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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Korean|Korean]]  → [[Language/Korean/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Korean/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Describing People and Things → Describing People</div>
<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Korean|Korean]]  → [[Language/Korean/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Korean/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Describing People</div>


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== Introduction ==
Introduction:
 
Describing people is an essential skill in any language, as it allows us to communicate and understand others more effectively. In the Korean language, being able to describe people's physical appearance and personality is particularly important, as it helps us form a more comprehensive understanding of the individuals we interact with. In this lesson, we will teach you how to use adjectives to form descriptive sentences in Korean. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently describe people in Korean, both in terms of their appearance and their personality traits.
Welcome to the lesson on describing people in Korean! In this lesson, you will learn how to describe people's physical appearance and personality using adjectives in Korean. This topic is important because being able to describe people is a fundamental skill in any language, and it allows you to communicate effectively and express yourself more accurately. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to form descriptive sentences about people in Korean and have a better understanding of Korean grammar.
 
In this lesson, we will start by learning the basic adjectives used to describe people's physical appearance and personality. We will then move on to more complex sentence structures and learn how to use these adjectives in sentences. Throughout the lesson, we will provide numerous examples and exercises to help you practice and reinforce what you have learned.
 
So let's get started and learn how to describe people in Korean!


== Describing Physical Appearance ==
== Describing Physical Appearance ==


When describing people's physical appearance in Korean, we use adjectives to convey different characteristics such as height, weight, hair color, eye color, and more. Let's start by learning some basic adjectives commonly used to describe physical appearance.
When describing someone's physical appearance in Korean, we often use adjectives to provide detailed information. Adjectives in Korean generally come after the noun they modify, which is different from English. Let's take a look at some commonly used adjectives for describing physical appearance:


=== Height ===
=== Adjectives for Describing Height ===


To describe someone's height in Korean, we use the adjective "크다" (keuda) which means "tall" and "작다" (jakda) which means "short". Let's look at some examples:
Here are some adjectives to describe height in Korean:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 36: Line 31:
| 키가 작다 || ki-ga jak-da || short
| 키가 작다 || ki-ga jak-da || short
|-
|-
| 그는 키가 크다 || geu-neun ki-ga keu-da || He is tall.
| 중간 키 || joong-gan ki || average height
|-
|-
| 그녀는 키가 작다 || geu-nyeo-neun ki-ga jak-da || She is short.
| 키가 비슷하다 || ki-ga bi-seut-ha-da || similar height
|}
|}


=== Weight ===
Example sentences:
 
# 그 사람은 키가 크다. (Geu sa-ram-eun ki-ga keu-da) - That person is tall.
To describe someone's weight in Korean, we use the adjective "뚱뚱하다" (ddung-ddung-ha-da) which means "fat" and "마르다" (ma-reu-da) which means "thin". Here are some examples:
# 그녀는 키가 작다. (Geu-nyeo-neun ki-ga jak-da) - She is short.
 
# 저는 중간 키입니다. (Jeo-neun joong-gan ki-im-ni-da) - I am of average height.
{| class="wikitable"
# 그들은 키가 비슷해요. (Geu-deul-eun ki-ga bi-seut-hae-yo) - They have similar heights.
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| 몸이 뚱뚱하다 || mom-i ddung-ddung-ha-da || fat
|-
| 몸이 마르다 || mom-i ma-reu-da || thin
|-
| 그는 몸이 뚱뚱하다 || geu-neun mom-i ddung-ddung-ha-da || He is fat.
|-
| 그녀는 몸이 마르다 || geu-nyeo-neun mom-i ma-reu-da || She is thin.
|}


=== Hair Color ===
=== Adjectives for Describing Hair Color ===


To describe someone's hair color in Korean, we use the adjective "검은색" (geom-eun-saek) which means "black", "갈색" (gal-saek) which means "brown", "금발" (geum-bal) which means "blond", and "빨간색" (ppal-gan-saek) which means "red". Here are some examples:
Hair color can be an important aspect of someone's appearance. Here are some adjectives to describe hair color in Korean:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| 검은색 머리 || geom-eun-saek meo-ri || black hair
| 검은 머리 || geom-eun meo-ri || black hair
|-
|-
| 갈색 머리 || gal-saek meo-ri || brown hair
| 갈색 머리 || gal-saek meo-ri || brown hair
|-
|-
| 금발 머리 || geum-bal meo-ri || blond hair
| 금발 || geum-bal || blonde hair
|-
|-
| 빨간색 머리 || ppal-gan-saek meo-ri || red hair
| 노란 머리 || no-ran meo-ri || yellow hair
|-
|-
| 그녀는 검은색 머리를 가지고 있다 || geu-nyeo-neun geom-eun-saek meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go it-da || She has black hair.
| 빨간 머리 || ppal-gan meo-ri || red hair
|-
|-
| 그는 금발 머리를 가지고 있다 || geu-neun geum-bal meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go it-da || He has blond hair.
| 회색 머리 || hoe-saek meo-ri || gray hair
|}
|}


=== Eye Color ===
Example sentences:
# 그 사람은 검은 머리를 가지고 있어요. (Geu sa-ram-eun geom-eun meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That person has black hair.
# 그녀는 갈색 머리를 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun gal-saek meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has brown hair.
# 그 아이는 금발이에요. (Geu a-i-neun geum-bal-i-e-yo) - That child has blonde hair.
# 저는 빨간 머리를 가지고 있지 않아요. (Jeo-neun ppal-gan meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go it-ji-anh-a-yo) - I don't have red hair.
# 그녀의 머리는 회색이에요. (Geu-nyeo-eui meo-ri-neun hoe-saek-i-e-yo) - Her hair is gray.


To describe someone's eye color in Korean, we use the adjective "검은 눈" (geom-eun nun) which means "black eyes", "갈색 눈" (gal-saek nun) which means "brown eyes", "파란 눈" (pa-ran nun) which means "blue eyes", and "녹색 눈" (nok-saek nun) which means "green eyes". Here are some examples:
=== Adjectives for Describing Eye Color ===
 
Eye color is another important aspect of someone's physical appearance. Here are some adjectives to describe eye color in Korean:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 91: Line 83:
|-
|-
| 녹색 눈 || nok-saek nun || green eyes
| 녹색 눈 || nok-saek nun || green eyes
|-
| 그는 파란 눈을 가지고 있다 || geu-neun pa-ran nun-eul ga-ji-go it-da || He has blue eyes.
|-
| 그녀는 녹색 눈을 가지고 있다 || geu-nyeo-neun nok-saek nun-eul ga-ji-go it-da || She has green eyes.
|}
|}


=== Age ===
Example sentences:
 
# 그 사람은 검은 눈을 가지고 있어요. (Geu sa-ram-eun geom-eun nun-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That person has black eyes.
To describe someone's age in Korean, we use the adjective "어린" (eo-rin) which means "young" and "늙은" (neul-geun) which means "old". Here are some examples:
# 그녀는 갈색 눈을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun gal-saek nun-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has brown eyes.
 
# 그 아이는 파란 눈을 가지고 있어요. (Geu a-i-neun pa-ran nun-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That child has blue eyes.
{| class="wikitable"
# 저는 녹색 눈을 가지고 있지 않아요. (Jeo-neun nok-saek nun-eul ga-ji-go it-ji-anh-a-yo) - I don't have green eyes.
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| 어린 나이 || eo-rin na-i || young age
|-
| 늙은 나이 || neul-geun na-i || old age
|-
| 그는 어린 나이다 || geu-neun eo-rin na-i-da || He is young.
|-
| 그녀는 늙은 나이다 || geu-nyeo-neun neul-geun na-i-da || She is old.
|}


=== Other Physical Descriptions ===
=== Adjectives for Describing Facial Features ===


To describe other physical characteristics such as facial features, we use adjectives like "예쁜" (ye-ppeun) which means "pretty", "잘 생긴" (jal saeng-gin) which means "handsome", "못 생긴" (mot saeng-gin) which means "ugly", "귀여운" (gwi-yeo-un) which means "cute", and "멋있는" (meot-it-neun) which means "cool". Here are some examples:
When describing someone's facial features, we can use a variety of adjectives. Here are some commonly used ones:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 122: Line 100:
| 예쁜 얼굴 || ye-ppeun eol-gul || pretty face
| 예쁜 얼굴 || ye-ppeun eol-gul || pretty face
|-
|-
| 잘 생긴 얼굴 || jal saeng-gin eol-gul || handsome face
| 멋진 얼굴 || meot-jin eol-gul || handsome face
|-
|-
| 못 생긴 얼굴 || mot saeng-gin eol-gul || ugly face
| 작은 코 || jak-eun ko || small nose
|-
|-
| 귀여운 얼굴 || gwi-yeo-un eol-gul || cute face
| 큰 입술 || keun ip-sul || big lips
|-
|-
| 멋있는 얼굴 || meot-it-neun eol-gul || cool face
| 예쁜 눈썹 || ye-ppeun nun-sseop || beautiful eyebrows
|-
|-
| 그는 잘 생긴 얼굴을 가지고 있다 || geu-neun jal saeng-gin eol-gul-eul ga-ji-go it-da || He has a handsome face.
| 날카로운 턱 || nal-ka-ro-un teok || sharp jawline
|-
|-
| 그녀는 귀여운 얼굴을 가지고 있다 || geu-nyeo-neun gwi-yeo-un eol-gul-eul ga-ji-go it-da || She has a cute face.
| 밝은 미소 || bal-keun mi-so || bright smile
|}
|}
Example sentences:
# 그녀는 예쁜 얼굴을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun ye-ppeun eol-gul-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has a pretty face.
# 그 사람은 멋진 얼굴을 가지고 있어요. (Geu sa-ram-eun meot-jin eol-gul-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That person has a handsome face.
# 저는 작은 코를 가지고 있어요. (Jeo-neun jak-eun ko-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - I have a small nose.
# 그녀는 큰 입술을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun keun ip-sul-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has big lips.
# 그 아이는 예쁜 눈썹을 가지고 있어요. (Geu a-i-neun ye-ppeun nun-sseop-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That child has beautiful eyebrows.
# 그 사람은 날카로운 턱을 가지고 있어요. (Geu sa-ram-eun nal-ka-ro-un teok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That person has a sharp jawline.
# 그녀는 밝은 미소를 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun bal-keun mi-so-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has a bright smile.


== Describing Personality ==
== Describing Personality ==


Describing someone's personality in Korean is just as important as describing their physical appearance. It allows you to convey their character traits and qualities. Let's explore some common adjectives used to describe personality in Korean.
In addition to describing people's physical appearance, it is also important to be able to describe their personality in Korean. Here are some adjectives commonly used to describe personality traits:


=== Positive Personality Traits ===
=== Positive Personality Traits ===


To describe positive personality traits in Korean, we use adjectives like "친절한" (chin-jeol-han) which means "kind", "예의 바른" (ye-ui ba-reun) which means "polite", "착한" (chak-han) which means "good-hearted", "용감한" (yong-gam-han) which means "brave", and "지적인" (ji-jeok-in) which means "intellectual". Here are some examples:
When describing someone's positive personality traits, we can use adjectives such as:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| 친절한 || chin-jeol-han || kind
| 착한 || chak-han || kind
|-
|-
| 예의 바른 || ye-ui ba-reun || polite
| 친절한 || chin-jeol-han || friendly
|-
|-
| 착한 || chak-han || good-hearted
| 낙천적인 || nak-cheon-jeok-in || optimistic
|-
|-
| 용감한 || yong-gam-han || brave
| 유쾌한 || yu-kwae-han || cheerful
|-
|-
| 지적인 || ji-jeok-in || intellectual
| 정직한 || jeong-jik-han || honest
|-
|-
| 그는 친절한 사람이다 || geu-neun chin-jeol-han sa-ram-i-da || He is a kind person.
| 충실한 || chung-sil-han || loyal
|-
|-
| 그녀는 예의 바른 사람이다 || geu-nyeo-neun ye-ui ba-reun sa-ram-i-da || She is a polite person.
| 온순한 || on-sun-han || gentle
|}
|}
Example sentences:
# 그 사람은 착한 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun chak-han sa-ram-i-e-yo) - That person is kind.
# 그녀는 친절한 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun chin-jeol-han sa-ram-i-e-yo) - She is friendly.
# 그 아이는 낙천적인 성격을 가지고 있어요. (Geu a-i-neun nak-cheon-jeok-in seong-gyeok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That child has an optimistic personality.
# 저는 유쾌한 성격을 가지고 있어요. (Jeo-neun yu-kwae-han seong-gyeok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - I have a cheerful personality.
# 그 사람은 정직한 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun jeong-jik-han sa-ram-i-e-yo) - That person is honest.
# 그녀는 충실한 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun chung-sil-han sa-ram-i-e-yo) - She is loyal.
# 그녀는 온순한 성격을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun on-sun-han seong-gyeok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has a gentle personality.


=== Negative Personality Traits ===
=== Negative Personality Traits ===


To describe negative personality traits in Korean, we use adjectives like "거만한" (geo-man-han) which means "arrogant", "무례한" (mu-rye-han) which means "rude", "심술궂은" (sim-sul-kwol-eun) which means "mean-spirited", "겁쟁이" (geob-jaeng-i) which means "cowardly", and "어리석은" (eo-ri-seo-geun) which means "foolish". Here are some examples:
When describing negative personality traits, we can use adjectives such as:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| 거만한 || geo-man-han || arrogant
| 신경질적인 || sin-gyeong-jil-jeok-in || irritable
|-
|-
| 무례한 || mu-rye-han || rude
| 시끄러운 || si-kkeu-reo-un || noisy
|-
|-
| 심술궂은 || sim-sul-kwol-eun || mean-spirited
| 게으른 || ge-eu-reun || lazy
|-
|-
| 겁쟁이 || geob-jaeng-i || cowardly
| 건방진 || geon-bang-jin || arrogant
|-
|-
| 어리석은 || eo-ri-seo-geun || foolish
| 신중하지 못한 || sin-jung-ha-ji mot-han || careless
|-
|-
| 그는 거만한 사람이다 || geu-neun geo-man-han sa-ram-i-da || He is an arrogant person.
| 자기중심적인 || ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-in || self-centered
|-
|-
| 그녀는 무례한 사람이다 || geu-nyeo-neun mu-rye-han sa-ram-i-da || She is a rude person.
| 우유부단한 || u-yu-bu-dan-han || indecisive
|}
|}


=== Other Personality Traits ===
Example sentences:
 
# 그 사람은 신경질적인 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun sin-gyeong-jil-jeok-in sa-ram-i-e-yo) - That person is irritable.
To describe other personality traits, we use adjectives like "낙천적인" (nak-cheon-jeok-in) which means "optimistic", "비관적인" (bi-gwan-jeok-in) which means "pessimistic", "활발한" (hwal-bal-han) which means "energetic", "조용한" (jo-yong-han) which means "quiet", and "외향적인" (oe-hyang-jeok-in) which means "outgoing". Here are some examples:
# 그녀는 시끄러운 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun si-kkeu-reo-un sa-ram-i-e-yo) - She is noisy.
 
# 그 아이는 게으른 성격을 가지고 있어요. (Geu a-i-neun ge-eu-reun seong-gyeok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That child has a lazy personality.
{| class="wikitable"
# 저는 건방진 사람이 아니에요. (Jeo-neun geon-bang-jin sa-ram-i a-ni-e-yo) - I am not an arrogant person.
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
# 그 사람은 신중하지 못한 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun sin-jung-ha-ji mot-han sa-ram-i-e-yo) - That person is careless.
|-
# 그녀는 자기중심적인 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-in sa-ram-i-e-yo) - She is self-centered.
| 낙천적인 || nak-cheon-jeok-in || optimistic
# 그녀는 우유부단한 성격을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun u-yu-bu-dan-han seong-gyeok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has an indecisive personality.
|-
| 비관적인 || bi-gwan-jeok-in || pessimistic
|-
| 활발한 || hwal-bal-han || energetic
|-
| 조용한 || jo-yong-han || quiet
|-
| 외향적인 || oe-hyang-jeok-in || outgoing
|-
| 그는 낙천적인 사람이다 || geu-neun nak-cheon-jeok-in sa-ram-i-da || He is an optimistic person.
|-
| 그녀는 활발한 사람이다 || geu-nyeo-neun hwal-bal-han sa-ram-i-da || She is an energetic person.
|}


== Cultural Insights ==
== Cultural Insights ==


Korean culture places a strong emphasis on appearance and the concept of "face". This means that physical appearance is often considered important in Korean society, and people may go to great lengths to maintain their appearance. However, it is also important to note that Korean society values inner beauty and character traits. Koreans admire people who are kind, polite, and respectful, and these qualities are often seen as more important than physical appearance.
In Korean culture, physical appearance is often highly valued, and people may pay close attention to their own and others' appearance. It is common for individuals to take care of their physical appearance, such as dressing well and maintaining good grooming habits. In terms of personality, Koreans often value traits such as kindness, respectfulness, and humility. These traits are seen as important in maintaining harmonious relationships and showing proper etiquette.


In terms of physical appearance, there are certain beauty standards in Korea that may differ from Western standards. For example, pale skin is considered attractive, and many Koreans use skincare products and wear sunscreen to protect their skin from the sun. Additionally, double eyelid surgery is quite common in Korea, as many Koreans desire a more Westernized eyelid crease. These cultural insights provide a deeper understanding of the context in which physical appearance is described in Korean.
It is also worth noting that beauty standards in Korea may differ from those in other countries. In Korean society, certain physical features such as pale skin, double eyelids, and a V-shaped face are often considered attractive. This cultural preference for specific features has led to the popularity of cosmetic surgeries and beauty products in Korea.


== Exercises ==
Korean idioms and proverbs related to physical appearance and personality can provide further insights into the cultural significance of these aspects. For example, the idiom "눈이 넓다" (nun-i neol-da), which literally translates to "having wide eyes," is used to describe someone who is open-minded and has a broad perspective. Similarly, the proverb "얼굴은 거울이다" (eol-gul-eun geo-ul-i-da), meaning "the face is a mirror," emphasizes the importance of one's appearance in reflecting their character.


Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of describing people in Korean.
== Practice Exercises ==


Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Now, let's practice what we've learned! Complete the following exercises by describing the physical appearance and personality of the individuals mentioned.
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate adjectives to describe the physical appearance or personality. Choose from the adjectives we have learned in this lesson.


1. 그는 _______ 사람이다. (kind)
Exercise 1: Describe the physical appearance of the following people using the given adjectives.
2. 그녀는 _______ 눈을 가지고 있다. (blue)
3. 키가 _______ 사람이다. (tall)
4. 그는 _______ 머리를 가지고 있다. (blond)
5. 그녀는 _______ 얼굴을 가지고 있다. (pretty)


Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences
* Person 1: tall, black hair
Translate the following sentences into Korean.
* Person 2: short, brown eyes
* Person 3: average height, blonde hair
* Person 4: similar height, gray hair


1. She has brown hair.
Exercise 2: Describe the personality of the following people using the given adjectives.
2. He is thin.
3. They have black eyes.
4. He is a polite person.
5. She is an outgoing person.


Exercise 3: Describe Yourself
* Person 1: kind, friendly
Using the adjectives we have learned in this lesson, describe your own physical appearance and personality in Korean.
* Person 2: optimistic, cheerful
* Person 3: honest, loyal
* Person 4: gentle, self-centered


== Solutions ==
Exercise 1 Solutions:
* Person 1: 그 사람은 키가 크고 검은 머리를 가지고 있어요. (Geu sa-ram-eun ki-ga keu-go geom-eun meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo)
* Person 2: 그녀는 키가 작고 갈색 눈을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun ki-ga jak-go gal-saek nun-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo)
* Person 3: 그 아이는 중간 키이고 금발을 가지고 있어요. (Geu a-i-neun joong-gan ki-i-go geum-bal-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo)
* Person 4: 그들은 키가 비슷하고 회색 머리를 가지고 있어요. (Geu-deul-eun ki-ga bi-seut-ha-go hoe-saek meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo)


Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Exercise 2 Solutions:
1. 그는 친절한 사람이다.
* Person 1: 그 사람은 착한 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun chak-han sa-ram-i-e-yo)
2. 그녀는 파란 눈을 가지고 있다.
* Person 2: 그녀는 낙천적이고 유쾌한 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun nak-cheon-jeok-i-go yu-kwae-han sa-ram-i-e-yo)
3. 키가 큰 사람이다.
* Person 3: 그 아이는 정직하고 충실한 사람이에요. (Geu a-i-neun jeong-jik-ha-go chung-sil-han sa-ram-i-e-yo)
4. 그는 금발 머리를 가지고 있다.
* Person 4: 그녀는 온순하고 자기중심적인 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun on-sun-ha-go ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-in sa-ram-i-e-yo)
5. 그녀는 예쁜 얼굴을 가지고 있다.


Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences
Keep practicing to improve your skills in describing people's physical appearance and personality in Korean!
1. 그녀는 갈색 머리를 가지고 있다.
2. 그는 마르다.
3. 그들은 검은 눈을 가지고 있다.
4. 그는 예의 바른 사람이다.
5. 그녀는 외향적인 사람이다.
 
Exercise 3: Describe Yourself
This exercise will vary depending on the individual's physical appearance and personality. Students should describe themselves using the adjectives learned in this lesson.
 
== Conclusion ==
 
Congratulations! You have learned how to describe people's physical appearance and personality in Korean. You now have the skills to form descriptive sentences using adjectives. Keep practicing and using these adjectives in your everyday conversations to reinforce your knowledge. In the next lesson, we will continue exploring the topic of describing people by learning how to describe things in Korean. Keep up the great work!


{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Korean Grammar → Describing People and Things → Describing People
|title=Korean Grammar → Describing People
|keywords=Korean, Grammar, Describing People, Physical Appearance, Personality, Adjectives
|keywords=Korean grammar, describing people, Korean adjectives, Korean physical appearance, Korean personality traits
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to describe people's physical appearance and personality in Korean. You will learn how to use adjectives to form descriptive sentences.
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to describe people's physical appearance and personality in Korean. You will learn how to use adjectives to form descriptive sentences. Practice exercises are included to reinforce your understanding. Get ready to enhance your Korean language skills!
}}
}}


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===Describe Appearance in Korean - YouTube===
===Describe Appearance in Korean - YouTube===
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hyMyfkMHAE</youtube>
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hyMyfkMHAE</youtube>




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==Sources==
==Sources==
* [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appcool.learnkorean&hl=en_US&gl=US Learn Korean - Grammar - Apps on Google Play]
* [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appcool.learnkorean&hl=en_US&gl=US Learn Korean - Grammar - Apps on Google Play]




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* [[Language/Korean/Grammar/Progressive-Tense|Progressive Tense]]
* [[Language/Korean/Grammar/Progressive-Tense|Progressive Tense]]
* [[Language/Korean/Grammar/Future-Tense|Future Tense]]
* [[Language/Korean/Grammar/Future-Tense|Future Tense]]




Latest revision as of 21:47, 17 June 2023

◀️ Korean Cinema — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Describing Things ▶️

Korean-Language-PolyglotClub.png
Korean → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Describing People

Introduction: Describing people is an essential skill in any language, as it allows us to communicate and understand others more effectively. In the Korean language, being able to describe people's physical appearance and personality is particularly important, as it helps us form a more comprehensive understanding of the individuals we interact with. In this lesson, we will teach you how to use adjectives to form descriptive sentences in Korean. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently describe people in Korean, both in terms of their appearance and their personality traits.

Describing Physical Appearance[edit | edit source]

When describing someone's physical appearance in Korean, we often use adjectives to provide detailed information. Adjectives in Korean generally come after the noun they modify, which is different from English. Let's take a look at some commonly used adjectives for describing physical appearance:

Adjectives for Describing Height[edit | edit source]

Here are some adjectives to describe height in Korean:

Korean Pronunciation English
키가 크다 ki-ga keu-da tall
키가 작다 ki-ga jak-da short
중간 키 joong-gan ki average height
키가 비슷하다 ki-ga bi-seut-ha-da similar height

Example sentences:

  1. 그 사람은 키가 크다. (Geu sa-ram-eun ki-ga keu-da) - That person is tall.
  2. 그녀는 키가 작다. (Geu-nyeo-neun ki-ga jak-da) - She is short.
  3. 저는 중간 키입니다. (Jeo-neun joong-gan ki-im-ni-da) - I am of average height.
  4. 그들은 키가 비슷해요. (Geu-deul-eun ki-ga bi-seut-hae-yo) - They have similar heights.

Adjectives for Describing Hair Color[edit | edit source]

Hair color can be an important aspect of someone's appearance. Here are some adjectives to describe hair color in Korean:

Korean Pronunciation English
검은 머리 geom-eun meo-ri black hair
갈색 머리 gal-saek meo-ri brown hair
금발 geum-bal blonde hair
노란 머리 no-ran meo-ri yellow hair
빨간 머리 ppal-gan meo-ri red hair
회색 머리 hoe-saek meo-ri gray hair

Example sentences:

  1. 그 사람은 검은 머리를 가지고 있어요. (Geu sa-ram-eun geom-eun meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That person has black hair.
  2. 그녀는 갈색 머리를 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun gal-saek meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has brown hair.
  3. 그 아이는 금발이에요. (Geu a-i-neun geum-bal-i-e-yo) - That child has blonde hair.
  4. 저는 빨간 머리를 가지고 있지 않아요. (Jeo-neun ppal-gan meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go it-ji-anh-a-yo) - I don't have red hair.
  5. 그녀의 머리는 회색이에요. (Geu-nyeo-eui meo-ri-neun hoe-saek-i-e-yo) - Her hair is gray.

Adjectives for Describing Eye Color[edit | edit source]

Eye color is another important aspect of someone's physical appearance. Here are some adjectives to describe eye color in Korean:

Korean Pronunciation English
검은 눈 geom-eun nun black eyes
갈색 눈 gal-saek nun brown eyes
파란 눈 pa-ran nun blue eyes
녹색 눈 nok-saek nun green eyes

Example sentences:

  1. 그 사람은 검은 눈을 가지고 있어요. (Geu sa-ram-eun geom-eun nun-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That person has black eyes.
  2. 그녀는 갈색 눈을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun gal-saek nun-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has brown eyes.
  3. 그 아이는 파란 눈을 가지고 있어요. (Geu a-i-neun pa-ran nun-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That child has blue eyes.
  4. 저는 녹색 눈을 가지고 있지 않아요. (Jeo-neun nok-saek nun-eul ga-ji-go it-ji-anh-a-yo) - I don't have green eyes.

Adjectives for Describing Facial Features[edit | edit source]

When describing someone's facial features, we can use a variety of adjectives. Here are some commonly used ones:

Korean Pronunciation English
예쁜 얼굴 ye-ppeun eol-gul pretty face
멋진 얼굴 meot-jin eol-gul handsome face
작은 코 jak-eun ko small nose
큰 입술 keun ip-sul big lips
예쁜 눈썹 ye-ppeun nun-sseop beautiful eyebrows
날카로운 턱 nal-ka-ro-un teok sharp jawline
밝은 미소 bal-keun mi-so bright smile

Example sentences:

  1. 그녀는 예쁜 얼굴을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun ye-ppeun eol-gul-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has a pretty face.
  2. 그 사람은 멋진 얼굴을 가지고 있어요. (Geu sa-ram-eun meot-jin eol-gul-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That person has a handsome face.
  3. 저는 작은 코를 가지고 있어요. (Jeo-neun jak-eun ko-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - I have a small nose.
  4. 그녀는 큰 입술을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun keun ip-sul-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has big lips.
  5. 그 아이는 예쁜 눈썹을 가지고 있어요. (Geu a-i-neun ye-ppeun nun-sseop-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That child has beautiful eyebrows.
  6. 그 사람은 날카로운 턱을 가지고 있어요. (Geu sa-ram-eun nal-ka-ro-un teok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That person has a sharp jawline.
  7. 그녀는 밝은 미소를 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun bal-keun mi-so-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has a bright smile.

Describing Personality[edit | edit source]

In addition to describing people's physical appearance, it is also important to be able to describe their personality in Korean. Here are some adjectives commonly used to describe personality traits:

Positive Personality Traits[edit | edit source]

When describing someone's positive personality traits, we can use adjectives such as:

Korean Pronunciation English
착한 chak-han kind
친절한 chin-jeol-han friendly
낙천적인 nak-cheon-jeok-in optimistic
유쾌한 yu-kwae-han cheerful
정직한 jeong-jik-han honest
충실한 chung-sil-han loyal
온순한 on-sun-han gentle

Example sentences:

  1. 그 사람은 착한 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun chak-han sa-ram-i-e-yo) - That person is kind.
  2. 그녀는 친절한 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun chin-jeol-han sa-ram-i-e-yo) - She is friendly.
  3. 그 아이는 낙천적인 성격을 가지고 있어요. (Geu a-i-neun nak-cheon-jeok-in seong-gyeok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That child has an optimistic personality.
  4. 저는 유쾌한 성격을 가지고 있어요. (Jeo-neun yu-kwae-han seong-gyeok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - I have a cheerful personality.
  5. 그 사람은 정직한 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun jeong-jik-han sa-ram-i-e-yo) - That person is honest.
  6. 그녀는 충실한 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun chung-sil-han sa-ram-i-e-yo) - She is loyal.
  7. 그녀는 온순한 성격을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun on-sun-han seong-gyeok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has a gentle personality.

Negative Personality Traits[edit | edit source]

When describing negative personality traits, we can use adjectives such as:

Korean Pronunciation English
신경질적인 sin-gyeong-jil-jeok-in irritable
시끄러운 si-kkeu-reo-un noisy
게으른 ge-eu-reun lazy
건방진 geon-bang-jin arrogant
신중하지 못한 sin-jung-ha-ji mot-han careless
자기중심적인 ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-in self-centered
우유부단한 u-yu-bu-dan-han indecisive

Example sentences:

  1. 그 사람은 신경질적인 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun sin-gyeong-jil-jeok-in sa-ram-i-e-yo) - That person is irritable.
  2. 그녀는 시끄러운 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun si-kkeu-reo-un sa-ram-i-e-yo) - She is noisy.
  3. 그 아이는 게으른 성격을 가지고 있어요. (Geu a-i-neun ge-eu-reun seong-gyeok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - That child has a lazy personality.
  4. 저는 건방진 사람이 아니에요. (Jeo-neun geon-bang-jin sa-ram-i a-ni-e-yo) - I am not an arrogant person.
  5. 그 사람은 신중하지 못한 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun sin-jung-ha-ji mot-han sa-ram-i-e-yo) - That person is careless.
  6. 그녀는 자기중심적인 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-in sa-ram-i-e-yo) - She is self-centered.
  7. 그녀는 우유부단한 성격을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun u-yu-bu-dan-han seong-gyeok-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo) - She has an indecisive personality.

Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]

In Korean culture, physical appearance is often highly valued, and people may pay close attention to their own and others' appearance. It is common for individuals to take care of their physical appearance, such as dressing well and maintaining good grooming habits. In terms of personality, Koreans often value traits such as kindness, respectfulness, and humility. These traits are seen as important in maintaining harmonious relationships and showing proper etiquette.

It is also worth noting that beauty standards in Korea may differ from those in other countries. In Korean society, certain physical features such as pale skin, double eyelids, and a V-shaped face are often considered attractive. This cultural preference for specific features has led to the popularity of cosmetic surgeries and beauty products in Korea.

Korean idioms and proverbs related to physical appearance and personality can provide further insights into the cultural significance of these aspects. For example, the idiom "눈이 넓다" (nun-i neol-da), which literally translates to "having wide eyes," is used to describe someone who is open-minded and has a broad perspective. Similarly, the proverb "얼굴은 거울이다" (eol-gul-eun geo-ul-i-da), meaning "the face is a mirror," emphasizes the importance of one's appearance in reflecting their character.

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now, let's practice what we've learned! Complete the following exercises by describing the physical appearance and personality of the individuals mentioned.

Exercise 1: Describe the physical appearance of the following people using the given adjectives.

  • Person 1: tall, black hair
  • Person 2: short, brown eyes
  • Person 3: average height, blonde hair
  • Person 4: similar height, gray hair

Exercise 2: Describe the personality of the following people using the given adjectives.

  • Person 1: kind, friendly
  • Person 2: optimistic, cheerful
  • Person 3: honest, loyal
  • Person 4: gentle, self-centered

Exercise 1 Solutions:

  • Person 1: 그 사람은 키가 크고 검은 머리를 가지고 있어요. (Geu sa-ram-eun ki-ga keu-go geom-eun meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo)
  • Person 2: 그녀는 키가 작고 갈색 눈을 가지고 있어요. (Geu-nyeo-neun ki-ga jak-go gal-saek nun-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo)
  • Person 3: 그 아이는 중간 키이고 금발을 가지고 있어요. (Geu a-i-neun joong-gan ki-i-go geum-bal-eul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo)
  • Person 4: 그들은 키가 비슷하고 회색 머리를 가지고 있어요. (Geu-deul-eun ki-ga bi-seut-ha-go hoe-saek meo-ri-reul ga-ji-go is-seo-yo)

Exercise 2 Solutions:

  • Person 1: 그 사람은 착한 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun chak-han sa-ram-i-e-yo)
  • Person 2: 그녀는 낙천적이고 유쾌한 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun nak-cheon-jeok-i-go yu-kwae-han sa-ram-i-e-yo)
  • Person 3: 그 아이는 정직하고 충실한 사람이에요. (Geu a-i-neun jeong-jik-ha-go chung-sil-han sa-ram-i-e-yo)
  • Person 4: 그녀는 온순하고 자기중심적인 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun on-sun-ha-go ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-in sa-ram-i-e-yo)

Keep practicing to improve your skills in describing people's physical appearance and personality in Korean!

Table of Contents - Korean Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Korean Alphabets


Greetings and Introductions


Korean Culture and Customs


Sentence Building


Daily Routine


Korean Pop Culture


Describing People and Things


Food and Drinks


Korean Traditions


Verb Tenses


Travel and Sightseeing


Korean Arts and Crafts


Conjunctions and Connectors


Health and Body


Korean Nature

Videos[edit | edit source]

How to describe physical appearance in Korean? - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Describe Appearance in Korean - YouTube[edit | edit source]




Sources[edit | edit source]




Other Lessons[edit | edit source]





◀️ Korean Cinema — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Describing Things ▶️

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