Word formation in Korean: the pieces words are built from
A long Korean word is rarely a new word. A library is picture, writing and building; a car park is stop, vehicle and place. A large part of Korean vocabulary is built from Sino-Korean syllables, each with a meaning of its own, and the native half has prefixes and endings of its own as well. English speakers have an advantage they seldom notice: the pieces go in the English order. Learn the 147 building blocks on this page, and new words start explaining themselves.
Read a compound from the back: the last piece says what the thing is, the ones before it say what kind. And watch for look-alikes: in Hangul two different Sino-Korean syllables can be written the same way, so the word, not the single syllable, is what to learn. Where a syllable sounds different from how it is spelt, the romanisation under each word shows it.
Sino-Korean syllables: one meaning, many words
A large part of Korean vocabulary is built from syllables taken from Chinese long ago. Each carries a meaning, and the same syllable turns up in dozens of words, at the front or at the back.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 학 | learning, study | 학교, 학생, 방학, 수학, 과학 |
| 학 means learning. In front it says what has to do with learning: 학교 school, 학생 student, 학년 school year. At the back it names a field: 수학 mathematics (number-learning), 과학 science. 방학, the school holidays, is literally “letting learning go”. | ||
| 생 | life, birth; raw; a student | 생일, 생활, 인생, 학생, 선생님 |
| 생 means to live or to be born: 생일 birthday (birth-day), 생활 daily life, 인생 a human life. From there it came to mean raw, alive (생선, fresh fish) and a person who studies: 학생. 선생님, teacher, is “the one born first”. | ||
| 대 | big, great | 대학, 대회, 대부분, 확대, 대형 |
| 대 is big: 대학 university (great learning), 대회 a contest or convention (big meeting), 대부분 most (the big part), 대형 large size, 확대 enlargement. Its opposite is 소. The counter for cars and machines, 차 한 대, is a different syllable that happens to look the same. | ||
| 소 | small | 소포, 소형, 최소, 소설, 축소 |
| 소 is small: 소포 parcel (small package), 소형 compact size, 최소 minimum, 축소 reduction. 소설, a novel, was originally “small talk”: stories, as against serious writing. The native word 소, a cow, is unrelated. | ||
| 중 | middle; heavy, important | 중학교, 중간, 중심, 중요, 체중 |
| Two syllables that look the same in Hangul. One means middle: 중학교 middle school, 중간 the middle, 중심 centre, 중국 China (the middle country), and 중 after a noun, “in the middle of”: 회의 중, in a meeting. The other means heavy, and so important: 중요하다 to be important, 체중 body weight. | ||
| 인 | person, human | 인구, 인사, 인생, 인기, 인간 |
| 인 is a person. In front of another syllable: 인구 population (person-mouths), 인사 greeting, 인생 a human life, 인간 human being, and 인기, popularity, the spirit of people towards someone. At the end of a word it says where a person belongs — see the people below. | ||
| 국 | country | 한국, 외국, 국제, 국가, 국내 |
| 국 country: 한국 Korea, 외국 abroad (outside-country), 국제 international (between countries), 국내 domestic, 국가 state. Its sound changes with its neighbour: before a vowel the k moves on (한국어 [한구거]), before n or m it becomes ng (국내 [궁내]). The native word 국, soup, is unrelated. | ||
| 문 | writing; door | 문화, 문법, 신문, 정문, 창문 |
| Two different syllables written 문. One is writing: 문법 grammar (writing-law), 문화 culture, 신문 newspaper (new-writing), 문자 text message. The other is a door: 정문 main gate, 창문 window, and 문 on its own. In Hangul only the word tells them apart. | ||
| 전 | electricity; before | 전화, 전기, 전자, 오전, 이전 |
| At least three syllables are written 전. Electricity, originally lightning: 전화 telephone (electric speech), 전기 electricity, 전자 electronic. Before: 오전 morning (before noon), 이전 earlier. And whole: 전국, the whole country — see the prefixes below. | ||
| 시 | time; city; poem | 시간, 시계, 도시, 시청, 시인 |
| Time: 시간 time, an hour, 시계 clock, and 시 after a number, o’clock — with the native numbers: 세 시. City: 도시 city, 시청 city hall. Poem: 시인 poet. Three syllables, one spelling. | ||
| 동 | move; east; same | 동물, 운동, 자동차, 동쪽, 동시 |
| Move: 동물 animal (moving thing), 운동 exercise, 자동차 car (self-moving vehicle). East: 동쪽. Same: 동시 the same time. In an address 동 is also a neighbourhood. | ||
| 식 | eating, food | 식당, 식사, 음식, 식품, 식후 |
| 식 eating: 식당 restaurant, canteen (eating-hall), 식사 a meal, 음식 food, 식품 foodstuffs, and 식후, after meals, on every medicine packet. The same sound is a ceremony in 결혼식 — a different syllable. | ||
| 교 | teach | 교실, 교사, 교육, 교과서, 교수 |
| 교 teach: 교실 classroom, 교사 teacher (the formal word), 교육 education, 교과서 textbook, 교수 professor. The 교 of 학교 is a different syllable, meaning school — the meanings meet, the syllables do not. | ||
| 공 | public; empty, air; work | 공원, 공항, 공무원, 공장, 공짜 |
| Public: 공원 park (public garden), 공무원 civil servant. Empty, air: 공항 airport (air-harbour), 공기 air, 공짜 free of charge. Work: 공장 factory, 공사 construction work. And 공 on its own is a ball, or zero. | ||
| 출 | out, leaving | 출구, 출발, 출근, 외출, 수출 |
| 출 out: 출구 exit, 출발 departure, 출근 going to work, 외출 going out, 수출 export. Its opposite is 입: 입구, entrance. Station exits are numbered with the Sino-Korean numbers: 삼 번 출구. | ||
| 입 | in, entering | 입구, 입학, 입원, 입장, 수입 |
| 입 in: 입구 entrance, 입학 entering a school, 입원 going into hospital, 입장 admission. 수입 is both import and income — something that comes in. 입학 is said [이팍]. The native word 입, mouth, is unrelated. | ||
| 내 | inside, within | 국내, 실내, 시내, 내용, 내부 |
| 내 inside: 국내 within the country, 실내 indoors, 시내 the town centre (inside the city), 내용 content, 내부 the interior. The native 내, my, is unrelated. | ||
| 외 | outside, foreign | 외국, 외출, 해외, 외식, 실외 |
| 외 outside: 외국 foreign country, 외출 going out, 해외 overseas, 외식 eating out, 실외 outdoors. On the family tree it marks the mother’s side — see the prefixes below. | ||
| 상/하 | up, above / down, below | 이상, 이하, 지상, 지하, 상반기, 하반기 |
| 상 is up and 하 down: 지상 above ground and 지하 below it (지하철, the underground railway), 상반기 and 하반기 the first and second half of the year. After an amount, 이상 means “or more” and 이하 “or less” — both include the amount itself, unlike English “more than”. | ||
| 남/여 | male / female | 남자, 여자, 남성, 여성, 남학생, 여학생 |
| 남 male and 여 female: 남자, 여자, the formal 남성, 여성, and on toilet doors 남 and 여 alone. Inside a word, female is spelt 녀: 소녀 girl, 장녀 eldest daughter. Korean drops an n at the start of a word — see the initial-sound rule at the end of this page. | ||
Places and companies: the last syllable says what kind
A room, a building, an institution, a shop, a company: the last syllable names the kind of place, the ones before it say what it is for.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -실 | a room for one activity | 교실, 화장실, 사무실, 회의실, 연구실 |
| A room with a door, named by what happens in it: 교실 classroom, 화장실 toilet (make-up room), 사무실 office, 회의실 meeting room, 연구실 laboratory, a lecturer’s office. A room in a home is the everyday word 방. | ||
| -관 | a public building with one purpose | 도서관, 박물관, 영화관, 미술관, 대사관 |
| The purpose comes first, as in English: 도서관 library (book-building), 박물관 museum, 미술관 art gallery, 영화관 cinema, 대사관 embassy. 박물관 is said [방물관]. | ||
| -원 | an institution where people are taught or cared for | 학원, 대학원, 법원, 유치원, 요양원 |
| 병원 hospital (illness-institution), 유치원 kindergarten, 대학원 graduate school, 법원 court of law, 요양원 care home. 학원 is the private school many Korean children go to after the school day, for English, maths, music or art. | ||
| -장 | an open place for one activity | 운동장, 주차장, 수영장, 경기장, 공연장 |
| 운동장 sports ground, 주차장 car park, 수영장 swimming pool, 경기장 stadium, 공연장 concert venue, and 시장, market. At the end of a job title the same sound is the head of something (사장) — a different syllable; see the people below. | ||
| -점 | a shop, a branch | 서점, 편의점, 백화점, 음식점, 지점 |
| 서점 bookshop, 편의점 convenience store, 백화점 department store, 음식점 restaurant, 지점 branch (of a bank, a chain). A sign reading 본점 marks the original shop of a chain. | ||
| -소 | a place where a service is done; an office | 연구소, 주유소, 세탁소, 사무소, 휴게소 |
| 주유소 petrol station (oil-filling place), 세탁소 dry cleaner’s, 연구소 research institute, 사무소 office, 휴게소 motorway service area. Not the 소 that means small, which stands in front. | ||
| -국 | a public office, a bureau | 우체국, 방송국, 약국 |
| 우체국 post office, 약국 chemist’s (medicine office), 방송국 broadcasting station. It looks like the 국 of 한국 but is a different syllable: here an office, there a country. | ||
| -당 | a hall where people gather | 식당, 강당, 성당 |
| 식당 restaurant, canteen (eating-hall), 강당 assembly hall, 성당 a Catholic church. A Protestant church is 교회. | ||
| -방 | a room; a small business renting rooms | 노래방, 찜질방, 만화방, 빨래방 |
| 방 is a room, and after another noun a small business where you rent one: 노래방 karaoke room, 찜질방 a large sauna where people relax, eat and even sleep, 만화방 a comic-book café, 빨래방 a self-service launderette. | ||
| -지 | a place with a purpose | 관광지, 목적지, 출발지, 휴양지 |
| 지 is land, ground: 관광지 tourist spot, 목적지 destination, 출발지 place of departure, 휴양지 holiday resort. Paper is a different 지 — see the things below. | ||
| -사 | a company | 여행사, 출판사, 신문사, 항공사 |
| 회사 company is the general word; with a business in front: 여행사 travel agency, 출판사 publisher, 신문사 newspaper company, 항공사 airline. The same sound names a professional — 의사, 간호사 — with a different syllable. | ||
Things, papers and money
Machines, tickets, documents, fees and medicines are named the same way: what it is comes last, what it does comes first.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -기 | a machine, a device | 세탁기, 청소기, 선풍기, 비행기, 계산기 |
| What it does comes first: 세탁기 washing machine, 청소기 vacuum cleaner, 선풍기 electric fan (fan-wind machine), 계산기 calculator, 비행기 aeroplane (flying machine). Several other syllables are also read 기; two of them follow on this page. | ||
| -고 | a store, a place for keeping things | 냉장고, 창고, 금고, 차고 |
| 냉장고 fridge (cold-keeping store), 창고 warehouse, 금고 safe (money store), 차고 garage. | ||
| -권 | a ticket, a voucher | 입장권, 상품권, 여권, 승차권, 할인권 |
| Something that gives a right: 입장권 admission ticket, 승차권 travel ticket, 상품권 gift voucher, 할인권 discount coupon, 여권 passport (a travel ticket). The 권 of 인권, human rights, and the counter for books, 책 한 권, are different syllables. | ||
| -표 | a ticket; a table, a chart | 차표, 기차표, 번호표, 시간표, 성적표 |
| Two syllables written 표 meet here. One is a ticket: 차표, 기차표, and 번호표, the numbered slip a machine gives you at a bank. The other is a table or chart: 시간표 timetable, 성적표 school report. 표 alone is a ticket: 표 두 장, two tickets. | ||
| -비 | a cost, an expense | 교통비, 생활비, 숙박비, 식비, 학비 |
| A cost you pay for something regular: 교통비 fares, 식비 food costs, 생활비 living costs, 학비 school fees, 숙박비 accommodation. Close to 료 below: 비 is what living costs, 료 the fee charged for a service. | ||
| -료 | a fee charged for a service | 입장료, 수수료, 보험료, 사용료, 수업료 |
| 입장료 admission fee, 수수료 handling charge, 보험료 insurance premium, 사용료 charge for use, 수업료 tuition. At the start of a word the syllable loses its r: 요금, a charge or fare. | ||
| -금 | money | 등록금, 장학금, 현금, 상금, 보증금 |
| 현금 cash, 등록금 tuition fees, 장학금 scholarship, 상금 prize money, 보증금 deposit, 벌금 a fine. 금 alone is gold, and 금요일, Friday, is gold-day. | ||
| -품 | goods, an article | 작품, 화장품, 식품, 기념품, 생필품 |
| 제품 product, 상품 merchandise, 화장품 cosmetics, 식품 foodstuffs, 기념품 souvenir, 생필품 everyday necessities, and 작품 a work (of art). 품질, quality, is the nature of the goods. | ||
| -물 | a thing, a creature | 건물, 식물, 해산물, 우편물, 작물 |
| 건물 building (built thing), 동물 animal, 식물 plant, 해산물 seafood, 우편물 post, 작물 crops. The native word 물, water, sounds the same; this one only appears inside words. | ||
| -지 | paper | 포장지, 시험지, 신문지, 편지지 |
| 포장지 wrapping paper, 시험지 exam paper, 신문지 newspaper (as paper, for wrapping), 편지지 writing paper, and 휴지, tissue or toilet paper. The everyday word for paper is native: 종이. | ||
| -서 | a document, a book | 신청서, 계약서, 보고서, 이력서, 교과서 |
| 신청서 application form, 계약서 contract, 보고서 report, 이력서 CV, 교과서 textbook. Most forms in an office end in it. | ||
| -증 | a document that proves something; a card | 학생증, 영수증, 자격증, 신분증, 운전면허증 |
| 영수증 receipt, 학생증 student card, 신분증 ID card, 자격증 certificate of qualification, 운전면허증 driving licence. The 증 of 증상, symptom, is a different syllable. | ||
| -차 | a vehicle | 자동차, 기차, 소방차, 구급차, 전기차 |
| 자동차 car, 기차 train (steam vehicle), 소방차 fire engine, 구급차 ambulance, 전기차 electric car. The same syllable is read differently in one word: 자전거, bicycle. And 차 alone is a car — and tea, another syllable. | ||
| -용 | for the use of | 학생용, 가정용, 일회용, 업무용, 어린이용 |
| 학생용 for students, 가정용 for home use, 업무용 for business, 어린이용 for children, 일회용 disposable (for one use). It can follow almost any noun, which makes it one of the commonest endings on packaging. | ||
| -제 | a preparation, a substance that does one job | 소화제, 진통제, 해열제, 수면제, 영양제 |
| 소화제 indigestion remedy, 진통제 painkiller, 해열제 medicine for a fever, 수면제 sleeping pill, 영양제 supplement. Medicine is taken by eating it in Korean: 약을 먹다. | ||
Languages, subjects, events and times
A language, a field of study, a hospital department, a gathering, a ceremony, a season: abstract things follow the same pattern.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -어 | a language | 한국어, 외국어, 중국어, 일본어, 스페인어 |
| 한국어 Korean, 외국어 foreign language, 중국어, 일본어, and 영어, English. In speech 말 is just as common: 한국말. The final consonant links on: 한국어 is [한구거]. | ||
| -학 | a field of study, -ology | 경제학, 심리학, 언어학, 사회학, 수학 |
| 경제학 economics, 심리학 psychology, 언어학 linguistics, 사회학 sociology, 수학 mathematics, 문학 literature. 심리학 is said [심니학]: after m, ㄹ becomes n. | ||
| -과 | a department (of a hospital, a university) | 내과, 외과, 소아과, 치과, 안과 |
| 내과 internal medicine (inside-department), 외과 surgery, 소아과 paediatrics, 치과 dentist’s, 안과 eye clinic. Small clinics in Korea are named after their department. At a university: 영문과, the English department. | ||
| -회 | a gathering, an event | 송년회, 동창회, 전시회, 운동회, 설명회 |
| 송년회 end-of-year party, 동창회 school reunion, 전시회 exhibition, 운동회 school sports day, 설명회 information session. 회식, a meal out with colleagues, uses the same syllable. Raw fish, 회, is another word. | ||
| -식 | a ceremony; a style | 결혼식, 졸업식, 입학식, 시상식, 서양식 |
| 결혼식 wedding, 졸업식 graduation, 입학식 school entrance ceremony, 시상식 awards ceremony. The same syllable means a style: 서양식 Western-style, 뷔페식 buffet-style. Spring is the season of 입학식, because the Korean school year begins in March. | ||
| -식 | a cuisine | 한식, 양식, 중식, 일식, 분식 |
| The syllable for eating from the top of this page, at the end of a word: 한식 Korean food, 양식 Western food, 중식 Chinese food, 일식 Japanese food, 분식 cheap snack food made with flour or rice cakes. Restaurant signs use these words to say what they serve. | ||
| -법 | a way of doing something; a law | 방법, 문법, 요리법, 사용법, 헌법 |
| 방법 method, 문법 grammar, 요리법 recipe, 사용법 instructions for use, 헌법 constitution. 법 alone is the law; after a verb with -는 it is the way to do it: 먹는 법, how to eat it. | ||
| -기 | a period of time | 학기, 사춘기, 성수기, 비수기 |
| 학기 school term, semester, 사춘기 adolescence, 성수기 high season, 비수기 low season. One more 기 to keep apart from the machines. | ||
| -철 | the season when something happens | 장마철, 휴가철, 김장철, 이사철 |
| 철 is a native word for season: 장마철 the summer rainy season, 휴가철 the holiday season, 김장철 the weeks in late autumn when families make kimchi for the winter, 이사철 the season when people move house. 철 alone can also be iron — another word. | ||
| -일 | a day | 생일, 휴일, 공휴일, 기념일, 평일 |
| 생일 birthday, 휴일 day off, 공휴일 public holiday, 기념일 anniversary, 평일 weekday (ordinary day). The days of the week all end in it: 월요일, 화요일. 일 also means one, and work. | ||
| -초/-말 | the beginning / the end of a period | 연초, 연말, 월초, 월말, 주말, 학기말 |
| 초 the beginning and 말 the end: 연초 and 연말, the start and end of the year, 월초 and 월말 of the month, 학기말 the end of term, and 주말, the weekend. The native 말, word or horse, is unrelated. | ||
People: who does it
A handful of Sino-Korean endings name a person by job, role or group, each with its own shade of respect.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -자 | a person who does something, -er | 학자, 기자, 과학자, 소비자, 참가자 |
| The commonest way to turn an activity into the person who does it, in a neutral or formal tone: 기자 journalist (recording person), 학자 scholar, 과학자 scientist, 소비자 consumer, 참가자 participant. | ||
| -가 | someone who has made a field their own, -ist | 작가, 음악가, 전문가, 건축가, 소설가 |
| 작가 writer, 화가 painter, 음악가 musician, 전문가 expert, 건축가 architect, 소설가 novelist. It carries more prestige than 자. It is the syllable of 가족, family, and 가정, home. | ||
| -사 | a trained professional | 의사, 간호사, 변호사, 요리사, 미용사 |
| 의사 doctor, 간호사 nurse, 변호사 lawyer, 요리사 cook, 미용사 hairdresser. In address a title is added: a doctor is 의사 선생님. | ||
| -원 | a member of staff | 회사원, 은행원, 공무원, 직원, 연구원 |
| Someone who belongs to an organisation: 회사원 office worker, 은행원 bank clerk, 공무원 civil servant, 직원 employee, 연구원 researcher. Not the 원 of 병원, and not 원, the currency. | ||
| -인 | a person, by where they belong | 외국인, 직장인, 연예인, 노인, 일반인 |
| 외국인 foreigner, 직장인 someone in regular employment, 연예인 entertainer, celebrity, 노인 elderly person, 일반인 ordinary people, as against experts or celebrities. In conversation 사람 is often used instead: 한국 사람 rather than 한국인. | ||
| -생 | a student | 대학생, 유학생, 신입생, 졸업생, 고등학생 |
| 대학생 university student, 고등학생 secondary school student, 유학생 student from abroad, 신입생 first-year student, 졸업생 graduate. It is the second half of 학생 itself. | ||
| -장 | the head of something | 사장, 교장, 부장, 팀장, 반장 |
| 사장 company president, and the polite way to address any shop owner; 교장 head teacher, 부장 head of department, 팀장 team leader, 반장 class representative. With 님 they are forms of address — calling a manager by name alone would be rude. | ||
| -님 | respect for a person or a title | 선생님, 사장님, 부모님, 고객님 |
| 선생님 teacher, 사장님 boss, 부모님 parents, 고객님 valued customer, and 손님, guest or customer, which has kept it so long that the word without it is rare. A name takes 씨 instead, written as a separate word: 민수 씨. Nobody uses 님 about themselves. | ||
| -관 | an official | 경찰관, 외교관, 소방관, 감독관 |
| 경찰관 police officer, 소방관 firefighter, 외교관 diplomat, 감독관 inspector. It looks like the 관 of 도서관 and is a different syllable. | ||
| -객 | a visitor, someone who comes from outside | 관광객, 승객, 방문객, 관객 |
| 관광객 tourist, 승객 passenger, 방문객 visitor, 관객 audience. | ||
| -수 | a person skilled with their hands, a player | 가수, 선수, 투수, 목수 |
| 수 is hand: 가수 singer, 선수 athlete, player, 투수 pitcher, 목수 carpenter. | ||
| -민 | the people of a place | 시민, 국민, 주민, 난민 |
| 시민 citizens of a city, 국민 the people of a country, 주민 residents, 난민 refugees. | ||
| -진 | a team, the staff as a group | 의료진, 교수진, 제작진, 연구진 |
| 의료진 medical staff, 교수진 faculty, 제작진 production team, 연구진 research team. The news uses it constantly. | ||
| -단 | an organised group | 합창단, 봉사단, 관광단, 기자단 |
| 합창단 choir, 봉사단 volunteer group, 관광단 tour group, 기자단 press corps. | ||
Native endings for people and habits
Native Korean has its own endings for people with a habit, often teasing or disapproving, and for actions done with a tool.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -꾼 | someone who does a thing habitually | 일꾼, 장사꾼, 낚시꾼, 구경꾼, 사기꾼 |
| Often with a touch of disapproval: 장사꾼 trader (a little too keen on money), 구경꾼 onlooker, 사기꾼 con artist, 낚시꾼 angler. 일꾼, a hard worker, is praise. | ||
| -쟁이 | someone with a quality in excess | 거짓말쟁이, 겁쟁이, 욕심쟁이, 멋쟁이, 수다쟁이 |
| 거짓말쟁이 liar, 겁쟁이 coward, 욕심쟁이 greedy person, 수다쟁이 chatterbox, and, kindly, 멋쟁이 a stylish person. A craftsman takes 장이, without the y: 대장장이, blacksmith. The spelling keeps the habit and the craft apart. | ||
| -보 | a person given to something (teasing) | 울보, 잠보, 먹보, 겁보 |
| Mostly said of children, and fondly: 울보 crybaby, 잠보 sleepyhead, 먹보 greedy-guts, 겁보 scaredy-cat. | ||
| -꾸러기 | a person, usually a child, full of something | 장난꾸러기, 잠꾸러기, 욕심꾸러기, 말썽꾸러기 |
| 장난꾸러기 little rascal, 잠꾸러기 sleepyhead, 말썽꾸러기 troublemaker. Fond rather than harsh. | ||
| -질 | the action done with a tool; a disapproved habit | 바느질, 걸레질, 가위질, 손가락질, 도둑질 |
| After a tool or a body part it names the action: 바느질 sewing (needle-work), 걸레질 mopping, 가위질 cutting with scissors, 손가락질 pointing at someone in blame. After other nouns it disapproves: 도둑질 stealing. Said of someone’s job it sounds dismissive, so use it with care. | ||
| -들 | plural | 사람들, 학생들, 친구들, 우리들 |
| Korean uses it far less than English uses -s. With a number it is usually left out (학생 세 명), and with things it often sounds odd: how many is left to the context. With people it is common. | ||
Abstract nouns: -ity, -ness, -isation, -ic
Quality, ability, feeling, degree, rate, change and point of view: Korean grows these words the way scientific English does.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -성 | a quality, -ity, -ness | 가능성, 중요성, 안전성, 인간성, 정체성 |
| 가능성 possibility, 중요성 importance, 안전성 safety, 인간성 humanity, 정체성 identity. A possibility in Korean is high or low (가능성이 높다), not great or small. | ||
| -력 | power, capacity | 기억력, 집중력, 상상력, 경쟁력, 체력 |
| 기억력 memory (power to remember), 집중력 concentration, 상상력 imagination, 경쟁력 competitiveness, 체력 stamina. After a consonant its ㄹ is said n: 기억력 [기엉녁]. At the start of a word it has none: 역량, capability. | ||
| -감 | a feeling, a sense of | 책임감, 자신감, 만족감, 긴장감, 소속감 |
| 책임감 sense of responsibility, 자신감 self-confidence, 만족감 satisfaction, 긴장감 tension, 소속감 sense of belonging. The same syllable as 감정, emotion. | ||
| -도 | a degree, a measure | 온도, 습도, 속도, 만족도, 인지도 |
| 온도 temperature, 습도 humidity, 속도 speed, 만족도 level of satisfaction, 인지도 name recognition. After a number it is the unit: 삼십 도, thirty degrees. | ||
| -율/-률 | a rate | 확률, 합격률, 실업률, 출생률, 환율 |
| 확률 probability, 합격률 pass rate, 실업률 unemployment rate, 환율 exchange rate. The spelling follows the sound before it: 율 after a vowel or ㄴ (비율, ratio; 환율), 률 after any other consonant (확률, 합격률). | ||
| -화 | becoming something, -isation | 국제화, 세계화, 자동화, 현대화, 디지털화 |
| 국제화 internationalisation, 세계화 globalisation, 자동화 automation, 현대화 modernisation, 디지털화 digitisation. With 되다 or 하다 it becomes a verb: 자동화되다. | ||
| -적 | -ic, -al: about, relating to | 경제적, 사회적, 역사적, 개인적, 적극적 |
| 경제적 economic, economical, 역사적 historical, 개인적 personal, 적극적 active, keen. It works three ways: before a noun as it is (역사적 사건), with 이다 as a description (경제적이에요), and with 으로 as an adverb (개인적으로, personally). It never takes 하다. | ||
| -관 | a view, an outlook | 가치관, 인생관, 세계관, 역사관 |
| 가치관 one’s values, 인생관 outlook on life, 세계관 world view — and, for films and games, the world a story is set in. A third 관, after the buildings and the officials. | ||
| -난 | a shortage, a difficulty | 취업난, 주차난, 식량난, 전세난 |
| 취업난 shortage of jobs, 주차난 shortage of parking, 식량난 food shortage, 전세난 shortage of homes to rent on a lump-sum deposit. A favourite of news headlines. | ||
Nouns made from verbs and adjectives
Three endings turn a verb or an adjective into a noun: the result, the activity, the measurement — and one more makes the tool.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -음 | a noun from a verb: the result | 웃음, 울음, 믿음, 꿈, 잠, 춤 |
| 음 after a consonant, and a bare ㅁ after a vowel: 웃다 → 웃음 laughter, 울다 → 울음 crying, 믿다 → 믿음 faith, 꾸다 → 꿈 dream, 자다 → 잠 sleep, 추다 → 춤 dance. Noun and verb often go together: 꿈을 꾸다, 잠을 자다, 춤을 추다. | ||
| -기 | a noun from a verb: the activity | 달리기, 읽기, 쓰기, 듣기, 말하기 |
| 달리기 running (as a sport), 듣기 listening, 읽기 reading, 쓰기 writing, 말하기 speaking — the four skills of every language course. Where 음 names the result (a laugh, a dream), 기 names the doing. | ||
| -이 | a measurement from an adjective | 높이, 길이, 넓이, 깊이, 먹이 |
| 높다 → 높이 height, 길다 → 길이 length, 넓다 → 넓이 area, 깊다 → 깊이 depth. After a verb it can make a thing: 먹다 → 먹이, animal feed. Read aloud, the final consonant moves on: 깊이 [기피]. | ||
| -개 | the tool that does it | 지우개, 덮개, 베개, 병따개, 이쑤시개 |
| After a verb stem: 지우다 erase → 지우개 rubber, 덮다 cover → 덮개 lid, cover, 베다 rest one’s head on → 베개 pillow, 병따개 bottle opener, 이쑤시개 toothpick. The counter 개, as in 사과 두 개, is another word. | ||
Native prefixes
Bare, empty, first, new, huge, unripe, raw, extra: short native pieces in front of a noun, most of them written together with it.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 맨- | bare, with nothing on it | 맨손, 맨발, 맨눈, 맨얼굴, 맨바닥 |
| 맨손 bare hands, 맨발 bare feet, 맨눈 the naked eye, 맨얼굴 a face without make-up, 맨바닥 the bare floor. Written together with its noun. A different 맨, “the very”, stands apart: 맨 앞, the very front. | ||
| 헛- | empty, to no purpose | 헛소리, 헛걸음, 헛수고, 헛기침 |
| 헛소리 nonsense, 헛걸음 a wasted trip, 헛수고 wasted effort, 헛기침 a little cough to get attention. | ||
| 첫- | first | 첫사랑, 첫눈, 첫날, 첫차, 첫해 |
| 첫사랑 first love, 첫눈 the first snow of winter, 첫날 the first day, 첫차 the first bus or train of the day, 첫해 the first year. Before n its t becomes n: 첫눈 [천눈]. | ||
| 새- | new (in a few compounds) | 새해, 새것, 새집, 새신랑 |
| 새, new, is usually a separate word: 새 옷, 새 차, 새 친구. Only a few compounds write it together: 새해 the New Year, 새것 something new, 새신랑 a new bridegroom, and 새집, a new house — or a bird’s nest. The greeting wishes someone a lot of luck in the year ahead. | ||
| 왕- | king-size; extremely (casual) | 왕만두, 왕새우, 왕초보, 왕짜증 |
| 왕 is a king, and in front of a noun it makes it extra large: 왕만두 giant dumpling, 왕새우 king prawn. In casual speech it also means extremely: 왕초보 a complete beginner, 왕짜증 massive irritation. | ||
| 풋- | green, unripe; inexperienced | 풋사과, 풋고추, 풋내기, 풋사랑 |
| 풋사과 a green apple, 풋고추 a green chilli. Said of people it means inexperienced: 풋내기 a novice, 풋사랑 puppy love. | ||
| 날- | raw, uncooked | 날것, 날고기, 날달걀, 날생선 |
| 날것 raw food, 날고기 raw meat, 날달걀 a raw egg, 날생선 raw fish. Not the native 날, day. | ||
| 군- | extra, more than is needed | 군것질, 군살, 군소리, 군침 |
| 군것질 snacking between meals, 군살 excess flesh, 군소리 needless talk, and 군침, the saliva at the sight of food: 군침이 돌다, to make one’s mouth water. | ||
| 덧- | added on top | 덧신, 덧니, 덧버선 |
| 덧신 overshoes, 덧니 a tooth grown over another, 덧버선 socks worn over socks, 덧칠 a second coat of paint. 덧니 is said [던니]. | ||
| 한- | the height of, the very middle of | 한겨울, 한낮, 한밤중, 한가운데 |
| 한겨울 the depth of winter, 한낮 midday, 한밤중 the middle of the night, 한가운데 the very centre. A native word, not the 한 of 한국. The word for midsummer is said hannyeoreum, with an inserted n. | ||
Prefixes that negate
Not, non-, without, not yet and against: where English reaches for un-, non-, -less or anti-.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 불- | not, un- | 불가능, 불규칙, 불친절, 불확실, 불만족 |
| 불가능 impossible, 불규칙 irregular, 불친절하다 unfriendly, 불확실하다 uncertain, and two everyday words: 불편하다 uncomfortable, inconvenient, and 불안하다 anxious. Before ㄷ or ㅈ it becomes 부 — see the next entry. | ||
| 부- | not, un- (before d and j) | 부정확, 부주의, 부족, 부적절, 부자연스럽다 |
| The same “not” as 불, said 부 before a syllable that begins with ㄷ or ㅈ: 부정확하다 inaccurate, 부주의 carelessness, 부족하다 to be lacking, 부적절하다 inappropriate. The rule is old and sits in the spelling. | ||
| 비- | non- | 비공식, 비정상, 비현실적, 비흡연자, 비상식적 |
| 비공식 unofficial, 비정상 abnormal, 비흡연자 non-smoker, 비현실적 unrealistic. It negates a category where 불 negates a quality — much like English non- against un-. | ||
| 무- | without, -less | 무료, 무선, 무제한, 무관심, 무책임 |
| 무료 free of charge (without a fee), 무선 wireless, 무제한 unlimited, 무관심 indifference, 무책임하다 irresponsible. Its opposite is 유, with: 유료, charged for. | ||
| 미- | not yet | 미완성, 미성년자, 미혼, 미해결, 미개봉 |
| 미완성 unfinished, 미성년자 minor (not yet of age), 미혼 unmarried, 미해결 unsolved, 미개봉 unopened, in a second-hand advert. The thing has not happened yet — it is not ruled out. | ||
| 반- | against, anti- | 반비례, 반사회적, 반작용 |
| 반비례 inverse proportion, 반사회적 antisocial, 반작용 reaction (in physics), and the everyday 반대, opposition: 반대하다, to be against. A different 반 means half — see below. | ||
Prefixes of size, degree and time
Big, small, high, low, super, most, new, again, whole, total, every and half.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 대- | big, great | 대도시, 대가족, 대성공, 대규모, 대청소 |
| 대도시 big city, 대가족 extended family, 대성공 a great success, 대규모 large-scale, 대청소 a big clean. The syllable from the top of the page, used as a prefix. | ||
| 소- | small | 소도시, 소규모, 소극장, 소가족 |
| 소도시 small town, 소규모 small-scale, 소극장 small theatre, 소가족 small family. The pairs with 대 are regular: 대규모 and 소규모, 대도시 and 소도시. | ||
| 고- | high | 고급, 고혈압, 고소득, 고학력, 고품질 |
| 고급 high-class, 고혈압 high blood pressure, 고소득 high income, 고품질 high quality, and 고속 high-speed: 고속도로, the motorway. Its opposite is 저. | ||
| 저- | low | 저지방, 저칼로리, 저소득, 저혈압, 저출산 |
| 저지방 low-fat, 저칼로리 low-calorie, 저소득 low income, 저혈압 low blood pressure, 저출산 a low birth rate. Not 저, I, and not 저, that over there. | ||
| 초- | super-, ultra- | 초고속, 초대형, 초능력, 초미세먼지 |
| 초고속 ultra-high-speed, 초대형 extra-large, 초능력 superpower. 초미세먼지, ultrafine dust, is in every weather forecast. Other syllables read 초 mean a second, and the beginning (연초). | ||
| 최- | most, the superlative | 최고, 최저, 최신, 최초, 최근 |
| 최고 the best, the highest, 최저 the lowest, 최신 the newest, 최초 the very first, 최근 recent. 최고예요 is the everyday “it’s the best”. | ||
| 신- | new (in Sino-Korean words) | 신제품, 신세대, 신기록, 신도시, 신혼 |
| 신제품 new product, 신기록 new record, 신세대 the new generation, 신도시 new town, 신혼 newly married life. In everyday talk the native 새 is used: 새 제품. | ||
| 재- | re-, again | 재활용, 재사용, 재시험, 재입국, 재방송 |
| 재활용 recycling, 재사용 reuse, 재시험 resit, 재입국 re-entry, 재방송 repeat broadcast. It goes with Sino-Korean nouns; with verbs, again is 다시. | ||
| 전- | whole, all | 전국, 전체, 전교생, 전신 |
| 전국 the whole country, 전체 the whole, 전교생 all the pupils of a school, 전신 the whole body. Before most other nouns it is a separate word: 전 세계, the whole world. | ||
| 총- | total, all together | 총액, 총점, 총인원 |
| 총액 total amount, 총점 total score, 총인원 total number of people. On a bill it can stand alone before the amount. | ||
| 매- | every | 매일, 매주, 매달, 매년, 매번 |
| 매일 every day, 매주 every week, 매달 every month, 매년 every year, 매번 every time. It goes with native words as well: 달, month, is native. | ||
| 반- | half | 반값, 반팔, 반바지, 반나절, 반년 |
| 반값 half price, 반팔 short sleeves (half arm), 반바지 shorts (half trousers), 반나절 half a day, 반년 half a year. Not the 반 of 반대, against. | ||
Family, origin and style
Korean names each side of the family with its own prefix, and marks what is Korean and what came from the West.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 시- | the husband’s family | 시부모, 시어머니, 시아버지, 시댁, 시누이 |
| Seen from the wife: 시어머니 mother-in-law, 시아버지 father-in-law, 시부모 parents-in-law, 시댁 the husband’s family home, 시누이 the husband’s sister. Korean has a separate set of words for each side of a marriage, where English says in-law for all. | ||
| 처- | the wife’s family | 처가, 처남, 처제 |
| Seen from the husband: 처가 the wife’s family home, 처남 the wife’s brother, 처제 the wife’s younger sister. The wife’s parents are 장인 and 장모. | ||
| 외- | on the mother’s side | 외할머니, 외할아버지, 외삼촌, 외가, 외손자 |
| 외, outside, marks the mother’s side: 외할머니 and 외할아버지, the mother’s parents, 외삼촌 the mother’s brother, 외가 her family home. The words go back to a time when the family was counted through the father; many people now just say 할머니 for both. | ||
| 친- | one’s own, by blood; on the father’s side | 친할머니, 친할아버지, 친형, 친오빠 |
| 친할머니 the father’s mother, 친형 or 친오빠 one’s real elder brother — said because 형 and 오빠 are also used for older friends. For a married woman, 친정 is her own parents’ home. A different 친 means friendly to: 친환경, eco-friendly. | ||
| 양- | Western, from across the sea | 양복, 양식, 양말, 양파, 양주 |
| 양, the ocean, came to mean Western — what arrived from across the sea: 양복 a suit, 양식 Western food, 양주 Western spirits. Two everyday words hide it: 양말 socks and 양파 onion. | ||
| 한- | Korean | 한복, 한옥, 한약, 한우 |
| 한 as in 한국: 한복 traditional Korean clothing, 한옥 a traditional house, 한약 traditional medicine, 한우 Korean beef, and 한식 Korean food. The 한 of 한겨울 is a different, native word. | ||
Verbs from nouns: do, become, make someone do
A noun with a light verb behind it becomes a verb, a passive, a causative, or a humble form.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -하다 | do: makes a verb from a noun of action | 공부하다, 운동하다, 청소하다, 요리하다, 전화하다 |
| 공부 study → 공부하다, 운동 → 운동하다, 청소 → 청소하다 to clean. Thousands of verbs are made this way, borrowed words included: 쇼핑하다. Many can also be split with an object particle, which is a little more emphatic: 공부를 하다. The polite present is always 해요. | ||
| -되다 | become: the passive of a hada-verb | 시작되다, 진행되다, 결정되다, 연결되다, 취소되다 |
| 시작하다 to start (something) → 시작되다 to begin, 결정하다 → 결정되다 to be decided, 취소하다 → 취소되다 to be cancelled. English uses one verb both ways (the meeting started; she started the meeting); Korean chooses: 회의가 시작됐어요, 회의를 시작했어요. | ||
| -시키다 | make someone do: the causative | 입원시키다, 연습시키다, 이해시키다, 화해시키다, 결혼시키다 |
| 연습하다 practise → 연습시키다 make someone practise, 입원하다 → 입원시키다 admit to hospital, 이해시키다 make someone understand. In speech it is often used where plain 하다 would do — 소개시키다 for 소개하다, to introduce — and careful writers avoid that. | ||
| -받다 | receive: a passive for good things | 사랑받다, 인정받다, 칭찬받다, 초대받다, 상처받다 |
| 사랑받다 to be loved, 칭찬받다 to be praised, 초대받다 to be invited, 인정받다 to be recognised, 상처받다 to be hurt. It is the natural way to say “be praised”: a passive of 칭찬하다 is not used in everyday speech. | ||
| -당하다 | suffer: a passive for bad things | 무시당하다, 거절당하다, 사기당하다, 해고당하다 |
| 무시당하다 to be ignored, 거절당하다 to be turned down, 사기당하다 to be cheated, 해고당하다 to be fired. 받다 receives something good; 당하다 undergoes something unwanted. | ||
| -드리다 | the humble form, for an act done for a superior | 말씀드리다, 인사드리다, 연락드리다, 전화드리다 |
| 드리다, the humble form of give, after a noun: 말씀드리다 to tell (someone of higher standing), 인사드리다 to greet, 연락드리다 to contact. Customer service is full of them: 연락드리겠습니다, we will contact you. | ||
Adjectives from nouns
Five endings make an adjective out of a noun — and since Korean adjectives work like verbs, each one is a whole family.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -하다 | makes an adjective from a noun of quality | 건강하다, 행복하다, 친절하다, 피곤하다, 조용하다 |
| The same 하다 after a noun of quality makes an adjective, and Korean adjectives behave like verbs: 건강 health → 건강하다 healthy, 행복 → 행복하다 happy, 피곤하다 tired. These cannot be split with an object particle — one way to tell them from the verbs. | ||
| -스럽다 | having the air of, full of | 자연스럽다, 걱정스럽다, 자랑스럽다, 사랑스럽다, 만족스럽다 |
| 자연스럽다 natural, 자랑스럽다 proud, 걱정스럽다 worrying, 사랑스럽다 lovable, 만족스럽다 satisfying. They all bend like ㅂ-verbs: 자연스러워요. | ||
| -롭다 | full of (after a noun ending in a vowel) | 자유롭다, 평화롭다, 향기롭다, 지혜롭다, 슬기롭다 |
| 자유 freedom → 자유롭다 free, 평화롭다 peaceful, 향기롭다 fragrant, 지혜롭다 wise, 슬기롭다 clever, sensible. Also an ㅂ-adjective: 평화로워요. | ||
| -답다 | living up to it, as a proper one should be | 학생답다, 남자답다, 어른답다, 정답다 |
| 학생답다 as a student should be, 어른답다 grown-up, 남자답다 manly, and 정답다 warm, affectionate. Compare 스럽다, which only has the air of something: a child who is 어른스럽다 seems grown-up, an adult who is 어른답다 behaves as one should. | ||
| -지다 | having a lot of | 멋지다, 값지다, 기름지다, 그늘지다 |
| 멋 style → 멋지다 cool, great; 값 price → 값지다 valuable; 기름 oil → 기름지다 greasy, rich; 그늘 shade → 그늘지다 shady. Not the -아/어지다 of 예뻐지다, to become pretty, which is grammar rather than word formation. | ||
Adverbs and native verb endings
Endings for -ly, for movements done again and again, for things knocked over, for directions, and for each in turn.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -히/-이 | makes an adverb from an adjective, -ly | 조용히, 천천히, 솔직히, 깨끗이, 같이 |
| 조용하다 → 조용히 quietly, 솔직하다 → 솔직히 honestly, 깨끗하다 → 깨끗이 cleanly, 같다 → 같이 together. Which of the two is a matter of spelling that Koreans look up too; 이 comes after ㅅ and after stems without 하다. The other everyday way is -게: 조용하게. | ||
| -거리다 | doing a sound or movement again and again | 두근거리다, 반짝거리다, 중얼거리다, 깜빡거리다, 흔들거리다 |
| After a sound or movement word: 두근 thump → 두근거리다 to pound (of a heart), 반짝거리다 to sparkle, 중얼거리다 to mutter, 깜빡거리다 to flicker. 대다 does the same job: 두근대다. | ||
| -이다 | a single or gentle movement | 반짝이다, 움직이다, 끄덕이다, 속삭이다 |
| 반짝이다 to twinkle, 끄덕이다 to nod, 속삭이다 to whisper, 움직이다 to move. Not the copula 이다, to be. | ||
| -뜨리다 | makes a verb of falling or breaking something one does | 떨어뜨리다, 깨뜨리다, 넘어뜨리다, 터뜨리다 |
| 떨어지다 fall → 떨어뜨리다 drop, 깨지다 break → 깨뜨리다 break (something), 터지다 burst → 터뜨리다 burst (something), usually by accident or with force. 트리다 is equally correct: 떨어트리다. | ||
| -가다/-오다 | which way a movement goes | 들어가다, 나오다, 올라가다, 내려오다, 돌아가다 |
| 가다, go, and 오다, come, after another verb say whether a movement goes away from the speaker or towards them: 들어가다 go in, 나오다 come out, 올라가다 go up, 내려오다 come down, 돌아가다 go back. Where English uses in, out and up, Korean uses a verb. | ||
| -씩 | each, at a time | 하나씩, 조금씩, 두 개씩 |
| After a number or an amount: 하나씩 one each, one at a time, 조금씩 little by little, 두 개씩 two each. It sticks to the word before it, even after a counter: 한 명씩. | ||
Compounds, doubled and shortened words
Two native words joined, a sound added at the join, dishes named by how they are cooked, words said twice and words cut short — and the rule that changes a syllable at the start of a word.
| Building block | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| noun + noun | two native words make one | 눈물, 손목, 발목, 발가락, 물병 |
| Native words join as English ones do, and the last part says what the thing is: 눈물 tears (eye-water), 손목 wrist (hand-neck), 발목 ankle (foot-neck), 발가락 toe (foot-finger), 물병 water bottle. | ||
| -ㅅ- | a letter added at the join of two words | 바닷가, 햇빛, 콧물, 뒷문, 빗물 |
| When two words join and the first ends in a vowel, a ㅅ is often written under it: 바다 sea + 가 edge → 바닷가 seaside, 해 + 빛 → 햇빛 sunlight, 코 + 물 → 콧물 runny nose, 비 + 물 → 빗물 rainwater. It marks a sound, not a meaning: the next consonant is said tense, or an n appears before m (콧물 [콘물]). | ||
| method + food | a dish named by how it is cooked | 볶음밥, 비빔밥, 생선구이, 야채튀김, 김치찌개 |
| What goes in comes first, then a noun made from the cooking verb: 볶다 stir-fry → 볶음밥 fried rice, 비비다 mix → 비빔밥 rice mixed with vegetables, 굽다 grill → 생선구이 grilled fish, 튀기다 deep-fry → 야채튀김 vegetable fritters. A menu becomes readable once the cooking words are known. | ||
| A + A | a word said twice | 반짝반짝, 하나하나, 따로따로, 빨리빨리, 집집마다 |
| 반짝반짝 twinkle-twinkle, 하나하나 one by one, 따로따로 each separately, 집집마다 in every house, and 빨리빨리, quick-quick, the everyday way to hurry someone. Sound and movement words are doubled very often. | ||
| short words | a long word cut to its first syllables | 남친, 여친, 생파, 비번, 학식 |
| Mostly in casual speech and online: 남자 친구 → 남친 boyfriend, 여자 친구 → 여친, 생일 파티 → 생파, 비밀번호 → 비번 password, 학생 식당 → 학식 student canteen. Fine among friends, out of place in a formal letter. | ||
| l and n at the start | the initial-sound rule: a syllable changes at the start of a word | 연세, 학년, 여자, 소녀, 요리, 재료 |
| Sino-Korean words do not begin with ㄹ, nor with ㄴ before i or y. So one syllable has two spellings: year is 년 inside a word (학년, school year) but 연 at the start (연세, the age of an elder); female is 녀 in 소녀, girl, but 여 in 여자; material is 료 in 재료, ingredient, but 요 in 요리, cooking. Borrowed words keep their l: 라디오. | ||