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Learning path TOPIK I

Beginner Korean 2 초급 한국어 2

Connecting ideas — modifiers, intention, permission, and the endings that soften what you say.

By the end of this level: Maintain conversation on familiar topics, make plans, and handle public services.

20 units · 44 grammar points · 44 explained so far

  1. 1 날씨 · weather

    비가 너무 많이 오네요

    It's raining too much

    Vocabulary 기후climate날씨weather

    -겠- guessing or promising — the ending Koreans use for weather and for offers -네 noticing something out loud — mild surprise, said to yourself and to others
    Listen & speak
    기후와 날씨에 대해 듣고 추측하여 말하기Listen and guess about climate and weather
    Read & write
    일기예보를 읽고 날씨에 관련된 글쓰기Reading weather forecasts and writing about the weather

    Seen in: Jal Butakdeurimnida Meaning: When and How to Use 잘 부탁드립니다 , 9 Korean Cafe Phrases You Will Actually Use in Seoul

  2. 2 쇼핑 · shopping

    동대문에 가 보세요

    Go to Dongdaemun

    Vocabulary 장소location장소의 상태state of the place

    에게서, 한테서 from a person — the receiving end of 에게 / 한테 -어 보다 try doing — and in the past, "have you ever"
    Listen & speak
    쇼핑 장소에 대한 대화 듣고 말하기Listen and talk about where to shop
    Read & write
    쇼핑 장소를 추천하는 메시지 읽고 쓰기Read and write messages recommending places to shop

    Seen in: 9 Korean Cafe Phrases You Will Actually Use in Seoul , Korean Shop Phrases: Trying On, Size, Exchange

  3. 3 외모 · appearance

    엄마 친구는 어떻게 생겼어요?

    What does your mom's friend look like?

    Vocabulary 외모appearance색깔color

    -은, -는 turning a verb or adjective into something that describes a noun 께 the honorific 에게 — for someone you would not say 한테 to
    Listen & speak
    외모를 묘사한 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and speaking to conversations that describe appearance
    Read & write
    외모를 묘사한 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write text describing appearance
  4. 4 장보기 · grocery shopping

    불고기를 해 먹는 게 어때요?

    How about cooking and eating bulgogi?

    Vocabulary 쇼핑shopping양념seasoning식재료ingredients

    -는데① setting up background before the main point -는 것 turning a whole clause into a noun you can talk about
    Listen & speak
    장보기와 식재료에 대해 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about grocery shopping and ingredients
    Read & write
    마트 할인 광고를 읽고 관련된 글쓰기Read supermarket discount advertisements and write about them

    Seen in: Dupe in Korean: 듀프, 듀페, and Counterfeit Differences , Gamdasal Meaning: Korean Slang for Getting Your Touch Back

  5. 5 주문 · order

    주문할게요

    I'd like to order

    Vocabulary 주문order식기tableware계산calculate

    -을게 I'll do it — a promise to the person in front of you -기 making a noun out of a verb, the plain way
    Listen & speak
    주문하는 대화를 듣고 말하기Listen and speak while ordering
    Read & write
    외식 문화에 관련된 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write articles related to dining out culture

    Seen in: Aljaltakkalsen Meaning: Five Korean Instructions in One Word , 인싸 (Inssa) and 아싸 (Assa): Korea's Words for Being In or Out

  6. 6 휴가 · vacation

    휴가를 어떻게 보내기로 했어요?

    How did you decide to spend your vacation?

    Vocabulary 날짜date관광·여행Tourism/Travel

    -은 적이 있다 have done it at least once — experience, not past tense -기로 하다 decided to — a plan you settled on
    Listen & speak
    휴가 계획에 대한 대화 듣고 말하기Listen and talk about vacation plans
    Read & write
    여행 광고를 보고 휴가 계획을 세우는 글 쓰기Write a post about planning a vacation after seeing a travel advertisement

    Seen in: Why a Korean News Headline Is Not a Sentence , What Does 파이어족 (Paieojok) Mean in Korean?

  7. 7 건강 · health

    찬 음식을 너무 많이 먹지 마세요

    Don't eat too much cold food

    Vocabulary 병원hospital증상symptoms치료therapy

    -게 turning an adjective into "how" something is done -지 말다 don't — the negative command
    Listen & speak
    건강 상태와 치료 방법에 대해 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about health conditions and treatment options
    Read & write
    건강 상태와 치료 방법에 관련된 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write about health conditions and treatment options
  8. 8 영화 · movie

    오늘 저녁에 뭐 할래요?

    What do you want to do this evening?

    Vocabulary 예매Reservation감정 표현emotional expression

    -을래 shall I? will you? — casual intention, for people close to you 밖에 nothing but — and why the verb after it must be negative
    Listen & speak
    영화를 예매하는 대화 듣고 말하기Listening to and talking about movie reservations
    Read & write
    영화 시간표를 보고 영화 보는 약속을 하는 메시지 보내기View the movie schedule and send a message to make an appointment to see the movie

    Seen in: 만 vs 밖에: Only Water, Opposite Polarity

  9. 9 휴일 · day off

    주말마다 산에 가요

    I go to the mountains every weekend

    Vocabulary 여가leisure빈도frequency

    -는데② but, though — contrast so soft it barely sounds like disagreement 마다 every — each and all of them
    Listen & speak
    휴일에 하는 활동에 대한 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about activities during holidays
    Read & write
    주말 계획을 설명하는 글을 읽고 한 달 일정표 쓰기Read an article explaining your weekend plans and write a monthly itinerary.

    Seen in: -는데 vs -지만: Same Outfit, Different But

  10. 10 학교생활 · school life

    밤 10시 이후로는 조용히 할 것

    Be quiet after 10 p.m.

    Vocabulary 자기소개Self-introduction수업class기숙사dormitory

    -을 것 rules and notices — the ending signs are written in -을 수밖에 없다 have no choice but to
    Listen & speak
    대학교 기숙사 규칙에 대해 듣고 말하기Listen and talk about university dormitory rules
    Read & write
    대학교 수업 규칙과 관련된 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write texts related to university class rules
  11. 11 공공서비스 · public service

    약속 장소에 가다가 돌아왔어요

    I went to the meeting place and came back.

    Vocabulary 잃어버리기 쉬운 물건something easy to lose동작movement

    -다가 doing one thing, then switching mid-way 에서부터 starting from — a stronger 에서
    Listen & speak
    물건 분실 상황의 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about situations in which items are lost
    Read & write
    물건을 잃어버린 사람의 일기 읽고 쓰기Read and write the diary of someone who lost something

    Seen in: -다가 vs -고: Cut Mid-Action, or Just And

  12. 12 대인관계 · interpersonal relationships

    사비나 씨는 어떤 사람을 좋아해요?

    What kind of person does Sabina like?

    Vocabulary 대인 관계interpersonal relationships성격·성향Personality/Inclination

    -은 describing a noun by what already happened to it -어 주다 doing something for someone else — the favour built into the verb
    Listen & speak
    친구의 이상형을 듣고 이성 친구를 소개하는 대화 듣고 말하기Listen to a friend's ideal type and listen to a conversation introducing a friend of the opposite sex.
    Read & write
    친구를 소개하는 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write a text introducing a friend

    Seen in: Aljaltakkalsen Meaning: Five Korean Instructions in One Word , Jal Butakdeurimnida Meaning: When and How to Use 잘 부탁드립니다

  13. 13 가정생활 · family life

    집안일을 나눠서 하는 게 어때?

    How about dividing up the household chores?

    Vocabulary 집안일housework

    -는 동안에 while, during — two things filling the same stretch of time -으면서 doing two things at once — and its hidden contrastive use
    Listen & speak
    집안일에 대한 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about household chores
    Read & write
    집안일에 관한 메모 읽고 쓰기Read and write notes about household chores
  14. 14 생활 편의시설 · Living amenities

    한국에서 찜질방은 처음인데요

    This is my first jjimjilbang in Korea.

    Vocabulary 편의시설Amenities편의시설 이용Use of amenities

    -지 seeking agreement — "right?" tacked onto a sentence -기 때문에 because — the written, more formal reason -음 the nominaliser of notes and signs, not conversation
    Listen & speak
    편의시설 이용에 대한 설명 듣고 말하기Listen and speak about the use of amenities
    Read & write
    편의시설 이용법 게시판 읽고 쓰기Read and write instructions for using public amenities

    Seen in: TOPIK II Writing 51 and 52: Two Questions You Can Prepare , Why a Korean News Headline Is Not a Sentence

  15. 15 배달 · delivery

    치킨 두 마리를 주문하려고 해요

    I would like to order two chickens.

    Vocabulary 배달 음식 주문Order delivery food수량 명사quantity noun

    에다가 onto, into — adding something to a place -으면 if, when — the all-purpose conditional
    Listen & speak
    배달 음식을 주문하는 전화 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and speaking on the phone to order food for delivery
    Read & write
    배달 앱 광고 읽고 쓰기Read and write delivery app ads

    Seen in: Keoteokal Toegun: Korean Slang for a Quiet Office Exit , -으면 vs -(으)니까: If It Rains, or Because It Is Raining

  16. 16 의복 · garments

    이 원피스를 입어 봐도 돼요?

    Can I try on this dress?

    Vocabulary 옷 종류type of clothes옷 쇼핑clothes shopping탈착 표현detachment expression

    처럼 like, as — comparing one thing to another -어도 되다 may I? — asking and granting permission
    Listen & speak
    손님과 매장 점원의 대화 듣고 말하기Listen and speak to conversations between customers and store clerks
    Read & write
    선호하는 패션 스타일에 대한 글 읽고 쓰기Read and write about preferred fashion styles

    Seen in: Embiseuchan Meaning: Korean Slang for MBTI Overthinking , Geoje Yaho Meaning: A Korean Short-Form Greeting Meme

  17. 17 취미 · hobby

    저는 시간이 있을 때 요리해요

    I cook when I have time

    Vocabulary 취미hobby

    -을 때 when — the moment something happens -게 되다 ending up that way — a change you did not choose 에게로 toward a person — direction rather than destination
    Listen & speak
    취미에 관한 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about hobbies
    Read & write
    공연 안내문을 읽고 후기 작성하기Read the performance guide and write a review
  18. 18 모임 · class

    대한 씨 딸이 태어난 지 벌써 1년이 됐어요?

    Has it already been a year since Daehan’s daughter was born?

    Vocabulary 모임class감정emotion

    -은 지 how long it has been since -어 있다 staying in a state after the action finished -는군 realising something on the spot, half to yourself
    Listen & speak
    초대하고 초대에 응하는 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and talking about inviting and responding to invitations
    Read & write
    돌잔치 축하 카드 만들기Making a congratulatory card for the first birthday party

    Seen in: -고 있다 vs -어 있다: Still Doing, or Still Seated

  19. 19 집 · house

    저도 학교 근처로 이사할까 봐요

    I think I’ll move closer to the school too.

    Vocabulary 집의 형태shape of the house집의 구조structure of the house

    -거나 or — choosing between actions 이나 or — choosing between nouns, often with a hint of settling -을까 보다 thinking I might — a plan you are still weighing
    Listen & speak
    주거 및 생활환경에 대한 대화 듣고 말하기Listening and speaking about housing and living environments
    Read & write
    숙소 광고 읽고 숙소에 대해 문의하기Read accommodation advertisements and inquire about accommodation
  20. 20 약속 · promise

    이번 일요일은 좀 어려울 것 같아요

    This Sunday is going to be a little difficult.

    Vocabulary 약속promise

    -을 describing a noun by what has not happened yet -을 것 같다 I think, it seems — the hedge Koreans put on almost everything
    Listen & speak
    제안하고 제안에 대해 정중히 거절하는 대화 듣고 말하기Listening to and talking about making suggestions and politely declining suggestions
    Read & write
    약속을 못 지키는 상황을 설명하는 이메일 쓰기Write an email explaining the circumstances under which you cannot keep your promise.

    Seen in: Korean Future Tense: -겠-, -(으)ㄹ 거예요, and Present , How to Say No in Korean: 아니요, 못 해요, and Soft Refusals

Reference: 바로 배워 바로 쓰는 세종학당 한국어 2, published by the King Sejong Institute Foundation (original book). jabi’s explanations and learning guidance are independently written.