Korean — Full Course (한국어)

Hangul was designed so that a smart person can learn it in an hour. This course takes you letter-by-letter, through full grammar, and into 200+ real sentences — every syllable voiced.

Languages Hub → Korean · full course

🌍 Overview & Course Roadmap

📖 Lesson 1 — Hangul: the consonants (자음)

Hangul's brilliance: each consonant's shape draws the mouth making it. ㅁ (m) = closed lips, ㅇ (ng) = open throat. Fourteen basic consonants:

LetterNameSoundExample
giyeokg/k (like "go")
nieunn
digeutd/t (like "do")
rieull/r — a flapped sound
mieumm
bieupb/p (like "bo")
siots — but "sh" before 이
ieungsilent at block-start, "ng" at block-end
jieutj (like "joe")
chieutch (aspirated, a burst of air)
kieukk (strong, aspirated)
tieutt (strong, aspirated)
pieupp (strong, aspirated)
hieuth

Double (tense) consonants — squeeze not blast

LetterSoundvs. plainExample
kk (tense, no air)kkak kkak
tttight t
pptight p
sshissed s
jjtight j
💡 The aspiration difference is the trap: ㅋ vs ㄱ is air, not pitch. Hold a hand in front of your mouth — ㅋ should blast it, ㄱ shouldn't.

🔤 Lesson 2 — Hangul: the vowels (모음)

LetterSoundAs in…Example
afather
yayard
eo"uh" — mouth relaxed
yeoyuh
oletter "o", lips rounded
yoyour
usoon, lips tight
yuyou
eu"uh" with flat lips, like a grunt
imachine

Eight compound (diphthong) vowels

LetterSoundExampleLetterSoundExample
ae개 (dog)wa와 (and)
e게 (crab)wae왜 (why)
yae얘 (this kid)oe외 (outside)
ye예 (yes)wo워 (어+우)
wi위 (above)ui의 (of)
we웨 (wae)

Building syllable blocks

Consonants and vowels stack into blocks: consonant top-left, vowel right or under. ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ → 한 (han). Blocks, then words: 한 + 국 + 어 → 한국어 (Korean language, hangugeo).

BlockLettersBlockLetters
ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴㄱ+ㅜ+ㄱ
ㅇ+ㅓㅅ+ㅏ
ㄹ+ㅏ+ㅁㅇ+ㅡ+ㅁ
💡 Pronunciation quirk: when ㄹ alone starts a syllable block it's an "r"-flap; when it ends a block it's an "l". 런던 (London) ends with ㄴ not ㄹ — Romanized "Leondeon".

🔉 Lesson 3 — Sound rules that change words

🧩 Grammar Reference — the SOV skeleton

저는 한국어를 공부해요I (topic) Korean (object) study. Subject first, verb last, everything else tagged with a particle.

The core particles

ParticleJobExample
는/은topic marker (the "as for…" of the sentence)저는 학생이에요 (I am a student)
가/이subject marker (new info, emphasis)물이 맛있어요 (the water is tasty)
를/을object marker밥을 먹어요 (I eat rice)
to / at (place or time), "at" will come학교에 가요 (I go to school)
에서from / in (action location)집에서 쉬어요 (I rest at home)
possessive "of"우리 엄마 (our mom)
하고/랑"and" / "with"친구하고 커피를 마셔요 (I drink coffee with a friend)
also / too저도요! (me too!)

Politeness — the verb ending ladder

LevelEndingWho uses itExample
formal polite-습니다/-니까news, announcements, strangers갑니다 (I go)
polite casual-아요/-어요most everyday conversation가요 (I go)
blunt-아/-어close friends, lyrics가 (go)
formal plain-다books, diaries, news headlines간다 (goes)

Verbs: present → past → future

There is / isn't — a different verb

Native "exist" is 있다 (isseuda): 사과가 있어요 (there are apples). To have something: 았/있 again as the possessive: 시간이 없어요 (I don't have time).

Counters and the two number systems

Native Korean numbers (1–99) count things: 한 명 (one person), 두 개 (two items), 세 병 (three bottles). Sino-Korean numbers count money, dates, phone numbers: 일 (1), 이 (2), 삼 (3), 사 (4), 오 (5), 육 (6), 칠 (7), 팔 (8), 구 (9), 십 (10). 10 items = 열 개, 20 items = 스무 개.

Joining clauses

And: -고 (가고 = "go and"); but: -지만 (가지만); because: -서 (가서 = "go, so"); if: -면; while: -(으)면서. Korean chains verbs like LEGOs — a sentence may have five connected verbs before one final ending.

💡 Verb endings are the whole grammar. Memorize the polite -아요/-어요 set as your default and you can survive any conversation.

💬 Topic 1 — Greetings & Politeness

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
안녕하세요annyeonghaseyoHello
안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyoGoodbye (stay well — to someone leaving)
안녕히 가세요annyeonghi gaseyoGoodbye (go well — to someone staying)
잘 있어요jal isseoyoBye (casual, stay well)
감사합니다gamsahamnidaThank you (formal)
고마워요gomawoyoThanks (polite casual)
천만에요cheonmaneyoYou're welcome
죄송합니다joesonghamnidaI'm sorry (formal)
미안해요mianhaeyoSorry (polite casual)
실례합니다sillyehamnidaExcuse me (formal)
잠시만요jamsimanyoOne moment / wait a sec
neYes
아니요aniyoNo
괜찮아요gwaenchanayoIt's okay / no problem
수고하세요sugohaseyoGood work (said as someone leaves work)
즐거운 하루 보내세요jeulgeoun haru bonaeseyoHave a nice day

👤 Topic 2 — Introductions & Self

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
저는 마리예요jeoneun MariyeyoI'm Marie
이름이 뭐예요?ireumi mwoyeyo?What's your name?
처음 뵙겠습니다cheoeum boepgesseumnidaNice to meet you (formal)
만나서 반가워요mannaseo bangawoyoNice to meet you (casual)
저는 인도 사람이에요jeoneun Indo saramiyeyoI'm from India
저는 학생이에요jeoneun haksaengiyeyoI'm a student
저는 일해요jeoneun ilhaeyoI work
몇 살이에요?myeot sariyeyo?How old are you?
저는 스물다섯 살이에요jeoneun seumuldaseot sariyeyoI'm twenty-five
어디에서 왔어요?eodieseo wasseoyo?Where are you from?
저는 미국에서 왔어요jeoneun Migugeseo wasseoyoI come from America
한국말을 공부해요hangungmareul gongbuhaeyoI'm studying Korean
한국어를 할 수 있어요?hangugeoreul hal su isseoyo?Can you speak Korean?
조금 할 수 있어요jogeum hal su isseoyoI can speak a little
잘 못 해요jal mot haeyoI can't do it well
지금 배우고 있어요jigeum baeugo isseoyoI'm learning right now

🔢 Topic 3 — Numbers & Counting

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
하나hanaOne (native)
dulTwo (native)
setThree (native)
netFour (native)
다섯daseotFive (native)
여섯yeoseotSix (native)
일곱ilgopSeven (native)
여덟yeodeolEight (native)
아홉ahopNine (native)
yeolTen (native)
사과 두 개 주세요sagwa du gae juseyoTwo apples, please
사람이 세 명 있어요sarami se myeong isseoyoThere are three people
물 한 병 주세요mul han byeong juseyoOne bottle of water, please
얼마예요?eolmayeyo?How much is it?
천 원이에요cheon woniyeyoIt's 1000 won
만 원이에요man woniyeyoIt's 10,000 won

🕐 Topic 4 — Time & Date

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
지금 몇 시예요?jigeum myeot siyeyo?What time is it now?
두 시예요du siyeyoIt's two o'clock
오후 세 시예요ohu se siyeyoIt's three in the afternoon
오늘은 무슨 요일이에요?oneureun museun yoiliyeyo?What day is today?
오늘은 월요일이에요oneureun woryoiliyeyoToday is Monday
몇 월이에요?myeot woriyeyo?What month is it?
오늘은 몇 월 며칠이에요?oneureun myeot wol myeochiriyeyo?What's today's date?
아침 일곱 시에 일어나요achim ilgop sie ireonayoI wake up at 7 in the morning
저녁 여덟 시에 먹어요jeonyeok yeodeol sie meogeoyoI eat at 8 in the evening
내일 뭐 할 거예요?naeil mwo hal geoyeyo?What will you do tomorrow?
어제는 바빴어요eojeneun bappasseoyoYesterday I was busy
지난주에 방문했어요jinanjue bangmunhaesseoyoI visited last week
다음 주에 만나요daeum jue mannayoLet's meet next week
시간이 없어요sigani eopseoyoI don't have time
시간이 있어요sigani isseoyoI have time
나중에 다시 봐요najunge dasi bwayoSee you later

🌅 Topic 5 — Daily Routine

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
매일 일찍 일어나요maeil iljjik ireonayoI wake up early every day
세수를 해요sesureul haeyoI wash my face
이를 닦아요ireul dakkayoI brush my teeth
아침을 먹어요achimeul meogeoyoI eat breakfast
커피를 마셔요keopireul masyeoyoI drink coffee
버스를 타요beoseureul tayoI take the bus
지하철로 출근해요jihacheollo chulgeunhaeyoI commute by subway
학교에 가요hakgyoe gayoI go to school
집에 돌아와요jibe dorawayoI come back home
저녁을 먹어요jeonyeogeul meogeoyoI eat dinner
텔레비전을 봐요tellebijeoneul bwayoI watch TV
책을 읽어요chaegeul ilgeoyoI read a book
음악을 들어요eumageul deureoyoI listen to music
운동을 해요undong-eul haeyoI exercise
샤워를 해요syawo-reul haeyoI shower
열 시에 자요yeol sie jayoI sleep at ten

🍜 Topic 6 — Food & Drink

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
밥 먹었어요?bap meogeosseoyo?Have you eaten? (standard greeting)
네, 먹었어요ne, meogeosseoyoYes, I ate
뭐 먹고 싶어요?mwo meokgo sipeoyo?What do you want to eat?
김치를 좋아해요gimchireul joahaeyoI like kimchi
비빔밥 하나 주세요bibimbap hana juseyoOne bibimbap, please
불고기는 맛있어요bulgogineun masisseoyoBulgogi is delicious
매워요?maewoyo?Is it spicy?
너무 매워요neomu maewoyoIt's too spicy
물 좀 주세요mul jom juseyoSome water, please
맥주 두 병 주세요maekju du byeong juseyoTwo beers, please
차를 마실래요chareul masillae-yoI'll have some tea
소주 한 잔 할까요?soju han jan halkkayo?Shall we have a shot of soju?
더 주세요deo juseyoMore, please
계산할게요gyesanhalgeyoI'll pay the bill
제가 살게요jega salgeyoIt's on me / my treat
맛있게 먹었습니다masitge meogeosseumnidaThat was delicious (after meal)

🗺️ Topic 7 — Directions & Places

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
여기가 어디예요?yeogiga eodiyeyo?Where is this place?
화장실이 어디예요?hwajangsiri eodiyeyo?Where is the restroom?
역이 어디예요?yeogi eodiyeyo?Where is the station?
왼쪽으로 가세요oenjjokeuro gaseyoGo to the left
오른쪽으로 가세요oreunjjokeuro gaseyoGo to the right
곧장 가세요gotjang gaseyoGo straight
여기에서 가까워요?yeogieseo gakkawoyo?Is it near here?
멀어요?meoreoyo?Is it far?
지하철로 갈 수 있어요jihacheollo gal su isseoyoYou can go by subway
택시를 타세요taeksireul taseyoTake a taxi
한 정거장이에요han jeonggeojang-iyeyoIt's one stop away
공항에 가고 싶어요gonghange gago sipeoyoI want to go to the airport
호텔이 어디에 있어요?hoteri eodie isseoyo?Where is the hotel?
편의점이 근처에 있어요pyeonuijeomi geuncheoe isseoyoThere is a convenience store nearby
길을 잃었어요gireul ireosseoyoI'm lost
여기 봐 주세요yeogi bwa juseyoLook at this, please

🛍️ Topic 8 — Shopping & Money

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
이거 얼마예요?igeo eolmayeyo?How much is this?
너무 비싸요neomu bissayoIt's too expensive
좀 깎아 주세요jom kkakka juseyoPlease give a discount
이거 주세요igeo juseyoI'll take this
저것이 뭐예요?jeogeosi mwoyeyo?What is that?
다른 색 있어요?dareun saek isseoyo?Do you have a different color?
더 큰 사이즈 있어요?deo keun saijeu isseoyo?Do you have a bigger size?
한 번 입어 봐도 돼요?han beon ibeo bwado dwaeyo?Can I try it on?
카드 되세요?kadeu doeseyo?Can I pay by card?
현금으로 낼게요hyeongeumeuro naelgeyoI'll pay in cash
영수증 주세요yeongsujeung juseyoReceipt, please
옥션에서 샀어요oksyeoneseo sasseoyoI bought it online
선물이에요seonmuri-iyeyoIt's a gift
비싸지만 좋아요bissajiman joayoIt's pricey but good
싸요!ssayo!It's cheap!
잘 샀어요jal sasseoyoGood purchase

🚑 Topic 9 — Emergencies & Health

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
도와주세요!dowajuseyo!Help me!
경찰을 불러 주세요gyeongchareul bulleo juseyoCall the police
119에 전화해 주세요il-il-gue jeonhwae juseyoCall 119 (emergency)
아파요apayoI'm in pain / it hurts
머리가 아파요meoriga apayoI have a headache
약국이 어디예요?yakgugi eodiyeyo?Where is the pharmacy?
병원에 가야 해요byeongwone gaya haeyoI need to go to the hospital
의사를 불러 주세요uisareul bulleo juseyoPlease call a doctor
안전해요?anjeonhaeyo?Is it safe?
괜찮아요?gwaenchanayo?Are you okay?
저 아파요jeo apayoI am sick
열이 나요yeori nayoI have a fever
어지러워요eojireowoyoI'm dizzy
알레르기가 있어요allereugiga isseoyoI have allergies
물을 많이 마셔요mureul mani masyeoyoDrink lots of water
병원에 데려가 주세요byeongwone deryeoga juseyoTake me to the hospital

🌦️ Topic 10 — Weather & Seasons

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
날씨가 좋아요nalssiga joayoThe weather is nice
날씨가 안 좋아요nalssiga an joayoThe weather is bad
비가 와요biga wayoIt's raining
눈이 와요nuni wayoIt's snowing
바람이 불어요barami bureoyoThe wind is blowing
춥다chupdaIt's cold
더워요deowoyoIt's hot
따뜻해요ttatteuthaeyoIt's warm
시원해요siwonhaeyoIt's cool and refreshing
여름에 덥습니다yeoreume deopseumnidaIt's hot in summer
겨울에 눈이 많이 와요gyeo-ure nuni mani wayoIt snows a lot in winter
봄에 꽃이 피어요bome kkochi pieoyoFlowers bloom in spring
가을은 시원해요ga-eureun siwonhaeyoAutumn is cool
우산이 필요해요usani piryohaeyoI need an umbrella
밖에 나가지 마세요bakke nagaji maseyoDon't go outside
황사가 왔어요hwangsaga wasseoyoYellow dust has arrived

👨‍👩‍👧 Topic 11 — Family & People

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
가족이 몇 명이에요?gajogi myeon myeong-iyeyo?How many people in your family?
아버지abeojiFather (formal)
어머니eomeoniMother (formal)
아빠appaDad (casual)
엄마eommaMom (casual)
hyeongOlder brother (male speaker)
누나nunaOlder sister (male speaker)
언니eonniOlder sister (female speaker)
오빠oppaOlder brother (female speaker)
동생이 있어요dongsaengi isseoyoI have a younger sibling
우리 아버지는 선생님이세요uri abeojineun seonsaengnimiseyoMy father is a teacher
친구하고 같이 갔어요chinguhago gachi gasseoyoI went together with a friend
남자 친구예요namja chinguyeyoHe's my boyfriend
여자 친구예요yeoja chinguyeyoShe's my girlfriend
아들이 하나 있어요adeuri hana isseoyoI have one son
할머니가 보고 싶어요halmeoniga bogo sipeoyoI miss my grandmother

💭 Topic 12 — Feelings & Opinions

KoreanRomanizedEnglish
기뻐요gippeoyoI'm happy
슬퍼요seulpeoyoI'm sad
화가 나요hwaga nayoI'm angry
무서워요museowoyoI'm scared
피곤해요pigonhaeyoI'm tired
심심해요simsimhaeyoI'm bored
행복해요haengbokhaeyoI'm happy / blessed
그렇게 생각해요geureoke saenggakhaeyoI think so
동의해요dong-uihaeyoI agree
그거 좋은 생각이에요geugeo joeun saenggagi-iyeyoThat's a good idea
괜찮다고 생각해요gwaenchantago saenggakhaeyoI think it's fine
정말 좋아요jeongmal joayoIt's really good
싫어요sir-eoyoI don't like it
그래요?geuraeyo?Really? / Is that so?
맞아요majayoThat's right
걱정하지 마세요geokjeonghaji maseyoDon't worry

🗂 Flashcards — drill until instant

📝 Quizzes — check yourself

Quiz 1 · Hangul reading

Quiz 2 · Numbers

Quiz 3 · Particles & order

Quiz 4 · Survival phrases

🎯 Most Frequent Words Trainer

Roughly 1,000 headwords get you fluent in everyday Korean. This trainer starts you on the top-frequency core (~250 words) — tap 🔊 to hear, mark mastered, then run Quick recall until 100%.

👂 Listen & Type Drill

Hear the sentence, type what you heard. This trains your ear to the rhythm of Korean syllables.

🧠 Cultural Notes & Next Steps

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