Collocations in Korean: which verb goes with which noun

An English speaker’s Korean can be grammatical and still wrong. Nobody takes a photo in Korean — they press one, 사진을 찍다. A cold is not caught but catches you, 감기에 걸리다; an exam is not taken but seen, 시험을 보다; and a decision is brought down like a verdict, 결정을 내리다. No rule explains any of it, and translating the English verb word for word goes wrong with great reliability: the verb it suggests usually exists and means something else. It is a habit of the language, and habits are learnt in pairs.

찍다

Literally to press or to stamp, and the verb for anything that leaves a mark: a photo, a film, a seal on a contract, a dot at the end of a sentence. English takes, shoots and puts; Korean presses. In an exam it is also a guess — you stab at the answer.

여기서 같이 사진을 찍어요.Let’s take a photo together here.

이 동네에서 유명한 영화를 찍었대요.Apparently a famous film was shot in this neighbourhood.

계약서에 도장을 찍어 주세요.Please stamp your seal on the contract.

보다

To see — and the verb for things English takes, does or has: an exam, an interview, the food shopping, a loss. You see an exam because sitting it is a matter of facing it.

내일 영어 시험을 봐요.I have an English exam tomorrow.

어제 회사에서 면접을 봤어요.I had an interview at a company yesterday.

퇴근길에 마트에서 장을 봤어요.I did the food shopping at the supermarket on my way home from work.

타다

To ride, and to get on: a bus, a train, a bike, a swing. It also receives what comes round or is awarded — a prize, the monthly pay — and it feels the weather: somebody who rides the cold feels it more than other people.

학교에 갈 때 버스를 타요.I take the bus to school.

주말에 강가에서 자전거를 탔어요.At the weekend I rode my bike by the river.

겨울마다 산에 가서 스키를 타요.Every winter I go to the mountains and ski.

걸리다

To be caught or hung up on something. A cold catches you rather than the other way round, time is taken up, a red light stops you, and a worry stays hanging in your mind. The noun never takes the object particle here.

비를 맞아서 감기에 걸렸어요.I got caught in the rain and caught a cold.

집에서 회사까지 시간이 얼마나 걸려요?How long does it take from your home to the office?

할아버지께서 큰 병에 걸리셨어요.My grandfather has fallen seriously ill.

걸다

To hang something up, and the active partner of the verb above. A phone call is hung on the line, an engine is started by it, and hopes — and lives — are staked on something.

친구에게 전화를 걸었는데 안 받았어요.I rang my friend, but she didn’t answer.

옆자리 사람이 먼저 말을 걸었어요.The person in the next seat spoke to me first.

젖은 옷을 옷걸이에 걸어 두세요.Hang the wet clothes on a hanger.

쓰다

To write and to use — and to wear on the head or the face: a hat, glasses, a mask, an umbrella held overhead. Money and care are used as well, where English spends and pays.

햇빛이 강해서 모자를 썼어요.The sun was strong, so I wore a hat.

저는 책을 읽을 때만 안경을 써요.I only wear glasses when I read.

비가 와서 우산을 쓰고 나갔어요.It was raining, so I went out with my umbrella up.

신다

Wear or put on anything you step into: shoes, socks, tights, boots. English wears them all; Korean has a verb for the feet alone.

현관에서 신발을 신고 나갔어요.I put my shoes on in the hall and went out.

추워서 양말을 두 켤레 신었어요.It was cold, so I wore two pairs of socks.

결혼식이라서 새 구두를 신었어요.It was a wedding, so I wore new shoes.

끼다

To fit something snugly onto or between: gloves on the hands, a ring on a finger, contact lenses in the eyes, arms linked. Fog that settles in takes the same verb.

너무 추워서 장갑을 꼈어요.It was very cold, so I put on gloves.

그는 왼손에 반지를 끼고 있었어요.He was wearing a ring on his left hand.

오늘은 안경 대신 렌즈를 꼈어요.Today I wore contact lenses instead of glasses.

차다

To kick, and to wear what is strapped on, like a watch. Breath that runs short fills up, a room fills up, and a partner can be kicked — dumped.

아버지는 항상 손목에 시계를 차세요.My father always wears a watch.

아이들이 운동장에서 공을 차고 놀아요.The children are kicking a ball about in the playground.

계단을 올라왔더니 숨이 차요.I came up the stairs and now I’m out of breath.

매다

To tie, and so to wear for a tie and to fasten for a seat belt. A verb that sounds the same and carries a bag on the shoulder is spelt differently.

면접 날이라서 넥타이를 맸어요.It was the day of my interview, so I wore a tie.

출발하기 전에 안전벨트를 매세요.Fasten your seat belt before we set off.

풀린 신발 끈을 다시 맸어요.I tied my shoelaces again — they had come undone.

하다

To do — and in Korean the verb for jewellery and make-up, where English wears or puts on, and for lies, where English tells. It is the easiest verb to reach for and, in these pairs, the right one.

외출하기 전에 화장을 해요.I put on make-up before I go out.

오늘은 엄마가 주신 목걸이를 했어요.Today I wore the necklace my mother gave me.

아이가 엄마한테 거짓말을 했어요.The child told his mother a lie.

치다

To hit or strike — and the verb for instruments with keys or strings, games played with a racket, hands that clap and thunder that cracks. English plays, claps and pitches; Korean strikes.

동생은 피아노를 잘 쳐요.My younger sister plays the piano well.

주말에는 집에서 기타를 쳐요.At weekends I play the guitar at home.

아버지랑 테니스를 치고 왔어요.I’ve just been playing tennis with my father.

불다

To blow: the wind blows by itself, and you blow up a balloon, whistle, and play any instrument you put your breath into. English plays the flute; Korean blows it.

오늘은 바람이 많이 불어요.It’s very windy today.

아이 생일이라서 풍선을 불었어요.It was my child’s birthday, so I blew up balloons.

기분이 좋아서 휘파람을 불었어요.I was in a good mood, so I whistled.

켜다

To switch on or light — and, oddly, to play the violin, whose bow is drawn like a saw. Lights and machines are never opened in Korean.

방이 어두워서 불을 켰어요.The room was dark, so I switched on the light.

더우면 에어컨을 켜세요.If you’re hot, turn on the air conditioning.

집에 오자마자 텔레비전을 켰어요.As soon as I got home, I turned on the television.

끄다

To switch off or put out. Whatever was switched on with the verb above is switched off with this one: a light, a phone, an alarm, a fire.

나갈 때 불을 꺼 주세요.Please switch off the light when you go out.

공연 중에는 휴대폰을 꺼 주세요.Please switch off your phones during the performance.

알람을 끄고 다시 잤어요.I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep.

두다

To put or leave something somewhere — and the verb for board games, where each piece is put down: chess and its Korean cousin are placed, not played.

할아버지는 공원에서 친구분들과 바둑을 두세요.My grandfather plays baduk with his friends in the park.

주말에 친구랑 체스를 뒀어요.At the weekend I played chess with a friend.

먹다

To eat, with a wider stomach than in English: medicine is eaten even as a tablet. A resolution is eaten when you make up your mind, years are eaten as you grow older, and fright, criticism and even a goal are swallowed.

식사 후에 약을 먹어야 해요.You have to take the medicine after meals.

올해는 운동을 꼭 하기로 마음을 먹었어요.I’ve made up my mind to exercise this year.

나이를 먹을수록 시간이 빨리 가요.The older you get, the faster time goes.

나다

To come out or arise: things that happen by themselves. A fever, a smell, a noise, an accident, a fire, a rumour, tears and sweat all come out. The noun takes the subject particle, because nobody does it — it happens.

아이가 밤새 열이 나서 잠을 못 잤어요.My child had a temperature all night and couldn’t sleep.

동생이 제 옷을 말도 없이 입고 나가서 화가 났어요.My sister went out in my clothes without asking, so I got angry.

집 앞 사거리에서 사고가 났어요.There was an accident at the crossroads outside my house.

들다

To go in — and many things go in: sleep, the money a thing costs, affection for a place, autumn colour into the leaves. It also lifts: a hand raised in class, an example held up.

이 가방이 정말 마음에 들어요.I really like this bag.

책을 읽다가 잠이 들었어요.I fell asleep reading a book.

이사하는 데 돈이 많이 들었어요.Moving house cost a lot of money.

받다

To receive. English has or takes things that Korean receives: an operation, an order in a restaurant, a phone call that is answered, stress that comes at you.

회의 중이라서 전화를 못 받았어요.I was in a meeting, so I couldn’t answer the phone.

직원이 와서 주문을 받았어요.A waiter came and took our order.

요즘 일 때문에 스트레스를 많이 받아요.Work is stressing me out a lot at the moment.

주다

To give, and the other side of the verb above: water to a plant, a chance to somebody, hurt or fright to somebody else.

화분에 물을 줬어요.I watered the plant.

한 번만 더 기회를 주세요.Please give me one more chance.

제 말이 친구에게 상처를 줬어요.What I said hurt my friend’s feelings.

내다

To put out, from inside to outside: money that is paid, homework that is handed in, time that is found, anger and noise let out, courage summoned. English makes time and takes leave; Korean puts them out.

식당에서 돈을 내고 나왔어요.I paid at the restaurant and left.

학생들이 숙제를 내지 않았어요.The students didn’t hand in their homework.

작은 일에 화를 내지 마세요.Don’t lose your temper over little things.

내리다

To bring down or come down. Rain and snow come down rather than fall, a decision and a conclusion are brought down like a verdict, and coffee is brought down through a filter.

밤새 눈이 내려서 길이 하얘요.It snowed all night and the streets are white.

차에서 짐을 내려 주시겠어요?Could you take the luggage out of the car?

오래 고민한 끝에 결정을 내렸어요.After thinking it over for a long time, I made a decision.

지키다

To guard — and so to keep: a promise, a secret, the rules, a time agreed. What English keeps, Korean guards against being broken.

그 친구는 항상 약속을 지켜요.That friend always keeps his promises.

면접 때는 시간을 잘 지키세요.Be on time for your interview.

제 비밀을 지켜 줄 수 있어요?Can you keep my secret?

풀다

To untie or undo — and so to solve a problem, unpack a bag, let go of anger, and work off stress or tiredness. A blocked nose is undone too: nothing is blown.

이 수학 문제를 풀어 보세요.Try solving this maths problem.

감기 때문에 계속 코를 풀어요.I keep blowing my nose because of my cold.

저는 노래방에서 스트레스를 풀어요.I let off steam at a karaoke room.

세우다

To make something stand: a plan, a goal and a record are stood up, and a car is stopped by standing it at the kerb.

방학 전에 여행 계획을 세웠어요.I made plans for a trip before the holidays.

새해에 목표를 세 가지 세웠어요.I set myself three goals for the new year.

여기에서 잠깐 차를 세워 주세요.Please pull over here for a moment.

짓다

To build or make by putting together: a house, a name, a pot of rice, a prescription made up at the pharmacy, a smile on a face. English gives a name and cooks rice; Korean builds both.

할아버지께서 제 이름을 지어 주셨어요.My grandfather chose my name.

쌀을 씻어서 밥을 지었어요.I washed the rice and cooked it.

부모님이 시골에 작은 집을 지으셨어요.My parents built a small house in the country.

잡다

To grab or catch, and to fix something in place: a taxi is caught, an appointment and a date are pinned down, a good seat is grabbed, your balance is held.

아이의 손을 잡고 길을 건넜어요.I held the child’s hand and crossed the road.

비가 와서 택시를 잡기가 힘들었어요.It was raining, so it was hard to get a taxi.

강에서 물고기를 잡았어요.We caught fish in the river.

맞다

To be hit — or to receive something that comes at you: rain, an injection, acupuncture, a mark in a test. Being stood up is being hit by the wind.

우산이 없어서 비를 맞았어요.I had no umbrella, so I got wet in the rain.

독감 예방 주사를 맞았어요.I had a flu jab.

수학 시험에서 백 점을 맞았어요.I got full marks in the maths test.

놓다

To put down or let go. An injection is put into you, a hand you were holding is let go, and a mind is set down when it stops worrying.

간호사가 팔에 주사를 놓았어요.The nurse gave me an injection in the arm.

합격 소식을 듣고 마음을 놓았어요.I was relieved when I heard I had passed.

넘어지지 않게 제 손을 놓지 마세요.Don’t let go of my hand, or I’ll fall.

빠지다

To fall into, or to fall out. Love and water are fallen into, as in English; weight and hair fall out, a class is dropped out of, and air goes out of a tyre.

두 사람은 첫눈에 사랑에 빠졌어요.The two of them fell in love at first sight.

아이가 물에 빠질 뻔했어요.The child nearly fell into the water.

운동을 해서 살이 많이 빠졌어요.I’ve lost a lot of weight by exercising.

붙다

To stick — and to pass an exam, where your name sticks on the list of those who got through. Fire that catches sticks too.

드디어 운전면허 시험에 붙었어요.I’ve finally passed my driving test.

난로 옆에 둔 종이에 불이 붙었어요.The paper I had left next to the heater caught fire.

떨어지다

To fall or drop — and to fail an exam, run out of money, lose your appetite or go off somebody. English fails and runs out; Korean drops.

아쉽게도 시험에 떨어졌어요.Unfortunately I failed the exam.

월말이라서 돈이 다 떨어졌어요.It’s the end of the month and I’ve run out of money.

날씨가 더워서 입맛이 떨어졌어요.It’s so hot that I’ve lost my appetite.

감다

To close the eyes, to wash the hair, and to wind something round, like a bandage. English shuts eyes like doors and washes hair like hands; Korean has a verb for each.

눈을 감고 음악을 들었어요.I closed my eyes and listened to the music.

아침마다 머리를 감아요.I wash my hair every morning.

다친 손에 붕대를 감았어요.I wound a bandage round my injured hand.

뜨다

To rise or float up: the sun rising, eyes opening, and a person getting up and leaving their seat.

아침에 눈을 뜨니까 벌써 열 시였어요.When I opened my eyes in the morning, it was already ten.

해가 뜨는 걸 보려고 일찍 일어났어요.I got up early to watch the sunrise.

그는 회의 중에 말없이 자리를 떴어요.He got up and left in the middle of the meeting without a word.

닦다

To wipe or polish — and so to brush your teeth, which are polished like shoes. Sweat, glasses and a table are all wiped with it.

자기 전에 이를 닦아요.I brush my teeth before bed.

수건으로 땀을 닦았어요.I wiped the sweat off with a towel.

안경을 닦고 다시 썼어요.I cleaned my glasses and put them back on.

흘리다

To let something flow or drop: tears and sweat are shed with it, and so is food dropped down your front.

그 소식을 듣고 눈물을 흘렸어요.I shed tears when I heard the news.

땀을 흘리면서 산에 올라갔어요.We climbed the mountain dripping with sweat.

아이가 옷에 음식을 흘렸어요.The child spilt food down his clothes.

떨다

To shake: a body shivering with cold, dust shaken off a coat. Chatting is shaking out words, and fussing is shaking out a fuss.

너무 추워서 몸을 덜덜 떨었어요.It was so cold that I was shivering all over.

카페에서 친구랑 두 시간 동안 수다를 떨었어요.I nattered with a friend in a café for two hours.

밖에서 옷에 묻은 먼지를 떨고 들어왔어요.I shook the dust off my clothes outside before coming in.

부리다

To put something on display, often more than is welcome: greed, stubbornness, charm, a bit of style. English is greedy or stubborn; Korean exercises it.

너무 욕심을 부리면 안 돼요.You shouldn’t want too much.

동생이 집에 안 가겠다고 고집을 부렸어요.My little brother dug his heels in and said he wouldn’t go home.

강아지가 간식을 달라고 애교를 부려요.The puppy is turning on the charm to get a treat.

피우다

To make something burn or bloom: a cigarette is smoked with it, a fire is lit, and laziness and an affair are both made to flourish.

여기서 담배를 피우시면 안 됩니다.You may not smoke here.

캠핑장에서 불을 피우고 고기를 구웠어요.We lit a fire at the campsite and grilled some meat.

주말이라서 게으름을 피우고 늦게 일어났어요.It was the weekend, so I lazed about and got up late.

열다

To open — and to hold: a party is opened, a shop is opened for the first time, and a person opens their heart. English throws parties; Korean opens them.

친구 생일에 깜짝 파티를 열었어요.We threw a surprise party for our friend’s birthday.

회사를 그만두고 작은 가게를 열었어요.I left my job and opened a small shop.

그 친구는 쉽게 마음을 열지 않아요.That friend doesn’t open up easily.

지다

To carry on your back, and so to bear: responsibility, a debt, and a favour you owe. The same verb sees the sun go down.

해가 지기 전에 집에 돌아가요.Let’s go home before the sun goes down.

제가 한 일은 제가 책임을 질게요.I’ll take responsibility for what I did.

집을 사느라고 은행에 빚을 졌어요.I went into debt with the bank to buy a home.

남기다

To leave behind: a message, food on the plate, a comment under a post. English leaves with a verb that also means going away; Korean has one for what stays.

삐 소리가 나면 메시지를 남겨 주세요.Please leave a message after the beep.

음식을 남기지 마세요.Don’t leave any food on your plate.

좋은 글에 댓글을 남겼어요.I left a comment under a good post.

벌다

To earn: money, and time, which can be earned when you stall. English makes money and buys time; Korean earns both.

대학생 때 아르바이트로 돈을 벌었어요.At university I earned money with part-time jobs.

핑계를 대서 시간을 좀 벌었어요.I made an excuse and bought myself a bit of time.

대다

To put one thing against another: a hand on an object, a car against the kerb, an excuse against a reproach.

전시된 작품에 손을 대지 마세요.Please do not touch the works on display.

건물 앞에 잠깐 차를 대도 돼요?Can I park in front of the building for a moment?

그는 늦을 때마다 핑계를 대요.He makes an excuse every time he’s late.

깎다

To shave or pare down: an apple is peeled with a knife, nails and hair are cut short, and a price is whittled down by haggling.

엄마가 사과를 깎아 주셨어요.My mother peeled an apple for me.

손톱을 너무 짧게 깎았어요.I cut my nails too short.

시장에서 값을 조금 깎았어요.I haggled a little off the price at the market.

보내다

To send, and to spend: time, a holiday and a weekend are sent past, where English spends them like money.

주말에 가족이랑 즐거운 시간을 보냈어요.I had a lovely time with my family at the weekend.

바닷가에서 휴가를 보냈어요.I spent my holiday by the sea.

도착하면 문자를 보내 주세요.Send me a text when you arrive.

Try it yourself