Korean vocabulary: upper intermediate (B2)
The 168 words and phrases taught in the upper intermediate chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Discussing and debating
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- 회의hoeuimeeting · (hoeuireul sijakhada), to start a meeting; (…e daehae iyagihada), to talk about …
- 주차장juchajangcar park · (juchahada), to park; (juchabi), parking fee; (han dare samcheon won jeongdo), about () 3,000 won a month
- 놀이터noriteoplayground · from (nolda), to play; (nol got), a place (, got) to play
- 안전anjeonsafety · (anjeonhada), to be safe; (anjeonhage), safely; the opposite is (wiheomhada), to be dangerous
- 부족하다bujokhadato be short of, not to be enough · (jariga bujokhaeyo), there aren't enough spaces; (juchajangeul neolpida), to make the car park bigger
- 물론mullonof course · often opens a concession: … -지만 (mullon … -jiman)
- 입장ipjangposition, point of view · (je ipjangeseoneun), from my point of view
- 게다가gedagabesides, on top of that · (gedaga sae juchajangdo saenggyeosseoyo), besides, a new car park has opened (, saenggida, to appear, to open)
- 반면에banmyeoneon the other hand, whereas · also after a modifier: (ssan banmyeone), while it's cheap
- 찬성하다chanseonghadato be in favour (of), to support · with (e): (geu jeane chanseonghaeyo), I support that suggestion (, jean)
- 주민juminresident · (jumin hoeui), residents' meeting
- 반대하다bandaehadato be against, to object · with (e): (geu gyehoege bandaehaeyo)
- 결론gyeollonconclusion · (gyeollonjeogeuro), in conclusion; (tupyoro gyeoljeonghada), to decide by vote (, gyeoljeonghada, to decide)
- 투표tupyovote · (tupyohada), to vote
2. Work in depth
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- 거래처georaecheoclient, business partner · a company you do business with; (ajik dabi eopseoyo), there's no answer (, dap) yet
- 마감magamdeadline · (magami eonjeyeyo?), when's the deadline?
- 일정iljeongschedule · (iljeongeul matchuda), to keep to the schedule
- 팀장님timjangnimteam leader · used instead of a name: title + (nim)
- 수정하다sujeonghadato revise, to correct · (sujeonghan dijain), the revised design; (kkalkkeumhada), to be neat, clean; (bubun), part
- 검토하다geomtohadato review, to look over · (geomtohae bosyeosseoyo?), have you had a look?
- 미루다mirudato put off, to postpone · (haru miruda), to put off by a day
- 보고서bogoseoreport (document) · (bogohada), to report; (bogoseo jeongni), putting a report together; (kkeunnaeda), to finish (something)
- 여쭤보다yeojjwobodato ask (someone you respect) · humble form of (mureoboda)
- 부장님bujangnimdirector, head of department · above (gwajangnim), manager, and (timjangnim)
- 대신daesininstead; in return · (keopi daesin), instead of coffee; -는 대신에 (-neun daesine)
- 말씀드리다malsseumdeuridato tell, to say (to someone you respect) · humble form of (malhada); (machim), as it happens; (jikjeop), in person, myself
- 피드백pideubaekfeedback · (pideubaegeul juda), to give feedback; (gwanggo), advert; (gwanggo hoesa), advertising agency
- 제안jeansuggestion, proposal · (jeanhada), to suggest
3. Film, books and media
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- 장면jangmyeonscene · (majimak jangmyeon), the last scene; (nunmuri nasseoyo), I cried (, nunmul, tears; , ulda, to cry)
- 배우baeuactor, actress
- 연기yeongiacting · (yeongireul jalhada), to act well
- 지루하다jiruhadato be boring
- 기대gidaeexpectation · (gidaehada), to look forward to; (gidaemankeum), as much as expected
- 원작wonjakthe original (book a film is based on)
- 소설soseolnovel · (soseoreul billyeojulge), I'll lend (, billyeojuda) you the novel; (hwolssin), much (more)
- 감동적gamdongjeokmoving, touching · (gamdongjeogida); (gamdongjeogin yeonghwa), a moving film
- 주인공juingongmain character, hero, heroine
- 줄거리julgeoriplot, storyline · In this one a woman (, yeoja) reads her mother's diary (, ilgi) and learns about her past (, gwageo).
- 볼 만하다bol manhadato be worth seeing · from -(으)ㄹ 만하다 (-(eu)l manhada), to be worth doing
- 감독gamdokdirector (of a film) · (i gamdok yeonghwaneun wollae neuryeoyo), this director's films are slow by nature (, wollae)
- 결말gyeolmalending (of a story) · (jungganjjeumbuteo), from about the middle (); (pyeonji), letter
- 스포일러seupoilleospoiler
4. Science and technology
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- 태양광taeyanggwangsolar power, sunlight (as energy) · (taeyanggwang paeneol), solar panel
- 패널paeneolpanel
- 설치하다seolchihadato install, to put in · (seolchibi), installation cost; (jibunge seolchihada), to put on the roof (, jibung)
- 전기jeongielectricity · (jeongi yogeum), electricity bill (, charge); (yogeumi jureodeureoyo), the bill goes down (, to decrease)
- 원리wolliprinciple, how something works · (wollibuteo seolmyeongdeurilgeyo), let me explain (, seolmyeonghada) the principle first
- 햇빛haetbitsunlight · (haetbichi paeneore daayo), sunlight reaches (, data) the panel
- 에너지eneojienergy · (gihu byeonhwa), climate change; (hwangyeongeul bohohada), to protect the environment
- 변환되다byeonhwandoedato be converted · (jeongiro byeonhwandoeda), to be converted into electricity
- 배터리baeteoribattery
- 저장하다jeojanghadato store, to save (a file) · passive: (jeojangdoeda), to be stored
- 생산되다saengsandoedato be produced · active: (saengsanhada), to produce
- 비용biyongcost · (biyongi budamdwaeyo), the cost is a burden (, budam)
- 절약하다jeoryakhadato save (money, energy) · (yogeumi jeoryakdoeda), to save on the bill; in everyday speech (doneul akkida), to save money
- 효율hyoyulefficiency · (hyoyuri nopda), to be efficient
5. Society and the environment
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- 미세먼지misemeonjifine dust, particulate air pollution · forecast levels: (joeum, botong, nappeum, maeu nappeum); (haneuri hoesaegieyo), the sky is grey
- 공장gongjangfactory · (gungnae gongjangina jadongcha), factories and cars in the country (, gungnae, domestic; , jadongcha, car)
- 오염oyeompollution · (daegi oyeom), air pollution; (oyeom muljil), pollutants
- 대책daechaekmeasures, countermeasures · (daechaegeul seuda), to take measures
- 환경hwangyeongenvironment · (hwangyeongeul bohohada), to protect the environment
- 노력noryeokeffort · (noryeokhada), to make an effort, to try hard
- 정책jeongchaekpolicy · (jeongchaegi jeomjeom ganghaejyeoyo), policy is gradually (, jeomjeom) getting stricter
- 일회용품ilhoeyongpumdisposable items · (ilhoeyong keop), disposable cup
- 분리수거bullisugeosorting rubbish for recycling · (bullisugeoreul kkomkkomhage haeyo), I sort my rubbish carefully; (hetgallida), to be confusing
- 재활용jaehwaryongrecycling · (jaehwaryongi doeda), to be recyclable
- 쓰레기sseuregirubbish, waste · (sseuregireul beorida), to throw away rubbish
- 책임chaegimresponsibility · (gieop), company, business; (gaein), individual
- 기후 변화gihu byeonhwaclimate change
- 심각하다simgakhadato be serious (a problem) · (munjega simgakhaeyo), it's a serious problem; (sanghwang), situation
6. Public life
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- 시청sicheongcity hall · (cheongsonyeon), teenager; (godeunghaksaeng), high-school student; (sinaebeoseu), city bus
- 기자 회견gija hoegyeonpress conference · (gija), reporter; (jilmun), question; (daedaphada), to answer
- 시장sijangmayor · the same word as (sijang), market, but a different Chinese character
- 지원하다jiwonhadato support, to fund · the formal word for (dopda); also “to apply” for a job
- 발표balpyoannouncement; presentation · (balpyohada), to announce
- 공약gongyakelection pledge · (seongeo gongyak), election promise
- 예산yesanbudget · (maenyeon), every year; (segeum), tax; (saeop), project, business
- 확대하다hwakdaehadato expand, to increase · the formal word for (neullida)
- 강조하다gangjohadato stress, to emphasise · (gajeongui budameul jurindago gangjohaesseoyo), he stressed it would ease the burden on households (, gajeong)
- 반응baneungreaction, response · (simin baneung), people's reactions; (baneungi eottaesseoyo?), how did they react?
- 야당yadangopposition party · the governing party is (yeodang)
- 비판하다bipanhadato criticise · (keundoneul sseuneun geon murirago bipanhaesseoyo), they said spending a large sum () was too much ()
- 주장하다jujanghadato claim, to argue · (jujang), claim, argument; (chungbunhada), to be enough
- 시민simincitizen, resident (of a city)
7. Education and learning
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- 수능suneungthe university entrance exam (CSAT) · short for (daehaksuhangneungnyeoksiheom)
- 성적seongjeokgrades, marks, results · (siheomeul mangchida), to mess up an exam
- 공부할걸gongbuhalgeolI should have studied · -(으)ㄹ걸 (-(eu)lgeol), I should have …
- 후회하다huhoehadato regret · (huhoe), regret
- 재수jaesua year spent retaking the entrance exam · (jaesuhada), to retake it
- 학원hagwonprivate academy, cram school · (yeongeo hagwon), English school
- 입시ipsientrance exams · (daehak ipsi), university entrance
- 부담budamburden, pressure · (budami doeda), to be a burden
- 포기하다pogihadato give up
- 경쟁gyeongjaengcompetition · (gyeongjaengi simhada), competition is fierce
- 적성jeokseongaptitude, what you're suited to · (jeokseonge matda), to suit you; (misul), art
- 진로jillocareer path, future direction · (jilloreul jeonghada), to decide on your path; (jinjihage), seriously
- 재능jaeneungtalent · (jaeneungi itda), to be talented; (yonggireul naeda), to find the courage (, yonggi)
- 선택seontaekchoice · (seontaekhada), to choose; (maeumi gabyeowojyeosseoyo), I feel lighter (, maeum, heart, mind; , gabyeopda, light)
8. Idioms and everyday speech
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- 관용어gwanyongeoidiom
- 속담sokdamproverb
- 전jeonjeon, savoury Korean pancake · also called (buchimgae); (jeoneul buchida), to fry jeon; (milgaru), flour; (taeuda), to burn
- 손이 크다soni keudato be generous, to make far too much · literally “the hands are big”; (sikgu), the people in a family; (eumsigi mojarada), to run short of food
- 막maklike, just (filler); carelessly · (mak yeol myeongi meogeul mankeum), enough for, like, ten people
- 발이 넓다bari neoldato know lots of people · literally “the feet are wide”
- 아무튼amuteunanyway · gets a conversation back on track
- 누워서 떡 먹기nuwoseo tteok meokgia piece of cake, very easy · literally “eating rice cake lying down”
- 있잖아itjanayou know what, listen · starts a new topic; polite (itjanayo)
- 입이 무겁다ibi mugeopdato be good at keeping secrets · opposite: (ibi gabyeopda)
- 호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다horangido je mal hamyeon ondaspeak of the devil · literally “talk about the tiger and it comes”
- 눈이 높다nuni nopdato be picky, to have high standards · literally “the eyes are high”
- 미역국을 먹다miyeokgugeul meokdato fail (an exam, an interview) · literally “to eat seaweed soup”; (wirohada), to comfort
- 티끌 모아 태산tikkeul moa taesanevery little helps, little things add up · literally “gather dust, and it becomes a mountain”
9. Humour and informal language
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- 단톡방dantokbanggroup chat · from (danche katokbang), a group chat on KakaoTalk; (gongjireul ollida), to post an announcement
- 대박daebakamazing, awesome; wow
- 헐heoloh no, OMG · a reaction to something shocking
- 생파saengpabirthday party · from (saengil pati); (saengil seonmul), birthday present
- 인싸inssasocial butterfly, popular person · from English “insider”
- 읽씹ikssipleaving a message on read · (ikssipdanghada), to be left on read; (dapjangi eopseo), there's no reply (, dapjang)
- 노잼nojaemno fun, boring · English “no” + (jaemi), fun
- 치맥chimaekchicken and beer · from (chikin) + (maekju)
- 쏘다ssodato treat (someone), to pay for everyone · literally “to shoot”: (oneureun naega ssolge), it's on me today
- 꿀잼kkuljaemsuper fun, hilarious · (kkul), honey + (jaemi), fun
- 짱jjangthe best, awesome
- 뭐래mworaeyeah, right; what nonsense · from (mworago hae); only with close friends
- 잘났다jallatdato be full of yourself · usually ironic: (jallasseo, jeongmal), aren't you brilliant
- 아싸assaloner, not part of the crowd · from English “outsider”
10. Formal writing
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- 가로등garodeungstreetlight · (golmok), alley; (bameneun eoduwoyo), it's dark (, eodupda) at night
- 인도indopavement, sidewalk · (indoga eoreosseoyo), the pavement is frozen (, eolda); (mikkeureopda), to be slippery
- 담당자damdangjaperson in charge · (damdangjanimkke), to the person in charge
- 문의munuiinquiry · (munuideurimnida), I am writing to ask; (yonggeon), what you are writing about
- 관련gwallyeonrelation, connection · -과 / -와 관련하여 (-gwa / -wa gwallyeonhayeo), regarding
- 불편bulpyeoninconvenience · (bulpyeoneul gyeokda), to suffer inconvenience
- 민원minwoncomplaint or request to the authorities · (minwoneul neota), to file a complaint
- 구청gucheongdistrict office
- 조치jochimeasure, action · (jochireul chwihada), to take action; (sinsokhan jochi), prompt action (, written; in speech )
- 요청하다yocheonghadato request · (gaeseoneul yocheonghada), to request an improvement (, gaeseon)
- 답변dapbyeonreply, answer
- 첨부cheombuattachment · (cheombu pail), attached file
- 드림deurimfrom (humbly given), at the end of a letter · (ollim) to someone senior, a (witsaram)
- 귀하gwihayou, Dear … (very formal, in official letters)
11. Giving a presentation
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- 농촌nongchonrural area, farming village · (nongchon jiyeok), rural areas; (dosi), city
- 자료jaryomaterials, data · (balpyo jaryo), presentation materials
- 그래프geuraepeugraph
- 보시다시피bosidasipias you can see
- 증가하다jeunggahadato increase, to rise · (iyongnyul), rate of use: , use has risen
- 감소하다gamsohadato decrease, to fall
- 원인wonincause · (wonineul bunseokhada), to analyse the causes
- 해결책haegyeolchaeksolution · (hyeonjae sanghwang), the current situation
- 제안하다jeanhadato propose, to suggest
- 무엇보다mueotbodaabove all · (teuki), especially
- 어르신eoreusinolder person (respectful) · (eoreusindeulkkeseo joahasigenneyo), the older people will be pleased
- 정리하다jeongnihadato sum up; to tidy · (jeongnihajamyeon), to sum up
- 이동 도서관idong doseogwanmobile library · (saseo), librarian; (chaegeul sireun beoseu), a bus loaded (, sitda) with books
- 답변드리다dapbyeondeuridato answer (humble) · (gwallyeon buseo), the department concerned
12. Final review
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- 오랜만이다oraenmanidait's been a long time · polite (oraenmanieyo)
- 그동안geudonganin the meantime, all this time
- 여전하다yeojeonhadato be the same as ever
- 연락이 끊기다yeollagi kkeunkidato lose touch
- 변하다byeonhadato change
- 퇴사하다toesahadato leave a company, to quit a job
- 창업하다changeophadato start a business · (cheoeumen gosaeng mani haesseo), it was hard (, hardship) at first; (jarireul japda), to get established
- 작가jakgawriter, author
- 출판사chulpansapublishing house, publisher · (yeol gundeeseo geojeoldanghaesseo), ten places () turned me down (, to be rejected)
- 대표님daepyonimhead of a company, director (as a title) · (jigeum tonghwa gwaenchanseumnida), I can talk (, phone call) now
- 계약gyeyakcontract · (gyeyakseo), the contract document
- 꿈을 이루다kkumeul irudato make a dream come true
- 원고wongomanuscript · (wongoreul bonae deurigetseumnida), I'll send you the manuscript
- 세월sewoltime, the years · (sewori ppareuda), time flies
Other levels: Beginner (A1) · Elementary (A2) · Intermediate (B1)