The words for what people value, owe and expect of each other.
A few of these words have no single English equivalent, and they are the ones to read slowly. 정 is the warmth that grows between people who have shared time; 눈치 is the knack of reading a room; 체면 is face, the standing you keep in other people’s eyes; 한 is a sorrow held for a long time. The rest are the vocabulary of respect: who counts as an elder, how to address people, and what is owed in return for kindness.
The words
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Verb (4)
양보하다to give way; to give up (a seat, a turn)Verb4
지하철에서 할머니께 자리를 양보했어요.I gave up my seat to an elderly lady on the underground.
공경하다to revere, honour (one’s elders)Verb4
어른을 공경하는 것은 오래된 전통이에요.Honouring one’s elders is an old tradition.
보답하다to repay (a kindness)Verb4
응원해 주신 분들께 꼭 보답하고 싶어요.I really want to repay everyone who supported me.
대접하다to treat; to entertain (a guest)Verb4
손님이 오시면 맛있는 음식을 대접해요.When guests come, we treat them to good food.
Noun (36)
정affection; the attachment that grows over timeNoun4
오래 살다 보니 이 동네에 정이 많이 들었어요.Having lived here so long, I have grown very attached to this neighbourhood.
You grow attached with 정이 들다. It covers what English splits into affection, warmth and loyalty.
한deep, lingering sorrow or regretNoun4
그 노래에는 이루지 못한 사랑의 한이 담겨 있어요.That song carries the lingering sorrow of a love that was never fulfilled.
A grief or grievance that cannot be let go.
눈치tact; a feel for what others thinkNoun4
그 친구는 눈치가 빨라서 말을 안 해도 다 알아요.My friend is quick on the uptake, so he understands without being told.
눈치가 빠르다: to read a situation quickly; 눈치를 보다: to watch how others react before you act.
체면face; dignity in the eyes of othersNoun4
체면 때문에 모른다는 말을 못 했어요.I could not bring myself to say I did not know, for fear of losing face.
체면을 지키다: to save face; 체면이 깎이다: to lose it.
효filial pietyNoun4
효는 오랫동안 한국 사회의 중요한 가치였어요.Filial piety has long been an important value in Korean society.
The value itself; acting on it is 효도.
우정friendshipNoun3
두 사람의 우정은 초등학교 때부터 이어졌어요.Their friendship goes back to primary school.
의리loyalty (between friends)Noun4
그는 의리가 있어서 친구가 어려울 때 꼭 도와 줘요.He is loyal, so he always helps his friends when they are in trouble.
Loyalty kept even when it costs something.
팔자one’s lot in life; fateNoun4
그 사람은 팔자가 좋아서 평생 고생을 모르고 살았어요.He was born lucky and never knew hardship in his whole life.
Literally “eight characters”, the hour, day, month and year of birth said to decide a life.
운명destiny; fateNoun4
그 사고가 그의 운명을 바꿔 놓았어요.That accident changed the course of his life.
배려consideration; thoughtfulnessNoun4
버스에서 자리를 양보하는 것도 작은 배려예요.Giving up your seat on the bus is a small act of consideration too.
존중respect (for someone’s rights or choices)Noun4
서로의 의견을 존중하는 것이 중요해요.It is important to respect each other’s opinions.
존중 respects a person’s choices; 존경 admires someone you look up to.
겸손modesty; humilityNoun4
그 선수는 우승한 뒤에도 겸손을 잃지 않았어요.Even after winning the title, the player stayed humble.
예절etiquette; mannersNoun4
어릴 때부터 식사 예절을 배웠어요.I learnt table manners from an early age.
The rules of behaviour; 예의 is the courtesy behind them.
장유유서the precedence of elders over the youngNoun4
장유유서라는 말처럼 식사는 보통 어른이 먼저 시작해요.In keeping with the precedence of age, the eldest usually start eating first.
Literally “between old and young, an order”: a Confucian principle.
선후배seniors and juniors (at school or work)Noun4
우리 동아리는 선후배 사이가 아주 좋아요.In our club, the older and younger members get on very well.
From 선배, someone who started before you, and 후배, someone who started after.
서열rank; pecking orderNoun4
그 회사는 나이보다 능력을 중시해서 서열이 엄격하지 않아요.That company values ability over age, so the hierarchy is not strict.
호칭form of address; titleNoun4
처음 만난 사람을 어떤 호칭으로 불러야 할지 어려워요.It is hard to know what to call someone you have just met.
Korean avoids 당신, so a title such as 선생님 or 과장님 does the work of “you”.
가치관values; outlook on lifeNoun4
세대마다 가치관이 조금씩 달라요.Every generation’s values are a little different.
인정human warmth; kindness to othersNoun4
이 시장 상인들은 인정이 많아서 덤을 자주 줘요.The traders at this market are kind-hearted and often throw in a little extra.
Spelt the same as 인정, “recognition”, from 인정하다.
개인주의individualismNoun4
개인주의가 꼭 이기적이라는 뜻은 아니에요.Individualism does not necessarily mean selfishness.
집단주의collectivismNoun4
집단주의 문화에서는 개인보다 집단의 조화를 중시해요.In a collectivist culture, the harmony of the group comes before the individual.
신뢰trustNoun4
한번 잃은 신뢰는 되찾기 어려워요.Trust is hard to win back once it is lost.
Said [실뢰].
명예honour; reputationNoun4
그는 돈보다 명예를 더 중요하게 생각해요.He thinks honour matters more than money.
도리duty; what is right and properNoun4
부모님을 돌보는 것은 자식의 도리라고 생각해요.I think looking after your parents is a child’s duty.
정체성identity; sense of who one isNoun4
외국에서 자란 그는 한동안 정체성 문제로 고민했어요.Having grown up abroad, he struggled for a while with questions of identity.
윤리ethicsNoun4
과학 연구에도 윤리가 필요해요.Scientific research needs ethics too.
Said [율리].
양심conscienceNoun4
양심에 찔려서 거짓말을 할 수 없었어요.My conscience pricked me, so I could not tell a lie.
관습custom; conventionNoun4
결혼식에 축의금을 내는 관습이 있어요.There is a custom of giving money at weddings.
종교religionNoun3
한국에는 여러 종교를 믿는 사람들이 함께 살아요.People of many different religions live side by side in Korea.
나눔sharing; giving to othersNoun4
연말이 되면 이웃과의 나눔을 실천하는 사람이 많아요.At the end of the year, many people make a point of sharing with their neighbours.
품앗이exchange of labour between neighboursNoun4
옛날 농촌에서는 품앗이로 서로의 농사일을 도왔어요.In the old days, farming families took turns helping on each other’s fields.
Said [푸마시]. Today also used of parents taking turns to look after each other’s children.
은혜kindness one owes; a debt of gratitudeNoun4
선생님의 은혜를 평생 잊지 않을 거예요.I will never forget what my teacher did for me.
조화harmony; balanceNoun4
이 집은 자연과의 조화를 생각해서 지었어요.This house was built with harmony with nature in mind.
인내patience; enduranceNoun4
외국어를 배우려면 인내가 필요해요.Learning a foreign language takes patience.
미덕virtueNoun4
절약은 예로부터 미덕으로 여겨졌어요.Thrift has been regarded as a virtue since ancient times.
다양성diversityNoun4
다양성을 존중하는 사회가 되어야 해요.We should become a society that respects diversity.
This list belongs to Korean culture and history — five lists and 200 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.
