1 · 40 words

I and you, this and that, who and what

Pronouns, the three words for this and that, and the question words.

Korean leaves pronouns out whenever it can, and it has no everyday word for “you” that is safe with a stranger: 당신 is for married couples, poems and arguments. Instead people use a name, a title or nothing at all. “This” and “that” come in three: 이 near me, 그 near you or already mentioned, 저 over there, away from us both — and the same three run through 여기, 거기, 저기.

The words

Adjective (1)

어떻다to be how; to be like whatAdjective1

오늘 날씨가 어때요?What is the weather like today?

Almost always heard as 어때요?, “how is it?”.

Adverb (2)

이렇게like this; this wayAdverb1

이렇게 하면 돼요.You do it like this.

그렇게like that; soAdverb1

그렇게 비싸지 않아요.It is not that expensive.

Pronoun (20)

저I, me (humble)Pronoun1

저는 커피를 안 마셔요.I do not drink coffee.

The polite “I”; with the subject particle it becomes 제가.

나I, me (plain)Pronoun1

나는 지금 집에 있어.I am at home now. (to a friend)

With friends and younger people; with 가 it becomes 내가.

저희we, us (humble)Pronoun1

저희 가족은 네 명이에요.There are four of us in my family.

우리we, us; ourPronoun1

우리 같이 가요!Let's go together!

Koreans say “our” where English says “my”: 우리 엄마, 우리 집.

당신you (between spouses; in writing)Pronoun1

여보, 당신도 커피 마실래요?Darling, would you like a coffee too?

Do not use it for “you” with people you meet: it sounds cold or rude.

너you (to a friend or a child)Pronoun1

너는 뭐 먹을래?What are you going to have? (to a friend)

With 가 it becomes 네가, usually said 니가.

제my (humble)Pronoun1

제 이름은 존이에요.My name is John.

내my (plain)Pronoun1

이건 내 가방이야.This is my bag. (to a friend)

여러분everyone; ladies and gentlemenPronoun1

여러분, 안녕하세요?Hello, everyone.

이것this (thing)Pronoun1

이것 좀 보세요.Have a look at this.

그것that (thing near you)Pronoun1

그것은 제 책이에요.That is my book.

저것that (thing over there)Pronoun1

저것은 뭐예요?What is that over there?

이거this (spoken)Pronoun1

이거 주세요.I will have this, please.

The spoken form of 이것.

그거that (spoken)Pronoun1

그거 어디서 샀어요?Where did you buy that?

저거that over there (spoken)Pronoun1

저거 얼마예요?How much is that one over there?

여기herePronoun1

여기 앉으세요.Sit here, please.

거기there (near you)Pronoun1

거기 날씨는 어때요?What is the weather like there?

저기over therePronoun1

화장실은 저기에 있어요.The toilets are over there.

이쪽this way; this side; this personPronoun1

이쪽은 제 친구 수진이에요.This is my friend Sujin.

Introducing someone, Korean says “this side” rather than “this person”.

저쪽that way, over therePronoun1

출구는 저쪽이에요.The exit is over there.

Determiner (3)

이thisDeterminer1

이 사과 얼마예요?How much are these apples?

그that (near you, or just mentioned)Determiner1

그 영화 봤어요?Have you seen that film?

저that (over there)Determiner1

저 가게 앞에서 만나요.Let's meet in front of that shop over there.

Question word (14)

뭐what (spoken)Question word1

주말에 뭐 했어요?What did you do at the weekend?

무엇whatQuestion word1

취미가 무엇입니까?What are your hobbies?

Written and formal; in speech 뭐.

누구whoQuestion word1

이 가방은 누구 거예요?Whose bag is this?

누가who (as the subject)Question word1

누가 왔어요?Who has come?

누구 with the subject particle: never 누구가.

어디whereQuestion word1

어디에 가요?Where are you going?

언제whenQuestion word1

언제 한국에 왔어요?When did you come to Korea?

왜whyQuestion word1

왜 한국어를 배워요?Why are you learning Korean?

어떻게howQuestion word1

역에 어떻게 가요?How do I get to the station?

몇how many; what (number)Question word1

몇 층에 살아요?Which floor do you live on?

Normally followed by a counter or unit: 몇 개, 몇 명.

얼마how much (money)Question word1

이 가방은 얼마예요?How much is this bag?

얼마나how (much, long, far)Question word1

여기에서 공항까지 얼마나 걸려요?How long does it take from here to the airport?

어느which (of several)Question word1

어느 쪽으로 가요?Which way do we go?

무슨what (kind of); whichQuestion word1

무슨 음식을 좋아해요?What food do you like?

어떤what kind of; what … likeQuestion word1

그 사람은 어떤 사람이에요?What kind of person are they?

This list belongs to Basic words: numbers, time, verbs — 30 lists and 1195 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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