4 · 40 words
Society
The words Korean uses to talk about society, as the news and a classroom do.
The words in which Korean talks about society. Almost all are Sino-Korean, which makes them easier than they look once the syllables are known: 저출산is “low birth”고령화“becoming old in age” The syllables come back again and again: 평등, equality, returns in 불평등, and -화 turns a noun into a process, as English “-isation” does.
The words
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Verb (2)
기부하다to donateVerb4
그 가수는 공연 수익을 모두 기부했어요.The singer donated all the proceeds of the concert.
개선하다to improveVerb4
회사는 직원들의 근무 환경을 개선하기로 했어요.The company decided to improve its staff's working conditions.
Noun (37)
사회societyNoun3
사회가 빠르게 변하고 있어요.Society is changing fast.
문제problem, issue; question (in a test)Noun3
이 문제는 혼자서 해결하기 어려워요.This problem is hard to solve on your own.
현상phenomenon, trendNoun4
젊은 사람들이 결혼을 늦게 하는 현상이 나타나고 있어요.A trend is emerging of young people marrying later.
세대generationNoun4
세대마다 생각하는 방식이 달라요.Each generation thinks in a different way.
A gap between generations is 세대 차이.
차별discriminationNoun4
나이나 성별에 따른 차별은 없어져야 해요.Discrimination based on age or gender must end.
평등equalityNoun4
모든 사람은 법 앞에 평등해야 해요.Everyone should be equal before the law.
복지welfareNoun4
정부는 노인 복지를 늘리겠다고 발표했어요.The government announced that it would expand welfare for the elderly.
노인elderly personNoun3
이 동네에는 혼자 사는 노인이 많아요.Many elderly people in this neighbourhood live alone.
Respectful in speech: 어르신.
청년young adult, young peopleNoun4
청년들이 일자리를 찾기가 쉽지 않아요.It is not easy for young people to find work.
저출산low birth rateNoun4
저출산 때문에 학생 수가 줄고 있어요.Because of the low birth rate, the number of pupils is falling.
고령화population ageingNoun4
고령화가 빠르게 진행되고 있어요.The population is ageing rapidly.
인권human rightsNoun4
모든 사람의 인권은 존중되어야 해요.Everyone's human rights must be respected.
자유freedom, libertyNoun3
누구에게나 자기 생각을 말할 자유가 있어요.Everyone has the freedom to say what they think.
시민citizen; resident (of a city)Noun4
시민들이 함께 공원을 청소했어요.Local people cleaned up the park together.
공동체communityNoun4
우리 마을은 서로 돕는 공동체예요.Our village is a community where people help one another.
구성원member (of a group)Noun4
가족 구성원 모두가 집안일을 나눠서 해요.Every member of the family shares the housework.
계층class, social stratumNoun4
사회의 모든 계층이 혜택을 받을 수 있어야 해요.Every class of society should be able to benefit.
빈곤povertyNoun4
아직도 많은 사람들이 빈곤 속에서 살고 있어요.Many people still live in poverty.
노숙인homeless personNoun4
추운 겨울에 노숙인을 위한 쉼터가 문을 열었어요.A shelter for homeless people opened in the cold of winter.
장애인disabled personNoun4
장애인도 편하게 이용할 수 있도록 엘리베이터를 설치했어요.A lift was put in so that disabled people can use the building easily too.
자원봉사voluntary work, volunteeringNoun4
주말마다 요양원에서 자원봉사를 해요.Every weekend I volunteer at a care home.
단체organisation, groupNoun3
환경 단체가 시민들에게 플라스틱 사용을 줄이자고 했어요.An environmental group urged people to use less plastic.
노후old age, later lifeNoun4
노후를 위해 젊을 때부터 저축하는 게 좋아요.It is wise to save for old age from when you are young.
혜택benefit, advantageNoun4
학생은 교통비 할인 혜택을 받을 수 있어요.Students can get reduced fares on public transport.
제도system (of rules), schemeNoun4
새로운 제도가 다음 달부터 시행돼요.The new scheme comes into force next month.
대책measures, countermeasuresNoun4
정부는 집값 문제에 대한 대책을 내놓았어요.The government has put forward measures to tackle housing prices.
성별gender, sexNoun4
이 일은 성별과 상관없이 누구나 지원할 수 있어요.Anyone can apply for this job, regardless of gender.
편견prejudiceNoun4
외모로 사람을 판단하는 것은 편견이에요.Judging people by their looks is prejudice.
이민자immigrantNoun4
이 동네에는 여러 나라에서 온 이민자들이 함께 살고 있어요.Immigrants from many countries live side by side in this neighbourhood.
소수minorityNoun4
소수의 의견도 존중해야 해요.The views of a minority should be respected too.
In maths, the same word also means a decimal or a prime number.
개인individualNoun3
개인의 자유와 사회의 질서가 모두 중요해요.Both individual freedom and social order matter.
집단group, collectiveNoun4
사람은 집단 속에서 다르게 행동하기도 해요.People sometimes behave differently in a group.
생활 수준standard of livingNoun4
경제가 성장하면서 생활 수준이 높아졌어요.As the economy has grown, the standard of living has risen.
질서order (orderliness)Noun3
줄을 서서 질서를 지켜 주세요.Please queue and keep things orderly.
평균 수명life expectancyNoun4
의학이 발달하면서 평균 수명이 길어졌어요.As medicine has advanced, life expectancy has increased.
인식awareness, perceptionNoun4
환경에 대한 사람들의 인식이 많이 바뀌었어요.People's awareness of the environment has changed a lot.
정의justiceNoun4
그 영화는 정의를 위해 싸우는 사람들의 이야기예요.The film is about people who fight for justice.
The same word also means a definition.
Adjective (1)
공정하다to be fair, impartialAdjective4
모든 지원자에게 공정한 기회를 줘야 해요.Every applicant should be given a fair chance.
This list belongs to Society and the news — three lists and 120 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.