10+ Common Korean Adjectives: An Easy Guide

Original blog post: https://ling-app.com/ko/korean-adjectives/

Are you interested in conversing in a much deeper way with a native speaker? The key to connecting better and becoming understood by the locals is learning the correct grammatical construction of utterances. For today’s blog, let us know common Korean adjectives that can add to your vocabulary.

Suppose you want to learn the Korean language. In that case, it is crucial to introduce yourself to the different Korean parts of speech such as verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjection, and determiners of the Korean language. It may seem overwhelming, but it is necessary to learn since these can affect the meaning of a particular statement.

In addition, you need to master and achieve your target language by understanding the meaning and functions of the Hangul or Korean alphabet. But if you are now familiar with hangul, below is a simple overview of how to learn Korean adjectives. Ready to know more about the Korean Language? Let’s get it on!

Korean Adjectives: Overview

Korean adjectives are also called descriptive verbs because the base form of Korean adjectives is written in the infinitive verb form of Korean verb. For instance, if you search the Korean adjective (더운) ‘hot’ in a Korean dictionary, it will also be in the other parts of speech, which is the infinitive form in Korea which is 덥다 (to be hot). In short, Korean adjectives start their lives as Korean verbs.

In addition, Korean adjectives belong to a class of verbs (processive verbs, existential verbs, copulative verbs, and descriptive verbs). Under the ‘descriptive verbs’ needed to be conjugated to become Korean adjectives. For example, the English verb ‘bounce’ will be turned into an adjective word ‘bouncy’ by adding -y at the end.

Remember, when using Korean adjectives in Korean sentences, you should use the infinitive verb form then conjugate it in the appropriate tense.

Korean Conjugation

Korean conjugation is just like the basic verb conjugation. Below are the steps in conjugating Korean adjectives:

Step 1: Drop The 다

The first step to conjugate adjectives is to remove the 다 from the word. After that, you now have the verb stem. Now that you have the verb stem, you may add the ending.

Step 2: Add The Appropriate Ending

After removing 다, you now need to add in the suffix. Adding ending may result in another unit of meaning to your verb stem.

In Korean sentences, the endings of verbs give the Korean word a more precise meaning. Also, the suffix you will use depends on whether the “stem” ends with a vowel or a consonant. If it ends with a vowel, you need to add ㄴ, and if the stem ends with a consonant, you should add 은.

Irregular Korean Adjectives

Same with Korean irregular verbs, there are also Korean irregular adjectives.

When the verb stem ends in ㅂ, drop it and add 운.

After dropping the 다, then the verb stem ends in ㅂ like 쉽다 — “to be easy.”

• Drop the ㅂ
• Add the syllable 운

You now have 쉬운, the Korean word for “easy.”

When the verb stem ends in ㄹ, drop it and add ㄴ.

After dropping the 다 then the verb stem ends in ㄹ like 길다 — “to belong.”

First, drop the ㄹ.

Last, add ㄴ.

You now have 긴, which is Korean for “long.”

Korean Adjectives According To Tenses

Same with Korean verbs, Korean adjectives also functions based on the tense. Adjectives in Korean indicate past tense differently. You should need to look at the last vowel in the stem. Below are the example functions for past tense and future tense:

Past Tense

• For Korean adjective stems that have the vowels ㅗ and ㅏ, you add 았어요.

For example, “good” (좋다) would be 좋았어요 (was good).

• For adjective stems that have the vowels other than ㅗ and ㅏ, you add 었어요

For example: like 맛있다 (delicious) would be 맛있었어요 (was delicious).

Future Tense

For Korean adjectives stems, you add ㄹ 거예요 or 을 거예요 to the verb stem.

• For Korean adjective stems that end with a vowel, you add ㄹ 거예요

For example, 예쁘 (pretty) would be 예쁠 거예요 (will be pretty).

• For Korean adjective stems that end with a consonant, you add 을 거예요.

For instance, 늦 (late) would be 늦을 거예요 “will be late.”

10+ Common Korean Adjectives

• 큰 (Keun) — Big

Example sentence:

YG Entertainment is a big agency.

YG엔터테인먼트는 큰 에이전시입니다.

YGentutteinmentnen keun eijeonsiipnida.

• 예쁜 (Yeppeun) — Pretty

Example sentence:

All Korean artists have pretty and unique voices.

모든 한국 아티스트들은 예쁘고 독특한 목소리를 가지고 있습니다.

modeun hankuk atistdl yeppeugo dokteukhan moksorireul gajigo issseupnida.

• 키가 큰 (Kiga Keun) — Tall

Example sentence:

Tzuyu is the tallest member of Twice.

쯔위는 트와이스에서 가장 키가 큰 멤버다.

jjeuwineun teuwaiseueseo gajang kiga keun membeoda.

• 깊은 (Gipeun) — Deep

Example sentence:

Korean movies have deep storylines.

한국 영화는 스토리가 깊다.

hangug yeonghwaneun seutoliga gipda.

• 재미있는 (Jaemiissneun) — Funny

Example sentence:

1 night and 2 days is the funniest Korean variety show that I watched.

1박 2일은 내가 본 한국 예능 중 가장 재미있었다.

1bag 2il-eun naega bon hangug yeneung jung gajang jaemiiss-eossda.

• 이상의 (Isang-ui) — Ideal

Example sentence:

Cha Tae Hyun is the ideal husband of several Korean actresses.

차태현은 여러 한국 여배우들의 이상적인 남편이다.

chataehyeon-eun yeoleo hangug yeobaeudeul-ui isangjeog-in nampyeon-ida.

• 미친 (Michin) — Mad

Example sentence:

A mad man is watching over you.

미친 남자가 당신을 지켜보고 있습니다.

michin namjaga dangsin-eul jikyeobogo issseubnida.

• 행복한 (Haengboghan) — Happy

Example sentence:

Kim Hanbin seems happier after his hiatus.

김한빈은 휴식기 후 행복해 보인다.

gimhanbin-eun hyusiggi hu haengboghae boinda

• 특별한 (Teugbyeolhan) — Special

Example sentence:

You make me feel special.

당신은 나를 특별하게 느끼게합니다.

dangsin-eun naleul teugbyeolhage neukkigehabnida.

• 외로운 (Oeloun) — Lonely

Example sentence:

Baby, I’m so lonely

자기야, 난 너무 외로워

jagiya, nan neomu oelowo

Other Basic Korean Adjectives

Let me know if you have any reactions and reflections about this article by commenting down below. If you also want to learn more, you can check my other blog post about other Korean parts of speech like common Korean verbs, Korean pronouns, and useful Korean prepositions. If you are genuinely passionate about mastering this language, then now is the best time to start learning about the Korean language through the best language learning app, Ling App!

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