3 · 40 words

Clothes and fashion

Suits, sleeves, buttons and patterns, and the words for how an outfit looks.

Much Korean fashion vocabulary is borrowed from English, often in a shape English does not use: 원피스 is a dress, from “one-piece”. As at level 2, the verb depends on where something is worn; here are the finer ones, such as 매다 for a tie and 걸치다 for something thrown over the shoulders, and the words for judging an outfit, from 세련되다 (stylish) to 촌스럽다 (dated).

The words

Verb (8)

어울리다to suit, go well withVerb3

그 모자가 정말 잘 어울려요.That hat really suits you.

꾸미다to dress up; to decorateVerb3

친구 결혼식이라서 평소보다 신경 써서 꾸몄어요.It was my friend's wedding, so I made more effort with my appearance than usual.

Also for a room: 방을 꾸미다, to decorate a room.

갈아입다to change (clothes)Verb3

운동하고 나서 땀에 젖은 옷을 갈아입었어요.After exercising I changed out of my sweaty clothes.

걸치다to throw on, drape over (the shoulders)Verb3

쌀쌀해서 어깨에 카디건을 걸쳤어요.It was chilly, so I threw a cardigan over my shoulders.

매다to tie (a tie, a belt, laces)Verb3

아버지께서 넥타이 매는 법을 가르쳐 주셨어요.My father taught me how to tie a tie.

Not 메다, to carry on the shoulder; both are said the same.

수선하다to alter, mend (clothes)Verb3

바지가 길어서 세탁소에서 수선했어요.The trousers were too long, so I had them altered at the dry cleaner's.

다리다to ironVerb3

출근하기 전에 셔츠를 다렸어요.I ironed my shirt before going to work.

화장하다to put on make-upVerb3

오늘은 화장하지 않고 그냥 나왔어요.Today I came out without any make-up.

This list belongs to Shopping, clothes and money — 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.