Language/Korean/Grammar/Adjectives
Hi Korean learners! π
In this lesson, we will learn about Korean adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns. In Korean, adjectives come before the noun they describe. It is important to learn Korean adjectives to be able to express yourself and to understand others.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Connectors, Korean Grammar β Conjunctions and Connectors β Conditional ..., Negation & Question Words.
Basic Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Let's start with some basic Korean adjectives that you can use in your daily life.
| μλ νλ€ (annyeonghada) | Peaceful |
| ν¬λ€ (keuda) | Big / Large |
| μλ€ (jageun) | Small / Little |
| μλ‘λ€ (saeroun) | New / Fresh |
| μ’λ€ (joh-eun) | Good / Nice |
| λμλ€ (nappeun) | Bad / Poor |
| λ¦λ€ (neujeun) | Late |
| μ΄λ₯΄λ€ (ireuda) | Early |
Here's an example dialogue using some of these basic adjectives:
- Person 1: μλ νμΈμ! (Hello!)
- Person 2: μλ νμΈμ! ν° μ¬κ³Όλ₯Ό μ¬κ³ μΆμ΄μ. (Hello! I want to buy a big apple.)
- Person 1: μ λ μμ μ¬κ³Όλ₯Ό μ νΈν΄μ. (I prefer small apples.)
Descriptive Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Descriptive adjectives in Korean express the appearance or state of a noun. They can be used to describe a person, a thing, or a place.
Let's look at some descriptive adjectives:
| μμ (yeppeun) | Pretty |
| λ©μλ (meos-issneun) | Cool / Handsome |
| μ΄μ (ippeun) | Beautiful |
| μ¬λ―Έμλ (jaemi-issneun) | Fun / Interesting |
| μ§λ£¨ν (jiruhan) | Boring |
| μ«μ (silh-eun) | Dislike / Hate |
| μ΄λ €μ΄ (eoryeoun) | Difficult |
Let's use some of these descriptive adjectives in a dialogue:
- Person 1: μ°λ¦¬ μ μλμ μ΄λ€ λΆμ΄μμ? (What kind of person is our teacher?)
- Person 2: μ μκ°μ μ μλμ λ©μκ³ μ¬λ―ΈμμΌμΈμ. (In my opinion, the teacher is cool and interesting.)
- Person 1: μ λ κ·Έλ μ§ μμμ. μ μλμ΄ μ§λ£¨νκ³ μ΄λ €μμ. (I don't think so. The teacher is boring and difficult for me.)
Comparison of Adjectives[edit | edit source]
In Korean, you can express comparisons by using certain adjectives. Here are some of the comparative adjectives:
| λ (deo) | More |
| λ (deol) | Less |
| λ§μ΄ (manhi) | Much / Many |
| μ‘°κΈ (jogeum) | A little |
| κ°μ₯ (gajang) | The most |
Let's see how we can use these comparative adjectives:
- Person 1: μ΄ μ λ¬Όμ΄ μ’μμ. (This gift is good.)
- Person 2: μ λ μ’μν΄μ. νμ§λ§, κ·Έ μ λ¬Όμ λ μ’μμ. (I like it too. However, that gift is better.)
- Person 1: μμ? (Why?)
- Person 2: κ·Έ μ λ¬Όμ κ°μ₯ λΉμΈμ. (Because that gift is the most expensive.)
Adjective Endings[edit | edit source]
In Korean, there are different adjective endings depending on the tense of the sentence. Here are some examples:
| Tense | Ending |
|---|---|
| Present | -μ / -μ΄ (-a / -eo) |
| Past | -μ / -μ (-at / -eot) |
| Future | -κ² (-get) |
Let's use these adjective endings in a sentence:
- Person 1: μ΄λ»κ² μμμ΄μ? (How did you know?)
- Person 2: κ°κΈ°μ κ±Έλ Έμ΄μ. μ½κ° λ§νμ νλ€μ΄μ. (I caught a cold. My nose is stuffy, and I'm having a hard time.)
- Person 1: μ‘°μ¬ν΄μΌ λΌμ. κ°κΈ°μ κ±Έλ¦¬μ§ μμΌλ €λ©΄, λ°λ»νκ² μ μΌμΈμ. (You need to be careful. To avoid catching a cold, dress warmly.)
To improve your Korean Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
β‘ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
β‘ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. π
Videos[edit | edit source]
G8.5 γΉ-irregular verbs and adjectives (Korean Grammar) - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Korean Grammar | Changing adjectives into adjectives? - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Korean Demonstrative Pronouns & Adjectives - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Korean LIVE Class Action Verbs to Adjectives (~λ) - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Questions
- Give your Opinion
- Negation
- Nouns
- Future Tense
- Plurals
- How to Use Have
- Gender
- How to Use Be
Sources[edit | edit source]
- 70 Colorful Korean Adjectives and How to Conjugate Them Like a Pro
- Korean Adjectives β StoryLearning
- Lesson 4: Korean Adjectives ~γ΄/μ