TTMIK - 30 Essential Korean Adjectives for Beginners
This list is courtesy of TTMIK’s “Learn 30 Essential Korean Adjectives for Beginners”. All rights reserved to TTMIK and their team for creating this list - this is only a physical copy or their list, it is not my own. Go here for the PDF copy.
How to attach adjectives to a noun:
If there is no 받침? attach -ㄴ (ex. 크 (from 크다 - to be big) + ㄴ = 큰)
If there is 받침? attach -은 (ex. 작 (from 작다 - to be small) + 은 = 작은)
this does not apply for irregular verbs**
1. 크다 - to be big
~ 커요 - it’s big
~ 큰 - big
~ 큰 나무 - big tree
2. 작다 - to be small
~ 작아요 - it’s small
~ 작은 - small
~ 작은 사과 - small apple
3. 멀다 - to be far
~ 멀어요 - it’s far
~ 먼 - far
~ 먼 거리 - far distance
4. 가깝다 - to be close / nearby
~ 가까워요 - it’s close
~ 가까운 - close
~ 가까운 은행 - nearby bank
5. 쉽다 - to be easy
~ 쉬워요 - it’s easy
~ 쉬운 - easy
~ 쉬운 문제 - easy problem
6. 어렵다 - to be difficult
~ 어려워요 - it’s difficult
~ 어려운 - difficult
~ 어려운 시험 - difficult exam
7. 춥다 - to be cold
~ 추워요 - it’s cold
~ 추운 - cold
~ 추운 겨울 - cold winter
8. 덥다 - to be hot (weather)
~ 더워요 - it’s hot
~ 더운 - hot
~ 더운 여름 - hot summer
9. 귀엽다 - to be cute
~ 귀여워요 - it’s cute
~ 귀여운 - cute
~ 귀여운 강아지 - cute puppy
10. 좁다 - to be narrow
~ 좁아요 - it’s narrow
~ 좁은 - narrow
~ 좁은 길 - narrow road
11. 넓다 - to be large
~ 넓어요 - it’s large
~ 넓은 - large
~ 넓은 집 - large house
12. 늦다 - to be late
~ 늦어요 - it’s late
~ 늦은 - late
~ 늦은 시간 - late time
13. 싸다 - to be cheap
~ 싸요 - it’s cheap
~ 싼 - cheap
~ 싼 가격 - cheap price
14. 비싸다 - to be expensive
~ 비싸요 - it’s expensive
~ 비싼 - expensive
~ 비싼 자동차 - expensive car
15. 아프다 - to be sick / hurt
~ 아파요 - it’s sick
~ 아픈 - sick
~ 아픈 사람 - sick person
16. 느리다 - to be slow
~ 느려요 - it’s slow
~ 느린 - slow
~ 느린 속도 - slow speed
17. 빠르다 - to be fast
~ 빨라요 - it’s fast
~ 빠른 - fast
~ 빠른 결정 - fast decision
18. 같다 - to be the same
~ 같아요 - it’s the same
~ 같은 - same
~ 같은 색깔 - same colour
19. 예쁘다 - to be pretty
~ 예뻐요 - it’s pretty
~ 예쁜 - pretty
~ 예쁜 아이 - pretty child
20. 좋다 - to be good
~ 좋아요 - it’s good
~ 좋은 - good
~ 좋은 생각 - good idea
21. 많다 - to be a lot
~ 많아요 - it’s a lot
~ 많은 - a lot
~ 많은 사람들 - a lot of people
22. 적다 - to be few / a little
~ 적어요 - there’s a few / a little
~ 적은 - few / a little
~ 적은 양 - little amount
23. 얇다 - to be thin
~ 얇아요 - it’s thin
~ 얇은 - thin
~ 얇은 종이 - thin paper
24. 두껍다 - to be thick
~ 두꺼워요 - it’s thick
~ 두꺼운 - thick
~ 두꺼운 양말 - thick socks
25. 깨끗하다 - to be clean
~ 깨끗해요 - it’s clean
~ 깨끗한 - clean
~ 깨끗한 물 - clean water
26. 더럽다 - to be dirty
~ 더러워요 - it’s dirty
~ 더러운 - dirty
~ 더러운 옷 - dirty clothes
27. 밝다 - to be bright
~ 밝아요 - it’s bright
~ 밝은 -bright
~ 밝은 달 - bright moon
28. 어둡다 - to be dark
~ 어두워요 - it’s dark
~ 어두운 - dark
~ 어두운 밤 - dark night
29. 길다 - to be long
~ 길어요 - it’s long
~ 긴 - long
~ 긴 목 - long neck
30. 짧다 - to be short
~ 짧아요 - it’s short
~ 짧은 - short
~ 짧은 손가락 - short fingers