Best Flashcard Sets to Learn Korean Vocabulary (Hangul, Everyday Words & TOPIK A1–B2)
Master the 480 most important everyday Korean words across 15 thematic flashcard decks (TOPIK I & II / CEFR A1–B2), with Hangul syllable blocks, Revised Romanization, polite -아/어요 sentences, and native vs. Sino-Korean numbers.
Interactive Premade Curricula
Korean Flashcard Decks (15)
Select any deck below to study cards with active recall, audio pronunciation, and FSRS spaced repetition, or filter by difficulty level.
Korean — Greetings, Polite Words & Everyday Phrases
Korean — Numbers, Days of the Week, Months & Time
Korean — Home, Rooms, Furniture & Everyday Objects
Korean — Food, Drinks, Meals & Ordering at a Restaurant
Korean — Fruits, Vegetables & Supermarket Groceries
Korean — Family, People, Friends & Relationships
Korean — Clothing, Shoes, Accessories & Colors
Korean — Body Parts, Health, Doctor & Pharmacy
Korean — Animals, Pets, Nature & Weather
Korean — Travel, Airport, Train, Hotel & Directions
Korean — City Places, Shops, Money & Everyday Errands
Korean — School, Work, Office, Tech & Professions
Korean — Top 32 Essential Everyday Action Verbs
Korean — Top 32 Essential Adjectives & Opposites
Korean — Feelings, Emotions, Personality & Hobbies
Start learning Korean right away:
Learning Korean (한국어 — Hangugeo) unlocks one of the world's most vibrant cultural ecosystems—from dining at a bustling street market in Seoul and navigating the KTX high-speed rail to understanding K-dramas, cinema, and K-pop in their original voice. Yet many beginners stall because they either rely solely on Romanized English approximations or memorize abstract grammar rules without a core bank of concrete everyday words.
The fastest path to conversational Korean and TOPIK I & II (CEFR A1–B2) confidence is learning concrete everyday vocabulary inside natural polite sentences—seeing how Hangul syllable blocks, topic/object particles, and polite -아/어요 (haeyo-che) verb endings fit together in real life.
In this comprehensive visual guide, we cover the four pillars of Korean vocabulary acquisition and walk you step-by-step through all 15 Essential Thematic Korean Flashcard Decks (480 core words total) on Flashcards World.
Why Learning Concrete Everyday Korean Words First Works Best
1. Hangul Syllable Blocks: The World's Most Logical Alphabet
Commissioned by King Sejong the Great in 1443, Hangul (한글) is a featural phonetic alphabet consisting of 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels. Unlike linear alphabets, Hangul letters are grouped into compact syllable blocks consisting of:
- Initial consonant (초성 — Choseong): e.g.,
ㅎ (h),ㅁ (m),ㄱ (g/k) - Medial vowel (중성 — Jungseong): e.g.,
ㅏ (a),ㅜ (u),ㅗ (o) - Optional final consonant (종성 / 받침 — Batchim): e.g.,
ㄴ (n),ㄹ (l),ㅂ (p)
| Hangul Block | Breakdown (Initial + Vowel + Batchim) | Revised Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 한 | ㅎ (h) + ㅏ (a) + ㄴ (n) |
han | Korean / One |
| 글 | ㄱ (g) + ㅡ (eu) + ㄹ (l) |
geul | Script / Writing |
| 물 | ㅁ (m) + ㅜ (u) + ㄹ (l) |
mul | Water |
| 밥 | ㅂ (b) + ㅏ (a) + ㅂ (p) |
bap | Cooked rice / Meal |
| 집 | ㅈ (j) + ㅣ (i) + ㅂ (p) |
jip | House / Home |
Whether a syllable ends in a final consonant (batchim) or an open vowel determines which grammatical particle or verb ending attaches to it—making concrete flashcards the ideal way to train your eyes to spot batchim instantly.
2. Polite Haeyo-che (-아/어요) vs. Formal Hasipsio-che (-습니다/ㅂ니다)
In everyday Korean life across Seoul, Busan, and Jeju, two polite speech levels dominate:
- Polite Conversational (해요체 — Haeyo-che, ending in
-아요 / -어요 / -해요): Used in 90% of daily interactions with strangers, café staff, colleagues, and friends. If the verb stem's last vowel is bright (ㅏorㅗ), attach-아요(가다 → 가요 gayo "goes"); otherwise attach-어요(먹다 → 먹어요 meogeoyo "eats"), while하다verbs become해요(공부하다 → 공부해요 gongbuhaeyo "studies"). - Formal Polite (하십시오체 — Hasipsio-che, ending in
-습니다 / -ㅂ니다): Used in fixed greetings (감사합니다 gamsahamnida "thank you", 반갑습니다 bangapseumnida "nice to meet you"), news broadcasts, and formal announcements.
Every flashcard example sentence in our 15 decks models natural -아/어요 or -습니다 polite Korean so you can speak every sentence aloud immediately.
3. Topic, Subject & Object Particles (은/는, 이/가, 을/를)
Korean is an SOV (Subject–Object–Verb) language where grammatical roles are marked by short post-positional particles attached directly to nouns. The choice between the two forms of each particle depends solely on whether the noun ends in a consonant (batchim) or a vowel:
| Particle Role | After a Consonant (Batchim) | After a Vowel | Real Flashcard Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic Marker ("as for...") | 은 (-eun) — 집은 (jibeun) |
는 (-neun) — 기차는 (gichaneun) |
기차는 아홉 시에 떠나요 (The train leaves at nine.) |
| Subject Marker (focus/new info) | 이 (-i) — 방이 (bangi) |
가 (-ga) — 날씨가 (nalssiga) |
오늘 날씨가 정말 좋아요 (Today the weather is really good.) |
| Object Marker (direct object) | 을 (-eul) — 물을 (mureul) |
를 (-reul) — 커피를 (keopireul) |
아침에 따뜻한 커피를 만들어요 (I make warm coffee in the morning.) |
| Location / Direction ("at/in/to") | 에 / 에서 (-e / -eseo) | 에 / 에서 (-e / -eseo) | 부엌에서 저녁을 요리해요 (I cook dinner in the kitchen.) |
4. Dual Number Systems: Native Korean vs. Sino-Korean Numbers
One of the trickiest aspects of Korean for beginners is that Korean uses two parallel number systems every single day:
- Native Korean Numbers (
하나 hana, 둘 dul, 셋 set, 넷 net, 다섯 daseot...): Used for counting physical objects (한 개 han gae), people (두 명 du myeong), animals (세 마리 se mari), cups/glasses (한 잔 han jan), age (스무 살 seumu sal), and hours on the clock (여섯 시 yeoseot si= 6 o'clock). Note that하나, 둘, 셋, 넷shorten to한, 두, 세, 네before a counter! - Sino-Korean Numbers (
일 il, 이 i, 삼 sam, 사 sa, 오 o, 육 yuk, 칠 chil, 팔 pal, 구 gu, 십 sip, 백 baek...): Derived from Chinese numerals and used for minutes (오 분 o bun= 5 minutes), dates and months (칠 일 chil il), money/prices (천 원 cheon won), phone numbers, and building floors. - Telling Time Combines Both! To say "6:05", you use Native Korean for the hour (여섯 시 yeoseot si) and Sino-Korean for the minutes (오 분 o bun). Deck 2 drills both systems side-by-side in real sentences.
The 15 Essential Thematic Korean Flashcard Decks (480 Core Words)
Each deck below contains 32 high-frequency flashcards (15 decks × 32 cards = 480 core Korean words & phrases), extracted directly from the Flashcards World Rosetta curriculum. Practice them interactively on Flashcards World.
Deck 1: Greetings, Polite Words & Everyday Phrases (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Essential Korean greetings (안녕하세요 annyeonghaseyo), polite gratitude and apologies (감사합니다, 죄송합니다, 실례합니다), farewells (안녕히 가세요 / 계세요), and first-meeting phrases. Why it matters: Korean social etiquette revolves around polite openings; mastering these 32 cards gives you immediate confidence in every shop, restaurant, and meeting.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) | 안녕하세요, 반갑습니다 (annyeonghaseyo, bangapseumnida) | Hello — Hello, how is your day? |
| 좋은 아침 (joeun achim) | 좋은 아침입니다 (joeun achimimnida) | Good morning — Good morning, did you sleep well? |
| 좋은 저녁 (joeun jeonyeok) | 좋은 저녁 되세요 (joeun jeonyeok doeseyo) | Good evening — Good evening, dinner is ready now. |
| 안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo) | 다음에 또 봐요 (daeume tto bwayo) | Goodbye — Goodbye, see you again soon. |
| 부탁합니다 (butakhamnida) | 물 좀 주세요 (mul jom juseyo) | Please — Please pass me the water. |
| 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) | 도와주셔서 감사합니다 (dowajusyeoseo gamsahamnida) | Thank you — Thank you for your kind help. |
| 실례합니다 (sillyehamnida) | 실례합니다, 출구가 어디예요? (sillyehamnida, chulguga eodiyeyo?) | Excuse me — Excuse me, where is the exit? |
| 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) | 늦어서 정말 죄송합니다 (neujeoseo jeongmal joesonghamnida) | I'm sorry — I'm sorry for being late. |
| 반갑습니다 (bangapseumnida) | 만나서 정말 반가워요 (mannaseo jeongmal bangawoyo) | Nice to meet you — Nice to meet you today. |
| 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?) | 가격이 어떻게 되나요? (gagyeogi eotteoke doenayo?) | How much is this? — How much does this shirt cost? |
👉 Practice Deck 1: Korean — Greetings, Polite Words & Everyday Phrases (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 2: Numbers, Days of the Week, Months & Time (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Both Sino-Korean (일, 이, 삼... 백) and Native Korean (하나, 둘, 셋... 열) numbers, days of the week (월요일 to 일요일), and time words (오늘, 내일, 어제, 몇 시). Why it matters: Whether you are ordering two coffees (두 잔), catching a 9 o'clock train (아홉 시), or waiting five minutes (오 분), this deck locks in Korea's dual number system.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 일 / 하나 (il / hana) | 표가 한 장 있어요 (pyoga han jang isseoyo) | one (1) — I have one ticket for today. |
| 이 / 둘 (i / dul) | 두 명 자리 부탁해요 (du myeong jari butakhaeyo) | two (2) — A table for two people, please. |
| 십 / 열 (sip / yeol) | 사과가 열 개 있어요 (sagwaga yeol gae isseoyo) | ten (10) — This book costs ten dollars. |
| 백 (baek) | 시험에서 백 점을 받았어요 (siheomeseo baek jeomeul badasseoyo) | one hundred (100) — This book has one hundred pages. |
| 월요일 (woryoil) | 월요일에 출근해요 (woryoire chulgeunhaeyo) | Monday — I start work on Monday. |
| 금요일 (geumyoil) | 금요일 저녁에 친구를 만나요 (geumyoil jeonyeoge chingureul mannayo) | Friday — We go out on Friday evening. |
| 일요일 (iryoil) | 일요일에는 집에서 쉬어요 (iryoireneun jibeseo swieoyo) | Sunday — Shops are closed on Sunday. |
| 오늘 (oneul) | 오늘은 날씨가 참 좋네요 (oneureun nalssiga cham jonneyo) | today — The weather is sunny today. |
| 내일 (naeil) | 내일 부산으로 출발해요 (naeil Busaneuro chulbalhaeyo) | tomorrow — I am flying to Rome tomorrow. |
| 지금 몇 시예요? (jigeum myeot siyeyo?) | 현재 시간을 알려주세요 (hyeonjae siganeul allyeojuseyo) | What time is it? — Excuse me, what time is it? |
👉 Practice Deck 2: Korean — Numbers, Days of the Week, Months & Time (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 3: Home, Rooms, Furniture & Everyday Objects (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Home and living spaces (집, 아파트, 방, 부엌, 침실, 거실), furniture (의자, 식탁, 침대, 소파), and everyday household items (문, 창문, 열쇠, 냉장고). Why it matters: Trains you to pair concrete household nouns with location particles like 에 (식탁 위에 음식이 있어요) and 에서 (부엌에서 저녁을 요리해요).
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 집 (jip) | 우리 집은 공원 근처예요 (uri jibeun gongwon geuncheoyeyo) | house — Our house has a red roof. |
| 방 (bang) | 이 방은 햇빛이 잘 들어요 (i bangeun haetbichi jal deureoyo) | room — This room gets lots of sun. |
| 부엌 / 주방 (bueok / jubang) | 부엌에서 저녁을 요리해요 (bueokeseo jeonyeogeul yorihaeyo) | kitchen — We cook dinner in the kitchen. |
| 침실 (chimsil) | 침실이 조용하고 따뜻해요 (chimsiri joyonghago ttatteuthaeyo) | bedroom — The bedroom is quiet and warm. |
| 의자 (uija) | 이 의자에 편하게 앉으세요 (i uijae pyeonhage anjeuseyo) | chair — Please sit on this chair. |
| 식탁 / 테이블 (siktak / teibeul) | 식탁 위에 음식이 있어요 (siktak wie eumsigi isseoyo) | table — Dinner is on the table. |
| 침대 (chimdae) | 침대가 넓고 아주 폭신해요 (chimdaega neolpgo aju poksinhaeyo) | bed — This bed has a soft mattress. |
| 문 (mun) | 들어오실 때 문을 닫아 주세요 (deureoosil ttae muneul dada juseyo) | door — Please close the front door. |
| 창문 (changmun) | 창문을 열어서 환기해요 (changmuneul yeoreoseo hwangihaeyo) | window — Open the window for fresh air. |
| 열쇠 (yeolsoe) | 가방 안에서 자동차 열쇠를 찾았어요 (gabang aneseo jadongcha yeolsoereul chajasseoyo) | key — Where did I put my house key? |
👉 Practice Deck 3: Korean — Home, Rooms, Furniture & Everyday Objects (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 4: Food, Drinks, Meals & Ordering at a Restaurant (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Korean dining staples (물, 밥, 빵, 커피, 차, 우유, 고기, 닭고기, 생선), meals (아침, 점심, 저녁), and restaurant ordering (메뉴, 식당, 계산서). Why it matters: Using [Item] + 주세요 (juseyo — please give me) with the words in this deck lets you order effortlessly at any Korean BBQ restaurant or Seoul café.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 물 (mul) | 시원한 물 한 잔 주세요 (siwonhan mul han jan juseyo) | water — A glass of cold water, please. |
| 빵 (ppang) | 아침에 따뜻한 빵을 먹어요 (achime ttatteuthan ppangeul meogeoyo) | bread — I buy fresh bread every morning. |
| 커피 (keopi) | 따뜻한 커피 한 잔 마실래요? (ttatteuthan keopi han jan masillaeyo?) | coffee — I drink black coffee without sugar. |
| 차 (cha) | 따뜻한 녹차 한 잔 드세요 (ttatteuthan nokcha han jan deuseyo) | tea — Would you like a cup of green tea? |
| 우유 (uyu) | 시리얼에 차가운 우유를 부어요 (sirieore chagaun uyureul bueoyo) | milk — Children drink warm milk at night. |
| 밥 / 쌀 (bap / ssal) | 따끈한 흰쌀밥을 맛있게 먹어요 (ttakkeunhan babeul meogeoyo) | rice — We serve steamed white rice with curry. |
| 닭고기 / 치킨 (dakgogi / chikin) | 바삭한 치킨이 정말 맛있어요 (basakhan chikini masisseoyo) | chicken — We had roast chicken for dinner. |
| 생선 / 물고기 (saengseon) | 노릇하게 구운 생선구이 (noreuthage guun saengseongui) | fish — Grilled fresh fish with lemon. |
| 메뉴판 (menyupan) | 여기 메뉴판 좀 가져다주세요 (yeogi menyupan jom gajyeodajuseyo) | menu — Could we see the menu, please? |
| 계산서 (gyesanseo) | 여기 계산서 좀 부탁드립니다 (yeogi gyesanseo jom butakdeurimnida) | the bill — Could we have the bill, please? |
👉 Practice Deck 4: Korean — Food, Drinks, Meals & Ordering at a Restaurant (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 5: Fruits, Vegetables & Supermarket Groceries (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Fresh fruits (사과, 바나나, 오렌지, 딸기, 수박), vegetables (토마토, 감자, 당근, 양파, 마늘), and pantry items (올리브유, 꿀, 밀가루, 초콜릿). Why it matters: Supermarket and traditional market (시장 sijang) shopping becomes an interactive vocabulary workout.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 사과 (sagwa) | 아삭하고 달콤한 빨간 사과 (asakhago dalkomhan ppalgan sagwa) | apple — This red apple is crisp and sweet. |
| 바나나 (banana) | 노랗게 잘 익은 달콤한 바나나 (jal igeun dalkomhan banana) | banana — Monkeys love ripe yellow bananas. |
| 오렌지 / 귤 (orenji / gyul) | 상큼하고 달콤한 오렌지를 까먹어요 (orenjireul kkameogeoyo) | orange — Peel a juicy sweet orange. |
| 딸기 (ttalgi) | 새콤달콤한 빨간 딸기를 씻어요 (ppalgan ttalgireul ssiseoyo) | strawberry — Red strawberries with fresh cream. |
| 토마토 (tomato) | 잘 익은 빨간 토마토를 썰어요 (ppalgan tomatoreul sseoreoyo) | tomato — Slice a ripe red tomato for salad. |
| 감자 (gamja) | 포슬포슬하게 삶은 뜨거운 감자 (salmeun tteugeoun gamja) | potato — Baked potatoes with butter and herbs. |
| 당근 (danggeun) | 주황색 당근은 눈에 아주 좋아요 (danggeuneun nune joayo) | carrot — Crunchy orange carrots are good for eyes. |
| 양파 (yangpa) | 양파를 볶으면 단맛이 나요 (yangpareul bokkeumyeon danmasi nayo) | onion — Chop a white onion for the soup. |
| 마늘 (maneul) | 한국 요리에는 다진 마늘이 들어가요 (dajin maneuri deureogayo) | garlic — Two cloves of garlic add rich flavor. |
| 올리브유 (ollibeuyu) | 샐러드에 신선한 올리브유를 뿌려요 (ollibeuyureul ppuryeoyo) | olive oil — Drizzle extra virgin olive oil on bread. |
👉 Practice Deck 5: Korean — Fruits, Vegetables & Supermarket Groceries (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 6: Family, People, Friends & Relationships (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Family and kinship terms (가족, 어머니, 아버지, 부모님, 형/오빠, 누나/언니, 아들, 딸, 남편, 아내) plus social relationships (친구, 이웃, 동료).
Why it matters: Korean kinship terms reflect age and politeness; learning them inside sentences shows you when to add honorific particles like -께서 and -님.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 가족 (gajok) | 우리 가족은 여기에 살아요. (uri gajog-eun yeogie sarayo.) | the family — My family lives in this city. |
| 어머니 (eomeoni) | 어머니는 요리를 잘 하세요. (eomeonineun yorireul jal haseyo.) | the mother — My mother cooks delicious food every day. |
| 아버지 (abeoji) | 아버지는 병원에서 일하세요. (abeojineun byeong-won-eseo ilhaseyo.) | the father — My father works at a local hospital. |
| 형제 (hyeongje) | 내 남동생은 기타를 쳐요. (nae namdongsaeng-eun gitareul chyeoyo.) | the brother — My brother plays guitar in a band. |
| 자매 (jamae) | 내 언니는 대학생이에요. (nae eonnineun daehaksaeng-ieyo.) | the sister — My sister studies medicine at the university. |
| 아들 (adeul) | 그들의 아들은 학교에 가요. (geudeul-ui adeul-eun haggyo-e gayo.) | the son — Their son goes to primary school now. |
| 딸 (ttal) | 딸은 그림 그리기를 좋아해요. (ttal-eun geulim geuligileul joh-ahaeyo.) | the daughter — Their daughter loves drawing colorful pictures. |
| 남편 (nampyeon) | 그녀의 남편은 아침을 준비해요. (geunyeoui nampyeon-eun achim-eul junbihaeyo.) | the husband — Her husband prepares breakfast every morning. |
| 아내 (anae) | 그의 아내는 유능한 건축가예요. (geuui anaeneun yuneunghan geonchuggayeyo.) | the wife — His wife is a talented architect. |
| 친구 (chingu) | 금요일에 친구와 커피를 마셔요. (geum-yoil-e chinguwa keopileul masyeoyo.) | the friend — I meet my friend for coffee on Fridays. |
👉 Practice Deck 6: Korean — Family, People, Friends & Relationships (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 7: Clothing, Shoes, Accessories & Colors (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Clothing (옷, 셔츠, 티셔츠, 자켓, 코트, 드레스, 바지), footwear (신발, 부츠, 운동화), accessories (안경, 가방, 우산, 시계), and colors (파란색, 빨간색, 검은색, 흰색). Why it matters: Korean uses specific verbs for wearing clothes (입다 ipda for garments, 신다 sinda for shoes/socks, 쓰다 sseuda for glasses/hats)—all modeled in context here.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 옷 (ot) | 여행을 위해 깨끗한 옷을 챙겨요. (yeohaeng-eul wihae kkaekkeushan os-eul chaeng-gyeoyo.) | the clothes — I pack clean clothes for the weekend trip. |
| 셔츠 (syeocheu) | 그는 사무실에 흰 셔츠를 입고 가요. (geuneun samusil-e huin syeocheuleul ibgo gayo.) | the shirt — He wears a white shirt to the office. |
| 재킷 (jaekit) | 밖에 나가기 전에 재킷을 입으세요. (bakk-e nagagi jeon-e jaekis-eul ib-euseyo.) | the jacket — Put on your jacket before going outside. |
| 코트 (koteu) | 그녀는 문 옆에 코트를 걸었어요. (geunyeoneun mun yeop-e koteuleul geol-eoss-eoyo.) | the coat — She hung her heavy coat by the door. |
| 드레스 (deureseu) | 그녀는 예쁜 드레스를 입었어요. (geunyeoneun yeppeun deureseureul ibeosseoyo.) | the dress — She wears an elegant summer dress today. |
| 바지 (baji) | 이 검은색 바지는 조금 길어요. (i geom-eunsaeg bajineun jogeum gil-eoyo.) | the trousers — These black trousers are slightly too long. |
| 신발 (sinbal) | 현관에서 신발을 벗어 주세요. (hyeongwan-eseo sinbal-eul beos-eo juseyo.) | the shoes — Take off your shoes at the entrance. |
| 안경 (angyeong) | 책을 읽으려면 안경이 필요해요. (chaegeul ilgeuryeomyeon angyeong-i piryohaeyo.) | the glasses — I need my glasses to read small print. |
| 가방 (gabang) | 그녀는 가방 안에 열쇠를 넣어 두어요. (geunyeoneun gabang an-e yeolsoeleul neoh-eo dueoyo.) | the bag — She keeps her keys inside her leather bag. |
| 파란색 (paransaek) | 오늘 하늘이 맑고 파랗습니다. (oneul haneul-i malg-go palahseubnida.) | blue — The sky is clear and bright blue today. |
👉 Practice Deck 7: Korean — Clothing, Shoes, Accessories & Colors (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 8: Body Parts, Health, Doctor & Pharmacy (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Body parts (머리, 눈, 코, 입, 손, 심장, 배, 다리), medical care (의사, 간호사, 병원, 약국, 약), and common symptoms (열, 두통). Why it matters: Pairing any body part from this deck with 아파요 (apayo — hurts) lets you explain symptoms clearly at a Korean clinic or pharmacy (약국 yakguk).
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 머리 (meori) | 그는 동의하며 머리를 끄덕였어요. (geuneun dong-uihamyeo meolileul kkeudeog-yeoss-eoyo.) | the head — He nodded his head in agreement. |
| 눈 (nun) | 그녀는 눈을 감고 잠들었어요. (geunyeoneun nun-eul gamgo jamdeul-eoss-eoyo.) | the eye — She closed her eyes and fell asleep. |
| 입 (ip) | 치과 의사에게 입을 크게 벌리세요. (chigwa uisa-ege ib-eul keuge beolliseyo.) | the mouth — Open your mouth wide for the dentist. |
| 손 (son) | 저녁 식사 전에 비누로 손을 씻으세요. (jeonyeog sigsa jeon-e binulo son-eul ssis-euseyo.) | the hand — Wash your hands with soap before dinner. |
| 심장 (simjang) | 달리고 나면 심장이 빨리 뛰어요. (dalligo namyeon simjang-i ppalli ttwieoyo.) | the heart — My heart beats fast after running. |
| 위 (wi) | 빈속에 이 약을 복용하지 마세요. (binsog-e i yag-eul bogyonghaji maseyo.) | the stomach — Never take this medicine on an empty stomach. |
| 의사 (uisa) | 의사가 환자를 세심하게 진찰했어요. (uisaga hwanjaleul sesimhage jinchalhaess-eoyo.) | the doctor — The doctor examined the patient carefully. |
| 병원 (byeongwon) | 새 병원은 시내 근처에 있어요. (sae byeongwoneun sinae geuncheoe isseoyo.) | the hospital — The new hospital is near the city center. |
| 약국 (yakguk) | 약국에서 기침 시럽을 샀어요. (yaggug-eseo gichim sileob-eul sass-eoyo.) | the pharmacy — I bought cough syrup at the pharmacy. |
| 열 (yeol) | 그는 열이 나서 쉬고 있어요. (geuneun yeori naseo swigo isseoyo.) | the fever — He stayed in bed because of a high fever. |
👉 Practice Deck 8: Korean — Body Parts, Health, Doctor & Pharmacy (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 9: Animals, Pets, Nature & Weather (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Animals (개/강아지, 고양이, 새, 말, 토끼), landscapes (나무, 꽃, 강, 바다, 산), and weather (하늘, 태양/해, 비, 눈, 바람). Why it matters: Helps you distinguish homophones like 눈 (nun — eye vs. snow) and 배 (bae — stomach vs. pear vs. boat) through rich sentence context.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 개 (gae) | 개가 공원에서 신나게 달리고 있어요. (gaega gong-won-eseo sinnage dalligo iss-eoyo.) | the dog — The dog runs happily in the park. |
| 고양이 (goyangi) | 고양이가 따뜻한 소파에서 자요. (goyang-iga ttatteushan sopa-eseo jayo.) | the cat — The cat sleeps on the warm sofa. |
| 새 (sae) | 작은 새가 나무 위에서 노래해요. (jag-eun saega namu wieseo nolaehaeyo.) | the bird — A small bird sings in the tree. |
| 나무 (namu) | 마당에 오래된 큰 나무가 자라요. (madang-e olaedoen keun namuga jalayo.) | the tree — An old oak tree grows in our yard. |
| 꽃 (kkot) | 이 봄꽃들은 향기가 정말 좋아요. (i bomkkochdeul-eun hyanggiga jeongmal joh-ayo.) | the flower — These spring flowers smell wonderful. |
| 강 (gang) | 돌다리가 넓은 강을 가로지르고 있어요. (doldaliga neolb-eun gang-eul galojileugo iss-eoyo.) | the river — A stone bridge crosses the wide river. |
| 바다 (bada) | 우리는 바다에서 수영해요. (urineun badaeseo suyeonghaeyo.) | the sea — We love swimming in the warm sea. |
| 산 (san) | 높은 산 정상에 하얀 눈이 덮여 있어요. (nop-eun san jeongsang-e hayan nun-i deop-yeo iss-eoyo.) | the mountain — Snow covers the top of the high mountain. |
| 태양 (taeyang) | 여름에는 해가 일찍 떠오릅니다. (yeoleum-eneun haega iljjig tteoleubnida.) | the sun — The sun rises early in the summer. |
| 비 (bi) | 오후 내내 세찬 비가 내렸어요. (ohu naenae sechan biga naelyeoss-eoyo.) | the rain — Heavy rain fell throughout the afternoon. |
👉 Practice Deck 9: Korean — Animals, Pets, Nature & Weather (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 10: Travel, Airport, Train, Hotel & Directions (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Airports and flights (공항, 비행기, 여권, 탑승권), transit (기차, 기차역, 지하철, 버스, 택시, 표), hotels (호텔, 예약), and directions (왼쪽, 오른쪽, 직진). Why it matters: Essential for riding the Seoul Subway, booking KTX tickets to Busan, and giving directions to taxi drivers.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 공항 (gonghang) | 두 시간 전에 공항에 도착하세요. (du sigan jeon-e gonghang-e dochaghaseyo.) | the airport — Arrive at the airport two hours early. |
| 비행기 (bihaenggi) | 비행기가 정시에 이륙했어요. (bihaenggiga jeongsie ilyughaess-eoyo.) | the airplane — The airplane took off on time. |
| 여권 (yeogwon) | 출입국 심사대에서 여권을 보여 주세요. (chul-ibgug simsadae-eseo yeogwon-eul boyeo juseyo.) | the passport — Show your passport at border control. |
| 기차 (gicha) | 기차가 지금 출발해요. (gichaga jigeum chulbalhaeyo.) | the train — The fast train leaves from platform three. |
| 기차역 (gichayeok) | 중앙 기차역 밖에서 만나요. (jung-ang gichayeog bakk-eseo mannayo.) | the train station — Meet me outside the main train station. |
| 표 (pyo) | 인터넷으로 왕복표를 예매했어요. (inteones-eulo wangbogpyoleul yemaehaess-eoyo.) | the ticket — I bought a round-trip ticket online. |
| 호텔 (hotel) | 우리 호텔은 광장 근처예요. (uri hotereun gwangjang geuncheoyeyo.) | the hotel — Our hotel overlooks the old town square. |
| 좌회전하세요 (jwahoejeonhaseyo) | 우체국을 지나서 왼쪽으로 도세요. (uchegug-eul jinaseo oenjjog-eulo doseyo.) | turn left — Turn left after the post office. |
| 우회전 (uhoejeon) | 교차로에서 오른쪽으로 도세요. (gyocharoeseo oreunjjogeuro doseyo.) | turn right — Turn right at the second intersection. |
| 직진하세요 (jikjinhaseyo) | 두 블록 동안 곧장 직진하세요. (du beullog dong-an godjang jigjinhaseyo.) | go straight — Go straight ahead for two blocks. |
👉 Practice Deck 10: Korean — Travel, Airport, Train, Hotel & Directions (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 11: City Places, Shops, Money & Everyday Errands (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Urban places (도시, 공원, 슈퍼마켓, 빵집, 은행, 우체국, 도서관, 박물관) and money/shopping (돈, 가격, 현금, 신용카드, 영수증, 할인). Why it matters: Equips you for everyday errands, card payments (신용카드로 계산할게요), and navigating Korean shopping districts.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 도시 (dosi) | 이 도시는 아주 큽니다 (i dosineun aju keumnida). | city — This city is very lively. |
| 공원 (gongwon) | 공원에서 산책을 해요 (gongwoneseo sanchaegeul haeyo). | park — Children play in the park. |
| 슈퍼마켓 (syupeomaket) | 슈퍼마켓에서 장을 봐요 (syupeomakeseseo jangeul bwayo). | supermarket — I buy food at the supermarket. |
| 빵집 (ppangjip) | 빵집에서 빵을 샀어요 (ppangjibeseo ppangeul sasseoyo). | bakery — The bakery smells like warm bread. |
| 은행 (eunhaeng) | 은행이 아홉 시에 열어요 (eunhaengi ahop sie yeoreoyo). | bank — The bank opens at nine. |
| 우체국 (ucheguk) | 우체국에서 소포를 보냈어요 (uchegugeseo soporeul bonaesseoyo). | post office — I sent a package at the post office. |
| 도서관 (doseogwan) | 도서관에서 조용히 공부해요 (doseogwaneseo joyonghi gongbuhaeyo). | library — Please be quiet in the library. |
| 돈 (don) | 그녀는 여행을 위해 돈을 모아요 (geunyeoneun yeohaengeul wihae doneul moayo). | money — She saves money for her trip. |
| 가격 (gagyeok) | 이 셔츠의 가격은 얼마인가요? (i syeocheuui gagyeogeun eolmaingayo?) | price — What is the price of this shirt? |
| 신용카드 (sinyongkadeu) | 신용카드로 결제할게요 (sinyongkadeuro gyeoljehalgeyo). | credit card — Can I pay by credit card? |
👉 Practice Deck 11: Korean — City Places, Shops, Money & Everyday Errands (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 12: School, Work, Office, Tech & Professions (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Academic and office life (학교, 대학교, 교실, 숙제, 시험, 책, 공책, 사무실, 회의), tech (컴퓨터, 노트북, 휴대폰, 인터넷), and professions (선생님, 학생, 엔지니어). Why it matters: Ideal for TOPIK preparation, university exchange students, and professionals working with Korean companies.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 학교 (hakgyo) | 아침에 학교에 가요 (achime hakgyo-e gayo). | school — The school starts at eight. |
| 대학교 (daehakgyo) | 언니는 대학교에 다녀요 (eonnineun daehakgyo-e danyeoyo). | university — She studies law at the university. |
| 책 (chaek) | 이 책은 정말 재미있어요 (i chaegeun jeongmal jaemiisseoyo). | book — This book has a great story. |
| 공책 (gongchaek) | 공책에 단어를 적으세요 (gongchaege daneoreul jeogeuseyo). | notebook — Write it in your notebook. |
| 컴퓨터 (keompyuteo) | 새 컴퓨터가 아주 빨라요 (sae keompyuteoga aju ppallayo). | computer — My computer is very fast. |
| 휴대폰 (hyudaepon) | 휴대폰으로 전화를 걸어요 (hyudaeponeuro jeonhwareul georeoyo). | phone — Where did I put my phone? |
| 인터넷 (inteonet) | 여기는 인터넷이 아주 빨라요 (yeogineun inteonesi aju ppallayo). | internet — The wireless internet works well. |
| 사무실 (samusil) | 사무실이 아주 깨끗해요 (samusiri aju kkaekkeutaeyo). | office — She works in a modern office. |
| 선생님 (seonsaengnim) | 선생님이 친절하게 설명해요 (seonsaengnimi chinjeolhage seolmyeonghaeyo). | teacher — Our teacher explains things clearly. |
| 학생 (haksaeng) | 학생들이 도서관에서 공부해요 (haksaengdeuri doseogwaneseo gongbuhaeyo). | student — Every student has a textbook. |
👉 Practice Deck 12: Korean — School, Work, Office, Tech & Professions (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 13: Top 32 Essential Everyday Action Verbs (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: The 32 most frequent Korean verbs in dictionary form (-다) paired with polite -아/어요 sentences (가다/가요, 오다/와요, 먹다/먹어요, 마시다/마셔요, 자다/자요, 말하다/말해요, 보다/봐요, 읽다/읽어요, 사다/사요, 배우다/배워요).
Why it matters: Because Korean is verb-final (SOV), mastering these 32 action verbs in both dictionary and polite -아/어요 form unlocks hundreds of everyday sentences.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 (gada) | 친구와 함께 공원에 가요 (chinguwa hamkke gongwone gayo). | to go — I go to work early. |
| 오다 (oda) | 내일 우리 집에 오세요 (naeil uri jibe oseyo). | to come — Please come to our party. |
| 먹다 (meokda) | 가족과 저녁을 먹어요 (gajokgwa jeonyeogeul meogeoyo). | to eat — We eat lunch at noon. |
| 마시다 (masida) | 운동 후에 물을 마셔요 (undong hue mureul masyeoyo). | to drink — Drink plenty of cold water. |
| 자다 (jada) | 아기가 아주 잘 자요 (agiga aju jal jayo). | to sleep — The baby sleeps very peacefully. |
| 말하다 (malhada) | 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo). | to speak — She speaks three languages fluently. |
| 보다 (boda) | 창문 밖으로 바다를 봐요 (changmun bakkeuro badareul bwayo). | to see — Can you see the mountains? |
| 읽다 (ikda) | 잠자기 전에 책을 읽어요 (jamjagi jeone chaegeul ilgeoyo). | to read — He reads the news daily. |
| 사다 (sada) | 가게에서 우유를 샀어요 (gage-eseo uyureul sasseoyo). | to buy — I want to buy fresh bread. |
| 배우다 (baeuda) | 새로운 외국어를 배우고 있어요 (saeroun oegugeoreul baeugo isseoyo). | to learn — I am learning a new language. |
👉 Practice Deck 13: Korean — Top 32 Essential Everyday Action Verbs (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 14: Top 32 Essential Adjectives & Opposites (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: The 16 essential Korean descriptive verb (adjective) pairs (크다/작다, 좋다/나쁘다, 새롭다/오래되다, 뜨겁다/차갑다, 쉽다/어렵다, 빠르다/느리다, 싸다/비싸다).
Why it matters: In Korean, adjectives behave like verbs—they conjugate directly at the end of a sentence (좋다 → 좋아요) or take -(으)ㄴ before a noun (큰 집 keun jip 'big house').
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 크다 (keuda) | 그들은 큰 집에 살아요 (geudeureun keun jibe sarayo). | big — They live in a big house. |
| 작다 (jakda) | 이 가방은 아주 작아요 (i gabangeun aju jagayo). | small — This small bag is handy. |
| 좋다 (jota) | 오늘 날씨가 정말 좋아요 (oneul nalssiga jeongmal joayo). | good — That is a very good idea. |
| 나쁘다 (nappeuda) | 오늘은 공기가 나빠요 (oneureun gonggiga nappayo). | bad — The weather is bad today. |
| 새롭다 (saeropda) | 새 신발을 신고 나가요 (sae sinbareul singo nagayo). | new — I bought a new pair of shoes. |
| 오래되다 (oraedoeda) | 저 성은 아주 오래되었어요 (jeo seongeun aju oraedoeeosseoyo). | old — That castle is very old. |
| 뜨겁다 (tteugeopda) | 국물이 아주 뜨거워요 (gungmuri aju tteugeowoyo). | hot — Careful, the soup is hot. |
| 차갑다 (chagapda) | 얼음물이 아주 차가워요 (eoreummuri aju chagawoyo). | cold — The winter wind is cold. |
| 쉽다 (swipda) | 첫 번째 문제는 쉬워요 (cheot beonjjae munjeneun swiwoyo). | easy — The first question is easy. |
| 어렵다 (eoryeopda) | 마지막 문제가 어려워요 (majimak munjega eoryeowoyo). | difficult — Climbing that mountain is difficult. |
👉 Practice Deck 14: Korean — Top 32 Essential Adjectives & Opposites (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 15: Feelings, Emotions, Personality & Hobbies (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Emotions (행복하다, 슬프다, 피곤하다, 차분하다, 신나다, 걱정하다), character traits (친절하다, 예의 바르다, 정직하다, 다정하다), and hobbies (음악, 영화, 수영, 독서, 요리). Why it matters: Moves you from basic survival exchanges to warm, expressive Korean conversations about your feelings, personality, and favorite pastimes.
| Target Word + Romanization | Example Sentence (with Romanization) | English Meaning & Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 행복하다 (haengbokada) | 오늘 정말 행복해요 (oneul jeongmal haengbokaeyo). | happy — She is happy with the news. |
| 슬프다 (seulpeuda) | 영화 결말이 너무 슬퍼요 (yeonghwa gyeolmari neomu seulpeoyo). | sad — The ending of the movie was sad. |
| 피곤하다 (pigonhada) | 운동을 해서 조금 피곤해요 (undongeul haeseo jogeum pigonhaeyo). | tired — I feel tired after running. |
| 차분하다 (chabunhada) | 마음이 아주 차분해져요 (maeumi aju chabunhaejyeoyo). | calm — The blue sea is calm. |
| 신나다 (sinnada) | 소풍 갈 생각에 신나요 (sopung gal saenggage sinnayo). | excited — The kids are excited to travel. |
| 친절하다 (chinjeolhada) | 따뜻한 말씀 정말 고마워요 (ttatteutan malsseum jeongmal gomawoyo). | kind — Thank you for your kind words. |
| 다정하다 (dajeonghada) | 이웃들이 모두 다정해요 (iutdeuri modu dajeonghaeyo). | friendly — Everyone at the club is friendly. |
| 음악 (eumak) | 조용한 음악을 들으며 쉬어요 (joyonghan eumageul deureumyeo swieoyo). | music — Soft music plays in the room. |
| 영화 (yeonghwa) | 주말에 재미있는 영화를 봤어요 (jumare jaemiinneun yeonghwareul bwasseoyo). | movie — We watched an adventure movie. |
| 독서 (dokseo) | 조용히 독서하는 시간을 좋아해요 (joyonghi dokseohaneun siganeul joahaeyo). | reading — Quiet reading helps me relax. |
👉 Practice Deck 15: Korean — Feelings, Emotions, Personality & Hobbies (32 Flashcards) →
30-Day Spaced Repetition Study Schedule for Korean (480 Core Words)
- Days 1–7 (Hangul Fluency + Decks 1–3 — Greetings, Numbers & Home): Spend the first 48 hours reading Hangul syllable blocks aloud without peeking at Romanization, then complete Decks 1–3 (96 cards). Pay special attention to Native vs. Sino-Korean numbers in Deck 2.
- Days 8–15 (Decks 4–7 — Food, Groceries, Family & Clothing): Add 16–32 new cards daily while reviewing your due Spaced Repetition queue. Notice how object particles (
을/를) change depending on whether the noun ends in a batchim. - Days 16–23 (Decks 8–11 — Health, Nature, Transit & City Errands): Practice travel and city vocabulary aloud. Test yourself by covering the English translation and reading the full Korean example sentence at natural speed.
- Days 24–30 (Decks 12–15 — Work, 32 Core Verbs, 32 Adjectives & Emotions): Master the 32 core verbs and 32 descriptive verbs (adjectives). Practice transforming dictionary forms (
-다) into polite-아/어요endings on the fly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Learning Korean Vocabulary
Should I learn Korean with Romanization or Hangul?
Use Revised Romanization only during your first few days as a pronunciation check. Every card on Flashcards World includes both Hangul and Romanization so you can transition smoothly to reading Hangul syllable blocks directly while verifying tricky sound changes (such as batchim liaison in 한국어 [hangugeo] or nasalization in 감사합니다 [gamsahamnida]).
How many Korean words do I need for TOPIK I and TOPIK II?
- TOPIK I (Level 1 / CEFR A1): ~800 core words.
- TOPIK I (Level 2 / CEFR A2): ~1,500–2,000 words.
- TOPIK II (Levels 3–4 / CEFR B1–B2): ~3,000–4,000 words. The 480 high-frequency words across these 15 thematic decks form the foundational backbone of TOPIK I and everyday spoken Korean.
Why do Korean adjectives end in -다 (-da) like verbs?
In Korean grammar, adjectives are actually descriptive verbs (형용사 — hyeongyongsa). Instead of needing a separate "to be" verb, 크다 (keuda) already means "to be big" and conjugates directly into polite speech as 커요 (keoyo — is big), or modifies a noun using -(으)ㄴ (큰 집 keun jip — a big house).
When do I use Native Korean numbers vs. Sino-Korean numbers?
Use Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋...) when counting physical items with a counter (개, 명, 마리, 잔, 병), telling your age (살), and stating the hour (시). Use Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼...) for minutes (분), seconds, dates, months, money (원), phone numbers, and building floors (층).
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