🟢 Introducing Korean Food Vocabulary (김치, 불고기) – Beginner Level (TOPIK 1–2)
.jpg "🥘 Korean Food Vocabulary (김치 & 불고기) — Beginner (TOPIK 1–2)")
🥘 Korean Food Vocabulary (김치 & 불고기) — Beginner Level (TOPIK 1–2)
Do you want to talk about Korean food like 김치 and 불고기 in simple Korean? These are must-know words for anyone learning Korean or visiting a Korean restaurant.
이 글에서는 김치와 불고기를 중심으로 기본 음식 어휘, 로마자 발음, 쉬운 문장을 함께 연습해 볼 거예요.
🎯 Learning Goal
- Recognize basic Korean food vocabulary (김치, 불고기, 식당, etc.).
- Learn simple pronunciation (romanization) for key words.
- Make easy sentences about foods you like.
- Build a foundation for everyday conversations about food.
📑 Table of Contents (open/close)
✨ Key Expressions
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 김치 | gim-chi (kimchi) | fermented cabbage with spicy seasoning |
| 불고기 | bul-go-gi | marinated grilled beef |
| 맛있어요 | mas-iss-eo-yo | It’s delicious. |
| 좋아해요 | jo-a-hae-yo | I like it. |
| 먹어요 | meo-geo-yo | (I) eat / (let’s) eat |
Tip: Say each word 3 times out loud: Korean → romanization → English.
📖 Reading Passage & Vocabulary
지문 (Korean):
저는 김치를 좋아해요. 불고기도 맛있어요. 그래서 한국 식당에 자주 가요.
Romanization:
Jeo-neun gim-chi-reul jo-a-hae-yo. Bul-go-gi-do mas-iss-eo-yo. Geu-rae-seo han-guk sik-dang-e ja-ju ga-yo.
Translation (English):
I like kimchi. Bulgogi is also delicious. So I often go to Korean restaurants.
어휘/표현 정리:
- 식당 — sik-dang — restaurant
- 자주 — ja-ju — often
- 맛있다 — mas-it-tta — to be delicious
📘 Grammar Tip — -도 “also / too”
-도 means “also” or “too.” You attach it after a noun.
Example: 불고기도 맛있어요.
Bul-go-gi-do mas-iss-eo-yo. — Bulgogi is also delicious.
- 김치도 좋아해요.
Gim-chi-do jo-a-hae-yo. — I like kimchi too. - 친구도 한국 음식을 좋아해요.
Chin-gu-do han-guk eum-sig-eul jo-a-hae-yo. — My friend also likes Korean food.
🌀 Say What? — 꿀맛!
한국어:
한국 사람들은 음식을 표현할 때 “꿀맛!”이라는 말을 많이 써요. 꿀은 honey를 뜻하니까, 직역하면 “honey taste!”예요. 아주 맛있을 때 귀엽게 쓰는 유행어예요.
English:
Koreans often say “꿀맛!” (literally “honey taste!”) to describe something very delicious. It’s a cute slang expression, similar to saying “super tasty!” or “so good!” in English.
👩🏫 Teacher’s Tips
한국어:
초급 학습자들이 자주 하는 실수는 김치와 불고기 발음을 영어식으로 읽는 거예요. 예를 들어, 김치를 “킴-치(kim-chee)”라고 발음하는데, 실제 한국어 발음은 “김-치 (gim-chi)”에 더 가깝습니다.
English:
Many beginners mispronounce 김치 and 불고기 with an English accent. For example, they say “kim-chee,” but in Korean it’s closer to “gim-chi.” Try to keep the sounds short and clean: gim-chi · bul-go-gi.
🙋 Practice Dialogue
A: 김치를 좋아해요?
Gim-chi-reul jo-a-hae-yo? — Do you like kimchi?
B: 네, 정말 맛있어요! 불고기도 좋아해요.
Ne, jeong-mal mas-iss-eo-yo! Bul-go-gi-do jo-a-hae-yo. — Yes, it’s really delicious! I like bulgogi too.
A: 그럼 같이 먹으러 갈까요?
Geu-reom ga-chi meo-geu-reo gal-kka-yo? — Then shall we go eat together?
📝 Pop Quiz
1. Translate: “Bulgogi is delicious.”
Show answer
불고기가 맛있어요.
Bul-go-gi-ga mas-iss-eo-yo.
2. Fill in the blank (use 김치):
“I like _____.”
Show answer
김치를 좋아해요.
Gim-chi-reul jo-a-hae-yo.
🌏 Did You Know?
According to surveys of foreigners living in or visiting Korea, classic dishes like 김치, 불고기, and 비빔밥 are usually the first three foods they remember. Street foods like 떡볶이 and 호떡 are also very popular because they are cheap, spicy, and fun to eat with friends.
Next time you visit Korea, try one new dish and describe it in Korean using 맛있어요 or 안 맛있어요.
✍️ It’s Your Turn
- Write 2 sentences using 김치 (kimchi).
- Write 2 sentences using 불고기 (bulgogi).
- Use at least one of these verbs: 좋아해요, 먹어요, 맛있어요.
Share your sentences in the comments to get quick feedback and fix small mistakes.
🎓 italki Lesson
Want to practice ordering Korean food with a teacher?
Book a 1:1 lesson and practice real restaurant dialogues using 김치, 불고기, and your own favorite dishes.
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