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How to Use TOPIK Writing Paper (원고지): 5 Simple Rules (Part 3)

8월 16, 2026 작성자: klcckorean@gmail.com

📢 한국어로 공부하고 싶어요? 👉  [ 한국어로 읽기 ]

Welcome back! 😊 Today, let’s learn how to use the TOPIK writing paper (원고지) step by step.

In Part 2, we learned the “-다 / -이다” written style used in TOPIK writing. Haven’t seen it yet? Read it first 👉 [ Part 2 How to change “-아요/어요” into “-다”].

Today is about the TOPIK writing paper — in Korean it’s called 원고지. When you first see all the little squares, it can look complicated. But don’t worry. Today you don’t need to memorize every rule. You only need these three things.

💡 Remember just these:

What goes in one square?

How do I handle spaces?

How long are 200 and 600 characters?

Let’s take them one at a time.

1. Why does TOPIK use writing paper?

In Questions 53 and 54 you write longer text.

Question 53 is 200–300 characters, and Question 54 is 600–700 characters.

So the answer sheet has small squares for your writing.

These squares make it easy to see where your writing starts, whether you left spaces, and how much you have written. It feels awkward at first, but after a few tries it becomes easy.

2. The most important rule: one character per square

This is the first rule to remember. Write one character in one square. And a space also takes one empty square.

For example, “한국어가 좋다.” looks like this:

So don’t write it all joined together like “한국어가좋다.” Leave spaces, just like normal writing.

3. Leave the first square empty when you begin

When you start writing, don’t write in the very first square. Leave the first square empty and start from the second square.

For example, if you begin with “나는 한국어를 공부한다.”, it starts like this:

Why leave it empty? It shows that a new paragraph is starting.

💡 Remember

New text → leave the first square empty

New paragraph → leave the first square empty

4. A new line is NOT a new paragraph

Beginners often get confused here.

When a line ends and you move down to the next line, that is not a new paragraph. So keep writing from the first square of the next line. Do not leave it empty again.

In other words, changing lines and changing paragraphs are different.

Situation	First square
Just a new line	Keep writing from the first square
A new paragraph	Leave it empty, start from the second square

Just remember this difference. Also, if there is no room to leave a space at the end of a line, don’t leave the next line’s first square empty — start the next word right from the first square.

5. Punctuation also takes one square

When a sentence ends, write a period “.” Punctuation marks also go one per square. A comma “,” is the same. (Write the period and comma in the bottom-left of the square, like the image below.)

The official rule says to leave one empty square after “?” and “!”, but you don’t have to leave a square after a period “.“, comma “,“, or colon “:“.

For now, you don’t need many complex marks. Just learning to use the period correctly is enough.

6. What if the sentence ends in the last square?

Sometimes you write the last character in the last square, but you still need a period. There is no square left. In this case, do not go to the next line just for the period. Write the last character and the period together in the same last square. It looks a little strange at first, but it is the official rule.

7. Numbers are written differently

When you study Question 53, you write many numbers. (For example: 2026년, 100%, 30명.) Unlike Korean letters, Arabic numbers go two digits per square. If you can’t split it evenly, write two digits per square from the front, and put the rest in the next square.

For English letters, write capital letters one per square, and lowercase letters two per square.

Don’t worry about memorizing this perfectly now. Once you start writing Question 53 graphs, you’ll use numbers often and get used to it naturally.

8. So how long is 200~300 characters?

This is the question students ask most.

“Teacher, how much is 200~300 characters?”

At first it’s hard to count 200, 300 characters in your head. So it’s better to get a feel using the squares. On the right side of the official paper you’ll see numbers like 50 → 100 → 150 → 200 → 250, so you can check how much you’ve written with your eyes.

And one very important thing!

💡 When you count characters, spaces (empty squares) also count as one character each. The answer sheet even says “between 600 and 700 characters, including spaces.”

Since Question 53 is 200–300 characters, think of it as writing past the 200 mark and up to just inside 300.

At first, don’t try to write it all at once — grow it slowly: 50 → 100 → 150 → 200.

9. How long are 300, 600, and 700 characters?

300 characters is just 100 more than 200. It’s the length of a few more sentences.

Question 54 is 600–700 characters. It looks very long at first, but don’t think of 600 as one big block. Think of it as 200 + 200 + 200 — connect three short parts and you get about 600 characters.

Also, the goal is not to fill every square up to 700. What matters is writing what the question asks in the right length. Repeating the same words or adding useless sentences just to reach the number is not a good idea.

600 characters is not a “wall you must fill.” It’s the length you build by connecting several sentences.

For both 53 and 54, we’ll practice step by step later: one sentence → connect two → the whole text.

10. Do I have to count every character?

You don’t need to count “one, two, three…” during the test. The paper marks your position every 50 characters, so you can see about how long your writing is. If you practice with real writing paper, you’ll get a feel like “about here is 100 characters.” That feeling makes the real test much easier.

11. Common mistakes on the writing paper

Beginners often make these mistakes on the TOPIK writing paper.

❌ Two characters in one square
❌ No spaces between words
❌ Leaving the first square empty every time the line changes
❌ Not leaving the first square empty for a new paragraph
❌ Writing the period outside the square
❌ Writing numbers one digit per square, like Korean letters

You don’t have to be perfect from the start. With writing paper, actually writing by hand is much more important than just reading.

12. Let’s write today ✏️

Writing paper is learned by hand, not just by eyes. Prepare a squared notebook, or download the real TOPIK answer sheet below and practice on it.

📄 Download 👉 TOPIK II writing answer sheets & 원고지 사용법 (manuscript paper guide) PDF

<Practice 1>

한국어를 배우는 학생이 많다.

Check: Did you leave the first square empty? / One character per square? / A space square between words? / A period at the end?

<Practice 2>

나는 학교에서 한국어를 공부한다. 친구와 같이 공부하면 재미있다.

There are two sentences. A finished sentence is not a new paragraph. So even if the line changes in the second sentence, do not leave the first square empty.

<Practice 3>
Try copying a 200–300 character piece, like a real TOPIK answer. Once you copy it a few times, it becomes familiar fast. Want more? Download the file below and copy a Question 54 model answer too.

You can download the 원고지 사용법 (manuscript paper guide) PDF in 12. Let’s write today above. 👆

⚠️ One more thing! If you turn the answer sheet sideways and write, you get 0 points. Keep the answer sheet upright, in the given direction.

Summary 🌱

Here are the five things to remember today.

	Rule
①	Write one character per square
②	A space takes one empty square (and it counts as a character)
③	Leave the first square empty for new text / a new paragraph
④	Don’t leave the first square empty when only the line changes
⑤	Q53 is 200–300 characters, Q54 is 600–700 characters

And one more thing. Don’t be afraid of the character count from the start. You build 200 characters by connecting sentences one by one, and 600 characters by joining short parts one by one. We’ll practice that step by step.

Take it slowly, one step at a time, and you can reach the level you want.

If you have any questions about using the TOPIK writing paper, leave a comment.

Next time, we’ll learn what graders look at when they give points in TOPIK writing.

See you in the next lesson!

🔎 Still finding levels 1–2 hard? Review the basics first 👉 [ TOPIK I study ]

❓ FAQ

Q: How many characters go in one square on the writing paper?

A: Just one character. A space also takes one empty square.

Q: When do I leave the first square empty?

A: When you start new text or a new paragraph. When only the line changes, do not leave it empty.

Q: How do I write numbers?

A: Arabic numbers go two digits per square. Example: 2025 → 20 | 25.

Q: Do spaces count in the character count?

A: Yes, spaces (empty squares) count as characters. Also, if you turn the answer sheet sideways, you get 0 points — always keep it upright.

Korean Liberation Day(Gwangbokjeol): Do Koreans Still Dislike Japan? – Part 2

8월 15, 2026 작성자: klcckorean@gmail.com

📌 한국어로 읽고 싶어요? 👉 [한국어 블로그]

Welcome back! In Part 1 of our Korean Liberation Day (Gwangbokjeol) series, we talked about how Korea got its light back — the country and the language that were taken, the people who protected them, and the liberation of 1945.

But that light still has some shadow left. This is why the story of 광복절(Gwang-bok-jeol) does not end in 1945.

A story that is not finished yet

The Japanese occupation looks like a past that is completely over. But some of the wounds from that time still continue today.

The clearest examples are the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery “comfort women” victims and the forced mobilization victims. Some of the grandmothers who suffered are still alive today. They live in the same time as us.

In front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, there is a Statue of a Girl (소녀상) — a statue made to remember the “comfort women” victims. The long-running gatherings there quietly say that this problem is not over yet.

Legal fights also continue. One side wants to remember, the other side wants to erase. Even now, the two countries’ views have not come closer.

There is another situation to watch carefully — the Sado Mine (사도광산). This is a mine where about 1,500 Korean people were taken by force and made to work hard during the occupation. In 2024, Japan listed it as a UNESCO World Heritage site and promised to properly explain the “whole history,” including the forced labor. But in the actual exhibition, the word “forced” was missing, and both Koreans and Japanese were described as just “all workers.” So in 2026, UNESCO again asked Japan to tell the history properly.

Because things like this happen, in Korea, remembering itself is seen as an effort and a responsibility. If there is a force trying to erase, there must also be a force trying to keep.

Korea keeps this history in films

This is why so many films about painful history are made in Korea — to not forget, and to keep a record. If you are interested, you could start with these:

“아이 캔 스피크 I Can Speak” (2017) — The story of a survivor of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery (known as the “Comfort Women”) who learns English to testify before the U.S. Congress. Its light, approachable tone makes it a good starting point for anyone new to this history.
“귀향 Spirits’ Homecoming” (2016) — A film that faces the “Japanese Military comfort women” history directly. It was hard to get funding, so it was completed with support from many ordinary citizens.
“군함도 The Battleship Island” (2017) — The story of Koreans forced to work in the Hashima Island coal mine. Good to watch together with the Sado Mine story above.
“허스토리 Herstory” (2018) — Based on the true “Kanpu Trial,” where survivors in the 1990s stood up in a Japanese court themselves.

So, do Koreans still dislike Japan?

When you live in Korea, foreigners often ask this question. But the answer is not that simple.

Today, Korea and Japan are close neighbors. Many people travel between them and enjoy each other’s food, films, and music. Not many Koreans see each Japanese person living today as the same as the old Japanese empire.

But many Koreans also do not think the past is completely finished. So feelings toward Japan are often split into two hearts.

On one side is the feeling, “I want to get along well with Japanese people today.” On the other side is the feeling, “The wrongs of the past should be remembered clearly and resolved.” These two are not fighting each other — they are more like two feelings sitting side by side inside one person.

When history shows up in daily life — the Korea–Japan match

This subtle feeling sometimes jumps out at unexpected moments. A famous example is the Korea–Japan match (한일전), a sports game between Korea and Japan.

Whether it’s soccer or baseball, when the opponent is Japan, even people who usually don’t care about sports gather in front of the TV. In Korea, there is a half-joking saying: “We can lose to other countries, but we can’t lose to Japan.”

To a foreigner, this may look a little too much. But this heat is not really “hate” — it is closer to “pride that doesn’t want to lose.” After the game, most people go back to normal life, plan a trip to Japan, and eat Japanese ramen.

Speaking of travel — when Gwangbokjeol comes near, some people say, “Do I really have to travel to Japan on this exact day?” In reality, some Koreans do go to Japan even on this day. It just means that, on this one day, actions connected to Japan feel a little heavier than usual. If you are a foreigner, just knowing this feeling will help you understand Korean society much more deeply.

Remembering does not mean hating

When I talk about Gwangbokjeol, this is the part I most want to share.

The reason we remember history should not be to hate Japanese people today. But we should also be careful with the words, “For the future, let’s just forget the past.”

One country taking another by force. Taking people away to war and hard labor. Crushing the dignity of women. Trying to erase a people’s language. These things need to be remembered clearly. Remembering is not the same word as hating. It is closer to a promise: that such things must never happen again.

Today, I think about “Gwangbokjeol” once more

81 years ago, the people who met liberation came out to the streets and waved the Korean flag. It must have been the joy of getting their country back.

Some went to prison for shouting for independence. Some had their names taken away. Some were dragged to battlefields and factories. And some quietly studied Hangeul, made dictionaries, and passed the Korean language to the next generation.

Today, we speak and write Korean without a second thought, and people all over the world learn this language. If those people could see it, how would they feel? Maybe a little surprised — and maybe a little happy.

Gwangbokjeol is not a history only for Koreans. If you are learning Korean, then for just this one day, it would be nice to remember what kind of time this language passed through to reach you.

Gwangbokjeol. The day the light came back. And a day to quietly promise not to forget the time when that light was lost.

If your country has a similar day, please tell me in the comments~! I’d love to know, too.

See you in the next story. 안녕! 👋

📢 Want to learn more about Korean culture? 👉 [ Korean Culture ]

📖 Key words in this story

Word	Meaning
Wianbu (위안부)	Japanese Military ‘Comfort Women’ — victims of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery during the colonial period; an issue that remains unresolved today.
Sonyeosang (소녀상)	The “Statue of a Girl,” made to remember the “comfort women” victims.
Hanil Cheonggugwon Hyeopjeong (한일청구권협정)	The 1965 agreement between Korea and Japan about compensation.
Sado Gwangsan (사도광산)	A Japanese mine where Koreans were forced to work. Controversial after its UNESCO listing.
Haniljeon (한일전)	A sports match between Korea and Japan.
Taegeukgi (태극기)	The national flag of South Korea.

TOPIK Writing Explained: 4 Questions, 100 Points, Where to Start (Part 1)

8월 16, 20268월 14, 2026 작성자: klcckorean@gmail.com

🔎 한국어로 읽고 싶어요? 👉 [한국어로 읽기]

Hello. Today, let’s learn about the TOPIK writing test. TOPIK writing is too hard, isn’t it?

Almost every student says this.

“I can read, but I can’t write. Can I just skip writing?”

Writing feels hard — I know that feeling well. But here is the good news: with a few simple methods, you can write much more easily. Why? Because TOPIK writing is not a test for people who are “very good at Korean.”

It is a test for people who write by the rules. So we will not start with difficult grammar. We will solve your problems one by one, slowly.

One thing first: this is an intermediate test (TOPIK II). If levels 1–2 still feel hard, review beginner words and grammar first. If your basic grammar is wrong, every sentence becomes wrong — and a good score becomes very hard. 🔎 Review the basics first 👉 [TOPIK I study]

Today, in Part 1, you only need to learn one thing: What kind of test is TOPIK writing?

How many questions are on the TOPIK writing test?

The TOPIK II writing test has 4 questions, and you have 50 minutes.

Question	What you write	Length	Points
51	Two short sentences in a short text (message, notice)	Short	10
52	Two sentences in an explanation text	Short	10
53	A description of a graph or chart	200–300 characters	30
54	A long essay about a topic (your opinion)	600–700 characters	50

Together, the four questions are 100 points.

What should you study first?

Look at the points again.

Question 53 (30 points) + Question 54 (50 points) = 80 points.

That is 80 of the 100 writing points in just two questions.

So we will not study in order from Question 51. We will start with Question 53, because it follows a clear pattern. Even a student who just finished the beginner level can write it well with practice.

This is our first promise: start with the easiest points, one by one.

Don’t worry: a low writing score is okay

Many students think: “Do I need level 3 in writing?” No. There is no “writing level 3” in TOPIK.

Your level comes from the total of listening + reading + writing.

Level	Total score (out of 300)
Level 3	120 or more
Level 4	150 or more
Level 5	190 or more
Level 6	230 or more

There is also no minimum score for one section. So even if your writing is a little weak, you can still reach your level with points from listening and reading.

Don’t be afraid. Our goal is not “perfect writing.” Our goal is to get the points you can get in writing. With this idea, you are already halfway there.

Test writing is different from speaking

One more important thing. In TOPIK writing, you do not write the way you speak.

· Speaking: 사람이 많아요. → Writing: 사람이 많다.

· Speaking: 시간이 필요해요. → Writing: 시간이 필요하다.

This writing style is called 문어체 (written style). It looks difficult, but the rule is simple.

For today, just remember: test sentences end with “-다.” We will practice this easily in Part 2.

(You may see people online say you must write with “-습니다.” But for TOPIK 53 and 54, the “-다” written style is standard. More on this in Part 2.)

How this series works

Part 1 (today): What kind of test is TOPIK writing? ✅

Part 2: Make test sentences (“-아요/어요” → “-다”)

Part 3: How to use the answer sheet and count characters

Part 4: What graders look at when they give points in TOPIK writing.

After that: Question 53 → 51·52 → 54, one step at a time!

Follow slowly. You do not need to do everything well at once.

Summary

TOPIK writing has 4 questions, 50 minutes, 100 points.

Question 53 + 54 = 80 points → start here.

Your level comes from the total score. A low writing score is okay.

Write with “-다” (written style).

Great job today! Practice slowly, one step at a time, and you can reach the level you want.

If you have a question, leave a comment. 🥰

See you in Part 2! 🌱

🔎 Still finding levels 1–2 hard? Review the basics first 👉 [ TOPIK I study ]

❓ FAQ

Q: How many questions are on the TOPIK writing test, and how many points?

A: There are 4 questions, 50 minutes, and 100 points in total. Questions 53 and 54 are worth 80 points, so they matter the most.

Q: Which question should I study first?

A: Start with Question 53 (the biggest points), then 51 and 52, and Question 54 last.

Q: If my writing score is low, can I still get a level?

A: Yes. Your level comes from the total of listening, reading, and writing, and there is no minimum score for a single section. Even if writing is weak, you can reach your level with points from listening and reading.

Q: Can I write test sentences the way I speak?

A: No. Write in the written style that ends with “-다” (for example, 많아요 → 많다), not the speaking style. We practice this in Part 2.

TOPIK I Reading 34–39 ③: 8 Adjective Blanks & 5 Opposite Pairs

8월 15, 20268월 12, 2026 작성자: klcckorean@gmail.com

📌 한국말로 공부하고 싶어요? 👉 [한국어]

Do you keep mixing up 쉽다 (easy) and 어렵다 (hard) in TOPIK I reading? 😊

Don’t worry — the other sentence always tells you which one. Just read it first!

In questions 34–39, an adjective blank asks about a state — how something is (아프다, 바쁘다, 가깝다…). Each TOPIK I reading question is worth 2 points.

Try each one first, then open the answer to check.

① Remember just one thing

An adjective describes a state (how something is).
Read the other sentence — the reason or result — and choose the state that fits.
e.g. 약을 먹어요 (take medicine) → 아프다 (sick/hurt).
And learn opposite pairs (쉽다 ↔ 어렵다) to erase wrong choices fast.

② Adjective card

When you see this situation…	Use this adjective
약을 먹어요 / 병원에 가요	아프다 (sick / hurt)
시간이 없어요 / 일이 많아요	바쁘다 (busy)
늦게까지 일했어요	피곤하다 (tired)
집 앞에 있어요 / 걸어가요	가깝다 (close / near)
시험을 잘 봤어요	쉽다 (easy)
점수가 나빴어요	어렵다 (difficult)
발이 아파요 (신발)	작다 (small)

📌 Learn opposite pairs together — then you can erase the wrong choice fast.
많다 ↔ 적다 (many ↔ few) · 크다 ↔ 작다 (big ↔ small) · 가깝다 ↔ 멀다 (near ↔ far) · 쉽다 ↔ 어렵다 (easy ↔ hard) · 싸다 ↔ 비싸다 (cheap ↔ expensive)

Practice: TOPIK I reading adjective blanks

Try each TOPIK I reading question first.

Read the two sentences, choose the adjective, then open the box to check.

Question 1

이가 ( ). 그래서 치과에 갑니다.

① 아픕니다② 예쁩니다③ 짧습니다④ 좋습니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 1)

Q: 이가 ( ). 그래서 치과에 갑니다.
(My tooth ( ). So I go to the dentist.) 👉 The other sentence: “치과에 갑니다 (go to the dentist)”.

A: ✅① 아픕니다 (hurt) → If your tooth hurts, you go to the dentist!

② 예쁘다 = pretty.

③ 짧다 = short.

④ 좋다 = good / nice.

💡 Tip: go to a dentist/hospital / take medicine → 아프다 (hurt)!

Question 2

요즘 일이 많습니다. 그래서 아주 ( ).

① 조용합니다② 바쁩니다③ 가볍습니다④ 깨끗합니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 2)

Q: 요즘 일이 많습니다. 그래서 아주 ( ).
(These days I have a lot of work. So I am very ( ).) 👉 The other sentence: “일이 많습니다 (a lot of work)”.

A: ✅② 바쁩니다 (busy) → A lot of work makes you busy!

① 조용하다 = quiet.

③ 가볍다 = light (not heavy).

④ 깨끗하다 = clean.

💡 Tip: a lot of work / no time → 바쁘다 (busy)!

Question 3

학교가 집 앞에 있습니다. 그래서 아주 ( ).

① 큽니다② 비쌉니다③ 가깝습니다④ 깨끗합니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 3)

Q: 학교가 집 앞에 있습니다. 그래서 아주 ( ).
(The school is in front of my house. So it is very ( ).) 👉 The other sentence: “집 앞에 있습니다 (in front of the house)”.

A: ✅③ 가깝습니다 (close) → If it is in front of your house, it is close!

① 크다 = big.

② 비싸다 = expensive.

④ 깨끗하다 = clean.

💡 Tip: in front of the house / walk there → 가깝다 (near)! (opposite: 멀다 far)

Question 4

오늘 늦게까지 일했습니다. 그래서 조금 ( ).

① 작습니다② 무겁습니다③ 피곤합니다④ 비쌉니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 4)

Q: 오늘 늦게까지 일했습니다. 그래서 조금 ( ).
(Today I worked until late. So I am a little ( ).) 👉 The other sentence: “늦게까지 일했습니다 (worked until late)”.

A: ✅③ 피곤합니다 (tired) → Working late makes you tired!

① 작다 = small.

② 무겁다 = heavy.

④ 비싸다 = expensive.

💡 Tip: worked a lot / didn’t sleep → 피곤하다 (tired)!

Question 5

도서관에 갔습니다. 책이 아주 ( ).

① 넓습니다② 많습니다③ 쉽습니다④ 짧습니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 5)

Q: 도서관에 갔습니다. 책이 아주 ( ).
(I went to the library. There are very ( ) books.) 👉 The other sentence: “도서관 (library)”, “책 (books)”.

A: ✅② 많습니다 (many) → A library has many books!

① 넓다 = wide (a place is big).

③ 쉽다 = easy.

④ 짧다 = short.

💡 Tip: a big number of ~ → 많다 (many)! (opposite: 적다 few)

Question 6

시험 공부를 많이 했습니다. 그래서 시험이 ( ).

① 나빴습니다② 작았습니다③ 쉬웠습니다④ 재미없었습니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 6)

Q: 시험 공부를 많이 했습니다. 그래서 시험이 ( ).
(I studied a lot for the test. So the test was ( ).) 👉 The other sentence: “공부를 많이 했습니다 (studied a lot)”.

A: ✅③ 쉬웠습니다 (easy) → If you study a lot, the test feels easy!

① 나쁘다 = bad.

② 작다 = small.

④ 재미없다 = not fun.

💡 Tip: did well / studied a lot → 쉽다 (easy)! (opposite: 어렵다 hard)

Question 7

이 신발이 ( ). 그래서 발이 아픕니다.

① 큽니다② 작습니다③ 많습니다④ 좋습니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 7)

Q: 이 신발이 ( ). 그래서 발이 아픕니다.
(These shoes are ( ). So my feet hurt.) 👉 The other sentence: “발이 아픕니다 (feet hurt)”.

A: ✅② 작습니다 (small) → If shoes are small, your feet hurt!

① 크다 = big (big shoes don’t hurt your feet).

③ 많다 = many.

④ 좋다 = good / nice.

💡 Tip: shoes are small → feet hurt! (opposite: 크다 big)

Question 8

한국어 시험이 ( ). 그래서 점수가 나빴습니다.

① 쉬웠습니다② 어려웠습니다③ 짧았습니다④ 많았습니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 8)

Q: 한국어 시험이 ( ). 그래서 점수가 나빴습니다.
(The Korean test was ( ). So my score was bad.) 👉 The other sentence: “점수가 나빴습니다 (bad score)”.

A: ✅② 어려웠습니다 (difficult) → If the test is difficult, the score is bad!

① 쉽다 = easy (easy test → good score).

③ 짧다 = short.

④ 많다 = many.

💡 Tip: Q6 is 쉽다 (easy), Q8 is 어렵다 (hard).
Look at the RESULT (did well? / bad score?) to decide!

③ How to memorize the adjectives easily

Now you have practiced, here is the fastest way to grow your TOPIK I reading vocabulary.

Learn situation ↔ adjective as a pair. (medicine → 아프다, a lot of work → 바쁘다)
Learn opposite pairs together. (쉽다 ↔ 어렵다, 크다 ↔ 작다) You can erase the wrong choice fast.
Read the OTHER sentence first — look at the reason or result. (feet hurt → shoes are small)
Quiz yourself. See a situation, and say the adjective. (no time → ?)

🤖Practice with AI: a Korean opposite-word battle

You can practice TOPIK I reading alone with AI — and grow your Korean speaking too!

First, turn on the AI’s voice (read-aloud).

Then answer out loud in Korean. The game is played only in Korean.

🗣️”Let’s play a Korean opposite-word battle. Please speak only in Korean during the game — no English. You say an adjective in Korean (for example: 쉽다), and I say the opposite in Korean out loud (for example: 어렵다). Give me 10 quickly, then tell me my score in Korean. Use only beginner 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

An adjective is a state. Read the other sentence (reason or result) and match it.
Learn opposite pairs (쉽다 ↔ 어렵다) to erase wrong choices fast.
Same words, different result? Decide by the result. (good score → easy / bad score → hard)

Well done! Keep practicing, and you can all pass TOPIK Level 2. 🎉

Have a question? Please leave a comment.

See you in the next lesson!

📢 want to practice TOPIKⅠ Listening next? 👉 [ TOPIKⅠ Listening ]

FAQ

Q: What are TOPIK I reading questions 34–39?

A: They ask you to fill a blank with the right word — a particle, noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Each question is worth 2 points.

Q: How do I choose the right adjective for the blank?

A: Read the other sentence — the reason or the result — and pick the state that fits. (feet hurt → shoes are small)

Q: Why do opposite pairs help?

A: If you know 쉽다 ↔ 어렵다, you can quickly erase the wrong one and decide by the result (good score or bad score).

TOPIK I Reading 34–39 ②: 9 Korean “Partner Verbs” for the Blank

8월 15, 20268월 12, 2026 작성자: klcckorean@gmail.com

📌 Prefer to read in Korean? 한국어로 공부하고 싶어요?👉 [한국어로 배워요!]

Do you keep choosing the wrong verb in TOPIK I reading? 😊

Here is the secret: Korean has fixed “partner verbs.” Some nouns always go with one special verb. Once you know the pairs, these questions become easy!

Questions 34–39 give you two short sentences with one blank. Verbs are the most common answer here, so this type is very important. Each TOPIK I reading question is worth 2 points.

Try each one first, then open the answer to check.

① Remember just one thing

Korean uses fixed “partner verbs.”
Some nouns always go with one verb. e.g. 사진을 → 찍다 (take a photo).
And if there is no clear pair, read the other sentence for the situation.

② Partner-verb card

When you see this noun…	Use this partner verb
사진을 (a photo)	찍다 (take a photo)
춤을 (a dance)	추다 (dance)
노래를 (a song)	부르다 (sing)
전화를 (a phone call)	하다 (make a call)
약을 (medicine)	먹다 (take medicine)
책을 (a book)	읽다 (read) · 보다 (read/look at)
영화를 (a movie)	보다 (watch)
편지를 (a letter)	부치다 · 보내다 (send)
선물을 (a gift)	주다 (give) · 받다 (receive)

📌 No clear pair? Read the other sentence for the situation.

Sleep at night → wake up in the morning
tired → rest
not here yet → wait

Practice: TOPIK I reading verb blanks

Try each TOPIK I reading question first.

Read the two sentences, choose the verb, then open the box to check.

Question 1

생일 파티입니다. 우리는 사진을 ( ).

① 삽니다② 찍습니다③ 읽습니다④ 만납니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 1)

Q: 생일 파티입니다. 우리는 사진을 ( ). (It is a birthday party. We ( ) photos.) 👉 What verb goes with “사진을 (photos)”?

A: ✅② 찍습니다 → In Korean, photos go with “찍다 (take)”.

① 사다 = to buy.

③ 읽다 = to read (books).

④ 만나다 = to meet (people).

💡 Tip: 사진 (photo) always goes with 찍다! (English says “take,” but learn the Korean pair.)

Question 2

저는 음악을 좋아합니다. 매일 노래를 ( ).

① 봅니다② 씁니다③ 부릅니다④ 탑니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 2)

Q: 저는 음악을 좋아합니다. 매일 노래를 ( ). (I like music. Every day I ( ) songs.) 👉 What verb goes with “노래를 (songs)”?

A: ✅③ 부릅니다 → A song goes with “부르다 (sing)”.

① 보다 = to watch / see.

② 쓰다 = to write.

④ 타다 = to ride (a bus).

💡 Tip: 노래 (song) → 부르다 (sing)!

Question 3

밤 열한 시에 잡니다. 아침 여섯 시에 ( ).

① 삽니다② 옵니다③ 일어납니다④ 입습니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 3)

Q: 밤 열한 시에 잡니다. 아침 여섯 시에 ( ). (I sleep at 11 pm. At 6 am I ( ).) 👉 Other sentence: “잡니다 (sleep)”.

A: ✅③ 일어납니다 → After sleeping, in the morning you “일어나다 (wake up)”.

① 사다 = to buy.

② 오다 = to come.

④ 입다 = to wear.

💡 Tip: 자다 (sleep) ↔ 일어나다 (wake up). Read the other sentence!

Question 4

오늘 아주 피곤합니다. 그래서 집에서 ( ).

① 쉽니다② 됩니다③ 찾습니다④ 자릅니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 4)

Q: 오늘 아주 피곤합니다. 그래서 집에서 ( ). (I am very tired today. So at home I ( ).) 👉 Other sentence: “피곤합니다 (tired)”.

A: ✅① 쉽니다 → When you are tired, you “쉬다 (rest)”.

② 되다 = to become.

③ 찾다 = to find / look for.

④ 자르다 = to cut.

💡 Tip: 피곤하다 (tired) → 쉬다 (rest)!

Question 5

배가 아픕니다. 그래서 약을 ( ).

① 봅니다② 먹습니다③ 만납니다④ 씁니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 5)

Q: 배가 아픕니다. 그래서 약을 ( ). (My stomach hurts. So I ( ) medicine.) 👉 What verb goes with “약을 (medicine)”?

A: ✅② 먹습니다 → In Korean, medicine goes with “먹다 (take/eat)”.

① 보다 = to watch.

③ 만나다 = to meet.

④ 쓰다 = to write / to wear.

💡 Tip: 약 (medicine) → 먹다! (Even liquid medicine uses 먹다 in Korean.)

Question 6

오늘은 제 생일입니다. 친구들을 집에 ( ).

① 초대합니다② 가르칩니다③ 구경합니다④ 좋아합니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 6)

Q: 오늘은 제 생일입니다. 친구들을 집에 ( ). (Today is my birthday. I ( ) my friends to my house.) 👉 Other sentence: “생일 (birthday)”.

A: ✅① 초대합니다 → On your birthday, you “초대하다 (invite)” friends.

② 가르치다 = to teach.

③ 구경하다 = to look around / go sightseeing.

④ 좋아하다 = to like.

💡 Tip: 생일 (birthday) + 친구 (friends) → 초대하다 (invite)!

Question 7

친구가 아직 안 왔습니다. 그래서 친구를 ( ).

① 입니다② 보냅니다③ 기다립니다④ 가르칩니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 7)

Q: 친구가 아직 안 왔습니다. 그래서 친구를 ( ). (My friend has not come yet. So I ( ) my friend.) 👉 Other sentence: “아직 안 왔습니다 (not come yet)”.

A: ✅③ 기다립니다 → If someone has not come, you “기다리다 (wait)”.

① 이다 = to be.

② 보내다 = to send.

④ 가르치다 = to teach.

💡 Tip: 아직 안 왔습니다 (not here yet) → 기다리다 (wait)!

Question 8

동생은 춤을 좋아합니다. 춤을 아주 잘 ( ).

① 씁니다② 춥니다③ 탑니다④ 칩니다

🔽 See the answer (Question 8)

Q: 동생은 춤을 좋아합니다. 춤을 아주 잘 ( ).
(My sibling likes dancing. He/she ( ) very well.) 👉 What verb goes with “춤을 (a dance)”?

A: ✅ ② 춥니다 → A dance goes with “추다”.

① 쓰다 = to write.

③ 타다 = to ride.

④ 치다 = to play (piano/guitar) / to hit.

💡 Tip: 춤 (dance) → 추다! (추다 is used only for dancing.)

③ How to memorize the verbs easily

Now you have practiced, here is the fastest way to grow your TOPIK I reading vocabulary.

Learn noun + verb as a pair. (사진–찍다, 춤–추다, 노래–부르다) Not one by one.
Watch out — the pair is different from English! English says “take a photo,” but Korean says 사진을 찍다.
Read the OTHER sentence for the situation. (tired → rest / not here yet → wait)
Quiz yourself. See a noun, and say the verb. (사진을 → ?)

🤖Practice with AI: a Korean speaking game

You can practice TOPIK I reading alone with AI — and grow your Korean speaking too!
First, turn on the AI’s voice (read-aloud).
Then answer out loud in Korean, not by typing. The game is played only in Korean.

🗣️ “Let’s play a Korean partner-verb speed game. Please speak only in Korean slowly during the game — no English. You say a noun in Korean (for example: 사진을), and I answer the partner verb in Korean out loud (for example: 찍습니다). Give me 10 quickly, then tell me my score in Korean. Use only beginner 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

Korean has fixed partner verbs — learn noun + verb as a pair.
No clear pair? Read the other sentence for the situation.
Remember: the Korean pair can be different from English (take a photo → 사진을 찍다).

Well done! Keep practicing, and you can all pass TOPIK Level 2. 🎉
Have a question? Please leave a comment.

See you in the next lesson!

📢 want to practice TOPIKⅠ Listening next? 👉 [ TOPIKⅠ Listening ]

<FAQ>

Q: What are TOPIK I reading questions 34–39?

A: They ask you to fill a blank with the right word — a particle, noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Each question is worth 2 points.

Q: How do I choose the right verb for the blank?

A: Look at the object noun and use its partner verb (사진을 → 찍다). If there is no clear pair, read the other sentence for the situation (tired → rest).

Q: Why is the Korean verb different from English?

A: Korean uses fixed “partner verbs.” English says “take a photo,” but Korean says 사진을 찍다. Learn the Korean pair as one set.

1 Simple Rule: Korean Place Particles -에 vs -에서 (Easy Guide)

8월 15, 20268월 10, 2026 작성자: klcckorean@gmail.com

📌 한국말로 공부하고 싶어요? 👉 [한국어]

Hi! Let me guess. You wrote something like

“저는 학교에 공부해요.”

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!

Have a question? Please leave a comment.

See you in the next lesson!

📢 Want to practice TOPIKⅠ next? 👉 [ TOPIKⅠ Practice ]

TOPIK Ⅰ Reading [34–39] ①: Noun (Place & Object) Blanks

8월 15, 20268월 8, 2026 작성자: klcckorean@gmail.com

📌 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.

See you in the next lesson!

📢 want to practice TOPIKⅠ Listening next? 👉 [ TOPIKⅠ Listening ]

FAQ

Q: What are TOPIK I reading questions 34–39?

A: You fill a blank with the right word — a particle, noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Each question is worth 2 points.

Q: How do I choose the right place or object?

A: Read the other sentence. Its activity tells you the answer (책을 삽니다 / buy books → 서점 / bookstore).

Q: Why can the verb 쓰다 have different answers?

A: 쓰다 works for umbrella, glasses, and hat. Don’t pick by the verb alone — decide by the situation (rain? or bad eyes?).

TOPIK I Listening: Questions [1–4] Made Easy

8월 7, 20268월 4, 2026 작성자: klcckorean@gmail.com

Welcome!

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. 😊

📌쉬운 한국말로 공부해요. 👉 [한국어]

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 : ③ 네, 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 is no 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: ① 내일 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: ① 네, 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: ④ 아니요, 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: ② 식당에서 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!

You can do it 화이팅!

If you have any questions, leave a comment!

See you in the next lesson! 🌱

Next post:

TOPIK I Listening Questions 5–6

— “Choose the Next Words.”

[ Latest Posts ]

Why Do Koreans Ask your Age When You First Meet?

8월 12, 20268월 2, 2026 작성자: klcckorean@gmail.com

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:

“Um… 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” or “말을 트다.”

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 (만 나이).

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?”

But is it okay to ask? (This part matters)

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.

💡 If you want to learn more natural Korean expressions, 👉 [ check this out ]!

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.”

“계속 존댓말로 이야기해요. (gye-sok jon-daen-mal-lo i-ya-gi-hae-yo.)“ — “Let’s keep speaking politely.”

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.

Coming next :

Is “오빠” really a big brother?

We’ll see why Koreans call their friends — and even their partners — 오빠 and 언니, even when they’re not family at all.

Well done!

See you again!

<Latest Posts>