4 · 40 words
Pop culture and entertainment
Idols, fans, charts, premieres and the words of the Korean wave.
Korean pop culture has its own vocabulary, and much of it is English that has shifted on the way: a 컴백 is any new release by an established group, however short the break, and 굿즈 is merchandise. The Sino-Korean words are often vivid: 역주행, “driving the wrong way”, is a song climbing back up the charts years later, and 떼창 is a whole crowd singing along.
The words
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Verb (3)
데뷔하다to make one’s debutVerb4
그 그룹은 데뷔하자마자 큰 인기를 얻었어요.The group became hugely popular as soon as it debuted.
출연하다to appear (in a programme or film)Verb4
그 배우는 이번 드라마에 경찰 역으로 출연해요.That actor appears in this drama as a police officer.
수상하다to win an awardVerb4
그 영화는 여러 영화제에서 수상했어요.That film won awards at several festivals.
Spelt the same as 수상하다, “to be suspicious”.
This list belongs to Free time, sport and entertainment — five lists and 201 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.