HangulyBelow are 60 of the most useful Korean grammar patterns words, each with its Hangul spelling, romanization (how to pronounce it) and a real example sentence. Tap 🔊 to hear any word spoken aloud.
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 | -(eu)l su itda | Can / to be able to | 한국어를 말할 수 있어요. I can speak Korean. |
| -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 | -(eu)l su eopda | Cannot / unable to | 지금은 갈 수 없어요. I cannot go right now. |
| -(으)면 되다 | -(eu)myeon doeda | All you need to do is... | 여기서 왼쪽으로 가면 돼요. All you need to do is turn left here. |
| -(으)면 안 되다 | -(eu)myeon an doeda | Must not / not allowed to | 여기서 사진을 찍으면 안 돼요. You must not take photos here. |
| -아/어야 하다 | -a/eoya hada | Must / have to | 숙제를 해야 해요. I have to do homework. |
| -고 싶다 | -go sipda | Want to (do something) | 한국에 가고 싶어요. I want to go to Korea. |
| -는 것 같다 | -neun geot gatda | It seems like / I think | 비가 오는 것 같아요. It seems like it's raining. |
| -(으)ㄴ/는데 | -(eu)n/neunde | Background info connector (but/and) | 식당에 갔는데 사람이 많았어요. I went to the restaurant but there were many people. |
| -기 때문에 | -gi ttaemune | Because of (noun/verb) | 바빴기 때문에 못 갔어요. Because I was busy, I couldn't go. |
| -(으)려고 하다 | -(eu)ryeogo hada | To intend to / plan to | 한국어를 배우려고 해요. I intend to learn Korean. |
| -아/어 보다 | -a/eo boda | To try doing something | 한번 먹어 봐요. Try eating it once. |
| -게 되다 | -ge doeda | To come to / end up doing | 한국어를 좋아하게 됐어요. I came to like Korean. |
| -ㄴ/는다고 하다 | -n/neundago hada | To say that (reported speech) | 내일 온다고 했어요. They said they're coming tomorrow. |
| -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 | -(eu)l ppeonhada | Almost did (near miss) | 넘어질 뻔했어요. I almost fell. |
| -더라도 | -deorado | Even if / even though | 힘들더라도 포기하지 마세요. Even if it's hard, don't give up. |
| -에 불과하다 | -e bulgwahada | to be no more than / merely | 이건 시작에 불과해요. This is no more than a beginning. |
| -에 따르면 | -e ttareumyeon | according to | 뉴스에 따르면 비가 온대요. According to the news, it will rain. |
| -을/를 통해 | -eul/reul tonghae | through / via | 경험을 통해 배웠어요. I learned through experience. |
| -에 비해 | -e bihae | compared to / in comparison to | 작년에 비해 많이 늘었어요. It increased a lot compared to last year. |
| -에 관해서 | -e gwanhaeseo | regarding / concerning | 이 문제에 관해서 얘기해요. We're talking about this issue. |
| -은/는커녕 | -eun/neunkeonyeong | let alone / far from | 칭찬은커녕 혼났어요. Far from praise, I was scolded. |
| -다시피 | -dasip | as you can see / virtually | 아시다시피 상황이 어려워요. As you know, the situation is difficult. |
| -는 바람에 | neun barame | because of (unexpected) | 늦잠 자는 바람에 지각했어요. I was late because I overslept. |
| -도록 | dorok | so that / until | 잘 들리도록 크게 말해요. Speak loudly so it can be heard well. |
| -기 위해서 | gi wiheseo | in order to | 건강하기 위해서 운동해요. I exercise in order to be healthy. |
| -에 비해서 | e biheseo | compared to | 작년에 비해서 날씨가 따뜻해요. The weather is warm compared to last year. |
| -뿐만 아니라 | ppunman anira | not only but also | 한국어뿐만 아니라 영어도 해요. I speak not only Korean but also English. |
| -는 대신에 | neun daesine | instead of | 커피 대신에 차를 마셨어요. I drank tea instead of coffee. |
| -에도 불구하고 | edo bulguhago | despite / in spite of | 비에도 불구하고 나갔어요. I went out despite the rain. |
| -는 편이다 | neun pyeonida | tend to / it is rather | 저는 일찍 자는 편이에요. I tend to go to bed early. |
| -아/어도 되다 | ayeo doeda | may / it is okay to | 여기 앉아도 돼요? May I sit here? |
| -지 않아도 되다 | ji anado doeda | do not have to | 오지 않아도 돼요. You do not have to come. |
| -면 안 되다 | myeon an doeda | must not | 여기서 담배 피우면 안 돼요. You must not smoke here. |
| -고 있다 | go itda | to be doing (progressive) | 지금 공부하고 있어요. I am studying right now. |
| -아/어 있다 | ayeo itda | to be in a state of | 문이 열려 있어요. The door is open. |
| -아/어지다 | ayeojida | to become (change of state) | 날씨가 따뜻해졌어요. The weather has become warm. |
| -을/를 막론하고 | eul/reul mangnohago | regardless of | 나이를 막론하고 중요해요. It is important regardless of age. |
| -이/가 아닌 한 | i/ga anin han | unless | 네가 아닌 한 안 가요. Unless it is you I won't go. |
| -을/를 비롯하여 | eul/reul birotayeo | including/starting with | 한국을 비롯하여 아시아 전역이에요. It covers all of Asia including Korea. |
| -에 따라 | e ttara | depending on/according to | 날씨에 따라 달라요. It varies depending on the weather. |
| -을/를 바탕으로 | eul/reul batangeuro | based on | 사실을 바탕으로 썼어요. I wrote based on facts. |
| -다 보면 | da bomyeon | if you keep doing something | 연습하다 보면 늘어요. If you keep practising you improve. |
| -아/어 가다 | a/eo gada | to gradually become | 점점 나아져 가요. It is gradually getting better. |
| -고 보니 | go boni | now that I think about it / after doing | 해 보고 보니 쉬웠어요. After doing it I realised it was easy. |
| -에 의하면 | e uihámyeon | according to | 보도에 의하면 사실이에요. According to reports it is true. |
| -을/를 계기로 | eul/reul gyegiro | taking the opportunity of | 이번을 계기로 바꿨어요. I changed, taking this as an opportunity. |
| -는 반면에 | neun banmyeone | on the other hand/whereas | 비싼 반면에 좋아요. Whereas it is expensive it is good. |
| -아/어 봤자 | a/eo bwatja | even if one tries | 말해 봤자 소용없어요. Even if I say it, it is no use. |
| -을/를 앞두고 | eul/reul apdugO | with something ahead/imminent | 시험을 앞두고 긴장해요. I am nervous with the exam imminent. |
| -에 지나지 않다 | e jinaji anta | to be no more than | 소문에 지나지 않아요. It is no more than a rumour. |
| 있어요 | isseoyo | There is / I have | |
| 없어요 | eopseoyo | There isn't / I don't have | |
| 고 싶어요 | go sipeoyo | Want to... | |
| 먹고 싶어요 | meokgo sipeoyo | Want to eat | |
| 가고 싶어요 | gago sipeoyo | Want to go | |
| 보고 싶어요 | bogo sipeoyo | Want to see / miss someone | |
| 쉬고 싶어요 | swigo sipeoyo | Want to rest | |
| 배우고 싶어요 | baeugo sipeoyo | Want to learn | |
| 마시고 싶어요 | masigo sipeoyo | Want to drink | |
| 싶지 않아요 | sipji anhayo | Don't want to... |
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