You felt good about it. And then your teacher (or your app) said: “Almost! It should be -에서.”
And you thought: “But… they’re BOTH after 학교! They’re both places! Why?!” 😤
If that’s you, take a breath. You’re not bad at Korean — this is genuinely one of the most confusing things for beginners.
In this guide, we will learn about Korean place particles -에 vs -에서 and how to use them easily.
And today, in about three minutes, that confusion is going to disappear. Let’s do it. 😊
(New here? A “particle” is a tiny word added after a noun. In Korean, particles do the job of English words like “at, in, to.”)
The one question that fixes everything
Here’s the secret.
Whenever you’re stuck between -에 and -에서, don’t think about grammar rules.
Just ask yourself one question:
📍 “Am I just AT the place, or GOING to it?” → -에 (e)
🏃 “Am I DOING something at the place?” → -에서 (eseo)
That’s it. That’s the whole trick.
Everything below is just showing you why this works — and once you see it, you won’t forget it.
📍 Korean place particles: When to use -에
Sometimes you’re not doing anything at a place. You’re simply there, or you’re on your way there. That’s ‘-에’.
It comes in two cases:
① Where something IS / ISN’T (existence, location) 👉 –에 + 있다 / 없다
앤디가 한국에 있어요. — Andy is in Korea.
우유가 냉장고에 없어요. — There’s no milk in the fridge.
② Where you’re GOING / COMING / ATTENDING (destination) 👉 –에 + 가다 / 오다 / 다니다
학교에 가요. — I go to school.
집에 와요. — I come home.
학교에 다녀요. — I attend school.
💡 다니다 = to go somewhere regularly (school, work, church). It’s about going, so → 에.
⚠️ Careful! 다니다 is only for places you go to on a regular schedule — 학교에 다녀요 (school), 회사에 다녀요 (work). You can’t use it for your own home or room. ❌ 집에 다녀요 / ❌ 방에 다녀요 don’t work, because your home isn’t a place you “attend.” For home, just use 가다/오다 → 집에 가요, 집에 와요.
🏃 -에서 — something is HAPPENING here
This is another essential rule for Korean place particles. Now picture a place full of action.
Eating. Studying. Playing. Meeting.
When stuff is happening at a place, that’s 에서.
학교에서 공부해요. — I study at school. (action: studying!)
식당에서 밥을 먹어요. — I eat at a restaurant. (action: eating!)
운동장에서 축구를 해요. — I play soccer on the field. (action: playing!)
카페에서 친구를 만나요. — I meet a friend at a café. (action: meeting!)
Feel the difference?
These places are busy. Something is going on. 👉 Any action — 공부하다, 먹다, 만나다, 하다 — grabs 에서.
Here’s the “아하! aha!” moment
Ready for the part that makes it all click?
Watch the exact same place — 학교 — change its particle:
Sentence
What’s happening?
Particle
저는 학교에 가요
Not there yet — I’m heading to the place
–에
저는 학교에 있어요
Nothing — I’m just there
–에
저는 학교에서 공부해요
I’m doing something (studying)
–에서
So the place was never the point. The particle isn’t about the place — it’s about what you’re DOING there. 🤯
That’s the thing nobody told you. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
⚠️ The one trap that catches everyone
Okay, one warning — because this is where even good students slip. This trap happens often when learning Korean place particles.
있다 (to be) and 없다 (to not be) FEEL like actions, right? Like you’re “doing” being-there.
But nope! — they just mean something exists in a place.
So they take –에, not -에서.
There’s a student in the classroom.
교실에 학생이 있어요. ⭕
교실에서 학생이 있어요. ❌
Burn this one into your memory: 📢 있다 · 없다 → always 에.
Can you fix these?
Each sentence below is wrong. Can you feel why?
Wrong ❌
Why?
Correct ⭕
저는 학교에서 있어요
있다 = just being there → 에
저는 학교에 있어요
냉장고에서 우유가 있어요
있다 = just being there → 에
냉장고에 우유가 있어요
운동장에 축구를 해요
하다 = action! → 에서
운동장에서 축구를 해요
식당에 밥을 먹어요
먹다 = action! → 에서
식당에서 밥을 먹어요
Your turn — trust the question!
Fill in 에 or 에서. Before each one, ask: am I just there, or doing something?
저는 집___ 있어요. (I ___ at home.)
저는 집___ 밥을 먹어요. (I eat ___ home.)
친구가 한국___ 살아요. (My friend lives ___ Korea.)
학생들이 교실___ 공부해요. (Students study ___ the classroom.)
저는 내일 학교___ 가요. (I go ___ school tomorrow.)
👉 Click here for Answers!
집에 있어요 — just being there (있다 → 에)
집에서 밥을 먹어요 — action! (먹다 → 에서)
한국에 살아요 (살다 → 에)
교실에서 공부해요 — action! (공부하다 → 에서)
학교에 가요 — heading there (가다 → 에)
How many did you get?
If you missed one, don’t worry — just ask “the question” again and it’ll make sense. 💪
Just remember this!
Mastering Korean place particles (-에 vs -에서) takes a bit of practice, but keeping this simple rule in mind will help you every time!
Ask yourself…
Particle
Example
Am I just there? (있다/없다)
-에
집에 있어요
Am I going / coming? (가다/오다/다니다)
-에
학교에 가요
Am I doing something?
-에서
식당에서 밥을 먹어요
📢 One line to rule them all:
Just being there or going → 에
Doing something there → 에서
Good job!
Hope this guide makes Korean place particles crystal clear for you!
📌 Prefer to read in Korean? 한국어로 공부하고 싶어요? 👉 [한국어로 배워요!]
Welcome! 😊
In TOPIK Ⅰ Reading, questions 34–39 ask you to fill in the blank. Each question is worth 2 points.
These TOPIK Ⅰ Reading questions mix different word types — particles, nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. So we will study them one type at a time. Today is the first type: noun blanks — especially places and objects.
Try each question first, then open the answer to check.
① Remember just one thing
If the blank is a place or a thing, read the other sentence first. The activity in that sentence tells you the answer.
e.g. “책을 삽니다 (I buy books)” → Where do you buy books? → 서점 (bookstore)!
② Place & object card
When you see this activity…
The answer is this place / thing
돈을 찾다 (get money)
은행 (bank)
밥을 먹다 (eat a meal)
식당 (restaurant)
책을 사다 (buy books)
서점 (bookstore)
책을 빌리다 (borrow books)
도서관 (library)
편지·소포를 보내다 (send a letter/parcel)
우체국 (post office)
약을 사다 (buy medicine)
약국 (pharmacy)
영화를 보다 (watch a movie)
극장 (theater)
공부하다 (study)
학교 (school)
아프다 (be sick)
병원 (hospital)
비가 오다 (it rains) → thing
우산 (umbrella)
눈이 나쁘다 (bad eyesight) → thing
안경 (glasses)
Practice: TOPIK Ⅰ Reading noun blanks
Try each TOPIK Ⅰ Reading question first.
Read the two sentences, choose the answer, then open the box to check.
Question 1
( )에 갑니다. 돈을 찾습니다.
① 학교② 은행③ 극장④ 식당
🔽 See the answer (Question 1)
Q: ( )에 갑니다. 돈을 찾습니다. (I go to the ( ). I get money.) 👉 The other sentence: “돈을 찾습니다 (get money)”.
A: ✅② 은행 (bank) → You get money at the bank!
① 학교 (school) = a place to study.
③ 극장 (theater) = a place to watch movies.
④ 식당 (restaurant) = a place to eat.
💡 Tip: get / put money → 은행 (bank)!
Question 2
점심시간입니다. ( )에서 밥을 먹습니다.
① 은행② 서점③ 식당④ 약국
🔽 See the answer (Question 2)
Q: 점심시간입니다. ( )에서 밥을 먹습니다. (It is lunchtime. I eat at the ( ).) 👉 The other sentence: “밥을 먹습니다 (eat a meal)”.
A: ✅③ 식당 (restaurant) → You eat at a restaurant!
① 은행 (bank, money) / ② 서점 (bookstore, books) / ④ 약국 (pharmacy, medicine) = not a place to eat.
💡 Tip: eat a meal → 식당 (restaurant)!
Question 3
( )에 갑니다. 책을 빌립니다.
① 도서관② 시장③ 공항④ 병원
🔽 See the answer (Question 3)
Q: ( )에 갑니다. 책을 빌립니다. (I go to the ( ). I borrow books.) 👉 The other sentence: “책을 빌립니다 (borrow books)”.
A: ✅① 도서관 (library) → You borrow books at the library!
② 시장 / ③ 공항 / ④ 병원 = not a place to borrow books.
💡 Tip: BUY books → 서점 (bookstore) / BORROW books → 도서관 (library)! (Don’t mix them up.)
Question 4
머리가 아픕니다. ( )에서 약을 삽니다.
① 약국② 학교③ 극장④ 우체국
🔽 See the answer (Question 4)
Q: 머리가 아픕니다. ( )에서 약을 삽니다. (I have a headache. I buy medicine at the ( ).) 👉 The other sentence: “약을 삽니다 (buy medicine)”.
A: ✅① 약국 (pharmacy) → You buy medicine at a pharmacy!
② 학교 / ③ 극장 / ④ 우체국 = not a place to buy medicine.
💡 Tip: buy medicine → 약국 (pharmacy)!
Question 5
비가 많이 옵니다. 그래서 ( )을 씁니다.
① 지갑② 안경③ 우산④ 사전
🔽 See the answer (Question 5)
Q: 비가 많이 옵니다. 그래서 ( )을 씁니다. (It is raining a lot. So I use a ( ).) 👉 The other sentence: “비가 옵니다 (it rains)”.
A: ✅③ 우산 (umbrella) → When it rains, you use an umbrella!
① 지갑 / ② 안경 / ④ 사전 = not for rain.
💡 Tip: it rains → 우산 (umbrella)!
Question 6
눈이 나쁩니다. 그래서 ( )을 씁니다.
① 모자② 안경③ 시계④ 가방
🔽 See the answer (Question 6)
Q: 눈이 나쁩니다. 그래서 ( )을 씁니다. (My eyes are bad. So I wear ( ).) 👉 The other sentence: “눈이 나쁩니다 (bad eyes)”.
A: ✅② 안경 (glasses) → If your eyes are bad, you wear glasses!
① 모자 / ③ 시계 / ④ 가방 = not for your eyes.
💡 Tip: The verb “쓰다” works for umbrella, glasses, AND hat. So don’t look only at “쓰다” — look at the situation: is it rain? or bad eyes?
Question 7
( )에서 영화를 봅니다. 아주 재미있습니다.
① 극장② 은행③ 서점④ 병원
🔽 See the answer (Question 7)
Q: ( )에서 영화를 봅니다. 아주 재미있습니다. (I watch a movie at the ( ). It is very fun.) 👉 The other sentence: “영화를 봅니다 (watch a movie)”.
A: ✅① 극장 (theater) → You watch movies at a theater!
② 은행 / ③ 서점 / ④ 병원 = not a place to watch movies.
💡 Tip: watch a movie → 극장 (theater)!
Question 8
편지를 씁니다. ( )에서 부칩니다.
① 시장② 우체국③ 학교④ 식당
🔽 See the answer (Question 8)
Q: 편지를 씁니다. ( )에서 부칩니다. (I write a letter. I send it at the ( ).) 👉 The other sentence: “편지를 부칩니다 (send a letter)”.
A: ✅② 우체국 (post office) → You send letters at the post office!
① 시장 / ③ 학교 / ④ 식당 = not a place to send letters.
💡 Tip: send a letter / parcel → 우체국 (post office)!
③ How to memorize the words easily
Now you have practiced, here is the fastest way to grow your TOPIK Ⅰ Reading vocabulary.
Learn activity ↔ place as pairs. (buy books–bookstore, buy medicine–pharmacy) Not one by one.
For each place, say one sentence: “What do you do there?” (bank → “I get money.”)
Read the OTHER sentence first. Look at the sentence without the blank first.
Quiz yourself. See an activity, and say the place. (eat a meal → ?)
🤖Practice with AI
You can practice TOPIK Ⅰ Reading alone with AI.— and grow your Korean speaking too! This drill trains the main skill of this type: reading the activity and finding the place. Copy the message below and send it to an AI (like ChatGPT or Claude).
or turn on the AI’s voice (read-aloud). Then answer out loud in Korean. The game is played only in Korean.
🗣️“Please give me a place quiz. Use only in Korean during the game — no English. Give me an activity (for example, ‘책을 삽니다’), and I will say the place (for example, ‘서점’). Then tell me if I am right in Korean. Please keep going with beginner place words.”
⚠️ AI can make mistakes. Always check with real past exams at the end. AI is for practice; the past exams are the answer key.
Summary
If the blank is a place or a thing, read the other sentence first.
The activity tells you the answer. (buy books → bookstore)
For verbs like “쓰다” used in many ways, decide by the situation.
Well done! Keep practicing, and you can all pass TOPIK Level 2. 🎉 Have a question? Please leave a comment.
📌 Prefer to read in Korean? 한국어로 공부하고 싶어요? 👉 [한국말로 배워요!]
Welcome! 😊
In TOPIK I reading, questions 31–33 ask one thing: “What is this text about?”
You read a short text and choose its topic from four choices. Each question is worth 2 points.
These TOPIK I reading questions are all about vocabulary. If you know the words, you can answer very fast.
Today you will learn a simple “category box” method, and then practice. Try each question first, then open the answer to check.
① Remember just one thing
When you read, find which “box (category)” the words go into.
Two words share a box → that box is the answer!
e.g. 사과 (apple), 바나나 (banana) → both go in the “과일 (fruit)” box 👉 answer: fruit.
② Category card (quick reference)
⭐ 3 signal units — see it, and you know the answer right away:
~원 (won) → 값 (price) — eg. 오천 원 (5,000 won)
~살 (years old) → 나이 (age) — eg. 스무 살 (20 years old)
~시 (o’clock) → 시간 (time) — eg. 열두 시 (12 o’clock)
Box (the answer word)
When you see these words…
음식 (food)
김치, 라면, 불고기, 비빔밥
과일 (fruit)
사과, 바나나, 수박, 포도
나라 (country)
한국, 미국, 미얀마 (“~에서 왔습니다”)
직업 (job)
선생님, 의사, 회사원, 요리사
날씨 (weather)
비, 눈, 바람, 춥다, 덥다
취미 (hobby)
운동, 등산, 그림 (“좋아합니다”, “자주 합니다”)
Practice: TOPIK I reading questions 31–33
Try each TOPIK I reading question first.
Read the short text, choose the topic, then open the box to check.
Question 1
김치가 맛있습니다. 라면도 맛있습니다.
① 요일② 나라③ 음식④ 값
🔽 See the answer (Question 1)
Q: 김치가 맛있습니다. 라면도 맛있습니다. (Kimchi is delicious. Ramyeon is delicious too.) 👉 “김치”, “라면” → things you eat.
A: ③ 음식 (food) → Both are food! ✅
① 요일 (day) = no words like Monday or Tuesday.
② 나라 (country) = no words like Korea or Japan.
④ 값 (price) = no words like “~원 (won)”.
💡 Tip: When you see food names → the “음식 (food)” box!
Question 2
저는 미국에서 왔습니다. 친구는 미얀마에서 왔습니다.
① 나라② 음식③ 요일④ 선물
🔽 See the answer (Question 2)
Q: 저는 미국에서 왔습니다. 친구는 미얀마에서 왔습니다. (I am from US. My friend is from Myanmar.) 👉 “미국”, “미얀마” → country names.
A: ① 나라 (country) → Both are countries! ✅
② 음식 / ③ 요일 / ④ 선물 = no such words here.
💡 Tip: “~에서 왔습니다 (I came from ~)” + a country name → the “나라 (country)” box!
Question 3
수미 씨는 요리를 합니다. 식당 요리사입니다.
① 가족② 직업③ 이름④ 나이
🔽 See the answer (Question 3)
Q: 수미 씨는 요리를 합니다. 식당 요리사입니다. (Sumi cooks. She is a restaurant cook.) 👉 “요리사 (cook)” → the work someone does.
A: ② 직업 (job) → “cook” is a job! ✅
① 가족 (family) = no words like father or sibling.
③ 이름 / ④ 나이 = no such words here.
💡 Tip: When you see a job name (cook, doctor, teacher) → the “직업 (job)” box!
Question 4
저는 열 살입니다. 동생은 여덟 살입니다.
① 날짜② 시간③ 나이④ 이름
🔽 See the answer (Question 4)
Q: 저는 열 살입니다. 동생은 여덟 살입니다. (I am ten years old. My younger sibling is eight years old.) 👉 “열 살”, “여덟 살” → “~살 (years old)”!
A: ③ 나이 (age) → “~살” means age! ✅
① 날짜 / ② 시간 / ④ 이름 = no such words here.
💡 Tip: ⭐ When you see “~살” → always the “나이 (age)” box!
Now you have practiced, here is the fastest way to build your TOPIK I reading vocabulary.
Group by box. Don’t memorize words one by one. Put 김치, 라면, 불고기 together in the “food” box — about 3–5 words per box.
Make pairs. One word + one box: doctor–job, snow–weather, apple–fruit.
Learn the 3 signal units first: ~원 → 값, ~살 → 나이, ~시 → 시간. When you see them, you already know the answer!
Quiz yourself. Cover the box name, look at a word, and say the box.
🤖Practice with AI: a listening game 🎧
Here is a new game — a listening game. The AI reads two short Korean sentences, and you say the topic in one Korean word. You only need one word, so it is easy — and you train your ears too!
First, turn on the AI’s voice (read-aloud). The AI reads in Korean; you answer with one Korean word out loud.
🗣️“Let’s play a topic listening game. Read TWO short, easy Korean sentences out loud (beginner level, slowly). I will listen and say the topic in ONE Korean word. Then tell me if I am right in English. For example, you read ‘사과가 맛있어요. 바나나도 맛있어요.’ and I should say ‘과일 (fruit)’. Pick topics from: food, fruit, country, job, family, weather, hobby, clothes, price, age, time. Give me 5 rounds and count my score.”
⚠️ AI can make mistakes. Always check with real past exams at the end. AI is for practice; the past exams are the answer key.th real past exams at the end. AI is for practice; the past exams are the answer key.
Summary
Find the “box (category)” of the words. Two words, one box = the answer!
Remember the 3 signal units: ~원 → 값, ~살 → 나이, ~시 → 시간.
Study a little TOPIK I reading every day. Learn one box each day — that is enough!
OK! You Work hard Today!
Don’t give up. Keep practicing, and you can all pass TOPIK Level 2. 🎉
This TOPIK I listening guide covers the first four questions *[1~4] of the test.
In these questions, you hear a short question in Korean and choose the answer that fits.
They look easy, but these TOPIK I listening questions are worth 14 points together
(Questions 1 and 2 are 4 points each; Questions 3 and 4 are 3 points each).
Today we will learn one simple skill, and then practice a lot. Try each question first.
Then open the answer to check. 😊
Remember just one thing
When you listen, ask yourself: “What is the question asking?”
If there is a question word (when, where, who, what, how…) → give the matching information.
If there is no question word → answer with “네 (yes)” or “아니요 (no)”.
Practice: TOPIK I listening questions 1–4
Try each TOPIK I listening question first.
Listen (or read the question), pick your answer, then open the box to check.
<Example>
Question 1
🔊 [Audio: listen to the question]
① 네, 책이에요. ② 아니요, 책이 있어요. ③ 네, 책이 많아요. ④ 아니요, 책이 좋아요.
👉 Click! See the answer (Question 1)
Answer is ③
Q : 책이 많아요?(Are there many books?) 👉 This asks if there are many books. A :③네, 책이 많아요. → It matches the question. ✅
① 책이에요 = says what it is. Not about “many”. ② 책이 있어요 = says the books are there or not. Different from “many”. ④ 책이 좋아요 = says you like books. Different from “many”.
💡 Tips: Same word “책”, but the question asks about number: many or few.
Question 2
🔊 [Audio: listen to the question]
① 네, 주스가 없어요. ② 아니요, 주스를 좋아해요. ③ 네, 주스가 아니에요. ④ 아니요, 주스를 안 마셔요.
👉 Click! See the answer (Question 2)
Answer is ④
Q: 주스를 마셔요? (Do you drink juice?) 👉 This asks if you really drink juice. A: ④ 아니요, 주스를 안 마셔요 → “안” makes “drink” negative. ✅ (You need to listen carefully to “안”!)
① 주스가 없어요 = there isno juice. Not “drink”. ② 주스를 좋아해요 = you like juice. You can like it but not drink it now. ③ 주스가 아니에요 = says what it is (it is not juice).
💡 Tips:마시다 (to drink) and 좋아하다 (to like) are different. A common trap!
Question 3
🔊 [Audio: listen to the question]
① 내일 만나요. ② 교실에서 만나요. ③ 학생을 만나요. ④ 동생하고 만나요.
👉 Click! See the answer (Question 3)
Answer is ①
Q: 언제 친구를 만나요? (When do you meet your friend?) 👉 “언제 (when)” asks for a time. A: ①내일 만나요 → a time! ✅
② 교실에서 = a place (answer to “where”) ③ 학생을 = a person (answer to “whom”) ④ 동생하고 = a person you go with (answer to “with whom”)
💡 Tips: All four are correct Korean sentences. But only one gives a time.
Question 4
🔊 [Audio: listen to the question]
① 지금 가요. ② 학교에 가요. ③ 버스로 가요. ④ 선생님이 가요.
👉 Click! See the answer (Question 4)
Answer is ③
Q: 집에 어떻게 가요? (How do you go home?) 👉 “어떻게 (how)” asks for a method. The place is already “home”. A: ③ 버스로 가요 → a method! ✅
① 지금 = a time (answer to “when”) ② 학교에 = changes the place to “school” (but the question is “home”!) ④ 선생님이 = the person who goes (answer to “who”)
💡 Tips: “-로/으로” (by bus, by subway) is often the method answer.
More Questions
🔊 [Audio: listen to the question]
① 네, 사과가 싸요. ② 네, 사과가 있어요. ③ 아니요, 사과가 좋아요. ④ 아니요, 사과예요.
👉 Click! See the answer (Question 5)
Answer is ①
Q: 사과가 싸요? (Are the apples cheap?) 👉 This asks if the apples are cheap (price). A: ①네, 사과가 싸요 → It matches the question. ✅
② 사과가 있어요 = the apples are there or not. Not price. ③ 사과가 좋아요 = you like apples. Not price. ④ 사과예요 = says what it is. Not price.
💡 Tips: The question asks only one thing: price (cheap / expensive).
More Question
🔊 [Audio: listen to the question]
① 네, 텔레비전이 없어요. ② 아니요, 텔레비전을 좋아해요. ③ 네, 텔레비전이 아니에요. ④ 아니요, 텔레비전을 안 봐요.
👉 Click! See the answer (Question 6)
Answer is ④
Q: 텔레비전을 봐요? (Do you watch TV?) 👉 This asks if you really watch TV. A: ④아니요, 텔레비전을 안 봐요 → “안” makes “watch” negative. ✅ (You need to listen carefully to “안”!)
① 텔레비전이 없어요 = there is no TV. Not “watch”. ② 텔레비전을 좋아해요 = you like TV. You can like it but not watch it now. ③ 텔레비전이 아니에요 = says what it is (it is not a TV).
💡 Tip: 보다 (to watch) and 좋아하다 (to like) are different. A common trap!
More Question
🔊 [Audio: listen to the question]
① 지금 먹어요. ② 식당에서 먹어요. ③ 친구하고 먹어요. ④ 김밥을 먹어요.
👉 Click! See the answer (Question 7)
Answer is ②
Q: 어디에서 밥을 먹어요? (Where do you eat?) 👉 “어디에서 (where)” asks for a place. A: ②식당에서 먹어요 → a place! ✅
① 지금 = a time (answer to “when”) ③ 친구하고 = a person you eat with (answer to “with whom”) ④ 김밥을 = a food (answer to “what”)
💡 Tip: All four are correct. But only one gives a place.
More Question
🔊 [Audio: listen to the question]
① 아홉 시에 와요. ② 집에서 와요. ③ 자전거로 와요. ④ 동생이 와요.
👉 Click! See the answer (Question 8)
Answer is ③
Q: 학교에 어떻게 와요? (How do you come to school?) 👉 “어떻게 (how)” asks for a method. A: ③ 자전거로 와요 → a method! ✅
① 아홉 시에 = a time (answer to “when”) ② 집에서 = the place you come from (answer to “where”) ④ 동생이 = the person who comes (answer to “who”)
💡 Tip: “-로/으로” (by bike, by bus) is often the method answer.
Key expression card
When you hear…
Look for this answer
언제 / 몇 시 (when / what time)
a time — eg. 내일 (tomorrow), 세 시에 (at 3), 주말에 (on the weekend)
어디에서 (where)
a place — eg. 학교에서 (at school), 식당에서 (at a restaurant)
누구하고 / 누가 (who)
a person — eg. 친구하고 (with a friend), 동생이 (my sibling)
뭐 / 무엇 (what)
a thing or action — eg. 김밥을 (gimbap), 편지를 써요 (write a letter)
어떻게 (how)
a method — eg. 버스로 (by bus), 걸어서 (on foot)
무슨 / 며칠 (what kind / what date)
a type or a date
(no question word)
“네 (yes)” / “아니요 (no)”
⚠️ Always listen for: “안” (not), “못” (cannot), “없다” (there isn’t), “아니다” (is not). One of these small words can change the answer!
Practice TOPIK I listening with AI
You can practice TOPIK I listening alone, anytime. Copy the sentences below and send them to an AI (like ChatGPT or Claude).
① Make new questions 🤖
“Please make 5 practice questions like TOPIK I listening questions 1–4 (‘choose the correct answer’). Rules: use only beginner Korean words; one sentence for each question; four choices; only one correct answer; make the wrong choices grammatically correct but with a different type of information (time, place, person, method); do not tell me the answer until I answer first.”
② Check the question 🤖
“Please check if this question has only one correct answer. Look at each of the four choices one by one, and see if it can answer the question naturally.”
⚠️ AI can make mistakes. Always check with real past exams at the end. AI is for practice; the past exams are the answer key.
Summary
Question word? → give the matching information. No question word? → “네 (yes)” / “아니요 (no)”.
Always listen for “안”, “못”, “없다”, “아니다”.
Study a little TOPIK I listening every day, and questions 1–4 will feel easy!
Let me ask a question first. If you watch Korean dramas, you have probably seen this. Two people meet for the first time. And right after saying hello, one of them asks:
“How old are you, if you don’t mind?”
Why do Koreans ask age when you first meet? For a Korean learner, this can feel a little strange.
“Why do they want to know my age already? Isn’t that rude?”
But there is an interesting secret behind ask age. Let me tell you the story.
Don’t worry — at first, you don’t need to know
Let’s start with the most reassuring part.
When you meet someone for the first time, you don’t need to know their age. Before you ask age, Remember the polite speech from our earlier stories, like “안녕하세요? (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo?)” With someone you just met — older or younger — you can simply use polite speech (존댓말, jon-daen-mal).
💡If you want to see the previous post, 👉 [ Click here ]
That is always safe.
Someone who looks younger than you → polite speech
Someone who looks about your age → polite speech
Someone who looks older than you → polite speech
So you don’t have to worry, “I can’t talk to them because I don’t know their age.” Polite speech works for everyone at the start.
So when does age matter?
Then why do Korean people ask age so often? Age becomes important not at the first meeting, but a little later, once you get closer.
Think about English. The word “you“ stays the same whether the person is 5 or 80.
Korean is a little different. After you become close, the ending of your sentences and the way you call each other can change.
🙇♂️ Keep polite speech "어디 가세요?(eo-di ga-se-yo?)" — (Where are you going?) 🙋♂️Or switch to casual speech "어디 가?(eo-di ga?)"— (Where are you going?)
So age is not really about “I’m curious how old you are.” It helps answer, “Should we keep using polite speech, or can we speak casually now?” And even then, age is not the only thing that matters. It is just one of many.
If you want to know a title, ask this — not their age
Korean also has special words to call someone. Among close people, you might call someone a little older than you:
오빠 (oppa) — a woman calling an older man
형 (hyeong) — a man calling an older man
언니 (eonni) — a woman calling an older woman
누나 (nuna) — a man calling an older woman
But here’s the thing: you don’t call someone “오빠” or “언니” just because they’re older, right after meeting them. These words are for people you’ve already become close to.
So when you’re not sure how to address someone, there’s a better question than to ask age:
“제가 어떻게 불러 드리면 될까요? (je-ga eo-tteo-ke bul-leo deu-ri-myeon dwael-kka-yo?)”
— “What should I call you?”
This one sentence is very handy. It doesn’t ask the person to reveal their age, but it tells you exactly what you want to know. And if you’re still unsure, just saying “○○ 씨 (ssi)” with their name is always safe.
Same age? It’s easy to become friends
There’s a fun case, too — when you’re the same age. When two people learn they are the same age, it feels friendly. So they might say, “Oh, we’re the same age! Should we speak casually?” They stop using polite speech and start speaking comfortably.
This is called “말을 놓다(Mal-eul no-da)” or “말을 트다(Mal-eul teu-da)”
But remember one thing. Being the same age doesn’t mean you can just start using casual speech. Casual speech begins not because of age, but because both people agree to it.
So they ask:
“괜찮으면 우리 말 놓을까요? (gwaen-cha-neu-myeon u-ri mal no-eul-kka-yo?)”
— “If it’s okay, shall we speak casually?”
When both people say “yes”, that’s when the comfortable friendship begins.
🔎 Wait — what about Korean age?
The official age is your international age.
But to check if you’re the same age, people often ask
“몇 년생이에요? (myeot nyeon-saeng-i-e-yo?)”
— “What year were you born?”
You might be wondering why Koreans ask the year instead of the age. There’s an interesting reason.
In the past, Korea had its own way of counting age. A baby was already counted from the moment the mother became pregnant — so when the baby was born, they were already one year old. Because of this, Korean age was usually one or two years higher than international age.
But in 2023, this old system was officially dropped. Now everyone officially uses their international age. Still, the old Korean-age culture hasn’t fully disappeared from daily life. That’s why, to be more exact, many people ask what year you were born — “몇 년생이에요? (myeot nyeon-saeng-i-e-yo?)” — rather than age.
But is it okay to ask?
Here is something important to know. Don’t simply memorize, “In Korea, it’s fine to ask someone’s age.”
The truth is, not every Korean feels comfortable with the age question either. When it’s fairly natural
After you’ve talked enough and become comfortable with each other
When the other person brings up their age or birth year first
In a group of peers, where age really matters for the group
When it’s better to be careful
Asking it as your very first question, right after hello
At work, or in a formal setting
When the person avoids the answer or looks uncomfortable
So instead of treating “asking age” as a rule, it’s better to first check whether the other person feels okay with it.
That said, don’t be too surprised if an older person on the street asks your age as their very first question. Asking about age is one of Korea’s old traditions, and for many older Koreans, it feels completely natural. It’s not meant to be rude — it’s often just their way of figuring out how to talk to you.😉
If you don’t want to share your age
On the other hand, someone asks your age — but you’d rather not say. You can gently reply:
“조금 더 친해지면 말씀드릴게요. (jo-geum deo chi-nae-ji-myeon mal-sseum-deu-ril-ge-yo.)“ — “I’ll tell you once we’re a bit closer.”
“그냥 ○○ 씨라고 불러 주세요. (geu-nyang ○○ ssi-ra-go bul-leo ju-se-yo.)” — “Just call me by my name.”
Saying this is not rude at all. You also have the freedom not to share your age.
One last thing
In Korea, people ask age for many reasons. Sometimes to choose the right speech and title, sometimes to see if you’re the same age, and sometimes just out of curiosity. That feeling isn’t always a bad thing.
Often, there’s a warm wish behind it: “I’d like to get a little closer to you.” But it’s also good to remember that not everyone in Korea enjoys this question. So if you keep these three things in mind, you’ll be safe:
At first, you don’t need their age — just use polite speech.
If you want to know a title, ask “What should I call you?” instead of their age.
Casual speech begins with agreement, not age.
Know these three, and the Korean habit of asking age will feel easy to understand.
In your country, is it rude or normal to ask someone’s age when you first meet? Tell me in the comments. I would love to know.🥰
📝 Just remember this
Situation
The safe choice
Someone you just met
Polite speech first, no matter their age
Someone older than you
Usually polite speech
A close older friend
오빠 / 형 / 언니 / 누나, depending on the relationship
Someone the same age
Casual speech, if you both agree
When you don’t know how to address them
“What should I call you?”
When you’d rather not share your age
“I’ll tell you once we’re closer”
One-line takeaway: Age can shape speech and titles, but if you’ve just met, polite speech comes before age.
Okay! Well done! If you enjoyed this post, you’ll love my next one too! See you again soon!
Hello! Have you ever heard a conversation like this in a Korean shop?
Customer: 안녕히 계세요. (an-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo) — Bye
Staff: 안녕히 가세요. (an-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo) — Bye
Two people are saying goodbye at the same moment
Why do they say different words as farewells?
In the last story, we learned that the “안녕(an-nyeong)i” inside “안녕하세요(An-nyeong-ha-se-yo)?” is a warm way to ask if someone is at peace.
💡If you want to see the previous post, 👉 [ Click here ]
When you meet someone, one “안녕하세요(An-nyeong-ha-se-yo)?” is enough. But when you say goodbye, this “안녕” splits into two. Let me tell you why.
What does “안녕히” mean?
To understand how to say goodbye in Korean, we said “안녕(An-nyeong) — 安寧” means “calm and safe, with nothing wrong.” When you add “-히(-hi)”, the word “안녕히(an-nyeong-hi)” means “calmly, safely.”In English, it is close to peacefully or safely.
So this goodbye is really a small wish:
“Please stay(or go) well and safe.”
When you meet, and when you leave, you hope the other person is at peace. But why two versions?
The secret is in the last verb
The answer is in two verbs: 가다(ga-da) and 계시다(gye-si-da).
가세요(ga-se-yo) ← 가다 (to go) — when the other person is leaving
계세요(gye-se-yo) ← 계시다 (to stay) — when the other person is staying
“계시다(gye-si-da)” may look new to you. “계시다(gye-si-da)” is the polite form of “있다(It-da)” (to be / to stay).
It is a respectful way to say that someone is in a place. So when you say “안녕히 계세요” to someone who stays, it means “please stay here comfortably.”
🔎 Mini Grammar
가다(ga-da) → 가세요(ga-se-yo).
있다(It-da) → 계시다(gye-si-da) → 계세요(gye-se-yo)
Once you know “계시다(gye-si-da)“, you can understand sentences like:
“선생님이 교실에 계세요(Sun-saeng-neem-ee gyo-sheel-eh gyeh-seh-yoh).” — The teacher is in the classroom.)
How to never mix them up
At the door, look at just one thing: the person you are greeting.
The other person is leaving → 안녕히 가세요(An-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo).
The other person is staying → 안녕히 계세요(An-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo).
Let’s go back to that shop.
You, the customer, are leaving. The staff stays in the shop.
So you say “안녕히 계세요(An-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo)” to the one who stays, and the staff says “안녕히 가세요(An-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo)” to you, the one who leaves.
This one little scene explains almost everything you need to know when you say goodbye in Korean.
💬 From my classroom When I teach this, students almost always ask the same question:
“Teacher, what if both people are leaving?”
It is a very good question. — and the answer is simple.
If you are both leaving, you are both “going,” so you both just say “안녕히 가세요(An-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo).” Easy!
Between friends
“안녕히 가세요 / 안녕히 계세요” is polite way to say goodbye in Korean.
With friends or close people, you can say it more casually.
잘 가(jal ga)! → I stay, and my friend leaves
잘 있어(Jal it-seo)! → I leave, and my friend stays
This is not simply the polite form turned casual, but you can think of it as the friendly goodbye used in the same situations.
The rule is still the same: “가(ga)” for the one who leaves, “있어(it-seo)” for the one who stays.
Wait — some tricky places
There are places where this rule does not work so well: taxis, buses, and elevators.
A taxi driver stays in the car, but the car moves. In an elevator, only one person gets off.
In these moments, it is not clear who is “leaving” and who is “staying.”
At times like this, don’t worry about the rule.
Just use another goodbye.
“조심히 가세요(jo-sim-hi ga-se-yo).” — go safely
“좋은 하루 보내세요(jo-eun ha-ru bo-nae-se-yo).” — have a good day
“먼저 갈게요(Meon-jeo gal-ge-yo).” — I’ll go first
“감사합니다(gam-sa-ham-ni-da).” — thank you.
All of these sound natural.
And when you hang up the phone
Here is something interesting.
When Korean people end a phone call, they very often say
“네, 들어가세요(ne, deu-leo-ga-se-yo).” — literally, “okay, go inside.”
In one survey, more than six out of ten people said they use this.
But here is the thing: “들어가세요(deu-leo-ga-se-yo)” is actually a command form (“go inside”), so standard Korean etiquette does not really recommend it.
To end a call politely, “안녕히 계세요(an-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo).”, “고맙습니다(go-map-seum-ni-da).”, or “이만 끊을게요(I-man kkeun-eul-ge-yo).” (I’ll hang up now) are the “correct” choices.
So this is a great example of when the textbook’s answer and real Korean are a little different.
Learn both, and you will have both the “proper” Korean and the “real” Korean that people actually use.
One last thing
Even for a simple say goodbye, Korean looks at whether the other person is leaving or staying.
It is not some grand cultural theory — think of it as a small habit of looking at the other person for a moment before you speak.
So next time you say goodbye in Korea, just check one thing: is the other person going, or staying?
If they go, say “안녕히 가세요(an-nyeong-hi ga-se-yo).” If they stay, say “안녕히 계세요(an-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo).”
Once you know this difference, your goodbyes will feel much more natural. 🥰
Does your language have different goodbyes for the person who leaves and the person who stays?
Tell me in the comments.
I would love to know.
🙋 FAQ
Q. The shop staff will go home soon too — so why “계세요(gye-se-yo)“?
A: Because at the moment you say goodbye, the staff is still in the shop. It doesn’t matter that they leave later. Just look at this moment.
Q. If we both leave the café, who is staying?
A: Neither of you. You both leave the place you were in and go your own ways — so you can both say “안녕히 가세요” to each other.
Q. What do I say in a taxi?
A: The driver stays in the car, but the car moves, so it feels unclear. Here, “감사합니다(Gam-sa-ham-ni-da).” (thank you) or “조심히 가세요(jo-sim-hi ga-se-yo)” (go safely) is easy and natural.
Hello? Bonjour? Hola? 你好? السلام عليكم? नमस्ते? Здравствуйте?
Does the greeting in your language have a question in it? How do you say Hello in Korean?
You say “안녕하세요?” (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo?), right?
But look closely — there is a question mark (?) at the end. Open any Korean textbook, and it is always there.
So why does the “Korean Hello” sound like a question? Let me tell you a little story.
What does Korean Hello “안녕?” really mean?
When learning Korean Hello “안녕(an-nyeong)?“, Most students never even notice this little question mark — but once you do, the first question is simple: what does “안녕” actually mean?
“안녕 (安寧)” comes from Chinese characters. A long time ago, before King Sejong created Hangul, Korean people spoke Korean but wrote with Chinese characters. Even today, many Korean words still come from them. (We’ll talk more about this in another story.)
They mean “a state of being calm and safe, with nothing wrong.” In English, it is close to “peace or well-being“.
So if we translate “안녕하세요?” word by word, it sounds like this:
“Are you at peace? Are you doing well, with nothing wrong?”
Is it the same as “How are you?” then? Almost.
In Korean, “How are you?” is usually “잘 지내세요?” (jal- ji-nae-se-yo?).
When you add a “question mark(?)” to the greeting “안녕하세요”, it becomes a soft way of asking about someone. If you really want to ask how they are, you write “안녕하세요?“. If it is just a light hello, you write “안녕하세요.”
And honestly, when you speak, the sound matters more than the mark. Raise your voice a little at the end, and it feels like a question. Keep it flat, and it feels like a greeting.
Wait — Why do Korean keep asking about my life?
When you come to Korea, you will hear these too:
“밥 먹었어요?” (bap meo-geos-seo-yo?) — Did you eat?
“어디 가세요?” (eo-di ga-se-yo?) — Where are you going?
At first, this can feel strange.
“Why do they want to know if I ate, or where I am going?”
But Korean people are not really trying to look into your private life. These are like cousins of “안녕하세요?”.
It is closer to a warm “You doing okay? Nothing wrong?”
Why do Koreans ask if you are okay?
Here comes the old story.
Long ago in Korea, neighbors lived close together and helped each other. They farmed together, and they got through hard times together.
Because of where Korea sits on the map, it was invaded by other countries many times through history. So there were many poor and hungry years. In times of war, or when people were dying of hunger, the first thing you wondered each morning was simple: Is my neighbor safe? Did anything bad happen in the night?
So when people met, they greeted each other like this:
“Are you at peace? Are you doing well?” “You are not going hungry, are you?”
In years when many people were hungry, “밥 먹었어요? (Did you eat?)” really meant “Are you okay? Did you get enough to eat?” That caring feeling still lives inside today’s “안녕하세요?”.
Of course, this is not a proven history. But when you think of it this way, doesn’t a simple daily greeting start to feel a little warmer?
So remember just one thing: in Korean, a question-shaped greeting is not really asking for information. It is a way to start a conversation and to check in with each other.
How do I know what these greetings really mean?
It depends on the situation. Take “밥 먹었어? (Did you eat?)”:
From an adult or a friend you have not seen in a while → it means “How have you been?”
Right before a meal time → it might mean “Want to eat together?”
After a meal time → it might really be asking if you ate
You can answer simply.
“네, 먹었어요. (Yes, I ate.)” or “아직요. ○○ 씨는요? (Not yet. How about you?)” is enough.
“어디 가세요? (Where are you going?)” works the same way.
If you do not want to explain, you can just say “잠깐 볼일 보러 가요. (I’m just going out for a bit.)”
And “안녕하세요?” can feel like “How are you?”, but most of the time you do not need a long answer.
Just saying “안녕하세요?” back is perfect.
Who do I say it to?
When using Korean Hello in daily life, greetings have different levels of politeness.
They change a little depending on who you are talking to.
안녕? (an-nyeong?) → a close friend, a child, or someone you already speak casually with
안녕하세요? (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo?) → someone you just met, and most everyday situations (the safest choice)
안녕하십니까? (an-nyeong-ha-sim-ni-kka?) → very formal places, like a presentation, an interview, or an official event
Remember one thing. With a child, “안녕?” feels natural.
But with an adult who looks a little younger than you, or with someone you just met, “안녕하세요?” is the safe choice — no matter their age.
The key is not age. It is your relationship.
One last thing
“안녕하세요?” is not just “Hello”. Inside it is an old, kind wish: I hope you are doing well.
So next time you greet someone with “안녕하세요?“, remember this little story. You are greeting them in a very old way, quietly saying:
“I hope you’re doing well today.”
Does “안녕하세요?” make a little more sense now?
So when you meet a Korean person on the street, let’s greet them properly — not just “안녕”, but “안녕하세요?“
Does your language have a greeting that looks like a question? Tell me in the comments. I would love to know.🥰
See you again!
💡 Want to study more Korean expressions with detailed explanations? Check This 👉 [Korean culture!]
‘Sino-Korean Numbers (일, 이, 삼, 사…)‘ are essential for daily life in Korea and for visiting Korea’s charming traditional markets.
Korean has two ways to count numbers, so many learners find it a bit confusing at first. But don’t worry! Today’s lesson is on Sino-Korean numbers, which are very useful when talking about prices, dates, phone numbers, and floor levels.
Once you master this, you will be able to confidently ask and answer prices when you find an outfit or shoes you love in a traditional market! Let’s get started, shall we?
1. Meaning & Function of Sino-Korean Numbers
The Korean number system is largely divided into ‘Sino-Korean Numbers’ and ‘Native Korean Numbers’. The Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼, 사…) we are learning today are mainly used in the following situations:
🌟 Key Point for Shopping! 물건의 가격을 말할 때는 꼭 한자어 수(일, 이, 삼, 사)로 말하세요~! When you ask for the price of an item in a market, you must use ‘Sino-Korean Numbers’.
✅ 이만 오천 원이에요. (It is 25,000 won.)
❌ 두만 다섯천 원이에요. (This is incorrect.)
2. Number Table & Price Expressions of Sino-Korean Numbers
① Basic Sino-Korean Numbers (0 ~ 10)
Number
Sino-Korean
Number
Sino-Korean
0
영 / 공
6
육
1
일
7
칠
2
이
8
팔
3
삼
9
구
4
사
10
십
5
오
② Large Numbers and Units
Unit
Sino-Korean
Example
10
십
15 → 십오(Sip-o)
100
백
300 → 삼백(Sam-baek)
1,000
천
5,000 → 오천(O-cheon)
10,000
만
20,000 → 이만(I-man)
③ Price Reading Practice
Unlike English, Korean prices are counted in units of 10,000 (Man) rather than 1,000 (Thousand). This is very important! Read the numbers in order from left to right and add ‘원 (Won)’ at the end.
Price
How to Read
500원
오백 원 (O-baek won)
1,000원
천 원 (Cheon won)(Note: Do not say ‘Il-cheon won’)
3,500원
삼천오백 원 (Sam-cheon-o-baek won)
10,000원
만 원 (Man won)(Note: Do not say ‘Il-man won’)
15,000원
만 오천 원 (Man o-cheon won)
23,000원
이만 삼천 원 (I-man sam-cheon won)
100,000원
십만 원 (Sip-man won)
④ Expanded Real-Life Examples
Here are 10 diverse, real-life example sentences showing how to use Sino-Korean numbers for prices, dates, floors, and phone numbers in everyday situations.
Context
Korean Sentence
English Translation
Shopping (Asking Price)
이 모자는 팔천 원이에요.
This hat is 8,000 won.
Shopping (Bargaining)
이만 오천 원으로 깎아 주세요.
Please give me a discount of 25,000 won.
Shopping (Total Amount)
오늘 시장에서 사만 원을 썼어요.
I spent 40,000 won at the market today.
Location (Floor)
화장실은 삼 층에 있어요.
The restroom is on the 3rd floor.
Appointment (Date)
제 생일은 오 월 십오 일이에요.
My birthday is May 15th (5th month, 15th day).
Contact (Phone Number)
제 전화번호는 공일공-일이삼사-오육칠팔이에요.
My phone number is 010-1234-5678.
Time (Minutes)
지금은 세 시 오십 분이에요.
It is 3:50 now.
Transportation (Bus Number)
학교에 갈 때는 백사 번 버스를 타요.
I take bus number 104 when going to school.
Shopping (Change)
거스름돈은 이천 원이에요.
The change is 2,000 won.
For more official information about Korean culture, visit the King Sejong Institute.
3. Common Mistakes of Sino-Korean Numbers
What are the most common mistakes learners make when reading numbers? Check the table below to see the correct expressions!
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Reason
23,000원 ➡️ 이십 삼천 원 (❌)
23,000원 ➡️ 이만 삼천 원
Koreans use the 10,000 (Man) unit, not the 1,000 (Cheon) unit.
10,000 ➡️ 일만 원 (❌) 1,000 ➡️ 일천 원 (❌)
10,000 ➡️만 원 1,000 ➡️ 천 원
The number ‘1 (Il)’ at the beginning of a large number is usually omitted.
8,000원 ➡️ 여덟천 원(❌)
8,000원 ➡️ 팔천 원
Do not mix Native Korean numbers with Sino-Korean numbers for prices.
4. Real-Life Dialogue
Aditi, an international student from India, is talking to a store owner at a traditional market. Let’s see how Sino-Korean numbers are used in the conversation!
① Listening Practice (듣기 연습)
Instructions: Listen first and answer the following questions.
1) 아디티 씨는 무엇을 샀습니까?
2) 아디티 씨는 영수증을 받았습니까?
아디티: 저 빨간 옷 얼마예요?
직 원: 이만 오천 원이에요.
아디티: 조금 비싸요. 깎아 주세요!
직 원: 그럼 이만 원에 드릴게요.
아디티: 감사해요! 여기 이만 원이요.
직 원: 네, 영수증 드릴까요?
아디티: 네, 주세요. 그런데 신발 가게는 몇 층이에요?
직 원: 이 층이에요.
👉 Click Dialogue Translation!
아디티: How much is that red shirt?
직 원: It is 25,000 won.
아디티: It’s a bit expensive. Please give me a discount!
직 원: Then I’ll give it to you for 20,000 won.
아디티: Thank you! Here is 20,000 won.
직 원: Okay, would you like a receipt?
아디티: Yes, please. By the way, which floor is the shoe store on?
직 원: It’s on the second floor.
② Comprehension Questions (내용 이해 질문)
1) 아디티 씨는 어떤 옷을 사고 싶어 해요?
2) 아디티 씨는 그것을 얼마에 샀어요?
3) 아디티 씨는 또 무엇을 사고 싶어 해요?
5. AI Tutor Practice
🤖 Digital Literacy Tip! You can practice price expressions with an AI Tutor (ChatGPT). Instead of just memorizing, try simulating a shopping scenario with AI. It will help you remember the numbers much faster!
[Copy and paste this prompt into AI: like ChatGPT ]
“I am a beginner Korean student studying Sino-Korean numbers. Please act as a shop owner in a Korean traditional market. I will ask you for the price of different items, and you answer using Sino-Korean numbers (e.g., 15,000 won, 23,000 won). Please keep the conversation simple and correct my mistakes in Korean.”
6. Today’s Quiz
Test your knowledge of the prices and numbers we learned today!
[Quiz 1] Read the following prices in Sino-Korean numbers.
3,000원 => ( ___________________ )
12,000원 => ( ___________________ )
25,000원 => ( ___________________ )
👉 Click here to see the [Quiz 1 Answers]
삼천 원
만 이천 원
이만 오천 원
[Quiz 2] Complete the dialogue.
가: 이 편한 신발은 얼마예요? (How much are these comfortable shoes?)
나: ___________________________이에요. (119,000원)
👉 Click here to see the [Quiz 2 Answers]
=> 십 일만 구천 원이에요.
7. Wrap-up
Today, we studied Sino-Korean numbers, which are essential for asking and answering prices at a market. Now, you won’t be confused when you see price tags or hear the vendor telling you the price, right? Don’t forget to review on your own!
Next Lesson Preview: In the next lesson, we will learn about ‘Counter Nouns’ (개, 벌, 켤레, etc.) used to count items such as apples, clothes, and shoes.
Next Lesson Preview: In the next lesson, we will learn about ‘Counter Nouns’. You can also review our previous lessons on the Proper Korean Home.
Have you ever visited a traditional Korean market? When you walk through the market(전통시장), you will see many pretty clothes and delicious foods everywhere!
But have you ever struggled to explain exactly what you want to buy?
For example, instead of just saying “I want to buy a bag (가방을 사고 싶어요),” wouldn’t it be much better if you could say, “I want to buy a cheap bag (싼 가방을 사고 싶어요)” or “I am looking for a small bag (작은 가방을 찾고 있어요)”?
After reading this blog post, you will be able to describe the characteristics of any object or person beautifully and accurately, just like a native speaker! Are you ready to find out how this grammar works? Let’s explore together!
1. Meaning & Function Korean adjective modifier
In English, when you want to describe a noun, you simply place the adjective before it (e.g., pretty clothes, cheap bag). In Korean, however, you cannot put a basic adjective form (like 예쁘다 or 싸다) directly in front of a noun.
To make an adjective describe a noun, you must drop the dictionary ending -다 and attach -ㄴ or -은 to the adjective stem. This form is called the determiner form (관형사형).
예쁘다(to be pretty) + 옷(clothes) → 예쁜 옷(pretty clothes)
싸다(to be cheap) + 가방(bag) → 싼 가방(a cheap bag)
Using this grammar allows you to vividly explain the unique features of objects, places, or people around you!
2. Conjugation Rules & Table of Korean adjective modifier
The form changes depending on whether the adjective stem ends in a vowel or a final consonant (받침). Let’s look at the three simple rules.
Rule 1: No Final Consonant (Ends in a Vowel) ➡️ Add ‘-ㄴ’
If the adjective stem does not have a final consonant, simply attach -ㄴ to the bottom of the stem.
Dictionary Form
Stem
Change
Final Form
Example Sentence
싸다 (to be cheap)
싸-
+ ㄴ
싼
시장에서 싼 옷을 많이 사요. (I buy a lot of cheap clothes at the market.)
크다 (to be big)
크-
+ ㄴ
큰
큰 가방을 사고 싶어요. (I want to buy a big bag.)
예쁘다 (to be pretty)
예쁘-
+ ㄴ
예쁜
저기 예쁜 모자가 있어요. (There is a pretty hat over there.)
편하다 (to be comfortable)
편하-
+ ㄴ
편한
저는 편한 신발을 찾고 있어요. (I am looking for comfortable shoes.)
Rule 2: Has a Final Consonant (받침) ➡️ Add ‘-은’
If the adjective stem ends in a final consonant, add -은 right after the stem.
Dictionary Form
Stem
Change
Final Form
Example Sentence
작다 (to be small)
작-
+ 은
작은
아디티 씨는 작은 가방을 찾아요. (Aditi is looking for a small bag.)
좋다 (to be good)
좋-
+ 은
좋은
여기 정말 좋은 시장이 있어요. (There is a really good market here.)
많다 (to be many/a lot)
많-
+ 은
많은
주말에 시장에 많은 사람이 왔어요. (A lot of people came to the market on the weekend.)
Rule 3: ‘ㄹ’ Final Consonant ➡️ Drop ‘ㄹ’ and Add ‘-ㄴ’
If the adjective stem ends in the consonant ㄹ, you must remove the ㄹ first, and then attach -ㄴ underneath.
Dictionary Form
Stem
Change
Final Form
Example Sentence
길다 (to be long)
길-
Drop ㄹ+ ㄴ
긴
수엔 씨는 긴 치마를 입었어요. (Xuyen wore a long skirt.)
멀다 (to be far)
멀-
Drop ㄹ+ ㄴ
먼
저는 학교에서 먼 곳에 살아요. (I live in a place far from the school.)
💡 Teacher’s Note: Watch out for Color Adjectives! (ㅎ Irregular)
Color words like 빨갛다(to be red), 파랗다(to be blue), 하얗다(to be white), and 까맣다(to be black) drop the ㅎ and change their forms uniquely before a noun:
빨갛다 + 옷 → 빨간 옷(Red clothes)
파랗다 + 가방 → 파란 가방(Blue bag)
하얗다 + 신발 → 하얀 신발(White shoes)
까맣다 + 모자 → 까만 모자(Black hat)
3. Common Learner Mistakes of Korean adjective modifier
As a beginner, it is very natural to make mistakes. Let’s look at what foreign students frequently mix up so you can avoid these common traps! Understanding these traps will make you a master of the Korean adjective modifier rules.
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Why is it wrong? DOCX
빨갛다 옷
빨간 옷
You cannot use the base dictionary form directly before a noun. You must conjugate it to match the noun-modifying rule!
작다 가방
작은 가방
Since the stem 작- has a final consonant, you must append -은 instead of leaving it plain.
먹는 음식
–
Warning! The formula -ㄴ/은 is strictly used for Adjectives. For Verbs (like 먹다 – to eat, 사다 – to buy), a completely different modifier form (-는) is used. We will learn that in a later chapter!
4. Real-Life Dialogue (At a Local Market)
Let’s read a conversation between two international students: Xuyen (from Vietnam) and Aditi (from India). They are enjoying a weekend shopping trip at a traditional Korean market near their university. Pay close attention to how they use today’s grammar-Korean adjective modifier point!
① Listening Practice (듣기 연습)
Instructions: Listen to the dialogue and answer the following questions.
1) 여기는 어디입니까?
2) 누가 가방을 샀습니까?
아디티 : 수엔 씨, 여기 물건이 정말 많아요! 예쁜 옷도 있어요.
수 엔 : 네, 이 시장은 싼 물건이 많아서 자주 와요. 아디티 씨는 뭘 사고 싶어요?
아디티 : 저는 작은 가방을 찾고 있어요. 어! 저기 빨간 가방이 있어요!
수 엔 : 정말 예쁜 가방이네요.
아디티 : 저 빨간 가방은 얼마예요?
판매원 : 이만 원이에요.
아디티 : 와, 정말 싼 가격이에요! 살게요. 수엔 씨는요?
수 엔 : 저는 편한하얀 신발을 사고 싶어요. 저쪽에 신발 가게가 있으니까 같이 가요!
👉 Click Dialogue Translation!
아디티 :Xuyen, there are so many things here! There are pretty clothes too.
수 엔 :Yes, this market has a lot of cheap things, so I come here often. What do you want to buy, Aditi?
아디티 :I am looking for a small bag. Oh! There is a red bag over there!
수 엔 :That is a really pretty bag.
아디티 : How much is that red bag?
판매원 :It is 20,000 won.
아디티 :Wow, that is a really cheap price! I will buy it. How about you, Xuyen?
수 엔 :I want to buy comfortable, white shoes. There is a shoe store over there, so let’s go together!
② Comprehension Questions (내용 이해 질문)
1) 아디티 씨는 어떤 가방을 샀습니까?
2) 가방은 얼마입니까?
3) 수엔 씨는 어떤 물건을 사고 싶어 합니까?
5. AI Tutor Practice
🤖 Digital Literacy Tip! The best way to master a new language is to practice using it actively. We want you to use AI as your personal conversation partner! Copy the prompt box below and paste it into ChatGPT (or any AI tool) to start practicing your real-life shopping dialogue with Korean adjective modifier right now.
[Copy and paste this prompt into AI ]
Act as a kind and encouraging Korean language teacher. I am a beginner-level student practicing the grammar "-ㄴ/은 [명사]" (Korean adjective modifying a noun) based on a shopping/market context.
Please follow these steps:
1. Greet me warmly in easy Korean and ask me what kind of item I want to buy at the traditional market today.
2. When I reply in Korean, check if I correctly used the "-ㄴ/은" adjective modifier grammar form.
3. If I make a mistake with grammar, spelling, or vocabulary, gently point out the error, explain why, and provide the corrected sentence.
4. Keep the conversation going for 3-4 turns by asking simple follow-up questions (such as asking about the color, size, or price of the item).
5. Please use simple Korean suitable for an elementary/TOPIK Level 2 learner, and include English translations in parentheses for your responses so I can follow along easily.
6. Today’s Quiz
Test your understanding of Korean adjective modifier with these practice exercises based on today’s lesson!
[Quiz 1] Conjugate the adjective in the brackets to complete the phrase.
( 예쁘다: to be pretty ) + 옷 → __________ 옷
( 작다: to be small ) + 가방 → __________ 가방
( 편하다: to be comfortable ) + 신발 → __________ 신발
( 비싸다: to be expensive ) + 옷→ __________ 옷
👉 Click here to see the [Quiz 1 Answers]
예쁜 옷 (pretty clothes)
작은 가방 (small bag)
편한 신발 (comfortable shoes)
비싼 옷 (expensive clothes)
[Quiz 2] Combine the two short sentences into one fluid sentence using today’s grammar, following the example.
Example (보기): 가방이 있어요. 그 가방은 커요. => 큰 가방이 있어요. (There is a big bag.)
옷이 있어요. 그 옷은 싸요. => _____________________
신발이 있어요. 그 신발은 편해요.=> _____________________
👉 Click here to see the [Quiz 2 Answers]
싼 옷이 있어요.(There are cheap clothes.)
편한 신발이 있어요.(There are comfortable shoes.)
7. Wrap-up & Next Lesson
Fantastic job today! Today, we completely conquered the korean adjective modifier form!
You have learned how to use the adjective modifier -ㄴ/은 to vividly describe people and objects around you. Now you don’t have to just point at an object and say “this” or “that”—you can proudly say “예쁜 옷 (pretty clothes)” or “작은 가방 (small bag)”!
In our next lesson (Day 2), we will explore how to talk about money and costs at the market using [Korean Numbers: Sino-Korean Numbers (일·이·삼·사…)]. You will learn exactly how to ask for prices and understand numbers up to tens of thousands in Korean!
Keep up the incredible work, stay curious, and see you!
If you have any questions, please leave a comment~!
You are going to study in Korea for the first time.
But you have never been on a plane. And your English is not so good.
So you feel worried. 😱
Don’t worry.
Read this guide slowly.
If you prepare one step at a time, you can get to Korea by yourself.
For a first-time flyer, the cheapest ticket is not the best.
A ticket that is safe and easy to travel alone is more important.
1. First, check your school’s “pickup” date
Before you buy a ticket, there is something to do first. Check your school’s pickup date.
“Pickup” means someone from the school waits for you at the airport and takes you to the school.
Many schools offer pickup for new international students.
But pickup is only on certain days and certain times.
For example, your school tells you the pickup days.
So you should buy a ticket that arrives in Korea between August 25 and September 11, from 9:00 to 16:00 (9 AM–4 PM).
Q: The ticket is expensive. What if I arrive at night?
A: You don’t know the way, so you must go from the airport to the school alone. A taxi costs a lot. You may even have to sleep at the airport or book a hotel.
So the order is important! Think about this before you look at tickets:
① Check the pickup date → ② Decide your arrival date → ③ Look for a ticket
2. Don’t look at only one place
First, compare prices in a few places. I recommend two websites.
Before you buy, check these:
Which airline is it?
Is the baggage included in the ticket?
How many times do you change planes?
How long is the wait between flights?
What time do you arrive in Korea?
✈️ Google Flights
You can change the date and see the price. You can see which day is cheap on a graph.
Search like this: From: your city (example: Kathmandu, KTM) → To: Seoul / Incheon (ICN)
Then compare prices on different days near your pickup date.
✈️ Skyscanner
Skyscanner also shows prices from many airlines at one time.
But this is important: Google Flights and Skyscanner are places to compare prices.
※ If you can pay with an international card, you can buy online.
But if you can’t use an international card, compare the prices first, and then buy the ticket at a travel agency in your country.
3. The cheapest ticket is NOT the best!
Even if a ticket is a little cheaper, don’t buy a ticket that is too complicated. Is it your first time on a plane? Is English hard for you? Then I recommend a ticket like this.
When flying to Korea, making sure you have a safe transfer route is essential for first-time travelers.
① Change planes only one time
“Changing planes” means you get off one plane and get on another plane. This is called a transfer.
The best is a direct flight. A direct flight goes straight to Korea, with no change.
If there is no direct flight, buy a ticket with only one change. → Kathmandu → (one transfer) → Incheon
A ticket with two or three changes is too hard for the first time. I don’t recommend it.
② The wait between flights: 2 hours 30 minutes – 6 hours
If the wait is 1 hour, it is too short. In a big airport, you may not find the next gate (door) in time.
If it is 10 or 15 hours, it is too long. It is very tiring.
So 2 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours is good.
③ Never buy a “Self-transfer” ticket
This is very important. Some very cheap tickets say “Self-transfer.”
With this ticket, you must do this at the transfer airport:
Get your bag again → line up and check in again → give your bag again → go through the check again.
Sometimes you must enter that country for a short time, so you may need a visa. This is too hard for a first-time flyer.
So buy a ticket where you give your bag in your country and it goes straight to Incheon. Before you buy, ask the travel agency or airline:
“Is my baggage checked through to Incheon?”
And, depending on the transfer country, you may need a transfer (transit) visa. Always ask the airline before you buy.
4. Always check the baggage rules
The big reason not to choose a ticket by price only is the baggage.
Some cheap tickets have almost no checked baggage.
Some tickets give students more baggage.
There are two kinds of baggage:
Checked baggage: the big bag that goes under the plane.
Carry-on baggage: the small bag you take inside the plane.
Before you buy, check:
How many kg is the checked baggage?
Is it 1 bag or 2 bags?
Some airlines give 2 bags to students with a study visa. Please check this.
If you buy extra baggage, how much is it?
How many kg is the carry-on?
★ “Students always get 2 bags” is NOT true. It is different for each airline and each ticket.
So you must check the rule for the ticket you buy.
When you buy, look for these words:
Baggage / Checked baggage / Cabin baggage
Check how many bags are allowed.
5. Don’t buy everything before you go
When you go abroad for the first time, you feel worried.
So you put many things in your bag.
But in Korea, you can easily buy the things you need for daily life.
They are cheap and good quality.
You can buy them easily at Daiso, big supermarkets, and online shops.
So you don’t need to bring many of these:
shampoo, soap, laundry detergent
bowls, cups, kitchen things
towels, pens and notebooks
Don’t carry heavy things. Every kilogram in your bag is valuable — don’t waste it on these.
6. Bring only a little clothing
Don’t fill your bag with clothes. Bring only the clothes you need at first.
For example:
underwear
a few T-shirts
a few pairs of pants
comfortable clothes, pajamas
sneakers
You can buy clothes after you arrive in Korea.
In Korea, clothes are cheap and nice.
And you can see and choose clothes that fit the Korean weather.
In Korea, summer and winter are very different. So don’t bring too many clothes from home. It is also good to buy clothes in Korea for each season.
7. Good to bring: your familiar “taste”
Better than “things” is the food you eat often.
Some food you can’t buy in Korea, or it is expensive in Korea.
For example:
spices in a package
sauces in a package
seasonings you use often
These are good to bring.
★ But there is something very important!
🥩🍗 Never bring meat!
meat, or any food with meat
fresh fruit, fresh vegetables
seeds, plants
Meat, and food with meat, cannot come into Korea. You will have a problem at the airport. Bring spices that are made in a factory and sealed in a package.
And check first that you are allowed to bring them into Korea.
8. Prepare money for the transfer airport
First-time travelers often forget this.
Your country’s money cannot be used at another country’s airport.
While you wait for the plane, you may want to buy water or eat food. Then you need money.
So prepare a little money of the transfer country:
Transfer in China → Chinese money (yuan)
Transfer in Thailand → Thailand money (Baht)
If it is hard to prepare many countries’ money, prepare a little 💵 US dollars.
If you have a card you can use abroad, you can use the card instead of cash.
Each airport and shop takes different money and cards. So it is good to check the transfer place before you go.
9. Prepare Korean money too
When you arrive in Korea, you need money right away.
For example:
water and food
a SIM card (phone, internet)
transport (bus, subway)
school books
money you need suddenly
So prepare Korean money before you come to Korea. About 200,000 – 300,000 won is good.
Don’t bring only big bills (50,000 won).
Bring 10,000 won bills too. They are easier to use at first.
Incheon Airport has a bank to change money, and places to buy a SIM card.
But the airport is a little expensive. It is much easier to prepare Korean money before you go.
10. On your flight day, go to the airport 2–3 hours early
On the day you fly, go to the airport early. For an international flight, it is good to be at the airport 2–3 hours before.
At the airport, do it in this order:
Check-in — Go to the airline counter. Show your passport and ticket. Give them your big bag. Get your boarding pass.
Security check — Put your bag in the machine. You may have to throw away your water bottle.
Immigration — Show your passport.
Gate — Wait at the gate. The gate number is on your boarding pass.
★ If you don’t know, ask an airline worker. You can also show your destination written on paper (Incheon, Korea).
11. At the transfer airport, follow the “Transfer” sign
When you get off the plane, where do you go? The airport has signs with words and pictures.
Follow “Transfer” or “Connecting flights.” → This is the place to change planes.
Do not go to “Exit” or “Arrival.” → That is the way out of the airport.
Check your next flight’s gate number on the big screen. Find your flight number.
If you don’t know, show your boarding pass to an airport worker and ask.
12. On the plane: if they give you a paper, fill it in early
On the plane, a worker may give you a paper.
It is the paper you use to enter Korea (a customs form).
If you fill it in early, you can leave quickly when you arrive.
Write your name, passport number, and Korean address (school or dormitory address).
13. Arriving at Incheon Airport: do it in this order
When you arrive at Incheon Airport, do it in this order.
1. Immigration: Line up. Show your passport.
If the officer asks, say “I am a student.” You can also show your acceptance letter.
2. Get your bag: Find your flight number on the big screen.
Get your checked bag in front of that number.
3. Customs: If you have something to declare (food, etc.), say it here. If not, just go out.
4. Go to the pickup place: Go out (Exit). Go to the pickup place the school told you. Meet the pickup person there.
For example, the school may say the pickup place is “in front of the Gate F.”
★ Know the pickup person’s name and phone number before you go.
★ Ask the school where you will meet, before you go.
14. Put your passport and documents in your carry-on bag
This is the most important thing when you pack.
Do not put these in your big bag (checked baggage).
📌 Always put them in the bag you carry onto the plane:
passport
visa documents
plane ticket (E-ticket)
university acceptance letter
school address, dormitory address
school staff phone number, pickup person phone number
money and cards
phone, charger
important medicine
power bank (★ A power bank cannot go in the big bag. You must carry it on.)
And don’t save your documents only on your phone.
Your phone can turn off. The internet may not work.
So print one paper copy of your important documents and bring it.
15. Save these on your phone
Save these as photos (screenshots), so you can see them even with no internet:
the whole ticket
first flight number
second flight number
transfer airport name
Incheon Airport arrival time
school address
dormitory address
school staff phone number
pickup person phone number
photo or note of the meeting place
Finally, please remember this
Keep these tips in mind when flying to Korea, and your journey will be much smoother!
For a first-time flyer, the best ticket is not the “cheapest ticket.”
Here is an example:
You need to think…
[Ticket A] — $50 more, but…
[Ticket B] — $50 cheaper, but…
Changes
Home → transfer → Incheon (1 change)
Home → transfer → transfer → Incheon (2 changes)
Wait between flights
3 hours
12 hours
Baggage
enough kg
you want more, so you must pay extra
Self-transfer
No
Yes
Pickup
school picks you up
you must find the way alone — and you don’t know the way
[Ticket A] is much better!
Studying abroad does not start when you arrive in Korea.
When you choose your ticket and pack your bag, your life in Korea already begins.
Don’t look at only the price. Look at these first:
Can you travel safely?
Can you change planes alone?
Can you bring enough baggage?
Do you arrive at the school pickup time?
Wow! done!
Flying for the first time makes you very nervous. And you even have to change planes in a country you don’t know! If your English is not so good, it feels even harder.
But try to remember what you just read here.
Then your first flight is already half a success!
The first time is hard. But once you get through it and get used to flying, next time you can choose a cheaper ticket and travel more freely, right?
Slowly, one step at a time. you can come to Korea by yourself.
I’m cheering for you!
See you in Korea! 🥰
💡 Do you want to know about Korea before going there? Start by reading the [Korean culture here.]
FAQ –
Q: Should I buy the cheapest flight to Korea?
A: No. For your first flight, choose a safe, easy ticket — one transfer, enough baggage, and arrival during your school’s pickup time. The cheapest ticket often has long waits or a self-transfer.
Q: How many bags can a student bring to Korea?
A: It depends on the airline and ticket. Some airlines give students with a study visa two checked bags, but not all. Always check the baggage rule before you buy.
Q: Can I bring food to Korea?
A: You can bring sealed, packaged. Never bring meat, food with meat, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, seeds, or plants — they are stopped at the airport.
Q: How much Korean money should I bring?
A: About 200,000–300,000 won in cash is a good start, for a SIM card, transport, food, and school books. Bring some 10,000-won bills too.
![TOPIK I reading question [34-39]](https://properkorean.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Proper-Korean-3.jpg)
