Jaskamal Kainth

한국어 학습 노트 (Korean Learning Notes)

My journey of learning Korean language and culture

Course Levels

🎯 Level 1 - Foundation Korean

✅ Completed 13 Classes • March - June 2025

Mastered Korean alphabet (Hangul), basic grammar, numbers, time expressions, and fundamental conversation skills including greetings, self-introduction, and daily activities.

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📚 Class Notes

Class 1 March 21, 2025 (2025년 3월 21일) Introduction to Korean alphabet (Hangul) - basic consonants and vowels created by King Sejong in 1443
Class 2 March 28, 2025 (2025년 3월 28일) Complex consonants, complex vowels, basic vocabulary, and Korean drinking/food culture
Class 3 April 4, 2025 (2025년 4월 4일) Batchim rules (final consonant sounds), consonant assimilation, Korean greetings, and food vocabulary
Class 4 April 11, 2025 (2025년 4월 11일) Self-introduction (이에요/예요), nationality, occupation, topic markers (은/는), and Korean home vocabulary
Class 5 April 17, 2025 (2025년 4월 17일) Daily activities and places, present tense verbs, three levels of formality, and Korean greeting culture
Class 6 April 25, 2025 (2025년 4월 25일) Locations and positions, existence (있다/없다), subject markers (이/가), and Korean festivals
Class 7 May 9, 2025 (2025년 5월 9일) Shopping vocabulary, Sino-Korean numbers, object markers (을/를), and months of the year
Class 8 May 16, 2025 (2025년 5월 16일) Days of the week, counters with Native Korean numbers, body parts, and Korean traditional clothing
Class 9 May 23, 2025 (2025년 5월 23일) Past tense expressions (-았어요/-었어요), location markers (에서), and Korean transportation vocabulary
Class 10 May 30, 2025 (2025년 5월 30일) Seasons and weather expressions, temperature reading, negation (안), and connecting words (도, 그리고)
Class 11 June 6, 2025 (2025년 6월 6일) Time expressions, making appointments, time markers (에), duration (부터~까지), and prohibitive forms
Class 12 June 13, 2025 (2025년 6월 13일) Making suggestions and appointments using -(으)ㄹ까요?, -자/-ㅂ시다, and expressing desires with -고 싶어요
Class 13 June 20, 2025 (2025년 6월 20일) Weekend activities, future plans, grammar pattern: -(으)ㄹ 거예요

🚀 Level 2 - Intermediate Korean

🔄 In Progress 1 Class • September 2025

Building on foundation knowledge to develop intermediate conversation skills, complex grammar patterns, and expanded vocabulary for daily communication.

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📚 Class Notes

Class 1 September 12, 2025 (2025년 9월 12일) Level 2 Introduction - Review of Level 1 foundations and introduction to intermediate Korean grammar

Cultural Videos & Songs from Classes

📺 Culture Videos

Class 3 - Korean Language & Culture Series (Ep.3: Korean Food) Class 4 - Korean Language & Culture Series (Ep.4: Korean Homes) Class 5 - Korean Language & Culture Series (Ep.1: Korean Greetings) Class 6 - Korean Language & Culture Series (Ep.5: Korean Holidays) Class 8 - Korean Language & Culture Series (Ep.7: Korean Attire) Class 9 - Korean Language & Culture Series (Ep.6: Korean Transportation) Class 10 - Korean Phrases 5: Describing the Weather Class 10 - Korean Dialogue Listening Class 11 - Daily Routine Phrases Class 11 - Role Play Video

🎵 Korean Songs & Poems

Korean Happy Birthday Song

생일 축하합니다 (saengil chukahamnida) - Happy birthday to you
사랑하는 (name) 씨 (saranghaneun ... ssi) - Dear (name)

Three Bears Song (곰 세 마리)

곰 세 마리가 한 집에 있어 (gom se mariga han jibe isseo)
Three bears are in one house
아빠 곰은 뚱뚱해 (appa gomeun ttungttunghae)
Daddy bear is fat
엄마 곰은 날씬해 (eomma gomeun nalssinhae)
Mommy bear is slim
애기 곰은 너무 귀여워 (aegi gomeun neomu gwiyeowo)
Baby bear is very cute
으쓱 으쓱 잘한다 (eusseuk eusseuk jalhanda)
Wiggle wiggle well done!

Twinkle Little Star (반짝 반짝 작은 별)

🎬 Class 10 - Watch Korean Nursery Song

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

🎬 Korean & EnglishㅣWekiz Songs for Children

Unity Haiku (통일 하이쿠)

우리 이름이 달라도
우리는 같은 하늘 아래 살아요
우리는 하나예요 - JK
Though our names, cultures, religions, and countries may differ, we all live under the same sky and are one.

Quick Reference

한글 (Hangul)

Basic Vowels:
ㅏ (a)
ㅛ (yo)
ㅑ (ya)
ㅜ (u)
ㅓ (eo)
ㅠ (yu)
ㅕ (yeo)
ㅡ (eu)
ㅗ (o)
ㅣ (i)
Basic Consonants:
ㄱ (g/k)
ㅈ (j)
ㄴ (n)
ㅊ (ch)
ㄷ (d/t)
ㅋ (k)
ㄹ (r/l)
ㅌ (t)
ㅁ (m)
ㅍ (p)
ㅂ (b/p)
ㅎ (h)
ㅅ (s)
ㅇ (silent/ng)
Complex Consonants:
ㄲ (kk)
ㅆ (ss)
ㄸ (tt)
ㅉ (jj)
ㅃ (pp)
Stronger than basic
Complex Vowels:
ㅐ (ae - like "care")
ㅝ (wo - like "wonder")
ㅒ (yae - like "yam")
ㅞ (we - like "wedding")
ㅔ (e - like "bed")
ㅟ (wi - like "week")
ㅖ (ye - like "yes")
ㅢ (ui - like "gooey")
ㅘ (wa - like "water")
ㅙ (wae - like "wet")
ㅚ (oe - like "wet")

Pronunciation Rules

Batchim Rules:
ㄱ,ㅋ,ㄲ → [k] (수박=su-bak)
ㅁ → [m] (밤=bam)
ㄴ → [n] (안=an)
ㅂ,ㅍ → [p] (집=jip)
ㄷ,ㅅ,ㅆ,ㅈ,ㅊ,ㅌ,ㅎ → [t] (옷=ot)
ㅇ → [ng] (공=gong)
ㄹ → [l] (달=dal)
Assimilation:
ㅂ+ㄴ → [m-n] (입니다→[임니다])
같이 → [가치] (ga-chi=together)
ㅎ Neutralization:
Final position: silent (좋다→[조타])
Before consonants: silent (않고→[안꼬])
Double Batchim:
Word end/before consonant: one consonant
Before vowel: second moves to next syllable

Numbers

Sino-Korean (dates, money, minutes, years, phone numbers, addresses, mathematical calculations):
일 (il - 1)
십 (sip - 10)
이 (i - 2)
백 (baek - 100)
삼 (sam - 3)
천 (cheon - 1K)
사 (sa - 4)
만 (man - 10K)
오 (o - 5)
억 (eok - 100M)
육 (yuk - 6)
조 (jo - 1T)
칠 (chil - 7)
팔 (pal - 8)
구 (gu - 9)
Native Korean (counting objects, people, animals, hours 1-12, age, ordering food/drinks):
하나 (hana - 1)
열 (yeol - 10)
둘 (dul - 2)
열하나 (yeol hana - 11)
셋 (set - 3)
스물 (seumul - 20)
넷 (net - 4)
서른 (seoreun - 30)
다섯 (daseot - 5)
마흔 (maheun - 40)
여섯 (yeoseot - 6)
쉰 (swin - 50)
일곱 (ilgop - 7)
예순 (yesun - 60)
여덟 (yeodeol - 8)
일흔 (ilheun - 70)
아홉 (ahop - 9)
여든 (yeodeun - 80)
아흔 (aheun - 90)

Time

Months:
1월 (irwol - Jan)
7월 (chirwol - Jul)
2월 (iwol - Feb)
8월 (palwol - Aug)
3월 (samwol - Mar)
9월 (guwol - Sep)
4월 (sawol - Apr)
10월 (siwol - Oct)
5월 (owol - May)
11월 (sibil-wol - Nov)
6월 (yuwol - Jun)
12월 (sibi-wol - Dec)
Days:
월요일 (wol-yoil - Monday/Moon)
금요일 (geum-yoil - Friday/Gold)
화요일 (hwa-yoil - Tuesday/Fire)
토요일 (to-yoil - Saturday/Earth)
수요일 (su-yoil - Wednesday/Water)
일요일 (il-yoil - Sunday/Sun)
목요일 (mok-yoil - Thursday/Wood)
Time Format:
오전 (ojeon - AM)
분 (bun - minute)
오후 (ohu - PM)
시 (si - used after hour)
시간 (sigan - hour)
Examples:
3:05 PM → 오후 세 시 오 분
12:00 PM → 오후 열두 시
9:30 AM → 오전 아홉 시 삼십 분
Note: Native Korean for hours, Sino-Korean for minutes

Grammar & Formality

Markers:
이/가 (i/ga - subject: consonant+이, vowel+가)
을/를 (eul/reul - object: consonant+을, vowel+를)
은/는 (eun/neun - topic: consonant+은, vowel+는)
에 (e - location/time marker for places and times)
Formality Levels:
반말 (banmal - casual: no ending or -아/어)
-습니다/-습니까 (seumnida/seumnikka - formal)
-요 (polite ending)
-십니다/-십니까 (simnida/simnikka - highest)

Essential Vocabulary

Greetings:
안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo - hello)
안녕히 가세요 (annyeonghi gaseyo - goodbye to leaving)
안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo - goodbye when you leave)
환영합니다 (hwanyeonghamnida - welcome)
감사합니다 (kamsahamnida - thank you)
고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida - thank you polite)
만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida - nice to meet you)
처음 뵙겠습니다 (cheoeum boepgetseumnida - nice to meet you humble)
죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida - I'm sorry)
미안해요 (mianhaeyo - I'm sorry informal)
밥 먹었어요? (bap meogeosseoyo - have you eaten?)
식사하셨어요? (siksahasyeosseoyo - have you eaten honorific)
잠시만요 (jamsimanyo - excuse me)
Classroom:
책을 펴세요 (chaegeul pyeoseyo - open book)
알겠어요? (algesseoyo - understand?)
책을 보세요 (chaegeul boseyo - look at book)
네 알겠어요 (ne algesseoyo - yes I understand)
잘 들으세요 (jal deureuseyo - listen carefully)
아니요 모르겠어요 (aniyo moreugesseoyo - no I don't understand)
따라 하세요 (ttara haseyo - repeat after me)
질문 있어요? (jilmun isseoyo - any questions?)
읽으세요 (ilgeuseyo - read it)
질문하세요 (jilmun haseyo - ask question)
쓰세요 (sseuseyo - write it)
대답하세요 (daedap haseyo - answer question)

Verb Conjugations

Present Tense Polite (-요):
가다 → 가요 (gada → gayo - go)
오다 → 와요 (oda → wayo - come)
보다 → 봐요 (boda → bwayo - see/watch)
먹다 → 먹어요 (meokda → meogeoyo - eat)
마시다 → 마셔요 (masida → masyeoyo - drink)
하다 → 해요 (hada → haeyo - do)
Past Tense (-았어요/-었어요):
갔어요 (gasseoyo - went)
왔어요 (wasseoyo - came)
봤어요 (bwasseoyo - saw/watched)
먹었어요 (meogeosseoyo - ate)
마셨어요 (masyeosseoyo - drank)
했어요 (haesseoyo - did)
Suggestions & Requests:
갈까요? (galkkayo - shall we go?)
가세요 (gaseyo - please go)
가고 싶어요 (gago sipeoyo - I want to go)
가지 마세요 (gaji maseyo - please don't go)
안 가요 (an gayo - won't go by choice)
못 가요 (mot gayo - can't go due to circumstances)

Question Words & Useful Expressions

Question Words:
뭐 (mwo - what)
어디 (eodi - where)
언제 (eonje - when)
몇 시 (myeot si - what time)
무슨 요일 (museun yoil - what day)
몇 개 (myeot gae - how many items)
얼마 (eolma - how much)
어떻게 (eotteoke - how)
Daily Expressions:
무엇을 드릴까요? (mueoseul deurilkkayo - may I help you)
얼마예요? (eolmayeyo - how much is it)
어떻게 지내세요? (eotteoke jinaeseyo - how are you)
어때요? (eottaeyo - how about it)
좋아요 (joayo - good/sounds good)
괜찮아요 (gwaenchanhayo - it's okay)
잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgetseumnida - before eating)
잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeotseumnida - after eating)

Transportation & Places

Transportation:
버스 (beoseu - bus)
지하철 (jihacheol - subway)
택시 (taeksi - taxi)
KTX (keiteekseu - high-speed rail)
버스 정류장 (beoseu jeongryujang - bus stop)
지하철역 (jihacheoryeok - subway station)
교통 카드 (gyotong kadeu - transportation card)
운전하다 (unjeonhada - to drive)
More Places:
영화관 (yeonghwagwan - movie theater)
도서관 (doseogwan - library)
백화점 (baekhwajeom - department store)
카페 (kape - café)
교실 (gyosil - classroom)
회의실 (hoeuisil - meeting room)
병원 (byeongwon - hospital)
은행 (eunhaeng - bank)

Currency & Business

Money:
원 (won - Korean currency)
천원 (cheonwon - 1,000 won)
만원 (manwon - 10,000 won)
지폐 (jipye - banknote)
동전 (dongjeon - coin)
신용카드 (sinyongkadeu - credit card)
Business Terms:
회사 이름 (hoesa ireum - company name)
이름 (ireum - name)
전화번호 (jeonhwabeonho - phone number)
이메일 (imeil - email)
주소 (juso - address)
회의 (hoeui - meeting)
약속 (yaksok - appointment)
시간이 있다/없다 (sigani itda/eopda - have/don't have time)

Korean Holidays & Culture

Major Holidays:
설날 (seollal - Lunar New Year)
추석 (chuseok - Harvest Festival)
한글날 (hangeulnal - Hangul Day Oct 9)
어린이날 (eorininal - Children's Day May 5)
어버이날 (eobeoinal - Parents Day May 8)
광복절 (gwangbokjeol - Liberation Day Aug 15)
Traditional Foods:
떡국 (tteokguk - rice cake soup for New Year)
송편 (songpyeon - half-moon rice cakes for Chuseok)
전 (jeon - savory pancakes)
갈비탕 (galbitang - beef short rib soup)
Cultural Terms:
세배 (sebae - deep bow to elders)
세뱃돈 (sebaetdon - New Year money gift)
한류 (hallyu - Korean Wave)
차례 (charye - ancestor memorial service)

Counters & Nationalities

Counters:
개 (gae - general item)
권 (gwon - book)
병 (byeong - bottle)
장 (jang - flat object/paper/tickets)
명 (myeong - person formal)
마리 (mari - animal)
사람 (saram - person informal)
Nationalities:
한국 사람 (hanguk saram - Korean)
미국 사람 (miguk saram - American)
일본 사람 (ilbon saram - Japanese)
중국 사람 (jungguk saram - Chinese)
프랑스 사람 (peurangseu saram - French)
독일 사람 (dogil saram - German)
호주 사람 (hoju saram - Australian)
베트남 사람 (beteunam saram - Vietnamese)
파키스탄 사람 (pakiseutan saram - Pakistani)
몽골 사람 (monggol saram - Mongolian)
아일랜드 사람 (aillaendeu saram - Irish)
러시아 사람 (reosia saram - Russian)

Occupations & Activities

Jobs:
의사 (uisa - doctor)
선생님 (seonsaengnim - teacher)
경찰 (gyeongchal - police officer)
간호사 (ganhosa - nurse)
공무원 (gongmuwon - civil servant)
변호사 (byeonhosa - lawyer)
회사원 (hoesawon - office worker)
학생 (haksaeng - student)
기사/운전사 (gisa/unjeonsa - driver)
기자 (gija - reporter)
요리사 (yorisa - chef)
가수 (gasu - singer)
Common Activities:
공부하다 (gongbuhada - to study)
일하다 (ilhada - to work)
운동하다 (undonghada - to exercise)
전화하다 (jeonhwahada - to call)
이야기하다 (iyagihada - to talk)
요리하다 (yorihada - to cook)
쇼핑하다 (syopinghada - to shop)
운전하다 (unjeonhada - to drive)

Food & Shopping

Korean Food:
김밥 (gimbap - seaweed rice rolls)
비빔밥 (bibimbap - mixed rice dish)
볶음밥 (bokkeumbap - fried rice)
라면 (ramyeon - ramen noodles)
떡볶이 (tteokbokki - spicy rice cakes)
삼겹살 (samgyeopsal - pork belly)
치킨 (chikin - chicken)
호떡 (hotteok - sweet pancake)
Drinks & Items:
소주 (soju - Korean alcoholic drink)
막걸리 (makgeolli - rice wine)
우유 (uyu - milk)
커피 (keopi - coffee)
물 (mul - water)
주스 (juseu - juice)
사과 (sagwa - apple)
수박 (subak - watermelon)
Condiments:
된장 (doenjang - soybean paste)
고추장 (gochujang - red chili paste)
간장 (ganjang - soy sauce)
쌈장 (ssamjang - thick soybean paste)

Body Parts & Position Words

Head/Face:
머리 (meori - head)
머리카락 (meorikarak - hair)
얼굴 (eolgul - face)
눈 (nun - eyes)
코 (ko - nose)
입 (ip - mouth)
귀 (gwi - ears)
목 (mok - neck)
Body & Position:
손 (son - hand)
팔 (pal - arm)
다리 (dari - leg)
발 (bal - foot)
앞 (ap - front)
뒤 (dwi - back/behind)
옆 (yeop - next to)
위 (wi - above/on)

Weather & Traditional

Seasons & Weather:
봄 (bom - spring)
여름 (yeoreum - summer)
가을 (gaeul - fall/autumn)
겨울 (gyeoul - winter)
덥다 → 더워요 (deopda → deowoyo - hot)
춥다 → 추워요 (chupda → chuwoyo - cold)
비가 와요 (biga wayo - it's raining)
눈이 와요 (nuni wayo - it's snowing)
Traditional Items:
한복 (hanbok - traditional clothing)
치마 (chima - skirt)
저고리 (jeogori - top/jacket)
한옥 (hanok - traditional house)
온돌 (ondol - underfloor heating)
한글 (hangeul - Korean alphabet)
윷놀이 (yunnori - traditional game)
제기차기 (jegi chagi - traditional kicking game)

Korean Proverbs

  • 꿩 대신 닭 (Kkwong daesin dak) - "Chicken instead of pheasant"
    Meaning: When you can't get what you want, you should be satisfied with the next best thing.
    Similar to English: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" or "Better than nothing"
  • 옷이 날개다 (Osi nalgaeda) - "Clothes are wings"
    Meaning: Clothes give you wings - suggesting that proper attire can help you achieve your goals
  • 그림의 떡 (Geulim-ui tteok) - "Rice cake in a picture"
    Meaning: Similar to "pie in the sky" - something that looks good but is unattainable
  • 무소식이 희소식이다 (Musosigi huisosigida) - "No news is good news"
    Meaning: When you don't hear anything, it usually means everything is fine
  • 천리 길도 한 걸음부터 (cheolli gildo han georeumbuteo) - "Even a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step"
    Meaning: Every great achievement starts with taking the first step, no matter how small