Korean vocabulary: intermediate (B1)
The 168 words and phrases taught in the intermediate chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Stories and memories
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- 처음cheoeumthe first time; the beginning · (cheoeum wasseoyo), I came for the first time; (cheoeumeneun), at first
- 때ttaetime, when · (seumuldu sal ttae), when I was twenty-two; (geuttae), then, at that time
- 결혼하다gyeolhonhadato get married · (gyeolhonhaesseoyo) also means “I'm married”.
- 고향gohyanghometown, home region
- 이사하다isahadato move (house) · (Busaneuro isahaesseoyo), I moved to Busan.
- 힘들다himdeuldato be hard, tiring · (himdeureoyo); honorific (himdeuseyo)
- 시장sijangmarket
- 가게gageshop, small store · (ot gage), clothes shop; (gagereul hada), to run a shop; (gagereul sijakhada), to start a shop; (gagereul palda), to sell a shop
- 시절sijeoldays, a period of your life · (geu sijeol), those days; (haksaeng sijeol), student days
- 결국gyeolgukin the end, finally
- 그립다geuripdato miss (a person, place, time) · ㅂ irregular: (geuriwoyo). The thing you miss is the subject: (gohyangi geuriwoyo).
- 젊다jeomdato be young (of adults) · (jeolmeoyo); (jeolmeun saram), a young person
- 옛날yennalthe old days, long ago · (yennare), in the old days
- 기억나다gieongnadato remember, to come back to mind · The memory is the subject: (geunari gieongnayo), I remember that day; (eolguri gieongnayo), I remember the face (, eolgul, face).
2. Opinions and reasons
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- 졸업joreopgraduation · (joreophada), to graduate (A2)
- 취직chwijikgetting a job · (chwijikhada), to get a job; (hoesae chwijikhaesseoyo), I got a job at a company.
- 대기업daegieopbig company, large corporation
- 월급wolgeup(monthly) salary · (wolgeubi manayo), the salary is high
- 안정적anjeongjeokstable · a noun, used with (ida): (anjeongjeogieyo), it's stable. (anjeong), stability.
- 생각하다saenggakhadato think · (saenggak), thought, opinion; (saenggakhae bolgeyo), I'll think about it
- 중요하다jungyohadato be important · (jeil jungyohaeyo), it's the most important thing
- 스타트업seutateueopstart-up (company)
- 이유iyureason · (iyuga mwoyeyo?), what's the reason?
- 왜냐하면waenyahamyeonbecause, the reason is · starts an answer to (wae?), why?
- 경험gyeongheomexperience · (gyeongheomeul hada), to have an experience, to gain experience
- 고민gominworry, something on your mind · (yojeum gomini manayo), I have a lot on my mind these days (, yojeum); (gominhada), to think hard about, agonise over
- 차라리chararirather, might as well · for the better of two not-quite-perfect options
- 의견uigyeonopinion, idea
3. News and current events
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- 기사gisa(news) article · (nyuseu), news; (sisa), current affairs
- 사고sagoaccident · (sagoga nasseoyo), there was an accident; (gyotongsago), traffic accident
- 다치다dachidato get hurt, to be injured · (darireul dachyeosseoyo), I hurt my leg.
- 도로dororoad
- 막히다makidato be blocked, jammed · (giri makyeoyo), the traffic is heavy; (geureonde giri makyeoyo), but the traffic is heavy (, geureonde, but, by the way)
- 출근하다chulgeunhadato go to work, to get to work · the opposite of (toegeunhada), to leave work
- 경찰gyeongchalpolice; police officer
- 공사gongsaconstruction work, roadwork · (gongsa jung), under construction
- 정부jeongbugovernment
- 발표하다balpyohadato announce · also “to give a presentation”. (naenyeone gongwoneul mandeundago balpyohaesseoyo), they announced they'll build a park (, gongwon) next year (, naenyeon).
- 축제chukjefestival
- 열리다yeollidato be opened; to be held (of an event) · passive of (yeolda), to open
- 묻다mutdato ask · ㄷ irregular: (mureoyo), (mureobwayo), to ask (someone)
- 말하다malhadato say, to tell · (dasi malhae juseyo), please say it again
4. Feelings and relationships
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- 기분gibunmood, how you feel · (gibuni joayo), I'm in a good mood; (gibuni an joayo), I feel down; (museun il isseoyo?), is something wrong? (, museun, what kind of)
- 싸우다ssaudato fight, to argue · (chinguhago ssawosseoyo), I had a fight with a friend
- 친하다chinhadato be close (friends) · (chinhan chingu), a close friend
- 연락하다yeollakhadato contact, to get in touch · (yeollak), contact; (yeollak juseyo), please get in touch
- 서운하다seounhadato feel hurt, let down (by someone close) · (saengire yeollagi eopseoseo seounhaesseoyo), I was hurt that I heard nothing on my birthday (, saengil).
- 화가 나다hwaga nadato get angry, to be angry · (hwareul naeda), to get angry at someone, to show it
- 속상하다soksanghadato be upset, distressed
- 서로seoroeach other, one another
- 오해ohaemisunderstanding · (ohaehada), to misunderstand
- 먼저meonjeofirst, before others · (meonjeo gaseyo), after you (go first)
- 사과하다sagwahadato apologise · (sagwa) also means “apple”.
- 솔직하게soljikagehonestly, frankly · from (soljikada), to be honest
- 괜찮을 거야gwaenchaneul geoyait'll be fine · polite (gwaenchaneul geoyeyo)
- 걱정되다geokjeongdoedato be worried · (geokjeongdwaeyo), I'm worried; (geokjeonghaji maseyo), don't worry
5. Hopes and wishes
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- 이야기iyagitalk, story · (iyagihada), to talk; (iyagi jom haeyo), let's talk
- 꿈kkumdream · (kkumeul kkuda), to have a dream (while asleep)
- 나중에najungelater, later on
- 유학yuhakstudying abroad · (yuhageul gada), to go abroad to study; (honja yuhageul gayo), I'm going abroad to study on my own (, honja, alone)
- 만약manyakif, supposing · used with -(으)면 or -다면
- 돈donmoney · (doni mantamyeon segye yeohaengeul hal geoyeyo), if I had a lot of money, I'd travel around the world (, segye, world)
- 합격하다hapgyeokhadato pass (an exam), to get in · (daehakgyoe hapgyeokhaesseoyo), I got into university
- 허락하다heorakhadato allow, to give permission
- 계획gyehoekplan · (gyehoegi isseoyo), I have a plan; (areubaiteudo hal geoyeyo), I'll get a part-time job (, areubaiteu) too
- 시험siheomexam, test · (siheomeul boda), to take an exam
- 결과gyeolgwaresult · (gyeolgwaga nawayo), the results come out
- 응원하다eungwonhadato support, to cheer on
- 원하다wonhadato want, to wish for · a little more formal than -고 싶다
- 바라다baradato hope, to wish · -기를 바라요, I hope that… (formal)
6. Solving problems
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- 청소기cheongsogivacuum cleaner · (cheongsohada), to clean
- 고장 나다gojang nadato break down, to stop working · for machines: (gojang nasseoyo), it's broken; (an kyeojyeoyo), it won't turn on (, kyeojida, to come on)
- 이상하다isanghadato be strange, odd · (isanghan sori), a strange noise
- 소리sorisound, noise · (soriga nayo), it makes a noise
- 확인하다hwaginhadato check, to confirm
- 보증 기간bojeung giganwarranty period · (bojeung gigani kkeunnasseoyo), the warranty has run out
- 무료muryofree of charge · (muryoro), for free
- 수리surirepair · (surihada), to repair
- 교환gyohwanexchange · (gyohwanhada), to exchange; (saegeoseuro gyohwanhada), to exchange for a new one (, saegeot); (hwanbul), refund (A2)
- 맡기다matgidato leave (something) with someone, to entrust · (gabangeul matgyeodo dwaeyo?), can I leave my bag here?
- 연락드리다yeollakdeuridato contact (humble) · the humble form of (yeollakhada)
- 기사님gisanimtechnician; driver (polite) · also how you address a taxi or bus driver
- 깨지다kkaejidato break, to get smashed (glass, screens) · (hwamyeoni kkaejyeosseoyo), the screen has cracked (, hwamyeon, screen)
- 서비스 센터seobiseu senteoservice centre, repair centre
7. Culture and traditions
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- 송편songpyeonsongpyeon (half-moon rice cake for Chuseok) · (tteok) is the general word for rice cake.
- 추석chuseokChuseok, the autumn harvest festival
- 명절myeongjeoltraditional holiday, festival · The two biggest are (seollal) and (chuseok).
- 음력eumnyeokthe lunar calendar · (yangnyeok), the solar calendar
- 차례charyememorial rite for the ancestors (on a holiday morning) · (charyereul jinaeda), to hold the rite. (jinaeda) also means to spend time: (gajokago gachi jinaeyo), we spend the time with the family.
- 성묘seongmyovisiting the family graves · (seongmyoreul hada) or (seongmyoreul gada); (insahada), to greet, to pay your respects
- 산소sansograve (respectful word for a family grave) · (doragasin halmeoni sanso), my late grandmother's grave (, doragasida, to pass away, honorific)
- 빚다bitdato shape, to make (dumplings, rice cakes) · (songpyeoneul bijeoyo), we're making songpyeon
- 설날seollalLunar New Year
- 한복hanbokhanbok, traditional Korean clothes
- 친척chincheokrelative, relatives
- 떡국tteokgukrice-cake soup (eaten at New Year)
- 세배sebaeNew Year's bow to elders · (eoreundeulkke sebaereul deuryeoyo), we bow to the elders (, eoreun, adult, elder)
- 세뱃돈sebaetdonNew Year money (given to children after the bow) · (aideuri sebaetdoneul badayo), the children (, ai) receive (, batda) New Year money
8. Work and careers
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- 업무eommuwork, duties, tasks (at a job) · (eommu sigan), working hours; (maketing eommu), marketing work
- 담당하다damdanghadato be in charge of, to be responsible for · (hwajangpum hoesaeseo maketingeul damdanghaeyo), I'm in charge of marketing at a cosmetics (, hwajangpum) company; (damdangja), the person in charge
- 경력gyeongnyeokwork experience, career · Yejin's major () was (gyeongyeonghak), business studies; she started in the (yeongeoptim), sales team.
- 지원하다jiwonhadato apply (for a job, a school) · (hoesae jiwonhada), to apply to a company; (chwieop), getting a job; (myeonjeop), interview
- 해외haeoeabroad, overseas · (haeoeeseo ilhada), to work abroad; (haeoe maketing), international marketing
- 말씀드리다malsseumdeuridato tell (you), to say (humble) · The honorific for someone else speaking is (malsseumhada).
- 출장chuljangbusiness trip · (Beteunam chuljang ttae haengsareul damdanghaesseoyo), on a business trip to Vietnam I was in charge of an event (, haengsa)
- 장점jangjeomstrength, strong point, advantage
- 단점danjeomweakness, weak point, drawback
- 책임감chaegimgamsense of responsibility · (chaegimgami ganghaeyo), I'm very responsible
- 적응하다jeogeunghadato adapt, to get used to · (saeroun hwangyeonge jeogeunghada), to adapt to a new (, saeropda) environment (, hwangyeong); (saenghwal), daily life
- 성격seonggyeokpersonality, character · (seonggyeogi geupaeyo), I'm impatient
- 목표mokpyogoal, aim · (majimageuro), finally; (apeuroui mokpyo), your goal for the future (, from now on); (jeonmunga), expert
- 기회gihoeopportunity, chance · (gihoereul jusyeoseo gamsahamnida), thank you for the opportunity
9. Health and lifestyle
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- 건강 검진geongang geomjinhealth check-up · (geongang), health; (geonganghada), to be healthy
- 혈압hyeorapblood pressure · (hyeorabeul jaeda), to take someone's blood pressure
- 높다nopdato be high · opposite: (natda), to be low
- 스트레스seuteureseustress · (seuteureseureul batda), to be stressed; (jameul jal mot jayo), I don't sleep (, jam, sleep) well
- 짜다jjadato be salty · (jjan eumsik), salty food; (siksa), a meal
- 담배dambaecigarette, tobacco · (dambaereul piuda), to smoke
- 거의geouialmost; with a negative, hardly · (geoui maeil), almost every day; (geoui an haeyo), I hardly do it
- 습관seupgwanhabit · (saenghwal seupgwan), lifestyle habits
- 줄이다juridato reduce, to cut down on
- 끊다kkeuntato quit, to give up; to cut · (dambaereul kkeuneosseoyo), I've quit smoking. Also (jeonhwareul kkeunta), to hang up. (kkeunneun geon eoryeowoyo), quitting is hard (, eoryeopda, ㅂ irregular).
- 아내anaewife · (nampyeon), husband
- 규칙적으로gyuchikjeogeuroregularly · (gyuchikjeogeuro georeusimyeon got joajisil geoyeyo), if you walk regularly, you'll soon (, got) get better
- 체중chejung(body) weight · (chejungeul jurida), to lose weight; in everyday speech also (sareul ppaeda)
- 조심하다josimhadato be careful · (josimhaseyo), take care, be careful
10. Money and everyday services
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- 번호표beonhopyonumber ticket (for the queue) · (beonhopyoreul ppopda), to take a number
- 계좌gyejwa(bank) account · (gyejwa beonho), account number; (eunhaengeseo gyejwareul mandeureoyo), I open an account at the bank (, eunhaeng)
- 통장tongjangbankbook; (bank) account · In everyday speech (tongjang) often just means the account.
- 개설하다gaeseolhadato open (an account) · formal; in everyday speech (mandeulda)
- 신분증sinbunjeungID card, identification
- 외국인 등록증oegugin deungnokjeungresidence card for foreigners
- 체크카드chekeukadeudebit card · credit card: (sinyong kadeu)
- 작성하다jakseonghadato fill in, to write (a form, a document) · (sincheongseoreul jakseonghada), to fill in an application form (, sincheongseo)
- 서명seomyeongsignature · (seomyeonghada), to sign
- 비밀번호bimilbeonhoPIN, password · (bimilbeonhoreul nureuseyo), type in your PIN (, nureuda, to press; 르 irregular: )
- 송금하다songgeumhadato transfer money, to send money · (haeoe songgeum), sending money abroad; (maedal songgeumhaeyo), I send money every month (, maedal)
- 수수료susuryofee, commission
- 환전hwanjeoncurrency exchange · (hwanjeonhada), to change money; (pyeonhaneyo), that's convenient (, pyeonhada)
- 입금ipgeumdeposit, paying in · (ipgeumhada), to pay in; (chulgeum), withdrawal
11. Travel stories
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- 늦잠neutjamoversleeping, a lie-in · (neutjameul jada), to oversleep, to sleep in
- 배baeboat, ship, ferry · (baereul tada), to take the boat. (bae) is also “stomach” and “pear”.
- 놓치다notchidato miss (a bus, a boat, a chance) · (bihaenggireul notchyeosseoyo), I missed the plane (, bihaenggi)
- 뻔하다ppeonhadato almost happen · only in -(으)ㄹ 뻔했다: (notchil ppeonhaesseoyo), I almost missed it
- 짐jimluggage, bags · (jimeul deulgo ttwieosseoyo), I ran (, ttwida) with my bags in my hands (, deulda, to hold, to carry)
- 겨우gyeoubarely, only just
- 멀미meolmitravel sickness, seasickness · (meolmireul hada), to feel sick (on a boat, bus, car); (gyesok meolmireul haesseoyo), I felt sick the whole time (, gyesok)
- 어떡해eotteokaeoh no, what a pity · short for (eotteoke hae), what can you do?
- 경치gyeongchiscenery, view
- 대단하다daedanhadato be amazing, impressive
- 태풍taepungtyphoon · (ilgi yebo), the weather forecast; (miri), beforehand, in advance
- 결항되다gyeolhangdoedato be cancelled (a flight or a ferry) · a train or event is (chwisodoeda)
- 섬seomisland
- 다행히dahaenghifortunately, luckily · (dahaengida), what a relief
12. Review: telling your story
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- 태어나다taeeonadato be born · (jeoneun Seoureseo taeeonasseoyo), I was born in Seoul
- 시골sigolthe countryside, a rural area
- 가난하다gananhadato be poor
- 차리다charidato open, to set up (a shop, a restaurant) · (sikdangeul charida), to open a restaurant; also (bapsangeul charida), to lay the table
- 짓다jitdato build; to make (rice, a name) · ㅅ irregular: (jieosseoyo). (babeul jitda), to cook rice
- 손님sonnimcustomer; guest
- 비결bigyeolsecret (of success), the key · (masui bigyeol), the secret of the flavour. Mr Jang's: he goes to the market (jikjeop), in person.
- 은퇴하다euntoehadato retire
- 젊은이jeolmeuniyoung person · from (jeomda), to be young; plural (jeolmeunideul)
- 조언joeonadvice · (joeoneul hae juseyo), please give me some advice; (joeon hanmadi), a word () of advice
- 후회하다huhoehadato regret · (huhoeneun eopseoyo), I have no regrets
- 실패silpaefailure · (silpaehada), to fail; (silpaereul museowohada), to be afraid of failing (, museopda, to be scary)
- 인생insaenglife (the course of a life) · for daily life use (saenghwal)
- 자랑스럽다jarangseureopdato be proud (of) · ㅂ irregular: (jarangseureowoyo)
Other levels: Beginner (A1) · Elementary (A2) · Upper intermediate (B2)