Upper Intermediate Korean Vocabulary List (TOPIK 5)

All 2,545 Korean vocabulary words at the upper intermediate (TOPIK 5) level, grouped into 7 topic categories — numbers, food, family, travel and more. News, business and nuance. Every word has romanization and an English meaning, curated by a certified Korean language teacher. Pick a topic to see the full list.

By topic

Sample words

• 본론 bollon main point, main body of argument
• 서론 seoron introduction, preface, opening remarks
• 설사 seolsa even if, even though (concessive adverb)
• 완곡하다 wangokada to be euphemistic, to be roundabout
• 자네 jane you (informal, to a younger/lower person)
• 눈치채다 nunchichaeda to sense, to catch on, to notice
• 어이없다 eoieopda to be absurd, to be dumbfounding
• 전하 jeonha Your Majesty (sageuk address)
• 직함 jikham job title, position title
• 창피하다 changpihada to be embarrassed
• 공동구매 gongdonggumae group buy, joint purchase
• 품절 pumjeol out of stock, sold out
• 가성비 gaseongbi value for money, cost-effectiveness
• 충동구매 chungdonggumae impulse buying
• 교원 gyowon teacher, educator (certified)
• 궁 gung palace
• 예전 yejeon the old days, former times
• 후기 hugi review, write-up (about an experience)
• 거닐다 geonilda to stroll, to walk around
• 걷어차다 geodeochada to kick away, to kick off
• 사극 sageuk historical drama, period drama
• 혼잣말 honjanmal talking to oneself, monologue
• 각지 gakji various places, every region
• 감미롭다 gammiropda to be sweet and mellow, to be melodious
• 감상적 gamsangjeok sentimental
• 곤충 gonchung insect, bug
• 공중 gongjung the public, general public
• 그물 geumul net, mesh
• 금 geum gold, precious metal
• 금속 geumsok metal
• 정책 jeongchaek policy
• 비판 bipan criticism, critique
• 감탄 gamtan admiration, exclamation
• 격식 gyeoksik formality, etiquette, decorum
• 공식적 gongsikjeok official, formal