In this lesson, we will introduce you to Korean verbs! They are the most important part of most sentences in the Korean language, so you will want to learn and memorize as many different verbs as possible. Have fun learning these useful and common Korean verbs presented below! Because Korean verbs are typically listed with -다 added to their stems in dictionaries, we will also do so here.

Korean Verbs

In Korea, a verb is called 동사. They have 4 different classifications, namely active, descriptive, existential, and copulas. All these verb classifications are made up of a verb stem and a suffix.

One thing unique about it is that once you get to have a lot of verb vocabulary and know how to conjugate them, you’ll be able to make your own simple Korean sentence. A Korean verb doesn’t need to have a subject to make it stand on its own. A Korean verb, when properly conjugated, can be a sentence on its own.

List of common and useful Korean verbs

Below is a list of useful verbs that will help you build a simple Korean sentence. These are commonly used in conversations. These verbs are in their dictionary form. If you want to verify their meaning, you can use these forms to look them up in the dictionary.

English	Korean
to go	가다 (gada)
to teach	가르치다 (gareuchida)
to point, to indicate	가리키다 (garikida)
to take, to carry	가져가다 (gajyeogada)
to bring	가져오다 (gayeooda)
to have	가지다 (gajida)
to change (one’s clothes)	갈아입다 (garaipda)
to change/transfer to (car, metro, train etc.)	갈아타다 (garatada)
to close one’s eyes	감다 (gamda)
to appreciate, to thank	감사하다 (gamsahada)
to hide, to disguise	감추다 (gamchuda)
to have	갖다 (gatda)
to develop, to create	개발하다 (gaebalhada)
to collect; to achieve	거두다 (geoduda)
to lie	거짓말하다 (geojitmal)
to worry	걱정하다 (geokjeonghada)
to walk	걷다 (geotda)
to call, to dial	걸다 (geolda)
to go on foot, to walk	걸어가다 (georeogada)
to come on foot	걸어오다 (georeooda)
to experience, to undergo	겪다 (gyeokda)
to endure, to bear, to stand	견디다 (gyeondida)
to resolve	결심하다 (gyeolsimhada)
to be decided	결정되다 (gyeoljeongdwida)
to decide	결정하다 (gyeoljeonghada)
to marry	결혼하다 (gyeolhonhada)
to experience	경험하다 (gyeongheomhada)
to calculate; to pay	계산하다 (gyesanhada)
to be continued	계속되다 (gyesokdwida)
to continue, to do continuously	계속하다 (gyesokhada)
to confess	고백하다 (gobaekhada)
to consider	고려하다 (goryeohada)
to choose, to select	고르다 (goreuda)
to have a hard time, to suffer	고생하다 (gosaenghada)
to repair, to fix; to revise	고치다 (gochida)
to study	공부하다 (gongbuhada)
to wait	기다리다 (gidarida)
to expect, to anticipate	기대하다 (gidaehada)
to remember	기억하다 (gieokhada)
to see the sights, to look around	구경하다 (gugyeonghada)
to seek; to get; to rescue, to save	구하다 (guhada)
to roast, to grill, to bake	굽다 (gupda)
to draw, to paint	그리다 (geurida)
to stop, to drop, to quit	그만두다 (geumanduda)
to work	근무하다 (geunmuhada)
to dream	꿈꾸다 (kumkuda)
to boil	끓이다 (kkeulida)
to finish	끝나다 (keutnada)
to exit	나가다 (nagada)
to divide, to split; to share	나누다 (nanuda)
to pay	내다 (naeda)
to go down	내려가다 (naeryeogada)
to come down	내려오다 (naeryeooda)
to put (something in)	넣다 (neotda)
to sing a song	노래하다 (noraehada)
to endeavor, to strive	노력하다 (noryeokhada)
to play	놀다 (nolda)
to go to; to attend	다니다 (danida)
to close	닫다 (datda)
to go through, to suffer	당하다 (danghada)
to answer	대답하다 (daedaphada)
to add	더하다 (deohada)
to take (a person)	데려가다 (deryeogada)
to bring, to fetch	데려오다 (deryeooda)
to pick somebody up	데리다 (derida)
to arrive	도착하다 (dochakhada)
to run away	도망가다 (domanggada)
to help	도와주다 (dowajuda)
to take care, to look after	돌보다 (dolboda)
to help	돕다 (dopda)
to become, to come to	되다 (dwida)
to fall, to drop; to fail	떨어지다 (ddeoreojida)
to run, to dash	뛰다 (ddwida)
to hear, to listen	듣다 (deutda)
to enter	들어오다 (deureooda)
to prepare, to arrange	마련하다 (maryeonhada)
to drink	마시다 (masida)
to make	만들다 (mandeulda)
to meet	만나다 (mannada)
to touch	만지다 (manjida)
to speak	말하다 (malhada)
to entrust, to leave	맡기다 (matgida)
to tie, to fasten, to wear	매다 (maeda)
to stay	머무르다 (meomureuda)
to eat	먹다 (meokda)
to not know	모르다 (moreuda)
to gather, to collect	모으다 (moeuda)
to be incapable, to not be able to	못하다 (mothada)
to ignore, to neglect	무시하다 (musihada)
to ask	묻다 (mutda)
to bite	물다 (mulda)
to ask	물어보다 (mureoboda)
to delay, to postpone; to shift blame	미루다 (miruda)
to believe, to trust	믿다 (mitda)
to change, to switch	바꾸다 (bakkuda)
to change, to be changed	바뀌다 (bakkwida)
to wish, to hope, to want	바라다 (barada)
to look at	바라보다 (baraboda)
to oppose	반대하다 (bandaehada)
to get, to take, to receive	받다 (batda)
to discover, to find	발견하다 (balgyeonhada)
to develop, to advance	발달하다 (baldalhada)
to happen, to occur	발생하다 (balsaenghada)
to develop, to grow	발전하다 (baljeonhada)
to announce, to make public	발표하다 (balpyohada)
to visit	방문하다 (bangmunhada)
to throw away, to abandon	버리다 (beorida)
to undress, take off clothes	벗다 (beotda)
to make (money), to earn (money)	벌다 (beolda)
to change	변하다 (byeonhada)
to change	변화하다 (byeonhwahada)
to see, to watch	보다 (boda)
to sing; to call (for someone)	부르다 (bureuda)
to ask for a favor, to request	부탁하다 (butakhada)
to send	보내다 (bonaeda)
to fry	볶다 (bokda)
to blow	불다 (bulda)
to stick	붙이다 (butida)
to compare	비교하다 (bigyohada)
to borrow, to lend	빌리다 (billida)
to fall	빠지다 (bbajida)
to remove, to subtract, to take out	빼다 (bbaeda)
to learn	배우다 (baeuda)
to pull; to select, to choose	뽑다 (bbopda)
to buy	사다 (sada)
to disappear	사라지다 (sarajida)
to use	사용하다 (sayonghada)
to love	사랑하다 (saranghada)
to live	살다 (salda)
to examine, to search, to check	살펴보다 (salpyeoboda)
to imagine	상상하다 (sangsanghada)
to think	생각하다 (saenggakada)
to be formed, to look (like)	생기다 (saenggida)
to stand	서다 (seoda)
to hurry, rush	서두르다 (seodureuda)
to give a present	선물하다 (seonmulhada)
to choose, to select	선택하다 (seontaekhada)
to explain	설명하다 (seolmyeonghada)
to succeed	성공하다 (seonggonghada)
to introduce	소개하다 (sogaehada)
to shout, to yell	소리치다 (sorichida)
to rest, to relax, to take a day off	쉬다 (swida)
to start	시작하다 (sijakhada)
to make (somebody do); to order	시키다 (sikida)
to have a meal	식사하다 (siksahada)
to wear (shoes, socks, etc.)	신다 (sinda)
to make a mistake	실수하다 (silsuhada)
to dislike	싫어하다 (sileohada)
to fail	실패하다 (silpaehada)
to fight, to argue	싸우다 (ssauda)
to mix, to blend	섞다 (seokda)
to chop, to slice	썰다 (sseolda)
to write; to wear (hat, eyewear)	쓰다 (sseuda)
to wash	씻다 (ssitda)
to hug, to hold	안다 (anda)
to sit	앉다 (anda)
to know	알다 (alda)
to let somebody know, to inform	알리다 (allida)
to check, to investigate; to recognize	알아보다 (araboda)
to promise	약속하다 (yaksokhada)
to get along; to match	어울리다 (eoullida)
to borrow; to gain, to get, to take	얻다 (eotda)
to not have	없다 (eopda)
to remove, to get rid of	없애다 (eopsaeda)
to travel	여행하다 (yeohaenghada)
to study, to research	연구하다 (yeonguhada)
to practice	연습하다 (yeonseubhada)
to open	열다 (yeolda)
to come	오다 (oda)
to cook	요리하다 (yorihada)
to exercise	운동하다 (undonghada)
to drive	운전하다 (unjeonhada)
to move (around)	움직이다 (umjigida)
to cry	울다 (ulda)
to laugh	웃다 (utda)
to want	원하다 (wonhada)
to mean	의미하다 (uimihada)
to be	이다 (ida)
to win	이기다 (igida)
to move (house)	이사하다 (isahada)
to talk, chat	이야기하다 (iyagihada)
to use	이용하다 (iyonghada)
to understand	이해하다 (ihaehada)
to work	일하다 (ilhada)
to wake up	일어나다 (ireonada)
to read	읽다 (ilda)
to lose, to be deprived of	잃다 (ilta)
to lose something	잃어버리다 (ileobeorida)
to wear	입다 (ipda)
to forget	잊다 (itda)
to forget	잊어버리다 (ijeobeorida)
to have	있다 (itda)
to sleep	자다 (jada)
to cut, to sever	자르다 (jareuda)
to go well	잘되다 (jaldwida)
to go wrong	잘못되다 (jalmotdwida)
to do wrong	잘못하다 (jalmothada)
to do something well	잘하다 (jalhada)
to go to sleep, to fall asleep	잠들다 (jamdeulda)
to sleep	잠자다 (jamjada)
to catch, to hold	잡다 (japda)
to be caught	잡히다 (jabhida)
to measure, to weigh	재다 (jaeda)
to write	적다 (jeokda)
to call	전화하다 (jeonhwahada)
to arrange, to organize	정리하다 (jeongrihada)
to decide, to determine	정하다 (jeonghada)
to investigate, to look into	조사하다 (josahada)
to be careful, to watch out	조심하다 (josimhada)
to doze off	졸다 (jolda)
to graduate	졸업하다 (joreobhada)
to like	좋아하다 (joahada)
to be sorry	죄송하다 (jwisonghada)
to give	주다 (juda)
to order	주문하다 (jumunhada)
to die	죽다 (jukda)
to prepare	준비하다 (junbihada)
to enjoy, to have fun	즐기다 (jeulgida)
to increase, to grow	증가하다 (jeunggahada)
to lose, to be defeated	지다 (jida)
to pass (by)	지나가다 (jinagada)
to pass, to go by	지나다 (jinada)
to spend one’s time; to get along	지내다 (jinaeda)
to delete, to remove	지우다 (jiuda)
to steam	찌다 (jjida)
to take (a photo)	찍다 (jjikda)
to attend, to participate	참석하다 (chamseokhada)
to find, to look for	찾다 (chatda)
to take, to pack; to take care of	챙기다 (chaengida)
to clean	청소하다 (cheongsohada)
to invite	초대하다 (chodaehada)
to congratulate	축하하다 (chukhahada)
to dance	춤추다 (chumchuda)
to depart	출발하다 (chulbalhada)
to cancel, to revoke	취소하다 (chwisohada)
to hit	치다 (chida)
to raise, to bring up, to grow	키우다 (kiuda)
to take, to ride, to get on	타다 (tada)
to be born	태어나다 (taeeonada)
to go through; to communicate	통하다 (tonghada)
to turn (an object); to twist (an object)	틀다 (teulda)
to be wrong, to be incorrect	틀리다 (teullida)
to deep fry	튀기다 (twigida)
to sell	팔다 (palda)
to give up, to abandon	포기하다 (pogihada)
to include, to contain	포함하다 (pohamhada)
to express, to show	표현하다 (pyohyeonhada)
to untie, to unfasten; to solve	풀다 (pulda)
to bloom, to blossom	피다 (pida)
to avoid, to escape	피하다 (pihada)
to need	필요하다 (pillyohada)
to do	하다 (hada)
to settle, to solve	해결하다 (haegyeolhada)
to confirm, to check	확인하다 (hwaginhada)
to regret	후회하다 (huhwihada)
to stir	휘젓다 (hwijeotda)
to flow, to run; to elapse	흐르다 (heureuda)
to shake, to swing	흔들다 (heundeulda)

Korean Regular Verbs

Korean regular verbs are called 규칙동사 in Korean. They are easy to conjugate. This means they just follow the verb conjugation patterns when you need to conjugate them.

Let’s take the following words:

가다 (to go)

보다 (to see)

배우다 (to learn)

만나다 (to meet)

These are regular verbs as they can be easily conjugated using the different Korean verb conjugations. This also applies to Korean adjectives.

For example:

가다 (to go) – 가요

보다 (to see) – 봐요

배우다 (to learn) – 배워요

만나다 (to meet) – 만나요

Korean Irregular Verbs

Korean irregular verbs are known as 불규칙 동사. They change their spelling or form when they’re conjugated. They are known as 불규칙 동사 and usually have 받침 (batchim) in them. They are classified according to the 받침 (batchim) they have. However, it’s also important to know that not all verbs that have 받침 (batchim) in them are irregular.

 

Korean irregular verbs are usually given special rules when using a certain verb conjugation pattern. This also applies to Korean adjectives.

Below are lists of the different Korean irregular verbs. These verbs are also in their dictionary form.

ㄷ irregular verbs

These are Korean verbs that have the letter ㄷ as its 받침 (batchim).

English	Korean
to walk	걷다 (geotda)
to load	싣다 (sitda)
to listen	듣다 (deutda)
to ask	묻다 (mutda)
to realize	깨닫다 (kkaedatda)
to close	닫다 (datda)

ㄹ irregular verbs

These are Korean verbs that have the letter ㄹ as its 받침 (batchim).

English	Korean
to play	놀다 (nolda)
to carry	들다 (deulda)
to make	만들다 (mandeulda)
to live	살다 (salda)
to know	알다 (alda)
to open, unlock	열다 (yeolda)
to cry	울다 (ulda)
to sell	팔다 (palda)

ㅂ irregular verbs

These are Korean verbs that have the letter ㅂ as its 받침 (batchim).

English	Korean
to help	돕다 (dopda)
to hate	밉다 (mipda)
to envy	부럽다 (bureopda)

르 irregular verbs

These are Korean verbs that have 르 as their verb stem ending.

English	Korean
to divide	가르다 (gareuda)
to choose	고르다 (goreuda)
to roll	구르다 (gureuda)
to bring up	기르다 (gireuda)
to carry	나르다 (nareuda)
to press	누르다 (nureuda)
to flow	흐르다 (heureuda)
to stab	찌르다 (jjireuda)
to cut	자르다 (jareuda)
to climb	오르다 (oreuda)
to hurry	서두르다 (seodureuda)
to call	부르다 (bureuda)
to apply, put on	바르다 (bareuda)
to not know	모르다 (moreuda)
to put around	두르다 (dureuda)

ㅅ irregular verbs

These are Korean verbs that have the letter ㅅ as its 받침 (batchim).

English	Korean
to recover	낫다 (natda)
to build or construct	짓다 (jitda)
to rule	긋다 (geutda)
to join or connect something	잇다 (itda)

으 irregular verbs

These are Korean verbs that have 으 as their verb stem ending.

English	Korean
to try	애쓰다 (aesseuda)
to write	쓰다 (sseuda)
to close	끄다 (kkeuda)
to rise	뜨다 (tteuda)
to gather	모으다 (moeuda)

ㅎ irregular verbs or adjectives

These are Korean verbs or adjectives that have the letter ㅎ as its 받침 (batchim).

English	Korean
to be yellow	노랗다 (norata)
to be red	빨갛다 (ppalgata)
to be black	까맣다 (kkamata)
to be white	하얗다 (hayata)
in that way	그렇다 (geureota)
to be a certain way	어떻다 (eotteota)

하다 verbs

Before we get into details what 하다 verbs are, let’s get to know what 하다 means. The verb 하다 in itself simply means “to do” and is considered a regular verb.

You’ll often see the word 하다 in many Korean words, and these are called 하다 verbs.

 

The verb 하다 is usually added to words that are nouns to make them a verb. For example, the words 걱정하다 (to worry), 공부하다 (to study), and 노래하다 (to sing). When 하다 is removed from these words, what’s left is a noun: 걱정 (worry), 공부(study), and 노래 (song).

Here are some other examples of words made up of a noun and 하다:

English	Korean
to worry	걱정하다 (geokjeonghada)
to study	공부하다 (gongbuhada)
to sing	노래하다 (noraehada)
to answer	대답하다 (daedapada)
to speak	말하다 (malhada)
to deliver	배달하다 (baedalhada)
to do the laundry	빨래하다 (ppallaehada)
to ask a favor	부탁하다 (butakada)
to love	사랑하다 (saranghada)

Korean Adjectives

In Korea, adjectives are called 형용사. They are also known as descriptive verbs. This is because most of them come from verbs. They are used to describe people, things, events, or experiences.

However, a Korean adjective may originate from a verb, but it can never function as an action verb.

Here are examples of Korean adjectives:

English	Korean
to be glad, happy	기쁘다 (gippeuda)
to be angry	화나다 (hwanada)
to be sad	슬프다 (seulpeuda)
to be sick, painful	아프다 (apeuda)
to be scared	무섭다 (museopda)
to be annoyed	짜증나다 (jjajeungnada)
to be surprised	놀라다 (nollada)
to be shy	수줍다 (sujupda)
to be interesting	재미있다 (jaemiitda)
to not be interesting	재미없다 (jaemieopda)
to be loud, noisy	시끄럽다 (sikkeureopda)
to be hot	뜨겁다 (tteugeopda)

Korean Passive Verbs

A passive verb in Korean is called 피동사. The common suffixes to make a verb in its passive form are 되 or 돼, 이, 히, 리, and 기.

The suffix 되 or 돼 are used to make a verb ending in 하다 into passive.

For example:

사용하다 (to use)

비교하다 (to compare)

When they are used as a passive verb, they’ll have the following forms:

사용되다 (to be used)

비교되다 (to be compared)

 

The other suffixes 이, 히, 리, and 기 are used for non-하다 verbs. For example,

보다 (to see)

잊다 (to forget)

열다 (to open)

잠그다 (to lock)

They take the following passive forms:

보다 – 보이다 (to be seen)

잊다 – 잊히다 (to be forgotten)

열다 – 열리다 (to be opened)

잠그다 – 잠기다 (to be locked)

How many verb tenses are there in Korean?

Similar to the English language, Korean verbs also have 3 the main verb tenses. They’re the present tense, past tense, and future tense.

Korean verbs also have the progressive tense and perfect tense.

How are Korean verbs formed based on the tenses?

Korean verbs are formed based on the tenses by verb conjugation. If you want to learn about Korean verb conjugation, you can check our resource here.

How do you say the tenses in Korean?

First of all, the Korean word for tense is 시제 (sije). Below are Korean words for the different verb tenses (present, past tense, and future tense).

English	Korean
Present Tense	현재시제 (hyeonjaesije)
Past Tense	과거시제 (gwageosije)
Future Tense	미래시제 (miraesije)

The other verb tense includes the following:

English	Korean
Progressive Tense	진행 시제 (jinhaeng sije)
Perfect Tense	완료 시제 (wallyo sije)

For the duration of this lesson, you did not need to stress over how to actually put these verbs to use. For this, you would need to know and use Korean conjugations. If you want to get started on forming sentences around these Korean verbs, your next step should be to learn the conjugations, which you can do right here!

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