Lesson 16 · Everyday Actions & States

Hyeju’s Beginner Korean Vocabulary · Lesson 16

Everyday Actions & States

Learn 14 useful Korean actions and states, with dictionary forms, polite forms, natural examples, romanization, and practice.

Beginner · Level 2Learn · Practice · Review

Introduction

A dictionary gives you 쓰다, but a conversation uses 써요. Today, learn each word as a pair: dictionary form + everyday polite form. Some words are review; the new focus is using their forms confidently. V means an action verb, and A means a descriptive verb. Korean descriptive verbs can finish a sentence without a separate “be.”

Romanization is a reading aid, not a complete pronunciation guide. Read Hangul first. Notes marked “Review” revisit earlier themes; other words extend today’s topic.

Today’s Vocabulary

공부하다

gongbuhada · to study

Review: 공부 + 하다. Keep 공부해요 as a familiar anchor.

한국어를 공부해요.hangugeoreul gongbuhaeyoI study Korean.

쓰다

sseuda · to write

Review: the writing meaning. 쓰다 can also mean use or wear; today focus on writing.

이름을 써요.ireumeul sseoyoI write my name.

바쁘다

bappeuda · to be busy

A describes a state. The preceding 아 helps you remember 바빠요.

오늘은 바빠요.oneureun bappayoI am busy today.

아프다

apeuda · to hurt; to be sick

Name the body part with 이/가. 머리 = head.

머리가 아파요.meoriga apayoMy head hurts.

모르다

moreuda · to not know

단어 = word. 모르다 already expresses not knowing.

그 단어를 몰라요.geu daneoreul mollayoI do not know that word.

빠르다

ppareuda · to be fast

A descriptive verb. Pair 빠르다 with 빨라요.

기차가 빨라요.gichaga ppallayoThe train is fast.

춥다

chupda · to be cold

For weather or feeling cold. A cold drink is usually 차가워요.

오늘은 추워요.oneureun chuwoyoIt is cold today.

덥다

deopda · to be hot

여름 = summer. For weather or feeling hot, not hot-to-touch food.

여름은 더워요.yeoreumeun deowoyoSummer is hot.

돕다

dopda · to help

The person you help takes 을/를. Remember 도와요, not 도워요.

친구를 도와요.chingureul dowayoI help a friend.

듣다

deutda · to listen; to hear

Review from activities: 듣다 changes to 들어요 before 어요.

음악을 들어요.eumageul deureoyoI listen to music.

걷다

geotda · to walk

Today means walking. A different 걷다 means collect or roll up.

공원에서 걸어요.gongwon-eseo georeoyoI walk in the park.

낫다

natda · to recover; to get well

감기 = a cold. Today is the recovery verb, not the adjective meaning better.

감기가 나아요.gamgiga naayoMy cold is getting better.

짓다

jitda · to build

Here the object is 집. Other meanings, such as making a name, depend on context.

집을 지어요.jibeul jieoyoI build a house.

하얗다

hayata · to be white

눈 means snow here, not eye. Learn the pair 하얗다 → 하얘요.

눈이 하얘요.nuni hayaeyoThe snow is white.

Useful Phrases

오늘은 바빠요.oneureun bappayoI am busy today.

그 단어를 몰라요.geu daneoreul mollayoI do not know that word.

친구를 도와요.chingureul dowayoI help a friend.

Make Your Own Sentences

Choose one action and one state. Say what you do with an object or place, then say how you feel: 음악을 들어요. 오늘은 바빠요. Keep the dictionary word beside its polite form in your notebook.

Hyeju’s Note

Say a sentence you can use in your own life. Change just one noun or one action at a time, then read the full sentence aloud.

Mini Practice

1. Write the polite form of 쓰다 (write): ___.

2. Choose for weather: Today is cold → 오늘은 (추워요 / 차가워요).

3. Help a friend: 친구를 ___.

4. Listen to music: 음악을 ___.

5. Match 모르다 to “not know” or “build.”

6. Write one sentence with 걷다.

Check the answers

1. 써요.

2. 추워요. 차가워요 describes something cold to the touch.

3. 도와요.

4. 들어요.

5. Not know.

6. Sample: 공원에서 걸어요. Other natural sentences are possible.

Today’s Key Point

Store word pairs: 쓰다 → 써요; 듣다 → 들어요.

Use 을/를 for the object: 친구를 도와요.

Keep meanings separate: 낫다 here means recover.

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KOREAN VOCABULARY · BEGINNER

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Hyeju Yoo

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