🏃 Essential Korean Verbs You’ll Use Every Day

Verbs are the heart of any sentence — and in Korean, they come at the very end. 😮

To speak basic Korean confidently, you need to know the most common verbs used in everyday life.

In this guide, you'll learn 20 must-know Korean verbs, how to conjugate them in polite form, and how to use them in real conversations. Let’s go! 💪🇰🇷

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🔤 How Korean Verbs Work

Korean verbs always go at the end of a sentence.
Example:

• 저는 밥을 먹어요. → I eat food.

Verbs change form based on tense and speech level. In this post, we’ll use the present tense, polite form (아요/어요), which is perfect for beginners.

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🔑 20 Must-Know Korean Verbs

Korean (Basic)	Meaning	Present Tense (Polite)	Example Sentence
가다	to go	가요	학교에 가요. (I go to school.)
오다	to come	와요	친구가 와요. (A friend is coming.)
먹다	to eat	먹어요	점심을 먹어요. (I eat lunch.)
마시다	to drink	마셔요	물을 마셔요. (I drink water.)
하다	to do	해요	공부해요. (I study.)
보다	to see/watch	봐요	영화를 봐요. (I watch a movie.)
자다	to sleep	자요	일찍 자요. (I sleep early.)
일어나다	to wake up	일어나요	아침에 일어나요. (I wake up in the morning.)
있다	to have/exist	있어요	시간이 있어요. (I have time.)
없다	to not have	없어요	돈이 없어요. (I don’t have money.)
사다	to buy	사요	책을 사요. (I buy a book.)
배우다	to learn	배워요	한국어를 배워요. (I learn Korean.)
만나다	to meet	만나요	친구를 만나요. (I meet a friend.)
듣다	to listen	들어요	음악을 들어요. (I listen to music.)
읽다	to read	읽어요	책을 읽어요. (I read a book.)
쓰다	to write/use	써요	이름을 써요. (I write my name.)
말하다	to speak	말해요	한국어로 말해요. (I speak in Korean.)
기다리다	to wait	기다려요	버스를 기다려요. (I wait for the bus.)
살다	to live	살아요	서울에 살아요. (I live in Seoul.)
걷다	to walk	걸어요	공원에서 걸어요. (I walk in the park.)

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✍️ How to Practice Verbs Daily

1. Pick 5 verbs each day and make your own sentence.

2. Practice aloud in front of a mirror 🪞

3. Watch a K-drama and listen for these verbs.

4. Write a short diary: “오늘 뭐 했어요?”

5. Quiz yourself: “How do I say ‘I drink coffee’?”

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👩‍🏫 Want to Practice Real Conversations?

Don’t just memorize verbs—use them in sentences with real people. I’ll help you build confidence with daily verbs through live 1:1 practice.

👉 Book your Korean lesson with me on italki:
https://www.italki.com/ko/teacher/7916559

Let’s speak Korean together, one verb at a time! ✨