🔡Korean Basics & Grammar Vocabulary List

Browse all 1,238 Korean basics & grammar vocabulary words, organised by TOPIK level (1–6). Numbers, particles, function words and the building blocks of Korean grammar. Each word has romanization and an English meaning, curated by a certified Korean language teacher. Pick a level to see the full list.

By level

Sample words

• 가다 gada to go
• 만나다 mannada to meet
• 못하다 mothada to be bad at, can't do well (one word)
• 쉬다 swida to rest
• 오다 oda to come
• 일어나다 ireonada to get up
• 똑바로 ttokbaro straight, directly
• 쭉 jjuk straight (all the way), continuously
• 여전히 yeojeonhi still; as ever
• 오랜만이에요 oraenmanieyo it's been a while; long time no see
• 진짜요? jinjjayo? really? (surprised reaction)
• 그러게요 geureogeyo I know, right; you said it
• 규칙적 gyuchikjeok regular, systematic; of a regular nature
• 꾸준히 kkujunhi steadily, consistently, persistently
• 조건 jogeon condition, requirement
• 콜록콜록 kollokkollok cough cough (sound)
• 진도 jindo progress, pace
• 문어체 muneoche written language style
• 괜히 gwaenhi for no reason, uselessly
• 그러게 geureoge I told you so, right?
• 막상 maksang when actually faced with it, in reality
• 설마 seolma no way, surely not
• 어쩐지 eojjeonji somehow, for some reason
• 제발 jebal please (begging)
• 본론 bollon main point, main body of argument
• 서론 seoron introduction, preface, opening remarks
• 설사 seolsa even if, even though (concessive adverb)
• 완곡하다 wangokhada to be euphemistic, to be roundabout
• 자네 jane you (informal, to a younger/lower person)
• 작심삼일 jaksimsamil three-day resolution (giving up too quickly)
• 관용구 gwanyonggu idiom, set phrase
• 고사성어 gosaseongeo four-character classical idiom
• 비격식 bigyeoksik informal register
• 화계 hwagye speech level system
• 가까스로 gakkaseuro barely, narrowly
• 가뜩이나 gatteugina already stressed out, even more so