2 · 40 words

Describing people

Kind, clever, tall, young, good-looking, talkative — and how to say it politely.

A Korean adjective already contains the “to be”: 착해요 is “she is kind”, with nothing else needed. Many descriptions are small sentences with a subject of their own — 키가 크다, “the height is big”, is how you say someone is tall. And looks are often verbs in the past: 잘생겼어요, “he is handsome”, literally “he came out well”.

The words

Verb (4)

잘생기다to be good-lookingVerb2

그 남자는 정말 잘생겼어요.That man is really good-looking.

A verb, so a present look is said in the past: 잘생겼어요.

못생기다to be ugly, plainVerb2

이 강아지는 좀 못생겼지만 귀여워요.This puppy is a bit plain, but it is sweet.

닮다to look like, take afterVerb2

저는 아버지를 많이 닮았어요.I take after my father a lot.

Takes an object, and a likeness is said in the past: 엄마를 닮았어요.

늙다to grow old; to be oldVerb2

우리 개도 이제 많이 늙었어요.Our dog has got quite old now.

Blunt about people; 나이가 드셨어요 is kinder.

This list belongs to People and feelings — twelve lists and 477 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.