Intermediate Korean 1 중급 한국어 1
Where Korean gets expressive — reported speech, 반말 endings, and nuance between near-identical connectors.
By the end of this level: Handle social life without difficulty, give opinions and advice, and switch register appropriately.
- 3A·1 모임 · class
약속 시간에 늦으면 안 돼요
You can't be late for your appointment.
-으려면 if you intend to — a condition about your own plan -으면 되다/안 되다 it's fine if / you must not — permission and prohibition as a pair 으로부터 from — the written 에게서, used for sources and origins- Listen & speak
- 신입 회원 환영회 · 모임 소개 및 가입 권유하기Welcoming new members, introducing meetings and encouraging them to join
- Read & write
- 모임에서 일어난 일 · 모임 안내하기What happened at the meeting · Guide to the meeting
- 3A·2 만남과 추억 · encounters and memories
어제 친구를 우연히 기차역에서 만났어요
Yesterday, I met a friend at the train station.
-어도 even if — granting the condition and going ahead anyway -잖아(요) you know — and why it sounds accusing when the listener does not -고 싶어 하다 what someone else wants — the third-person 고 싶다- Listen & speak
- 부모님의 만남 · 추억이 담긴 물건에 대해 말하기Talk about meeting your parents and things that contain memories
- Read & write
- 기억에 남는 선생님 · 잊지 못할 순간에 대해 쓰기Write about memorable teachers and unforgettable moments
Seen in: Jonbeo Meaning: Korean Slang for Holding Through a Loss , What Does 중꺾마 (Jungkkeokma) Mean in Korean?
- 3A·3 계획과 바람 · plans and wishes
열심히 노력해야 목표를 이룰 수 있어요
You can achieve your goal if you work hard.
-으나 but — the written, more measured 지만 -어야 only if — the condition that has to be met first 뿐 only that and nothing else — stronger and more written than 만- Listen & speak
- 결혼 계획 · 새해 계획 말하기Talk about wedding plans and New Year's plans
- Read & write
- 이루고 싶은 꿈 · 인생에서 꼭 하고 싶은 일 목록 쓰기Write a list of dreams you want to achieve and things you want to do in life
- 3A·4 자기 계발 · self-development
꾸준히 운동을 하면 건강해져요
If you exercise regularly, you will become healthy.
-는다 the plain written ending of books, diaries and news -어지다 becoming — an adjective turning into a change of state- Listen & speak
- 자기 계발 활동 · 질문에 대답하기Self-development activities · Answering questions
- Read & write
- 자기 계발의 방법 · 강의 후기 쓰기How to develop yourself · Write a lecture review
Seen in: Korean Proverbs: Knowing One Is Not Using One , TOPIK II Writing 51 and 52: Two Questions You Can Prepare
- 3A·5 관람과 감상 · viewing and appreciation
우리 팀이 이겨서 정말 신나더라
I was really excited that my team won.
-니? asking casually — to a close friend or someone younger -어라 the blunt command — friends, anger, and sports crowds -자 let's — the casual version of 읍시다 -는구나 realising something with feeling, out loud -더라 reporting what you saw yourself, and found worth mentioning -더군(요) the same as 더라, one step more polite -다가 while doing one thing, something else happened- Listen & speak
- 운동 경기 관람 · 새로 나온 노래나 드라마 추천하기Watching a sports game · Recommending a new song or drama
- Read & write
- 박물관 관람 · 영화 한 줄 평 쓰기, 별점 주기Visit a museum, write a one-line review of a movie, and give a rating
- 3A·6 취미 · hobby
오랜만에 영화를 보니 정말 재미있었어요
It was really fun to see a movie after a long time.
-나 보다 I guess — a guess from evidence, with verbs -는가 보다 the same guess, attached differently -으니 on doing it, I found that — discovery rather than cause -은 결과 as a result of — the written summary phrase- Listen & speak
- 취미 활동 · 새로운 취미 활동 권유하기Hobbies · Encouraging new hobbies
- Read & write
- 등산 · 최근에 시작한 취미를 소개하는 메일 쓰기Hiking · Write an email introducing a hobby you recently started
- 3A·7 휴식과 휴가 · rest and vacation
여행을 가는 대신에 집에서 쉬는 것이 좋겠네요
Instead of going on a trip, it would be better to rest at home.
-느라고 because I was busy doing — and why the result is always negative -자마자 the instant one thing ends, the next begins -는 대신에 instead of — swapping one action for another -어야지 I really should — a resolution you make to yourself- Listen & speak
- 휴식 · 휴가 때 할 일에 대해 조언하기Advice on things to do during rest/vacation
- Read & write
- 수면 시간과 건강 · 게시판에 고민 털어놓고 조언 구하기Sleep time and health · Share your concerns on the bulletin board and ask for advice
Seen in: 다듬은 말 (Dadeumeun mal): 34 Loanwords Swapped for Plain Korean
- 3A·8 인터넷과 컴퓨터 · internet and computers
궁금한 것은 인터넷 게시판에 댓글로 남겨 주세요
If you have any questions, please leave a comment on the Internet bulletin board.
-어야겠- I'd better — deciding on the spot -을 텐데 it probably would, but — a guess with a "but" hanging off it 요 the 요 you can stick on almost anything to make it polite- Listen & speak
- 인터넷 동영상 · 인터넷 통신 매체의 좋은 점에 대해 평가하기Evaluating the good points of Internet video and Internet communication media
- Read & write
- 1인 미디어 방송 · 애플리케이션 사용 후기 쓰기Write a review of one-person media broadcasting/application
- 3A·9 성격과 외모 · personality and appearance
제 친구는 성격이 활발해요
My friend has a lively personality
-었었- the past before the past — and why it implies "not any more" -어 보이다 looks that way — judging by appearance alone -거든① because, you see — explaining something the listener did not know- Listen & speak
- 사람의 생김새 · 자기 소개하기Appearance of a person · Introducing yourself
- Read & write
- 사람을 소개하는 글 · 친구 소개하는 글 쓰기Write a post introducing a person · Write a post introducing a friend
- 3A·10 능력과 평판 · Abilities and Reputation
공부면 공부, 운동이면 운동 정말 못하는 게 없는 것 같아요
Whether it is studying or sports, there seems to be nothing they cannot do.
-는 편이다 tends to be — softening a judgment into a tendency 같이 like, as — the spoken counterpart of 처럼 이면 if it's — listing things by pairing them up- Listen & speak
- 사람의 능력 평가 · 친구의 능력 평가하며 말하기Evaluating a person's ability · Evaluating a friend's ability and speaking
- Read & write
- 사람의 업적 · 존경하는 인물을 소개하는 글 쓰기Write an article introducing a person's achievements or a person you admire
- 3B·11 식품 · food
채소를 사려거든 시장에 가세요
If you want to buy vegetables, go to the market
-기 위해 in order to — the written purpose -거든② if you happen to — a condition before a command 이고 and — listing in the written register- Listen & speak
- 음식 재료 사기 · 좋아하는 과일에 대해 말하기Buying food ingredients · Talking about your favorite fruits
- Read & write
- 채소의 효능과 채소를 먹을 때 주의할 점 · 사람들이 좋아하는 채소 소개하기Benefits of vegetables and precautions when eating vegetables · Introducing vegetables that people like
- 3B·12 외식 · eating out
오늘은 제가 점심을 살 테니 새로 생긴 한식당에 가요
Today I will buy lunch and go to a new Korean restaurant.
- Listen & speak
- 식사 장소 추천하기 · 식사 장소 추천하기Recommend a place to eat · Recommend a place to eat
- Read & write
- 식당 홍보 · 행사 장소 제안하기Promote a restaurant and suggest an event location
Seen in: How Korean Companies Apologize: Hidden Subjects and -도록
- 3B·13 요리 · cooking
고기를 양념에 넣고 나서 30분 기다립니다
Add the meat to the seasoning and wait 30 minutes.
-는 만큼 as much as — proportion between two things 만큼 as much as — the particle version -고 나다 after finishing — the completion is the point -은 다음에 after — plain sequence, with no emphasis on completion- Listen & speak
- 한국 사람들이 생일에 먹는 음식 · 음식을 만드는 방법에 대해 말하기Talking about what Korean people eat on their birthdays and how to make food
- Read & write
- 한국 사람들이 비 오는 날 많이 먹는 음식 · 음식을 만드는 방법 소개하기Introducing the foods that Koreans eat a lot on rainy days and how to make them
- 3B·14 일정 · schedule
휴가철이 다 되어 가는데 휴가 계획은 세웠어요?
The holiday season is almost here. Have you made any vacation plans?
-어 가다/오다 gradually getting there, or coming this way over time -는다고① quoting what someone said — the plain reported statement 만 아니면 if it weren't for — the one thing standing in the way -고서 and then — where the first action shapes the second- Listen & speak
- 휴가지 정하기 · 예약 변경하기Choosing a vacation destination · Changing reservations
- Read & write
- 여름휴가 계획 · 약속 변경하기Summer vacation planning / changing appointments
- 3B·15 숙소 · lodging
여행을 가려고 인터넷에서 숙소를 찾는 중이에요
I'm going on a trip and I'm looking for accommodation on the Internet.
-는 중이다 in the middle of doing -는다고② quoting, in a different sentence position 이란 the thing called — introducing a definition 이라고 quoting a noun, or naming something- Listen & speak
- 숙소 · 숙소를 정하는 기준에 대해 말하기Talk about the criteria for deciding on accommodation/accommodation
- Read & write
- 숙소 이용 후기 · 숙소 예약을 문의하는 글쓰기Accommodation reviews · Writing inquiries about accommodation reservations
- 3B·16 여행 준비와 짐 싸기 · Preparing for travel and packing
여행 가방을 잃어버리지 않도록 가방에 이름표를 달았어요
I put a name tag on my suitcase so I don't lose it.
-어 가지고 and then, with that — spoken and a bit casual -던데① I noticed, and — reporting what you saw, inviting a response -어다가 doing it there and bringing it here- Listen & speak
- 여행 가기 전에 짐 싸기 · 여행 가방을 싸는 방법에 대해 말하기Talk about packing before going on a trip and how to pack your suitcase.
- Read & write
- 항공사에 보상을 요구하는 글 · 잃어버린 물건을 찾는 글쓰기Writing requesting compensation from the airline · Writing searching for lost items
- 3B·17 의복 · garments
흰색 셔츠가 청바지와 잘 어울려요
A white shirt goes well with jeans
-기는 as for doing it — conceding before you disagree -으면 좋겠다 I wish, it would be nice if -어 드리다 doing something for someone you respect — the humble 어 주다- Listen & speak
- 옷 사기 · 좋아하는 옷에 대해 말하기Buying clothes / Talking about clothes you like
- Read & write
- 옷 교환 신청 · 유행하는 옷 소개하기Request for clothes exchange · Introducing trendy clothes
- 3B·18 생활용품 · daily necessities
중고 소파를 사려다가 새 제품을 샀어요
I was looking to buy a used sofa but ended up buying a new one.
-으려다가 I was going to, but then -고 말다 ended up doing it — usually regret, sometimes relief -는 반면 whereas, while on the other hand- Listen & speak
- 생활용품 · 생활용품 평가하기Evaluating daily necessities and household necessities
- Read & write
- 생활용품 광고 · 중고 생활용품 판매하기Advertisement of household goods / Selling used household goods
- 3B·19 인간관계와 예절 · Human relations and etiquette
한국 예절에 대하여 조언해 주세요
Please give me advice on Korean etiquette
-던 the noun modifier for something unfinished or habitual in the past -는 탓에 because of — blame, and only for bad outcomes 에 대하여 about, regarding — the written 에 대해- Listen & speak
- 신입생 때 한 실수 · 식사 예절에 대해 말하기Talk about mistakes you made as a freshman and dining etiquette
- Read & write
- 나이와 높임말 · 윗사람에게 부탁하는 이메일 쓰기Age and polite words · Writing an email requesting a favor from a superior
- 3B·20 사회생활 · social life
내일 회의 준비는 다 됐어요?
Are you ready for tomorrow's meeting?
-는다거나① quoting alternatives — saying this or that -게 하다 make someone do it — the causative built from scratch 보고 telling someone — the spoken particle for the person addressed- Listen & speak
- 회의 준비하기 · 회사 일을 할 때 도움 요청하기Preparing for meetings · Asking for help with office work
- Read & write
- 회의록 · 메신저로 안내하기Provide meeting minutes and messenger information
Reference: 바로 배워 바로 쓰는 세종학당 한국어 3A·3B, published by the King Sejong Institute Foundation (original book). jabi’s explanations and learning guidance are independently written.