4 · 40 words

Adjectives of judgement

Rational, realistic, fair, absurd: the words for weighing things up.

Over half of this list ends in -적이다, a Sino-Korean ending much like English “-ic” or “-al”: 논리is logic논리적이다to be logical Before a noun it becomes -적인 (합리적인 가격) and as an adverb -적으로 (객관적으로). Opposites are often made with a prefix: 비, “non-”, or 불, “un-”, as in 효율적이다 and 비효율적이다, or 확실하다 and 불확실하다.

The words

Adjective (40)

합리적이다to be rational, reasonableAdjective4

가격이 합리적이라서 이 식당에 자주 가요.The prices are reasonable, so I often go to this restaurant.

Said [함니저기다]. Of a price it means fair rather than cheap.

효율적이다to be efficientAdjective4

일을 효율적으로 하려면 계획부터 세우세요.If you want to work efficiently, start by making a plan.

비효율적이다to be inefficientAdjective4

같은 서류를 두 번 쓰는 건 비효율적이에요.Filling in the same form twice is inefficient.

객관적이다to be objectiveAdjective4

기사는 사실을 객관적으로 전달해야 해요.A news report should present the facts objectively.

Said [객꽌저기다].

주관적이다to be subjectiveAdjective4

맛은 주관적이라서 사람마다 평가가 달라요.Taste is subjective, so everyone judges differently.

긍정적이다to be positiveAdjective3

그 친구는 늘 긍정적이라서 같이 있으면 기분이 좋아요.My friend is always positive, so it is nice to be around them.

부정적이다to be negativeAdjective3

처음부터 너무 부정적으로 생각하지 마세요.Do not be so negative right from the start.

현실적이다to be realisticAdjective4

목표는 높게 잡아도 계획은 현실적이어야 해요.You can aim high, but your plan has to be realistic.

이상적이다to be ideal; to be idealisticAdjective4

일주일에 사흘만 일하는 건 이상적이지만 쉽지 않아요.Working only three days a week is ideal, but it is not easy.

논리적이다to be logicalAdjective4

그의 설명은 짧지만 아주 논리적이에요.His explanation is short but very logical.

Said [놀리저기다].

감정적이다to be emotionalAdjective4

화가 나도 감정적으로 대응하지 마세요.Even if you are angry, do not react emotionally.

이성적이다to be rational (not emotional)Adjective4

중요한 결정은 이성적으로 내려야 해요.Important decisions should be made with a cool head.

Reason as opposed to feeling; 합리적이다 is sensible as opposed to wasteful or absurd.

비판적이다to be criticalAdjective4

뉴스를 볼 때는 비판적인 시각이 필요해요.You need a critical eye when you watch the news.

상대적이다to be relativeAdjective4

행복은 상대적이라고 생각해요.I think happiness is relative.

절대적이다to be absoluteAdjective4

부모님 말씀이 절대적이던 시대는 지났어요.The days when parents’ word was law are over.

Said [절때저기다].

근본적이다to be fundamentalAdjective4

이 문제는 근본적인 해결이 필요해요.This problem needs to be solved at the root.

결정적이다to be decisive, crucialAdjective4

마지막 골이 승리에 결정적이었어요.The last goal was what won the match.

Said [결쩡저기다].

효과적이다to be effectiveAdjective4

단어는 문장과 함께 외우는 게 더 효과적이에요.It is more effective to learn words together with sentences.

생산적이다to be productiveAdjective4

오늘은 정말 생산적인 하루였어요.Today was a really productive day.

경제적이다to be economical; to be financialAdjective4

가까운 곳은 걸어 다니는 게 건강에도 좋고 경제적이에요.For short distances, walking is good for your health and cheaper too.

Also “to do with money”: 경제적인 문제, a financial problem.

실용적이다to be practicalAdjective4

이 가방은 예쁘지는 않지만 아주 실용적이에요.This bag is not pretty, but it is very practical.

체계적이다to be systematicAdjective4

시험 준비는 체계적으로 하는 게 좋아요.It is best to prepare for exams systematically.

보편적이다to be universal; to be widespreadAdjective4

가족을 소중히 여기는 것은 보편적인 가치예요.Cherishing your family is a universal value.

획기적이다to be groundbreakingAdjective4

그 발명은 당시로서는 정말 획기적이었어요.That invention was truly groundbreaking for its time.

Said [획끼저기다].

타당하다to be valid, sound (of an argument)Adjective4

그의 주장은 충분히 타당해요.His argument is perfectly sound.

정당하다to be just, legitimate, fairAdjective4

일한 만큼 정당한 대가를 받아야 해요.You should be paid fairly for the work you do.

Spelt the same as 정당, a political party.

부당하다to be unjust, unfairAdjective4

부당한 대우를 받으면 참지 말고 말하세요.If you are treated unfairly, do not put up with it; speak up.

공평하다to be fair, even-handedAdjective4

케이크를 공평하게 여섯 조각으로 나눴어요.We cut the cake fairly into six pieces.

바람직하다to be desirableAdjective4

어릴 때부터 책을 읽는 습관을 들이는 것은 바람직해요.Getting into the habit of reading from an early age is a good thing.

Said [바람지카다].

마땅하다to be right and proper; to be suitableAdjective4

잘못했으면 사과하는 게 마땅해요.If you did something wrong, it is only right to apologise.

With a negative, “suitable”: 마땅한 곳이 없어요, there is nowhere suitable.

불확실하다to be uncertainAdjective4

앞날이 불확실해서 불안해요.The future is uncertain, so I feel uneasy.

모호하다to be vague, ambiguousAdjective4

대답이 너무 모호해서 무슨 뜻인지 모르겠어요.The answer was so vague that I do not know what it means.

유익하다to be worthwhile, beneficialAdjective4

오늘 강연은 정말 유익했어요.Today’s talk was really worthwhile.

Said [유이카다].

유용하다to be usefulAdjective3

이 앱은 여행할 때 아주 유용해요.This app is very useful when you travel.

쓸모없다to be useless, of no useAdjective3

쓸모없는 물건은 정리해서 버리는 게 좋아요.It is good to sort out and throw away things that are no use.

Said [쓸모업따].

터무니없다to be absurd, outrageousAdjective4

관광지라서 그런지 가격이 터무니없이 비싸요.Maybe because it is a tourist spot, the prices are outrageous.

그럴듯하다to be plausibleAdjective4

그 변명은 꽤 그럴듯하게 들렸어요.The excuse sounded quite plausible.

형편없다to be awful, dreadfulAdjective4

그 식당은 음식 맛이 형편없었어요.The food at that restaurant was dreadful.

Said [형펴넙따].

탁월하다to be outstanding, excellentAdjective4

그는 문제를 해결하는 능력이 탁월해요.He has an outstanding gift for solving problems.

기발하다to be ingenious, originalAdjective4

정말 기발한 아이디어네요!What an ingenious idea!

This list belongs to Opinions and abstract words — six lists and 240 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.