Conversation, asking, explaining, and the ways people speak.
Korean draws a line English does not: advice from someone whose job it is, a teacher or a counsellor, is 상담하다, while talking something over to decide it together, with family, a colleague or a boss, is 상의하다. Many words here also come with a fixed verb that is worth learning as a unit: 수다를 떨다, to chat away; 말을 걸다, to start talking to someone; 고개를 끄덕이다, to nod.
The words
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Verb (18)
토론하다to debate; to discussVerb3
수업 시간에 환경 문제에 대해 토론했어요.In class we debated environmental problems.
설명하다to explainVerb3
선생님이 문법을 쉽게 설명해 주셨어요.The teacher explained the grammar in a simple way.
표현하다to expressVerb3
제 마음을 한국어로 표현하기가 어려워요.It is hard to express my feelings in Korean.
제안하다to suggest; to proposeVerb3
친구가 주말에 같이 등산을 가자고 제안했어요.My friend suggested we go hiking together at the weekend.
상담하다to consult; to get advice (from a professional)Verb3
고민이 있어서 학교 선생님과 상담했어요.I had something on my mind, so I talked it over with a teacher at school.
Advice from a professional — a counsellor, a teacher, a bank; talking it over to decide together is 상의하다.
상의하다to talk over; to discuss togetherVerb3
중요한 일은 가족과 상의해서 결정해요.I decide important things after talking them over with my family.
인사하다to greet; to say helloVerb2
아침에 이웃을 만나면 먼저 인사해요.When I meet a neighbour in the morning, I say hello first.
부탁하다to ask (a favour)Verb2
친구에게 이사를 도와 달라고 부탁했어요.I asked a friend to help me move house.
전하다to pass on; to tell (a message)Verb3
친구가 늦는다고 선생님께 전했어요.I passed on to the teacher that my friend would be late.
알리다to let (someone) know; to informVerb3
새 주소를 친구들에게 알렸어요.I let my friends know my new address.
물어보다to ask (a question)Verb2
모르는 단어는 선생님께 물어보세요.Ask the teacher about words you do not know.
More everyday than 묻다, which is irregular: 물어요.
거절하다to refuse; to turn downVerb3
친구의 부탁을 거절하기가 힘들었어요.It was hard to say no to my friend's request.
속삭이다to whisperVerb3
수업 시간에 친구가 제 귀에 대고 속삭였어요.During class my friend whispered in my ear.
번역하다to translateVerb3
이 편지를 영어로 번역해 줄 수 있어요?Could you translate this letter into English?
외치다to shout; to cry outVerb3
사람들이 경기장에서 선수 이름을 크게 외쳤어요.People shouted the player's name loudly in the stadium.
끼어들다to butt in; to interruptVerb3
다른 사람이 말할 때 끼어들지 마세요.Do not butt in when someone else is speaking.
끄덕이다to nodVerb3
할머니는 제 말을 듣고 고개를 끄덕이셨어요.My grandmother listened to me and nodded.
Usually with 고개, the head: 고개를 끄덕이다.
불평하다to complainVerb3
그 손님은 음식이 늦게 나온다고 불평했어요.That customer complained that the food was slow to come.
Noun (21)
대화conversationNoun3
친구와 한국어로 대화를 나눴어요.I had a conversation with my friend in Korean.
"To have a conversation": 대화를 나누다 or 대화하다.
의견opinion; viewNoun3
회의에서 모두 자기 의견을 말했어요.Everyone gave their own view at the meeting.
연락contact; being in touchNoun3
졸업한 후에 그 친구와 연락이 끊겼어요.I lost touch with that friend after we graduated.
억양intonation; accentNoun3
억양을 들으면 그 사람이 어디 출신인지 알 수 있어요.You can tell from his intonation where he comes from.
안부how someone is; someone's regardsNoun3
부모님께 안부 전해 주세요.Please give my regards to your parents.
안부를 묻다 is to ask how someone is.
답장reply (to a message or letter)Noun3
어제 보낸 메시지에 아직 답장이 없어요.There is still no reply to the message I sent yesterday.
사투리dialectNoun3
할머니가 사투리를 쓰셔서 가끔 못 알아들어요.My grandmother speaks dialect, so sometimes I cannot understand her.
표준어standard languageNoun3
뉴스에서는 표준어를 써요.Standard Korean is used on the news.
맞장구chiming in; agreeing noisesNoun3
친구가 이야기할 때 옆에서 계속 맞장구를 쳤어요.While my friend was talking, I kept chiming in.
The little "right, right" a listener keeps adding: 맞장구를 치다.
말투way of speaking; toneNoun3
그 사람은 말투가 좀 차가워요.That person's way of speaking is a bit cold.
의사소통communicationNoun3
한국어를 배워서 동료들과 의사소통이 쉬워졌어요.Learning Korean has made communicating with colleagues easier.
Not 의사 the doctor: here the word means "what you mean".
농담jokeNoun3
농담이에요, 화내지 마세요.I'm only joking — don't be angry.
수다chatter; chit-chatNoun3
카페에서 친구들과 두 시간 동안 수다를 떨었어요.I chatted with friends in a café for two hours.
"To chat away": 수다를 떨다.
소문rumour; wordNoun3
그 식당이 맛있다는 소문을 듣고 가 봤어요.I had heard that restaurant was good, so I went to try it.
거짓말lieNoun2
아이가 거짓말을 해서 엄마가 화가 났어요.The child told a lie, so his mother got angry.
비밀secretNoun3
이건 비밀이니까 아무한테도 말하지 마세요.This is a secret, so don't tell anyone.
메모note; memoNoun3
전화가 오면 메모를 남겨 주세요.If anyone calls, please leave me a note.
통역interpreting; interpreterNoun3
회의에서 동료가 통역을 해 줬어요.A colleague interpreted for me at the meeting.
For speech; translating a text is 번역.
손짓hand gestureNoun3
말이 안 통해서 손짓으로 설명했어요.We didn't share a language, so I explained with gestures.
말다툼argument; quarrelNoun3
사소한 일로 동생과 말다툼을 했어요.I had an argument with my younger sibling over something trivial.
잔소리naggingNoun3
방을 안 치워서 엄마한테 잔소리를 들었어요.I did not tidy my room, so my mum nagged me.
Nagging is "heard" by the one on the receiving end: 잔소리를 듣다.
Phrase (1)
말을 걸다to start talking to (someone)Phrase3
옆자리에 앉은 사람이 저에게 말을 걸었어요.The person sitting next to me started talking to me.
This list belongs to Greetings and conversation — seven lists and 279 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.
