Korean word in English, as well as its usage in a sentence and translation into Korean.

Nouns: Korean nouns are used to refer to specific individuals, locations, things, and concepts. Particles are commonly used before nouns in Korean to indicate the noun's grammatical function. A sentence's subject can be indicated with the particle 이 (pronounced as i) whereas the direct object can be indicated with the particle 를 (pronounced as reul).

Nouns in Korean do not alter form dependent on their grammatical function in a sentence, nor do they have a gender. As there is no need to recall intricate noun declension patterns like in other languages, this can make the language easier to learn for some students.

Korean nouns can be used in a variety of ways, including as subjects and objects, but they can also be altered with adjectives to reveal more information. For instance, the noun 사람 (pronounced as saram) means person, but it can be modified by adjectives like 잘생긴 (pronounced as jalsaenggin), which means gorgeous or pretty, to describe an attractive person as 잘생긴 사람 (pronounced as jalsaenggin saram).

Adjectives: Korean adjectives are used to describe the qualities of a noun, and they come in two types: descriptive and verbal. Descriptive adjectives describe the characteristics of a noun and often end in -하다 (meaning to be), while verbal adjectives describe actions or states of being and often end in -ㄴ or -는 forms. Adjectives are usually placed before the noun they are describing and agree with the noun in terms of tense, formality, and honorifics.

Korean adjectives can also be modified by auxiliary words such as 너무 (meaning too or very) or 조금 (meaning a little). To form the past tense, one typically adds the suffix -았/었다. By mastering the use and formation of adjectives, learners can enhance their overall language proficiency and communicate more effectively in a variety of contexts.

Verbs: Korean verbs are used to express actions, states, and events. In a sentence, the verb typically comes at the end and agrees with the subject in terms of tense, formality, and honorifics.

In Korean, verbs are not conjugated to agree with the subject, as they are in many other languages. Instead, Korean verbs have a base form that remains the same, regardless of the subject. However, the verb ending can change based on tense, formality, and honorifics. For example, the verb 가다 (pronounced as gada), which means to go, would be changed to 갔다 (pronounced as gatda) in the past tense.

Korean verbs can also be modified with auxiliary verbs to indicate intention, ability, or obligation. For example, the verb 먹다 (pronounced as meokda), which means to eat, can be modified with the auxiliary verb 고 싶다 (pronounced as go sipda), which means to want to, to indicate desire to eat as 먹고 싶다 (pronounced as meokgo sipda).

In addition to their basic usage as predicates, Korean verbs can also be used as adjectives or nouns by adding appropriate endings. For example, the verb 차다 (pronounced as chada), which means to be full, can be changed to the adjective 차 있는 (pronounced as cha inneun), which means full of.

Compound Words: Compound words in Korean are made by joining together two or more words to make a new word. In formal or academic writing in Korean, you are likely to encounter one of these compound words.

Native Korean compound words and Sino-Korean loanwords are the two categories of compound words in Korean. When two or more Korean words are combined, the result is a compound word; when a Korean word is combined with a Chinese character, the result is a Sino-Korean compound word. As a result of China's long-standing cultural and linguistic influence on Korea, a large proportion of Korean compound terms are of Sino-Korean origin.

Compound words in Korean are written with no spaces between the constituent components, therefore knowing how to identify the parts of a word is essential for deciphering its meaning. Learning the structure and function of compound words in Korean is an excellent way for students to increase their vocabulary and their command of the language in general.

NOUNS

THINGS

사랑 - Love

그녀와 나의 사랑은 영원할 것이다.

Our love will be eternal.

여행 - Travel

여행을 좋아하는 사람이 많다.

Many people love to travel.

문화 - Culture

한국 문화에 대해 배워보고 싶다.

I want to learn about Korean culture.

건강 - Health

건강은 최고의 부와 같다.

Health is like the best wealth.

시간 - Time

시간은 소중하다.

Time is precious.

자유 - Freedom

그녀는 자유로운 삶을 살고 싶어합니다.

She wants to live a life of freedom.

꿈 - Dream

저는 어릴 적부터 큰 꿈을 가지고 있었습니다.

I had a big dream since I was a child.

일 - Work, job

저는 요즘 일 때문에 바쁩니다.

I am busy these days because of work.

책 - Book

이 책은 정말 재미있어요.

This book is really interesting.

노래 - Song

그녀는 아름다운 노래를 부릅니다.

She sings a beautiful song.

춤 - Dance

저는 춤을 배우고 싶어요.

I want to learn how to dance.

연극 - Play (theatre)

어제 연극을 봤는데 정말 좋았어요.

I watched a play yesterday and it was really good.

영화 - Movie, film

주말에 친구들과 영화를 보러 갈 거예요.

I am going to watch a movie with my friends this weekend.

기분 - Feeling, mood

저는 오늘 기분이 좋아요.

I am feeling good today.

미래 - Future

미래에는 기술이 더욱 발전할 것이다.

In the future, technology will continue to advance.

과학 - Science

과학적인 방법으로 문제를 해결할 수 있다.

Problems can be solved through scientific methods.

기술 - Technology, skill

이 회사에서는 최신 기술을 사용하고 있습니다.

This company uses the latest technology.

생명 - Life

생명은 소중하다.

Life is precious.

자연 - Nature

자연에서는 많은 것을 배울 수 있다.

We can learn a lot from nature.

컴퓨터 - Computer

컴퓨터를 사용하면 정보를 더 쉽게 찾을 수 있습니다.

Using a computer makes it easier to find information.

인터넷 - Internet

인터넷을 통해 전 세계적으로 정보를 공유할 수 있습니다.

The Internet allows us to share information worldwide.

전화 - Telephone, phone call

전화 한 통으로 거리가 가까워질 수 있습니다.

A phone call can bring people closer even if they are far away.

편지 - Letter, mail

손으로 쓴 편지는 따뜻한 마음을 전할 수 있습니다.

A handwritten letter can convey warm feelings.

핸드폰 - Mobile phone

핸드폰을 분실해서 고생했어요.

I had a hard time because I lost my mobile phone.

자전거 - Bicycle

저는 자전거 타는 것을 좋아해요.

I like riding bicycles.

자동차 - Car

자동차를 사려면 많은 돈이 필요해요.

You need a lot of money to buy a car.

기차 - Train

제가 가려는 곳은 기차로 갈 수 있어요.

The place I'm going to can be reached by train.

비행기 - Airplane

비행기를 타고 여행하는 것이 좋아요.

It's good to travel by airplane.

배 - Boat, ship

저는 배 타는 것이 너무 무서워요.

I'm too scared to ride a boat.

버스 - Bus

버스를 타고 학교에 갑니다.

I go to school by bus.

택시 - Taxi

택시를 타고 집에 가요.

I go home by taxi.

빵 - Bread

우리 가게에서는 맛있는 빵이 팔려요.

Delicious bread is sold in our store.

음악 - Music

음악을 듣으면 기분이 좋아져요.

Listening to music makes me feel good.

돈 - Money

돈은 중요하지만 모든 것이 아니에요.

Money is important, but it's not everything.

휴일 - Holiday

다음 주에는 3일간 휴일이에요.

Next week, we have a 3-day holiday.

날씨 - Weather

오늘 날씨는 매우 좋아요.

Today's weather is very nice.

온도 - Temperature

오늘 온도가 높아서 더운 것 같아요.

The temperature is high today, so it feels hot.

지도 - Map

지도를 보면 길을 찾을 수 있어요.

We can find the way by looking at the map.

악어 - Crocodile

우리는 동물원에서 악어를 볼 수 있었다.

We were able to see a crocodile at the zoo.

가방 - Bag

저는 학교에 갈 때마다 가방 안에 필요한 물건들을 챙겨서 가요.

I always pack the necessary items in my bag when I go to school.

신발 - Shoes

오늘은 빨리 걸어야 해서, 편한 신발을 신고 출발했어요.

I had to walk quickly today, so I put on comfortable shoes and started off.

옷 - Clothes

날씨가 추울 때는 옷을 따뜻하게 입고 다녀야 해요.

You should wear warm clothes when it's cold outside.

시계 - Watch

그녀는 손목에 시계를 차고 있어요.

She is wearing a watch on her wrist.

안경 - Glasses

그녀는 안경을 쓰고 있어요.

She is wearing glasses.

지갑 - Wallet

내 지갑이 어디에 있는지 알아?

Do you know where my wallet is?

빨래 - Laundry

오늘은 빨래를 해야 해요.

I have to do the laundry today.

우산 - Umbrella

비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요.

Take an umbrella because it's raining.

스포츠 - Sports

저는 스포츠를 좋아해요.

I like sports.

미소 - Smile

그녀는 항상 미소를 짓고 있어요.

She is always smiling.

축구 - Soccer, football

저는 축구를 좋아해요.

I like soccer.

선물 - Gift, present

그녀는 친구에게 생일 선물을 준비했다.

She prepared a birthday present for her friend.

축제 - Festival

우리는 다음 주말에 열리는 미술 축제에 참가할 계획이다.

We plan to attend the art festival held next weekend.

키스 - Kiss

그들은 공원에서 열린 콘서트가 끝나고 서로 키스를 했다.

After the concert in the park, they kissed each other.

냉장고 - Refrigerator

냉장고에 우유가 없다. 슈퍼마켓에서 사 와야겠다.

We have no milk in the refrigerator. I have to buy some at the supermarket.

책상 - Desk

책상 위에는 필기구와 책만 있다.

There are only writing utensils and books on the desk.

침대 - Bed

아이들은 침대에서 잠을 자고 있다.

The children are sleeping in the bed.

꽃 - Flower

그녀는 집 앞 정원에서 꽃을 기르고 있다.

She is growing flowers in the front yard of her house.

볼펜 - Ballpoint pen

나는 항상 볼펜을 가지고 다녀.

I always carry a ballpoint pen with me.

물고기 - Fish

어제 저녁에는 맛있는 물고기를 먹었어요.

I had delicious fish for dinner last night.

구름 - Cloud

오늘 하늘에는 구름이 많아요.

There are a lot of clouds in the sky today.

청소기 - Vacuum cleaner

청소기를 사용하면 집안이 깨끗해져요.

Using a vacuum cleaner makes the house clean.

나무 - Tree

가장 좋아하는 나무는 느티나무예요.

My favorite tree is an oak tree.

산책 - Walk

산책은 건강한 삶을 유지하는 데 매우 중요한 요소 중 하나입니다.

Taking a walk is one of the most important elements in maintaining a healthy life.

갓길 - Freshly dug path

갓길을 따라 걸어보세요.

Try walking along the freshly dug path.

강아지 - Puppy

그 강아지가 정말 귀여워요.

That puppy is really cute.

개나리 - Forsythia

우리 집 앞에는 예쁜 개나리가 핀다.

There are beautiful Forsythias blooming in front of our house.

거울 - Mirror

화장할 때 거울이 필요해.

I need a mirror when I do my makeup.

거위 - Goose

떼로 다니는 거위들이 하늘을 날아간다.

Flocks of geese fly in the sky.

검은색 - Black

나는 검은색 옷을 입는 것을 좋아한다.

I like wearing black clothes.

겨울 - Winter

겨울에는 눈이 많이 온다.

There is a lot of snow in the winter.

고양이 - Cat

우리 집 고양이는 아침에 일찍 일어나서 장난감을 놀아달라고 한다.

Our cat wakes up early in the morning and asks us to play with his toys.

곰