Learn Korean
Learning path TOPIK I

Beginner Korean 1 초급 한국어 1

Your first real sentences — the copula, particles, the polite ending, and past tense.

By the end of this level: Introduce yourself, describe daily life, and handle shops, directions and appointments.

20 units · 42 grammar points · 42 explained so far

  1. 1 자기소개 · Self-introduction

    저는 한국 사람이에요

    I'm Korean

    Vocabulary 나라country직업①occupation 1자기소개Self-introduction

    이다 to be — the copula that turns a noun into a sentence 은/는 vs 이/가 topic particle — what the sentence is about, with a hint of contrast
    Listen & speak
    인사하기Exchange greetings
    Read & write
    자기소개하기Introducing yourself

    Seen in: Chuseok 2026: What Korea Is Doing This Week, in Korean , Dupe in Korean: 듀프, 듀페, and Counterfeit Differences

  2. 2 가족 · family

    회사원이 아니에요

    I'm not an office worker

    Vocabulary 가족family직업②occupation 2

    이/가 subject particle — introduces something as new information 이/가 아니다 to not be — the negative of 이다
    Listen & speak
    가족 소개하기Introducing your family
    Read & write
    가족의 직업 소개하기Introducing your family's occupation

    Seen in: Ajasu Meaning: Korean Internet Slang for ‘Thanks’ , Chuseok 2026: What Korea Is Doing This Week, in Korean

  3. 3 일상생활 · daily life

    저도 드라마를 좋아합니다

    I also like dramas

    Vocabulary 일상생활daily life동사①Verb①형용사①Adjective①

    -습니다, -습니까 formal polite ending (합니다체) — announcements, first meetings, the news 을/를 object particle — marks what the verb acts on 도 also, too — and the particle it quietly replaces
    Listen & speak
    좋아하는 것 이야기하기Talk about things you like
    Read & write
    좋아하는 음식 소개하기Introducing your favorite food

    Seen in: 다듬은 말 (Dadeumeun mal): 34 Loanwords Swapped for Plain Korean , Jal Butakdeurimnida Meaning: When and How to Use 잘 부탁드립니다

  4. 4 학교 · school

    여기가 지훈 씨의 학교입니까?

    Is this Jihoon’s school?

    Vocabulary 동사②Verb②장소①Place①형용사②Adjective②

    과/와, 하고 and / with — 과/와 in writing, 하고 in speech 의 possessive — and why Koreans drop it more often than not
    Listen & speak
    학교 소개하기Introducing the school
    Read & write
    교실 소개하기Introduction to the classroom

    Seen in: 9 Korean Cafe Phrases You Will Actually Use in Seoul , Chuseok 2026: What Korea Is Doing This Week, in Korean

  5. 5 날씨 · weather

    날씨가 좋지 않아요

    the weather is not good

    Vocabulary 날씨weather계절season

    -아요 / -어요 polite informal ending (해요체) — the default register of spoken Korean -지 않다 long-form negation — the fuller, slightly softer 안
    Listen & speak
    날씨 표현하기Expressing the weather
    Read & write
    한국의 계절 설명하기Explaining seasons in Korea

    Seen in: Ajasu Meaning: Korean Internet Slang for ‘Thanks’ , Chuseok 2026: What Korea Is Doing This Week, in Korean

  6. 6 친구 · friend

    친구한테 편지를 써요

    write a letter to a friend

    Vocabulary 선물gift인사greeting

    에게, 한테 to a person — 에게 in writing, 한테 in speech 만 only, just — and why it takes a positive verb where 밖에 takes a negative
    Listen & speak
    친구에 대해 이야기하기talking about friends
    Read & write
    친구에게 편지 쓰기write a letter to a friend

    Seen in: 젬민이 (Jemmini) Meaning: Gemini Slang, Not 잼민이 , What Does 점메추 (Jeommechul) Mean in Korean?

  7. 7 위치 · location

    지금 어디에 있어요?

    Where are you now?

    Vocabulary 장소②Location②사물objects위치location

    (장소)에 at, to — a destination or a static location 에서 where an action happens, and where you came from
    Listen & speak
    현재 위치에 대해 말하기Talk about your current location
    Read & write
    방 소개하기Introduction to the room

    Seen in: Chuseok 2026: What Korea Is Doing This Week, in Korean , 어디예요 (Eodiyeyo), 어떻게 가요 (Eotteoke gayo): Asking the Way

  8. 8 날짜 · date

    토요일에 친구를 만났어요

    I met a friend on Saturday

    Vocabulary 숫자(한자어)Numbers (Chinese characters)날짜date

    -았-/-었- past tense — built on the same stem rule as 해요체 (시간)에 at a time — and the time words that refuse it
    Listen & speak
    주말에 한 일 묻고 답하기Ask and answer what you did over the weekend
    Read & write
    지난주 한 일 일기 쓰기Write a diary of what you did last week

    Seen in: -았/었- vs -던: Finished Event, Open Scene , 9 Korean Cafe Phrases You Will Actually Use in Seoul

  9. 9 운동 · work out

    저는 수영을 못해요

    I can't swim

    Vocabulary 운동work out부사adverb

    부터 from — a starting point in time -지 못하다 long-form 못 — unable rather than unwilling
    Listen & speak
    좋아하는 운동 말하기Talk about your favorite sport
    Read & write
    좋아하는 운동 소개하기Introduce your favorite sport

    Seen in: 9 Korean Cafe Phrases You Will Actually Use in Seoul , -지 않다 vs -지 못하다: Chose Not To, or Could Not

  10. 10 약속 · promise

    같이 점심을 먹을까요?

    Shall we have lunch together?

    Vocabulary 숫자(고유어)numbers (native)시간hour

    -을까 shall we? — a suggestion phrased as a question -읍시다 let's — direct, and not for people senior to you -고 and — listing and plain sequence, with no causal claim
    Listen & speak
    하고 싶은 일 제안하기Suggest something you want to do
    Read & write
    주말 계획 세우기Make your weekend plans

    Seen in: 9 Korean Cafe Phrases You Will Actually Use in Seoul , Why Drama Characters Suddenly Switch to 반말 (Banmal)

  11. 11 음식 · food

    떡볶이는 매워서 잘 못 먹어요

    I can’t eat tteokbokki because it’s spicy.

    Vocabulary 음식food주문order맛taste

    -아서 / -어서 because — statement only, never before a command -고 싶다 want to — and why it cannot describe someone else
    Listen & speak
    식당에서 메뉴를 정하는 대화 듣고 말하기Listening to and speaking about menu choices in a restaurant
    Read & write
    음식을 먹은 경험에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Reading and writing about food experiences

    Seen in: Ajasu Meaning: Korean Internet Slang for ‘Thanks’ , Chuseok 2026: What Korea Is Doing This Week, in Korean

  12. 12 쇼핑 · shopping

    운동화를 좀 보고 싶어요

    I want to see some sneakers

    Vocabulary 물건thing쇼핑shopping

    -지만 but — the plain contrast, blunter than 는데 보다 than — the comparison particle
    Listen & speak
    가게에서 선물 추천하는 대화 듣고 말하기Listening to and speaking about gift recommendations at a store
    Read & write
    시장에서 물건 산 경험에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write about your experience buying items at the market

    Seen in: -는데 vs -지만: Same Outfit, Different But , 보다 vs 처럼: Than Ranks, Like Copies

  13. 13 취미 · hobby

    케이 팝(K-pop) 댄스를 출 수 있어요?

    Can you do K-pop dance?

    Vocabulary 취미hobby취미 활동hobbies

    -을 수 있다 can, cannot — ability and possibility -고 있다 be doing — the progressive
    Listen & speak
    취미 활동에 대한 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about hobbies
    Read & write
    취미 활동에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Reading and writing about hobbies

    Seen in: 젬민이 (Jemmini) Meaning: Gemini Slang, Not 잼민이 , Korean Shop Phrases: Trying On, Size, Exchange

  14. 14 여행 · travel

    고향에 가기 전에 여행을 할 거예요

    I'm going to travel before I go home

    Vocabulary 여행 장소travel place여행 활동travel activities

    -기 전에 before doing — the mirror of -은 후에 -으려고 intending to, in order to
    Listen & speak
    여행 계획에 대한 대화 듣고 말하기Listen and talk about travel plans
    Read & write
    목적에 따른 여행지 소개에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write about travel destinations according to purpose

    Seen in: -으려고 vs -으러: Intend, or Go In Order To

  15. 15 건강 · health

    약을 먹은 후에 푹 쉬세요

    Rest well after taking medicine

    Vocabulary 신체body치료therapy증상symptoms

    -은 후에 after doing — plain sequence, no stress on finishing -으세요 polite command — and the honorific present tense
    Listen & speak
    건강 증상에 대한 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about health symptoms
    Read & write
    건강 비법에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write about health tips

    Seen in: 9 Korean Cafe Phrases You Will Actually Use in Seoul , Korean at the Clinic and Pharmacy: 어디가 아파요 (Eodiga apayo)

  16. 16 교통 · traffic

    여기에서 서울역까지 어떻게 가요?

    How do I get to Seoul Station from here?

    Vocabulary 교통수단means of transportation교통수단 이용Use of transportation

    에서, 까지 from here to there — the pair that marks a route -으십시오 formal command — signs, announcements, service speech
    Listen & speak
    목적지까지 가는 방법 듣고 말하기Listen and talk about how to get to your destination
    Read & write
    낯선 곳을 찾아간 경험에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write about your experiences visiting unfamiliar places
  17. 17 집들이 · housewarming

    집들이에 뭘 사 가야 돼요?

    What should I buy for the housewarming party?

    Vocabulary 집들이housewarming초대invite

    -어야 되다 have to, must — the obligation half of the 되다 family -고요 softening a statement or answer
    Listen & speak
    집들이에 대한 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about housewarming
    Read & write
    집들이 초대에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write about housewarming invitations

    Seen in: Aljaltakkalsen Meaning: Five Korean Instructions in One Word , 갓생 (Gatsaeng): The Korean Word for a Life Lived Perfectly

  18. 18 여가 · leisure

    길이 막히니까 공연장까지 지하철로 갑시다

    Since the road is congested, let’s take the subway to the concert venue.

    Vocabulary 여가 활동leisure activities문화생활cultural life

    (으)로 by, toward, as — one particle doing three jobs -(으)니까 because — the one that works before commands and suggestions
    Listen & speak
    친구와 약속하는 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about a conversation you make with a friend
    Read & write
    여가생활에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Reading and writing about leisure life

    Seen in: 다듬은 말 (Dadeumeun mal): 34 Loanwords Swapped for Plain Korean , Why Hangeul Day Is Special in 2026: Hangeul vs. Korean

  19. 19 길 찾기 · directions

    저랑 같이 사러 가요

    Come buy it with me

    Vocabulary 장소location방향direction이동movement

    -으러 in order to — with verbs of going and coming 이랑 and / with — the casual spoken one
    Listen & speak
    길을 묻고 답하는 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and speaking to questions and answers for directions
    Read & write
    길 찾기에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write about directions

    Seen in: -으려고 vs -으러: Intend, or Go In Order To

  20. 20 방문 · visit

    어머니께서 꽃을 좋아하세요

    Your mother likes flowers

    Vocabulary 높임말honorific

    께서 honorific subject particle — for someone you elevate -으시- honorific infix — raises the person you are talking about
    Listen & speak
    친구 집 방문 선물에 대한 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about gifts for visiting a friend's house
    Read & write
    친구 집 방문 경험에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write about your experience visiting a friend's house

    Seen in: Jal Butakdeurimnida Meaning: When and How to Use 잘 부탁드립니다 , Kkondae Meaning: Why This Korean Word Is More Than 'Boomer'

Reference: 바로 배워 바로 쓰는 세종학당 한국어 1, published by the King Sejong Institute Foundation (original book). jabi’s explanations and learning guidance are independently written.