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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.


In this lesson, we will learn how to describe people's physical appearance and personality in Korean. Describing people is an essential skill in any language, as it allows us to communicate effectively and convey information about others. By learning how to use adjectives to form descriptive sentences, you will be able to express yourself more fluently and accurately in Korean.
== Describing Physical Appearance ==


Throughout this lesson, we will explore various adjectives that can be used to describe people, such as adjectives related to physical appearance, personality traits, and emotions. We will also learn about sentence structure and word order in Korean, as well as the use of particles to indicate the subject and object of a sentence.
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:


By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to describe people in Korean and be able to create descriptive sentences with ease. Let's get started!
=== Adjectives for Describing Height ===


== Describing Physical Appearance ==
Here are some adjectives to describe height in Korean:


When describing someone's physical appearance in Korean, we often use adjectives to convey specific characteristics. These adjectives can describe various aspects of a person's appearance, such as height, weight, hair color, and facial features. Let's take a look at some common adjectives used to describe physical appearance in Korean:
{| class="wikitable"
! 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
|}


=== Height and Build ===
Example sentences:
# 그 사람은 키가 크다. (Geu sa-ram-eun ki-ga keu-da) - That person is tall.
# 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.
# 그들은 키가 비슷해요. (Geu-deul-eun ki-ga bi-seut-hae-yo) - They have similar heights.


When describing someone's height and build, we can use adjectives like "키가 크다" (tall), "키가 작다" (short), "뚱뚱하다" (chubby), and "날씬하다" (slim). These adjectives can be used to provide a general description of a person's physique.
=== Adjectives for Describing Hair Color ===


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
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 키가 크다. || Geu saram-eun ki-ga keu-da. || That person is tall.
| 검은 머리 || geom-eun meo-ri || black hair
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 키가 작다. || Geu saram-eun ki-ga jak-da. || That person is short.
| 갈색 머리 || gal-saek meo-ri || brown hair
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 뚱뚱하다. || Geu saram-eun ddung-ddung-ha-da. || That person is chubby.
| 금발 || geum-bal || blonde hair
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 날씬하다. || Geu saram-eun nal-ssin-ha-da. || That person is slim.
| 노란 머리 || no-ran meo-ri || yellow hair
|-
| 빨간 머리 || ppal-gan meo-ri || red hair
|-
| 회색 머리 || hoe-saek meo-ri || gray hair
|}
|}


=== Hair 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.


When describing someone's hair color in Korean, we can use adjectives like "검은색" (black), "갈색" (brown), "금발" (blonde), and "빨간색" (red). These adjectives can be used to provide information about the color of a person's hair.
=== Adjectives for Describing Eye Color ===


Examples:
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"
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 검은색 머리를 가지고 있다. || Geu saram-eun geomeunsaek meoli-reul gajigo it-da. || That person has black hair.
| 검은 눈 || geom-eun nun || black eyes
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 갈색 머리를 가지고 있다. || Geu saram-eun galsaek meoli-reul gajigo it-da. || That person has brown hair.
| 갈색 눈 || gal-saek nun || brown eyes
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 금발 머리를 가지고 있다. || Geu saram-eun geumbar meoli-reul gajigo it-da. || That person has blonde hair.
| 파란 눈 || pa-ran nun || blue eyes
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 빨간색 머리를 가지고 있다. || Geu saram-eun ppalgansaek meoli-reul gajigo it-da. || That person has red hair.
| 녹색 눈 || nok-saek nun || green eyes
|}
|}


=== Facial Features ===
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.
# 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.
# 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.


When describing someone's facial features in Korean, we can use adjectives like "큰 눈" (big eyes), "낮은 코" (low nose), "작은 입" (small mouth), and "예쁜 얼굴" (pretty face). These adjectives can be used to provide specific details about a person's face.
=== Adjectives for Describing Facial Features ===


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


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 큰 눈을 가지고 있다. || Geu saram-eun keun nun-eul gajigo it-da. || That person has big eyes.
| 예쁜 얼굴 || ye-ppeun eol-gul || pretty face
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 낮은 코를 가지고 있다. || Geu saram-eun najeun koreul gajigo it-da. || That person has a low nose.
| 멋진 얼굴 || meot-jin eol-gul || handsome face
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 작은 입을 가지고 있다. || Geu saram-eun jageun ibeul gajigo it-da. || That person has a small mouth.
| 작은 코 || jak-eun ko || small nose
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 예쁜 얼굴을 가지고 있다. || Geu saram-eun yeppeun eolgur-eul gajigo it-da. || That person has a pretty face.
| 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:
# 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 ==


In addition to physical appearance, we can also use adjectives to describe someone's personality in Korean. Describing personality traits allows us to paint a more complete picture of a person and understand their character. Let's take a look at 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 Traits ===


When describing someone's positive personality traits in Korean, we can use adjectives like "친절하다" (kind), "명랑하다" (cheerful), "착하다" (good-natured), and "예의바르다" (polite). These adjectives can be used to highlight someone's positive qualities.
=== Positive Personality Traits ===


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


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 친절하다. || Geu saram-eun chinjeol-ha-da. || That person is kind.
| 착한 || chak-han || kind
|-
| 친절한 || chin-jeol-han || friendly
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 명랑하다. || Geu saram-eun myeongrang-ha-da. || That person is cheerful.
| 낙천적인 || nak-cheon-jeok-in || optimistic
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 착하다. || Geu saram-eun chak-ha-da. || That person is good-natured.
| 유쾌한 || yu-kwae-han || cheerful
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 예의바르다. || Geu saram-eun yeuibareu-da. || That person is polite.
| 정직한 || jeong-jik-han || honest
|-
| 충실한 || chung-sil-han || loyal
|-
| 온순한 || on-sun-han || gentle
|}
|}


=== Negative Traits ===
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.


When describing someone's negative personality traits in Korean, we can use adjectives like "성급하다" (impatient), "게으르다" (lazy), "거만하다" (arrogant), and "짜증나다" (irritable). These adjectives can be used to identify someone's negative qualities.
=== Negative Personality Traits ===


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


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
! Korean !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 성급하다. || Geu saram-eun seonggeub-ha-da. || That person is impatient.
| 신경질적인 || sin-gyeong-jil-jeok-in || irritable
|-
| 시끄러운 || si-kkeu-reo-un || noisy
|-
| 게으른 || ge-eu-reun || lazy
|-
| 건방진 || geon-bang-jin || arrogant
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 게으르다. || Geu saram-eun ge-eu-reu-da. || That person is lazy.
| 신중하지 못한 || sin-jung-ha-ji mot-han || careless
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 거만하다. || Geu saram-eun geoman-ha-da. || That person is arrogant.
| 자기중심적인 || ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-in || self-centered
|-
|-
| 그 사람은 짜증나다. || Geu saram-eun jjajeung-na-da. || That person is irritable.
| 우유부단한 || u-yu-bu-dan-han || indecisive
|}
|}


== Sentence Structure and Word Order ==
Example sentences:
# 그 사람은 신경질적인 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun sin-gyeong-jil-jeok-in sa-ram-i-e-yo) - That person is irritable.
# 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.
# 저는 건방진 사람이 아니에요. (Jeo-neun geon-bang-jin sa-ram-i a-ni-e-yo) - I am not an arrogant person.
# 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.
# 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.


In Korean, the basic sentence structure follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) pattern. This means that the subject of the sentence comes first, followed by the object, and finally the verb. When describing people or things, we can use adjectives to modify the subject or object in the sentence.
== Cultural Insights ==
 
Let's take a look at some example sentences to understand the sentence structure and word order in Korean:
 
=== Example 1 ===


English: "That person is tall."
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.


Korean: "그 사람은 키가 크다."
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.


In this sentence, "그 사람은" (geu saram-eun) means "that person" and serves as the subject. "키가" (ki-ga) means "height" and is the object. "크다" (keu-da) means "is tall" and is the verb. The word order follows the SOV pattern, with the subject, object, and verb in that order.
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.
 
=== Example 2 ===
 
English: "She has black hair."
 
Korean: "그녀는 검은색 머리를 가지고 있다."
 
In this sentence, "그녀는" (geunyeo-neun) means "she" and serves as the subject. "검은색" (geomeunsaek) means "black" and describes the object "머리" (meoli), which means "hair". "가지고 있다" (gajigo it-da) means "has" and is the verb. Again, the word order follows the SOV pattern.
 
== Cultural Insights ==
 
When describing people in Korean, it is important to consider cultural nuances and variations. Koreans often place a strong emphasis on physical appearance, and there is a cultural preference for certain traits. For example, fair skin and double eyelids are considered desirable, while darker skin and single eyelids may be seen as less attractive.
 
Additionally, Koreans may use different terms and adjectives to describe physical appearance and personality compared to other cultures. It is important to be aware of these cultural differences and use appropriate language when describing people in Korean.


== Practice Exercises ==
== Practice Exercises ==


Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of how to describe people in Korean.
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: Fill in the Blanks
Exercise 1: Describe the physical appearance of the following people using the given adjectives.
Choose the appropriate adjective to complete each sentence.


1. 그 사람은 ____________ (키가 크다 / 키가 작다).
* Person 1: tall, black hair
2. 그 사람은 ____________ (뚱뚱하다 / 날씬하다).
* Person 2: short, brown eyes
3. 그 사람은 ____________ (검은색 / 갈색) 머리를 가지고 있다.
* Person 3: average height, blonde hair
4. 그 사람은 ____________ (큰 눈 / 작은 입)을 가지고 있다.
* Person 4: similar height, gray hair
5. 그 사람은 ____________ (친절하다 / 성급하다).


Exercise 2: Describe a Friend
Exercise 2: Describe the personality of the following people using the given adjectives.
Choose a friend and write a short paragraph describing their physical appearance and personality in Korean. Use the adjectives and sentence structures you have learned.


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


Exercise 1:
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)


1. 그 사람은 키가 작다.
Exercise 2 Solutions:
2. 그 사람은 날씬하다.
* Person 1: 그 사람은 착한 사람이에요. (Geu sa-ram-eun chak-han sa-ram-i-e-yo)
3. 그 사람은 검은색 머리를 가지고 있다.
* Person 2: 그녀는 낙천적이고 유쾌한 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun nak-cheon-jeok-i-go yu-kwae-han sa-ram-i-e-yo)
4. 그 사람은 작은 입을 가지고 있다.
* Person 3: 그 아이는 정직하고 충실한 사람이에요. (Geu a-i-neun jeong-jik-ha-go chung-sil-han sa-ram-i-e-yo)
5. 그 사람은 친절하다.
* Person 4: 그녀는 온순하고 자기중심적인 사람이에요. (Geu-nyeo-neun on-sun-ha-go ja-gi-jung-sim-jeok-in sa-ram-i-e-yo)


Exercise 2: (Sample answer)
Keep practicing to improve your skills in describing people's physical appearance and personality in Korean!


내 친구는 키가 크고 뚱뚱하다. 그녀는 검은색 머리와 큰 눈을 가지고 있다. 그녀는 친절하고 명랑하다. 나는 그녀와 함께 시간을 보내는 것을 좋아한다.
{{#seo:
 
|title=Korean Grammar → Describing People
Translation: My friend is tall and chubby. She has black hair and big eyes. She is kind and cheerful. I enjoy spending time with her.
|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. Practice exercises are included to reinforce your understanding. Get ready to enhance your Korean language skills!
== Conclusion ==
}}
 
Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to describe people's physical appearance and personality in Korean. By using adjectives and sentence structures, you can now create descriptive sentences that accurately convey information about others. Keep practicing and incorporating these skills into your Korean language learning journey.


{{Korean-0-to-A1-Course-TOC}}
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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 ▶️

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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]





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