Preparing for the TOPIK I exam? Or just picking up Korean for daily life? Whatever your purpose, knowing the right words makes everything easier. Below are 50 basic Korean words for beginners—each one explained in simple, straightforward terms so you know exactly how and when to use them.
People & Pronouns
- 나 (na)
- I, me
- 너 (neo)
- You (casual)
- 우리 (u-ri)
- We, us; also used as “my/our” in some contexts
- 사람 (sa-ram)
- Person, people
- 친구 (chin-gu)
- Friend
- 선생님 (seon-saeng-nim)
- Teacher (respectful)
- 학생 (hak-saeng)
- Student
- 남자 (nam-ja)
- Man, male
- 여자 (yeo-ja)
- Woman, female
- 아기 (a-gi)
- Baby
Everyday Verbs
- 가다 (ga-da)
- To go
- 오다 (o-da)
- To come
- 보다 (bo-da)
- To see, watch
- 먹다 (meok-da)
- To eat
- 마시다 (ma-si-da)
- To drink
- 하다 (ha-da)
- To do (used with many nouns)
- 주다 (ju-da)
- To give
- 사다 (sa-da)
- To buy
- 자다 (ja-da)
- To sleep
- 읽다 (ilk-da)
- To read
Time & Date
- 오늘 (o-neul)
- Today
- 내일 (nae-il)
- Tomorrow
- 어제 (eo-je)
- Yesterday
- 시간 (shi-gan)
- Time, hour
- 요일 (yo-il)
- Day of the week
- 월요일 (wol-yo-il)
- Monday
- 지금 (ji-geum)
- Now
- 언제 (eon-je)
- When?
- 오전 (o-jeon)
- A.M. (morning)
- 오후 (o-hu)
- P.M. (afternoon/evening)
Places
- 집 (jip)
- House, home
- 학교 (hak-gyo)
- School
- 회사 (hoe-sa)
- Company, office
- 병원 (byeong-won)
- Hospital
- 시장 (shi-jang)
- Market
- 공원 (gong-won)
- Park
- 식당 (shik-dang)
- Restaurant
- 은행 (eun-haeng)
- Bank
- 서점 (seo-jeom)
- Bookstore
- 화장실 (hwa-jang-shil)
- Bathroom, restroom
Objects & Things
- 물 (mul)
- Water
- 음식 (eum-shik)
- Food
- 옷 (ot)
- Clothes
- 책 (chaek)
- Book
- 전화 (jeon-hwa)
- Phone
- 컴퓨터 (keom-pyu-teo)
- Computer
- 자동차 (ja-dong-cha)
- Car
- 문 (mun)
- Door
- 가방 (ga-bang)
- Bag, backpack
- 돈 (don)
- Money
Final Tips
- Say each word out loud while looking at the romanization.
- Practice making simple sentences (e.g., 저는 학교에 가요 – I go to school).
- Don’t just read—say them, write them, and use them. Repetition is the key to memory.
