4 · 40 words

History and heritage

Kings, kingdoms, legends and what the past left behind.

Korean history is told in kingdoms and dynasties: 고구려, 백제 and 신라 in the 삼국 시대, then 고려, then 조선, the last dynasty. A period is named with 시대: 조선 시대, “the Joseon period”. Much of the heritage in this list — 판소리, 서예, the curved roof tiles called 기와 — is still practised and seen today, not only in museums.

The words

Verb (3)

건국하다to found (a state)Verb4

그는 전쟁이 끝난 뒤 새 나라를 건국했어요.He founded a new state after the war ended.

창제하다to create (a writing system)Verb4

세종 대왕은 백성을 위해 한글을 창제했어요.King Sejong created Hangul for the common people.

물려주다to hand down, pass onVerb4

이 반지는 할머니가 어머니에게 물려주신 거예요.This ring was handed down to my mother by my grandmother.

Noun (36)

왕kingNoun4

그 왕은 백성을 위해 세금을 줄였어요.The king lowered taxes for the sake of his people.

왕비queen (the king’s wife)Noun4

이 방은 옛날에 왕비가 머물던 곳이에요.This room is where the queen used to stay.

왕자princeNoun4

동화 속 왕자는 늘 하얀 말을 타고 나타나요.The prince in fairy tales always turns up on a white horse.

공주princessNoun3

딸은 공주 옷을 입고 유치원에 갔어요.My daughter went to nursery dressed as a princess.

백성the common people (of old)Noun4

옛날 백성들은 대부분 농사를 지으며 살았어요.In the old days most of the common people lived by farming.

왕조dynastyNoun4

한 왕조가 무너지고 새로운 나라가 세워졌어요.One dynasty fell and a new kingdom was founded.

삼국 시대the Three Kingdoms periodNoun4

삼국 시대에는 고구려, 백제, 신라가 있었어요.In the Three Kingdoms period there were Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla.

신라Silla (ancient kingdom)Noun4

경주는 신라의 수도였어요.Gyeongju was the capital of Silla.

Said [실라].

고려Goryeo (dynasty)Noun4

고려 시대에 만든 도자기는 푸른빛이 아름다워요.The pottery made in the Goryeo period has a beautiful blue-green colour.

The country’s English name, Korea, comes from it.

조선Joseon (dynasty)Noun4

조선은 오백 년 넘게 이어진 나라였어요.Joseon was a kingdom that lasted more than five hundred years.

양반the yangban (Joseon aristocracy)Noun4

조선 시대 양반들은 글공부를 무엇보다 중요하게 여겼어요.The yangban of the Joseon period valued learning above all else.

Today also a polite word for a decent man.

신분social status, rankNoun4

옛날에는 신분에 따라 입는 옷이 달랐어요.In the past, the clothes people wore depended on their rank.

고대ancient timesNoun4

고대 사람들도 별을 보고 계절을 알았어요.Even in ancient times people could tell the seasons from the stars.

근대the modern era (late 19th to early 20th century)Noun4

이 건물은 근대에 지어진 은행이에요.This building is a bank dating from the modern era.

세기centuryNoun4

이 다리는 몇 세기 전에 만들어졌어요.This bridge was built several centuries ago.

전쟁warNoun4

할아버지는 전쟁 때 고향을 떠나셨어요.My grandfather left his home town during the war.

독립independenceNoun4

그 나라는 오랜 노력 끝에 독립을 이루었어요.After a long struggle the country gained its independence.

영웅heroNoun4

그 장군은 지금도 나라를 지킨 영웅으로 불려요.That general is still called the hero who defended the country.

장군general (military)Noun4

광장에는 유명한 장군의 동상이 서 있어요.A statue of a famous general stands in the square.

조상ancestorNoun4

우리 조상들은 자연을 소중히 여겼어요.Our ancestors held nature dear.

유래origin (of a name, a custom)Noun4

이 동네 이름의 유래를 아세요?Do you know where the name of this neighbourhood comes from?

전설legendNoun4

이 호수에는 용에 관한 전설이 있어요.There is a legend about a dragon in this lake.

신화mythNoun4

어렸을 때 그리스 신화를 즐겨 읽었어요.As a child I loved reading Greek myths.

문화재cultural heritage (an item or site)Noun4

이 오래된 절은 나라에서 지정한 문화재예요.This old temple is designated as part of the national heritage.

국보national treasureNoun4

이 탑은 국보로 지정되어 있어요.This pagoda has been designated a national treasure.

유물relic, artefactNoun4

박물관에는 땅에서 발견된 유물이 많이 전시되어 있어요.Many artefacts found in the ground are on display in the museum.

궁palaceNoun4

주말에 한복을 입고 궁에 가 봤어요.At the weekend I put on a hanbok and went to see a palace.

탑pagoda, towerNoun4

절 마당에 오래된 돌탑이 서 있어요.An old stone pagoda stands in the temple courtyard.

기와roof tile (traditional)Noun4

기와지붕 위에 눈이 소복이 쌓였어요.Snow has settled thickly on the tiled roof.

초가집thatched cottageNoun4

민속 마을에 가면 옛날 초가집을 볼 수 있어요.At the folk village you can see old thatched cottages.

민속folk customsNoun4

설날에는 가족과 함께 민속놀이를 해요.At Lunar New Year we play folk games with the family.

판소리pansori (sung storytelling)Noun4

판소리 공연을 처음 봤는데 소리꾼의 목소리에 놀랐어요.I saw a pansori performance for the first time and was amazed by the singer’s voice.

서예calligraphyNoun4

할아버지는 은퇴하신 뒤에 서예를 배우세요.Grandfather has been learning calligraphy since he retired.

불교BuddhismNoun4

불교는 아주 오래전에 한반도에 들어왔어요.Buddhism came to the Korean peninsula a very long time ago.

유교ConfucianismNoun4

유교는 한국 사람들의 예절에 큰 영향을 주었어요.Confucianism had a great influence on Korean manners.

기념관memorial hall, museum (to a person)Noun4

그 시인의 기념관에 가면 손으로 쓴 원고를 볼 수 있어요.At the poet’s memorial museum you can see manuscripts written by hand.

Adverb (1)

대대로for generationsAdverb4

이 식당은 대대로 같은 방법으로 김치를 담가요.This restaurant has made its kimchi the same way for generations.

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.