🗣️ Must-Know Korean Action Words for Daily Conversations

Action Korean words for daily conversations

When you're just starting to learn Korean, verbs are one of the most important things to focus on. Why? Because verbs come at the end of Korean sentences and decide the whole meaning!

In this post, we’ll go over 10 essential Korean verbs that you’ll hear (and say) every single day. You'll learn their dictionary form, polite form (ending with -요), and see example sentences to help you practice.

📚 1. 하다 (ha-da) – To do

Polite form: 해요 (hae-yo)

공부해요. = I study.
운동해요. = I exercise.

This is the most useful verb in Korean! It’s added to many compound verbs:

예: 일하다 (to work), 전화하다 (to call), 청소하다 (to clean), 여행하다 (to travel)

📚 2. 가다 (ga-da) – To go

Polite form: 가요 (ga-yo)

학교에 가요. = I go to school.
집에 가요. = I’m going home.

📚 3. 오다 (o-da) – To come

Polite form: 와요 (wa-yo)

친구가 와요. = My friend is coming.
언제 와요? = When will you come?

📚 4. 먹다 (meok-da) – To eat

Polite form: 먹어요 (meo-geo-yo)

밥을 먹어요. = I eat rice.
뭐 먹어요? = What are you eating?

📚 5. 마시다 (ma-shi-da) – To drink

Polite form: 마셔요 (ma-syeo-yo)

물 마셔요. = I drink water.
커피 마셔요? = Do you drink coffee?

📚 6. 보다 (bo-da) – To see / watch

Polite form: 봐요 (bwa-yo)

영화 봐요. = I watch a movie.
뭐 봐요? = What are you watching?

📚 7. 자다 (ja-da) – To sleep

Polite form: 자요 (ja-yo)

일찍 자요. = I sleep early.
지금 자요? = Are you sleeping now?

📚 8. 있다 (it-da) – To have / to exist

Polite form: 있어요 (it-sseo-yo)

시간이 있어요. = I have time.
집에 있어요. = I'm at home.

📚 9. 없다 (eop-da) – To not have / to not exist

Polite form: 없어요 (eop-sseo-yo)

돈이 없어요. = I don't have money.
친구가 없어요. = I don’t have a friend.

📚 10. 살다 (sal-da) – To live

Polite form: 살아요 (sa-ra-yo)

서울에 살아요. = I live in Seoul.
어디에 살아요? = Where do you live?

📝 Practice Time

Can you complete the sentences below using the verbs we learned?

저는 한국에 _____(to live)
친구랑 영화 _____(to watch)
지금 뭐 _____(to eat)?

Comment your answers below and I’ll give you feedback! 😊

💬 Bonus Tip

Most Korean verbs change forms depending on tense and politeness level, but don’t worry! Start by using the -요 form, which is polite and used in 90% of daily situations.

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