Language/Korean/Grammar/Describing-Things

Korean Grammar → Describing People and Things → Describing Things

In this lesson, you will learn Korean vocabulary related to describing things, such as size, color, and shape. You will learn how to form sentences using adjectives and other descriptive words.

Korean Adjectives

Korean adjectives usually come before the noun they describe. Unlike in English, there is no need to change the adjective form to match the singular, plural, or gender of the noun.

Here are some common Korean adjectives:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
큰	keun	big
작은	jageun	small
짧은	jjalbeun	short
긴	gin	long
좋은	joeun	good
나쁜	nappeun	bad
예쁜	yeppeun	pretty
추운	chuun	cold
더운	deoun	hot
차가운	chagaun	cool
덜 추운	deol chuun	cool(cold)
따뜻한	ttatteushan	warm
어두운	eoduun	dark
밝은	balkkeun	bright

Using Adjectives to Describe Things

To use adjectives to describe things in Korean, simply place them before the noun.

For example:

• 큰 차 (keun cha) - big car
• 작은 사과 (jageun sagwa) - small apple
• 짧은 바지 (jjalbeun baji) - short pants
• 긴 치마 (gin chima) - long skirt
• 좋은 음식 (joeun eumsik) - good food
• 나쁜 날씨 (nappeun nalssi) - bad weather
• 예쁜 화분 (yeppeun hwabun) - pretty flower pot
• 추운 겨울 (chuun gyeoul) - cold winter
• 더운 여름 (deoun yeoreum) - hot summer
• 차가운 음료수 (chagaun eumnyosu) - cool beverage
• 덜 추운 날씨 (deol chuun nalssi) - cool(cold) weather
• 따뜻한 잠 (ttatteushan jam) - warm sleep
• 어두운 방 (eoduun bang) - dark room
• 밝은 빛 (balkkeun bit) - bright light

Korean Colors

Colors in Korean are usually written using Sino-Korean vocabulary. Sino-Korean vocabulary is based on Chinese characters that have been assimilated into Korean.

Here are some common colors in Korean:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
흰색	heuinsaek	white
검은색	geomeunsaek	black
회색	hoesaek	gray (lit. fish color)
갈색	galsaek	brown
빨간색	ppalgansaek	red (lit. fire color)
주황색	juhwangsaek	orange
노란색	noransaek	yellow
초록색	choroksaek	green
파란색	paransaek	blue
보라색	borasaek	purple

Using Colors to Describe Things

To use colors to describe things in Korean, place the color word before the noun.

For example:

• 흰색 셔츠 (heuinsaek syeocheu) - white shirt
• 검은색 바지 (geomeunsaek baji) - black pants
• 회색 자켓 (hoesaek jakyet) - gray jacket
• 갈색 가방 (galsaek gabang) - brown bag
• 빨간색 뽀빠이 (ppalgansaek ppoppai) - red balloon
• 주황색 단추 (juhwangsaek danchu) - orange button
• 노란색 학용품 (noransaek hag-yongpum) - yellow school supply
• 초록색 나무 (choroksaek namu) - green tree
• 파란색 샤워 커텐 (paransaek syawo keoten) - blue shower curtain
• 보라색 바지 (borasaek baji) - purple pants

Size and Shape Adjectives

Size and shape adjectives are also important in describing things.

Here are some common size and shape adjectives:

Korean	Pronunciation	English
큰	keun	big
작은	jageun	small
짧은	jjalbeun	short
긴	gin	long
크다	keuda	large
작다	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