Language/Korean/Grammar/Describing-Things

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Korean → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Describing Things

Welcome to our lesson on "Describing Things"! This part of the Korean language is incredibly important because it allows you to express your thoughts and ideas about the world around you. Whether you're talking about the size of a building, the color of a dress, or the shape of a fruit, being able to describe things will enhance your communication skills and make your conversations much more engaging.

In this lesson, we will cover:

• The role of adjectives in descriptions

• Vocabulary related to size, color, and shape

• How to form sentences using descriptive words

• Practice exercises to reinforce your learning

Let’s dive in and explore the colorful world of describing things in Korean!

The Role of Adjectives in Descriptions

Adjectives are words that describe nouns. They provide information about the characteristics of a person, place, thing, or idea. In Korean, adjectives are used similarly to English but have their unique structure and conjugation.

Basic Structure of Adjectives

In Korean, adjectives can function as predicates (the part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is) and are conjugated based on the tense of the sentence. For example:

• Present Tense: The adjective remains in its base form.

• Past Tense: The adjective is conjugated into a past form.

Here are some examples of common adjectives used to describe things:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
크다	keuda	big
작다	jakda	small
예쁘다	yeppeuda	pretty
못생기다	motsaengida	ugly
길다	gilda	long
짧다	jjalbda	short
밝다	balgda	bright
어두다	eoduda	dark
새롭다	saeropda	new
낡다	nagda	old

Vocabulary for Describing Size

When describing size, we often use the adjectives 크다 (big) and 작다 (small). But there are many more adjectives to express various sizes. Here are some additional vocabulary words related to size:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
넓다	neolbda	wide
좁다	jobda	narrow
두껍다	dukkeobda	thick
얇다	yalbda	thin
큼직하다	keumjikada	large
미세하다	misehada	tiny
적당하다	jeokdanghada	moderate
굵다	gulda	thick (in diameter)
가늘다	ganeulda	thin (in diameter)
방대하다	bangdaehada	enormous

Vocabulary for Describing Color

Colors are another crucial aspect of describing things. Here are some basic color adjectives in Korean:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
빨간색	ppalgansek	red
파란색	paransek	blue
초록색	choroksek	green
노란색	noransek	yellow
검은색	geom-eunsek	black
흰색	huinseok	white
주황색	juhwangsek	orange
보라색	borasek	purple
분홍색	bunhongsek	pink
회색	hoesaek	gray

Vocabulary for Describing Shape

When describing shape, you can use these common adjectives:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
원형	wonhyeong	round
사각형	sagak-hyeong	square
직사각형	jiksagak-hyeong	rectangle
삼각형	samgak-hyeong	triangle
평면	pyeongmyeon	flat
입체	ipche	three-dimensional
구부러진	gubureojin	curved
뾰족한	ppyojokhan	pointed
넓적한	neoljeokhan	broad
긴	gin	long (shape)

Forming Sentences with Adjectives

Now that we have a good grasp of adjectives, let's learn how to use them in sentences. The basic sentence structure in Korean is Subject-Object-Verb (SOV). When using adjectives, they often come before the noun they describe.

Here are some examples:

1. 이 사과는 크다. (This apple is big.)

2. 그 집은 예쁘다. (That house is pretty.)

3. 이 바지는 길다. (These pants are long.)

4. 저 꽃은 노란색이다. (That flower is yellow.)

5. 그 남자는 뚱뚱하다. (That man is fat.)

In these sentences, the adjectives describe the subject (the noun) directly.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises for you to practice what you've learned.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct adjective from the vocabulary lists above.

1. 이 고양이는 ____. (This cat is ___.)

2. 그 책은 ____. (That book is ___.)

3. 저 나무는 ____. (That tree is ___.)

4. 이 의자는 ____. (This chair is ___.)

5. 그 구두는 ____. (Those shoes are ___.)

Answers:

1. 예쁘다 (pretty)

2. 작다 (small)

3. 크다 (big)

4. 길다 (long)

5. 빨간색 (red)

Exercise 2: Sentence Creation

Create sentences using the following prompts.

1. Describe your favorite fruit using size and color.

2. Describe your favorite piece of clothing using shape and size.

3. Describe a person you admire using an adjective for appearance.

Sample Answers:

1. 이 바나나는 노란색이고 크다. (This banana is yellow and big.)

2. 이 티셔츠는 원형이고 짧다. (This t-shirt is round and short.)

3. 그 여자는 예쁘고 똑똑하다. (That woman is pretty and smart.)

Exercise 3: Matching Adjectives with Nouns

Match the adjectives to the nouns.

1. 큰 a. 사과

2. 빨간색 b. 바지

3. 예쁜 c. 꽃

4. 작은 d. 집

5. 긴 e. 나무

Answers:

1-a, 2-c, 3-d, 4-e, 5-b

Exercise 4: Translate to Korean

Translate the following sentences into Korean.

1. The sky is blue.

2. The dog is small.

3. This table is old.

4. That car is new.

5. The dress is pretty.

Answers:

1. 하늘은 파란색이다.

2. 그 개는 작다.

3. 이 테이블은 낡다.

4. 저 차는 새롭다.

5. 그 드레스는 예쁘다.

Exercise 5: Describing Pictures

Look at the following pictures (imagine them or provide them) and describe them using at least three adjectives.

Sample Answer:

Picture of a flower: "이 꽃은 예쁘고 노란색이며 향기가 좋다." (This flower is pretty, yellow, and smells good.)

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this lesson on describing things in Korean! You've learned essential vocabulary related to size, color, and shape, and you now know how to form sentences using adjectives. Keep practicing these concepts in your daily conversations, and you'll find that describing things in Korean becomes second nature.

Don't forget to review the vocabulary regularly and try using it in different contexts. The more you practice, the more confident you'll become in your Korean language journey!

Table of Contents - Korean Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Korean Alphabets

• Reading and writing Korean Alphabets
• Korean Pronunciation
• Subject and Object Markers

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Hello and Goodbye
• Introducing Yourself
• Family and Friends

  ---

Korean Culture and Customs

• Korean Etiquette
• Korean Holidays
• Korean Cuisine

  ---

Sentence Building

• Basic Verb Conjugation
• Question Words
• Connecting Verbs

  ---

Daily Routine

• Daily Activities
• Means of Transportation
• Weather and Seasons

  ---

Korean Pop Culture

• Korean Dramas
• Korean Music
• Korean Cinema

  ---

Describing People and Things

• Describing People
• Describing Things
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Food and Ingredients
• Drinks
• Cooking and Recipes

  ---

Korean Traditions

• Korean Weddings
• Korean Festivals
• Korean Games and Sports

  ---

Verb Tenses

• Past Tense
• Future Tense
• Progressive Tense

  ---

Travel and Sightseeing

• Travel Vocabulary
• Sightseeing Vocabulary
• Shopping Vocabulary

  ---

Korean Arts and Crafts

• Korean Calligraphy
• Korean Pottery
• Korean Paper Crafts

  ---

Conjunctions and Connectors

• Conjunctions
• Connectors
• Conditional Sentences

  ---

Health and Body

• Body Parts
• Health Vocabulary
• Exercise and Fitness Vocabulary

  ---

Korean Nature

• Korean National Parks
• Korean Folk Villages
• Korean Eco-Friendly Practices

Other Lessons

• Plurals
• Conditional Mood
• Negation
• Nouns
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Describing People
• Basic Verb Conjugation
• Conditional Sentences
• How to Use Have
• Gender

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