Learning Korean with me

Are you ready to dive into real Korean news articles? 🧐 If you're preparing for TOPIK 5–6 or want to understand Korean society deeply, reading and analyzing news is essential. In this post, we’ll break down a sample article, explain complex vocabulary, and show you how Korean news writing differs from casual language. 📰 Why Analyzing News Matters Korean news articles use formal structures, passive voice, and subject-specific terminology. Mastering this style helps you read official statements, understand political discourse, and write academic Korean. Let's begin with key features of Korean news writing. 1. Passive Constructions News reports often avoid personal subjects. Instead of saying "The president decided," you might read: 결정되었다 (was decided) rather than 대통령이 결정했다 (The president decided). 2. Objective Tone Korean journalism prioritizes neutrality. Words like 공식적으로 (officially) , 확인되다 (to be confirmed) , and 발표하다 (to announce) are c...

Counting in Korean can be tricky at first because there are two number systems . 😅 But don’t worry! In this post, I’ll show you when and how to use each system, teach you to count from 1 to 100, and help you practice like a pro. 💪 🧠 Why Are There Two Number Systems? Korean uses: Native Korean Numbers (고유어 숫자) – Used for counting things, age (in casual speech), hours. Sino-Korean Numbers (한자어 숫자) – Derived from Chinese, used for dates, money, phone numbers, minutes, floors, etc. Example: Age (casual): 스물다섯 살 (25 years old) → Native Price: 이천 원 (2,000 won) → Sino 🇰🇷 Native Korean Numbers (1–20) Number Korean Romanization 1 하나 hana 2 둘 dul 3 셋 set 4 넷 net 5 다섯 daseot 6 여섯 yeoseot 7 일곱 ilgop 8 여덟 yeodeol 9 아홉 ahop 10 열 yeol 11 열하나 yeol-hana 12 열둘 yeol-dul 13 열셋 yeol-set 14 열넷 yeol-net 15 열다섯 yeol-daseot 16 열여섯 yeol-yeoseot 17 열일곱 yeol-ilgop 18 열여덟 yeol-yeodeol 19 열아홉 yeol-ahop 20 스물 seumul ✨ Note: Native Korean numbers rarely go above 99 — most use Sino-Kore...

If you’ve just started learning Korean, chances are you’ve run into these small but powerful words: 은/는 , 이/가 , and 을/를 . They’re called particles (조사), and they attach to nouns to show what role each word plays in a sentence. Think of them as Korean sentence glue ! 🧷 Let’s break down each one so you can start using them naturally. 1️⃣ 은/는 – The Topic Particle Used to introduce or emphasize the topic of a sentence. 은 → after consonants 는 → after vowels Examples: 저는 학생이에요. (jeoneun haksaeng-ieyo) → As for me , I’m a student. 이 음식은 맛있어요. (i eumsig-eun masisseoyo) → This food , it's delicious. 📌 Tip: 은/는 often shows contrast or general statements. → 오늘은 비가 와요. ( Today , it’s raining — but not yesterday.) 2️⃣ 이/가 – The Subject Particle Used to mark the subject that is doing something or existing. 이 → after consonants 가 → after vowels Examples: 고양이가 귀여워요. (goyangi-ga gwiyeowoyo) → The cat is cute. 친구가 왔어요. (chingu-ga wasseoyo) → A friend ...

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! 💪🇰🇷 🔤 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. 🔑 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 ...

🟢 Top 15 Korean Greetings for Everyday Use | Beginner Level (TOPIK 1–2) Want to make a great first impression in Korea? 😊 Mastering greetings is the easiest way to start! Whether you’re entering a shop, joining a Zoom meeting, or greeting friends, these phrases help you sound natural and polite. 📚 Table of Contents Why Greetings Matter in Korean Culture Top 15 Greetings with Romanization Formal vs. Informal Usage Did You Know? Practice Plan (10 Minutes a Day) Final Thoughts 👋 Why Greetings Matter In Korean culture, greetings are more than words — they express respect and acknowledge hierarchy. Bowing slightly, using polite forms, and timing your greeting properly sets the tone for conversations, whether in casual or formal settings. 🔤 Top 15 Greetings with Usage Hangul Romanization Meaning / Usage ...