{"id":79577,"date":"2022-07-11T16:02:33","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T20:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/korean-nouns\/"},"modified":"2025-06-09T12:22:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T16:22:20","slug":"korean-nouns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/korean\/korean-nouns\/","title":{"rendered":"150 Core Korean Nouns Every Learner Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Need to start filling up your Korean vocabulary bank<\/a>? This list contains 150 must-know nouns from the language that’ll serve as a great foundation for the rest of your studies.<\/p>\n

While 150 might sound like a lot, you’ll probably notice patterns between words that can make memorization easier. Plus, there are plenty of words that are just Korean transliterations of English words.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]
\n<\/p>\n

People<\/h2>\n

There are over 50 million people living in Korea<\/a> today. A big population for a relatively small country, and all the more reason you should learn the nouns associated with people.<\/p>\n

Knowing these nouns will get you by in a lot of social situations that require identification.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Korean<\/th>English<\/th>Romanization<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\ub0a8\uc790 <\/a>\n <\/td>man<\/td>nam-ja<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc5ec\uc790 <\/a>\n <\/td>woman<\/td>yuh-ja<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc18c\ub144 <\/a>\n <\/td>boy<\/td>so-nyun<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc18c\ub140 <\/a>\n <\/td>girl<\/td>so-nyuh<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uce5c\uad6c <\/a>\n <\/td>friend<\/td>chin-gu<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc544\uae30 <\/a>\n <\/td>baby<\/td>ah-gi<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc5b4\ub9b0\uc774 <\/a>\n <\/td>child<\/td>uh-ri-nii<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc2ed\ub300 <\/a>\n <\/td>teen<\/td>ship-dae<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc5b4\ub978 <\/a>\n <\/td>adult<\/td>uh-reun<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc544\uc90c\ub9c8 <\/a>\n \/ \uc544\uc8fc\uba38\ub2c8 <\/a>\n <\/td>middle-aged woman<\/td>ah-joom-ma<\/i> \/ ah-joo-muh-ni<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc544\uc800\uc528 <\/a>\n <\/td>middle-aged man<\/td>ah-juh-ssi<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ub178\uc778 <\/a>\n \/ \uc5b4\ub974\uc2e0 <\/a>\n <\/td>elderly person<\/td>no-iin<\/i> \/ uh-reu-shin<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ub300\uc120\ubc30 <\/a>\n \/ \uc120\ubc30 <\/a>\n <\/td>senior<\/td>dae-sun-bae<\/i> \/ sun-bae<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud6c4\ubc30 <\/a>\n <\/td>junior<\/td>hu-bae<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uace0\uac1d <\/a>\n <\/td>customer \/ client<\/td>go-gaek<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ub0af\uc120 \uc0ac\ub78c <\/a>\n <\/td>stranger<\/td>nat-sun sa-ram<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uad00\uacc4 <\/a>\n <\/td>relationship<\/td>gwan-geh<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Family<\/h2>\n

Family is a big deal in Korean culture.<\/a> The close bonds between family members are seen as hallmarks of societal success.<\/p>\n

There are a lot of special names and titles for Korean family members<\/a>, and I’ll be the first to admit that memorizing all of them can be difficult.<\/p>\n

The titles can differ depending on which side of the family a person comes from, and whether or not they’re older or younger than you or someone else.<\/p>\n

That said, knowing at least these nouns will definitely get you some brownie points with the fam!<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Korean<\/th>English<\/th>Romanization<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\uac00\uc871 <\/a>\n <\/td>family<\/td>ga-jok<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc544\uc774\ub4e4 <\/a>\n <\/td>children<\/td>ah-ii-deul<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc544\ub4e4 <\/a>\n <\/td>son<\/td>ah-deul<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ub538 <\/a>\n <\/td>daughter<\/td>ddal<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud615\uc81c <\/a>\n <\/td>brothers \/ siblings<\/td>hyung-jeh<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc790\ub9e4 <\/a>\n <\/td>sisters<\/td>ja-meh<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ubd80\ubaa8\ub2d8 <\/a>\n <\/td>parents<\/td>bu-mo<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc5b4\uba38\ub2c8 <\/a>\n <\/td>mother<\/td>uh-muh-nii<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc544\ubc84\uc9c0 <\/a>\n <\/td>father<\/td>ah-buh-ji<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ub0a8\ud3b8 <\/a>\n <\/td>husband<\/td>nam-pyun<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc544\ub0b4 <\/a>\n <\/td>wife<\/td>ah-nae<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc870\ubd80\ubaa8\ub2d8 <\/a>\n <\/td>grandparents<\/td>jo-bu-mo<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc0ac\ucd0c <\/a>\n <\/td>cousin<\/td>sa-chon<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc190\uc8fc <\/a>\n <\/td>grandchild<\/td>son-ju<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Professions<\/h2>\n

These are helpful nouns to know if you’re interested in learning about (or joining) the Korean workforce.<\/p>\n

Korea is a popular hub for international employees, so it’s definitely an option to consider if you’re looking to work abroad.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Korean<\/th>English<\/th>Romanization<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\uc9c1\uc5c5 <\/a>\n <\/td>career<\/td>jih-geop<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc77c <\/a>\n <\/td>work<\/td>il<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud559\uc0dd <\/a>\n <\/td>student<\/td>hak-seng<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc120\uc0dd\ub2d8 <\/a>\n <\/td>teacher<\/td>sun-saeng-nim<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc758\uc0ac <\/a>\n <\/td>doctor<\/td>ui-sa<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uac04\ud638\uc0ac <\/a>\n <\/td>nurse<\/td>gahn-ho-sa<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc694\ub9ac\uc0ac <\/a>\n <\/td>chef<\/td>yo-rii-sa<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ubcc0\ud638\uc0ac <\/a>\n <\/td>lawyer<\/td>byun-ho-sa<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uacfc\ud559\uc790 <\/a>\n <\/td>scientist<\/td>gwa-hak-ja<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uacbd\ucc30\uad00 <\/a>\n <\/td>police officer<\/td>gyung-chal-gwan<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc6b4\ub3d9 \uc120\uc218 <\/a>\n <\/td>athlete<\/td>oon-dong sun-soo<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ubc30\uc6b0 <\/a>\n <\/td>actor<\/td>bae-woo<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc608\uc220\uac00 <\/a>\n <\/td>artist<\/td>yeh-sul-ga<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ubbf8\uc6a9\uc0ac <\/a>\n <\/td>beautician<\/td>mi-yong-sa<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uae30\uad00\uc0ac <\/a>\n <\/td>engineer<\/td>gi-gwan-sa<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc815\ube44\uc0ac <\/a>\n <\/td>mechanic<\/td>jung-bii-sa<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud310\ub9e4\uc6d0 <\/a>\n <\/td>salesperson<\/td>pahn-mae-won<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Transportation<\/h2>\n

Trains, buses, cars\u2014oh my!<\/p>\n

Cars may remain the most common mode of vehicle-based travel in Korea, but the expansive public transportation system is certainly a thing to behold.<\/p>\n

In fact, if you ever travel to Korea<\/a>, I highly recommend you just bask in the convenience, speed and cleanliness of the available public transport modes.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Korean<\/th>English<\/th>Romanization<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\uc790\ub3d9\ucc28 <\/a>\n <\/td>car<\/td>ja-dong-cha<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ubc84\uc2a4 <\/a>\n <\/td>bus<\/td>buh-seu<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud0dd\uc2dc <\/a>\n <\/td>taxi<\/td>taek-shi<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uae30\ucc28 <\/a>\n <\/td>train<\/td>gi-cha<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ubc30 <\/a>\n <\/td>ship \/ boat<\/td>bae<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ube44\ud589\uae30 <\/a>\n <\/td>airplane<\/td>bi-haeng-gi<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc790\uc804\uac70 <\/a>\n <\/td>bicycle<\/td>ja-jeon-guh<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc624\ud1a0\ubc14\uc774 <\/a>\n <\/td>motorcycle<\/td>oh-toh-ba-ii<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc5ed <\/a>\n <\/td>train station<\/td>yuhk<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ubc84\uc2a4 \uc815\ub958\uc7a5 <\/a>\n <\/td>bus stop<\/td>buh-seu jung-nyu-jang<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uacf5\ud56d <\/a>\n <\/td>airport<\/td>gong-hahng<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ub3c4\ub85c <\/a>\n <\/td>road<\/td>doh-ro<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uac70\ub9ac <\/a>\n <\/td>street<\/td>guh-rii<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc2b9\uac1d <\/a>\n <\/td>passenger<\/td>seung-gek<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc6b4\uc804\uc218 <\/a>\n <\/td>driver<\/td>oon-jun-soo<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud2f0\ucf13 <\/a>\n <\/td>ticket<\/td>tee-ket<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uad50\ud1b5 <\/a>\n <\/td>traffic<\/td>gyo-tong<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Places<\/h2>\n

Sure, you can simply call most things on this list a “building,” but knowing just that noun won’t get you far in navigating a Korean town or city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So make sure you know these nouns for common places you might come across!<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Korean <\/th>English<\/th>Romanization<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\uc9d1 <\/a>\n <\/td>house<\/td>jiip<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ub3c4\uc2dc <\/a>\n <\/td>city<\/td>doh-shi<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc2dc\uace8 <\/a>\n <\/td>countryside<\/td>shi-gol<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud559\uad50 <\/a>\n <\/td>school<\/td>hak-gyo<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc2dd\ub2f9 <\/a>\n <\/td>restaurant<\/td>shik-dang<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc0ac\ubb34\uc2e4 <\/a>\n <\/td>office<\/td>sa-mu-shil<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uac00\uac8c <\/a>\n <\/td>store<\/td>ga-geh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc2dc\uc7a5 <\/a>\n <\/td>market<\/td>shi-jang<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc1fc\ud551\ubab0 <\/a>\n <\/td>shopping mall<\/td>sho-piing-mol<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ubcd1\uc6d0 <\/a>\n <\/td>hospital<\/td>byung-won<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc57d\uad6d <\/a>\n <\/td>pharmacy<\/td>yak-gook<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uacbd\ucc30\uc11c <\/a>\n <\/td>police station<\/td>gyung-chal-suh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uc740\ud589 <\/a>\n <\/td>bank<\/td>eun-haeng<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ubbf8\uc220\uad00 <\/a>\n <\/td>art gallery<\/td>mi-sul-gwan<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uacf5\uc6d0 <\/a>\n <\/td>park<\/td>gong-won<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uad50\ud68c <\/a>\n <\/td>church<\/td>gyo-hwae<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uadf9\uc7a5 <\/a>\n <\/td>theater<\/td>geuk-jang<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ub178\ub798\ubc29 <\/a>\n <\/td>karaoke<\/td>no-rae-bang<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud638\ud154 <\/a>\n <\/td>hotel<\/td>ho-tel<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\uce74\ud398 <\/a>\n <\/td>caf\u00e9<\/td>ka-peh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Media and Technology<\/h2>\n

Whether it’s the newest K-pop music<\/a> video or the next household cleaning robot, Korea is very big on trends in both media and technology.<\/p>\n

And these trends are quick to get picked up. With a super-fast internet connection and high digital immersion among the population<\/a>, it’s no wonder that communications can reach the masses so easily.<\/p>\n

You can also use technology to help you study Korean! The language learning platform FluentU<\/a>, for instance, helps you learn Korean vocabulary, grammar and cultural nuances in context.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

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