100 essential words
Looking for a list of useful vocabulary to kick-start your Korean learning journey? You’ve come to the right place! I’ve gathered 100 essential Korean words for everyday life. All of these words are included in my vocabulary book, Korean – My First 1000 Words.
If you’re looking for vocabulary organized by categories, with audio recorded by native Koreans as well as an online spaced-repetition learning tool, then this product is perfect for you!
| Hello |
안녕하세요 |
annyeonghaseyo |
| Thank you |
감사합니다 |
gamsahamnida |
| Yes |
네 |
ne |
| No |
아니요 |
aniyo |
| South Korea |
한국 |
hanguk |
|
Korean (language) |
한국어 |
hangugeo |
|
French (language) |
프랑스어 |
peulangseu-eo |
|
person |
사람 |
salam |
|
woman |
여자 |
yeoja |
|
man |
남자 |
namja |
|
love |
사랑 |
salang |
|
friend |
친구 |
chingu |
|
parents |
부모님 |
bumonim |
|
mother |
어머니 |
eomeoni |
|
father |
아버지 |
abeoji |
|
child |
아이 |
ai |
|
school |
학교 |
hakkyo |
|
teacher |
선생님 |
seonsaengnim |
|
student |
학생 |
hak-ssaeng |
|
book |
책 |
chaek |
|
pen |
펜 |
pen |
|
clothes |
옷 |
ot |
|
shoes |
신발 |
shinbal |
|
restaurant |
식당 |
shik-ttang |
|
food |
음식 |
eumshik |
|
rice |
밥 |
bap |
|
vegetable |
야채 |
yachae |
|
meat |
고기 |
gogi |
|
chicken |
닭고기 |
dakkogi |
|
beef |
소고기 |
sogogi |
|
pork |
돼지고기 |
dwaejigogi |
|
egg |
달걀 |
dalgyal |
|
beverage |
음료 |
eumnyo |
|
water |
물 |
mul |
|
tea |
차 |
cha |
|
coffee |
커피 |
keopi |
|
milk |
우유 |
uyu |
|
house |
집 |
jip |
|
door |
문 |
mun |
|
window |
창문 |
changmun |
|
table |
테이블 |
teibeul |
|
chair |
의자 |
uija |
|
bed |
침대 |
chimdae |
|
toilet/bathroom |
화장실 |
hwajangshil |
|
animal |
동물 |
dongmul |
|
dog |
개 |
gae |
|
cat |
고양이 |
goyang-i |
|
bird |
새 |
sae |
|
fish |
물고기 |
mulgogi |
|
money |
돈 |
don |
|
today |
오늘 |
oneul |
|
yesterday |
어제 |
eoje |
|
tomorrow |
내일 |
nae-il |
|
name |
이름 |
ileum |
|
age |
나이 |
nai |
|
question |
질문 |
jilmun |
|
answer |
대답 |
daedap |
|
birthday |
생일 |
saeng-il |
|
car |
자동차 (차) |
jadongcha (cha) |
|
bike |
자전거 |
jajeon-geo |
|
bus |
버스 |
beoseu |
|
train |
기차 |
gicha |
|
body |
몸 |
mom |
|
head |
머리 |
meoli |
|
eye |
눈 |
nun |
|
nose |
코 |
ko |
|
mouth |
입 |
ip |
|
arm |
팔 |
pal |
|
hand |
손 |
son |
|
bag |
가방 |
gabang |
|
photo |
사진 |
sajin |
|
camera |
카메라 |
kamela |
| trip / travel |
여행 |
yeohaeng |
|
country |
나라 |
nala |
|
city |
도시 |
doshi |
|
bank |
은행 |
eunhaeng |
|
park |
공원 |
gongwon |
|
profession |
직업 |
jigeop |
|
work |
일 |
il |
|
music |
노래 |
nolae |
|
movie |
음악 |
eumak |
|
movie |
영화 |
yeonghwa |
|
sports / exercise |
운동 |
undong |
|
together |
같이 |
gachi |
|
now |
지금 |
jigeum |
|
color |
색깔 |
saekkal |
|
blue |
파란색 |
palansaek |
|
red |
빨간색 |
ppalgansaek |
|
yellow |
노란색 |
nolansaek |
|
sky |
하늘 |
haneul |
|
rain |
비 |
bi |
|
umbrella |
우산 |
usan |
|
snow |
눈 |
nun |
|
cloud |
구름 |
guleum |
|
wind |
바람 |
balam |
|
tree |
나무 |
namu |
|
flower |
꽃 |
kkot |
|
sea |
바다 |
bada |
|
left |
왼쪽 |
oenjjok |
|
right |
오른쪽 |
oleunjjok |
You already know some vocabulary and sentence structures… But when you listen to Koreans speak, do you ever feel like something is missing, the meaning behind the words, the cultural nuance that makes the language truly come alive?
That’s completely normal. In Korean, proverbs and idiomatic expressions are essential to understanding how Koreans think and communicate. Without them, you can speak, but your language will feel flat and overly literal.
With 100 Korean Proverbs - Illustrated and Explained, you’ll understand not only what Koreans say, but why they say it, and what each expression reveals about their mindset and culture.
Learn more