Basic Korean verbs

This is the first part of the Most Basic Korean verbs Series. In this article, you are going to learn the Korean basic words-verbs with their pronunciation. Later you can learn Korean Phrases related to these verbs. These verbs are the most common verbs.

What is a verb?

Verb( 동사) represents the movement, actions or process of the subject, and acts a predicate in a sentence. Verbs are classified into intransitive verbs and transitive verbs depending on the subject that influences its movement and action. Verbs classified into main verbs and auxiliary verbs depending on the function which does in the sentence or classified into regular verbs and irregular verbs according to the types of verbal conjugation.
The most distinctive characteristic of the Korean verbs is that they have various verbal conjugation. Conjugation means the changing form of the verb as various endings are added on the verb stems, and verbs will have new features accordingly. For example-
먹다 to eat
먹 -(stem) + -다(basic form, dictionary ending)
는다 [declarative] final ending
-으면 ([condition] relation connective ending)
었다 ([past] tense prefinal ending)
-으시‐ 다 ([subject honorific] prefinal ending)
– 게 하다 ([causative] ending)
– 게 되다 [passive] ending)
– 지 아니하다 ([negation] ending)
‐ 는(adnominal ending)
– 음(noun ending)

Verbs can represent sentence ending, conjunction, time, aspect, polite-
ness, causative, passive and negation through the verbal conjugation thus, and a way of representing such is very different from English. Also, verbs can be modified by adverbial phrases, and the main verb always comes at the end of a sentence.

hada verbs korean

(hada) 하다 means to do and it is a dictionary form. 하 is the verb stem after erasing 다. Here is a list of how Korean hada verbs are used.

• Informal low is 해 (He)
• informal high is 해요 (Heyo)
• formal low is 한다 (Handa)
• formal high is 합니다 (Hamnida)
• informal low is 했어 (Hesuh)
• informal high is 했어요 (Hesuheoyo)
• formal low is 했다 (Hetttaa)
• formal high is 했습니다 (Hessumnida)
• informal low is 할 거야 (Hal keoya)
• informal high is 할 거예요 (Hal keoyeyo)
• formal low is 할 거다 (Hal keoda)
• formal high is 할 겁니다 (Hal keomnida)

Korean hada verbs table

English	Korean	Pronunciation
be	있다, 존재하다	itta, jonchhe-hada
have	있다, 가지다	itta, khajida
Do	하다	hada
study	공부하다	khongbu-hada
to marry	결혼하다	khyeron-hada
answer	대답하다	thedapada
visit	방문하다	phangmun-hada
introduce	소개하다	soge-hada
reply	대답하다	thedap- hada
arrive	도착하다	dochhak hada
To love	사랑하다	sarang hada
prepare	준비하다	chunbi hada
compare	비교하다	phigyo hada
travel	여행하다	yaheng hada
Choose, pick	고르다, 선택하다, 뽑다	khoruda, santhek hada, pobda
drive	운전하다	unjan hada
Confirm	확인하다	hwakin hada
wish	원하다, 바라다	won hada, pharada
satisfy	만족하다	manjok hada
plan	계획하다	khyeheak hada
depend	의존하다	wejon hada
See, Look, ask	구하다	khu hada
fail / Error	실패하다	silfe hada
Block, obstruct, close	막다	makda
Neglect, leave	방치하다	phangchhi hada
Inspect, check	점검하다	chhamgam hada
To thank	감사하다	khamsa hada
notice	의식하다	wesik hada
Face	마주하다	maju hada
wonder	궁금하다	kungkum hada
assume, presume, suppose	가정하다	khajang hada
Discuss, consult	의논하다	wenohada
Suppose,Think	생각하다	sengak hada
increase, rise	증가하다	chhunga hada
apply	신청하다	sinchhang hada
Describe	묘사하다	myosa hada
Refuse	거절하다	khajal hada
warn	경고하다	khyengo hada
agree with	동의하다	dongwe hada
estimate, calculate	추정하다	chhujang hada
add	추가하다	chhuga hada
remember	기억하다	kieok hada
suggest	제안하다	jeaan hada
change	변하다	phyeon hada
speak	말하다	mal hada
continue	계속하다	khyesok hada
expect	기대하다	kide hada
lose	잃다	irhda
talk	말하다, 이야기하다	malhada
decide	결심하다	khyeolsim hada
Involve	수반하다, 포함하다	suban hada, foham hada
let	놓아두다	noha duda
allow	허락하다	harak hada
offer	제공하다	chhekong hada
lead	인도하다	indo hada
understand	이해하다	ihe hada
pay	지불하다	chhibul hada
like	좋아하다	chhoha hada
include	포함하다	phoham hada
need	필요하다	firyo hada
mean	의미하다	wemi hada
start	시작하다	sijak hada
want	원하다	won hada
provide , supply, furnish	제공하다	chhegong hada
work	일하다	il hada
happen	있다, 발생하다	itta, falseng hada
use	사용하다	sayong hada
try	노력하다	noryak hada
Get, obtain	얻다, 입수하다	eodda, ipsu hada
set	놓다	nohda
hold	잡다	chhabda
know	알다	alda
seem ~	처럼 보이다	chharam phoida
put	놓다, 두다	nohda, duda
make	만들다	mandulda
leave	떠나다	teonada
see	보다	foda
follow	따라가다	tarakhada
ask	묻다	mutda
run	달리다	thallida
give	주다	juda
look	보다	foda
find	발견하다, 찾다	phalgyan hada, chhajda
become	되다	doida
write	쓰다	suda
Come	오다	oda
go	가다	khada
take	가지고 가다	khajigo khada
believe	믿다	mitda
meet	만나다	maannada
live	살다	salda
feel	느끼다	nukkida
help	도와주다	thowa juda
move	움직이다	umjikida
cost	(값이나 비용이)들다	kapsina phiyong ee thulda
remain	남다	namda
explain	설명하다	salmyng hada
buy	사다	saadaa
send	보내다	phoneda

Korean verbs are divided into two types. They are main verb and auxiliary verb

Main verb and auxiliary verb

Auxiliary verbs(보조동사) refer to verbs that come after the main verb to add aspectual or grammatical meanings to the main verb.

민서는 뉴욕에 가보았다. Minseo has been to Newyork.
가 is the main verb and 보았다 is the auxiliary verb. In this case, ‘보았다 ‐보다 means ‘attempt, experience’, but not to see’. Therefore, ‘가 보았다 ‘ means ‘have been there/have experienced, not ‘something that someone went and saw’.

Auxiliary verbs are accompanied with connective endings such as ‘- 아, 어, 게, 지, 고, 아이야, -기는, 는가, (이)가, (으)ㄹ까’ since they
always come after the main verb. And just like regular verbs, auxiliary verbs can be freely combined with the present-tense prefinal ending, 는 imperative ending – 아/어라 or propositive ending -자’.

아/어 가다/오다, -고 있다/계시다

These verbs are used when some action is in progress 진행.
그는 지금 저녁을 다 먹어 간다. He has almost eaten dinner now.
이제 날이 밝아 온다. Now, the whole sky is bright.
민서는 점심 먹고 있다. Min-Seo is eating lunch.

아/어 버리다

Used to express completion(완료) + Regret(아쉬움)/ Good riddance(속 시원함): -아어 버리다

이제야 빚을 다 갚아 버렸다. I finally paid off my debts.
주식 투자에 실패에서 재산을 다 날려 버렸다. He lost all his fortune in the stock market.

아/어 내다, 고 나다

This term is used to indicate completion(완료) and fulfilment (수행). For example-

드디어 ‘토지’라는 소설을 다 읽어 냈다. I eventually read off the novel Toji(The Land).
저녁을 먹고 나서 우리는 TV를 보았다. We ate our dinner, then we watched television.

아어 놓다/두다

-아어 놓다/두다
This teem is used to show possession(보유) + completion(완료). For example-

준서는 자기가 맡은 일을 잘해 놓았다. Jun-Seo has done his job well.
내 말을 잘 들어 두어라. / You mark what I say.

아어 보다

-아어 보다
This term is used to show experience(경험) and try(시도).
너 한국 김치 먹어 보았니? Have you ever tried Korean food Kimchi?
사랑한다’는 말을 들어 보았습니까? Have you ever heard the expression “I love you”?

아어 주다(드리다)

-아어 주다(드리다)
This term is used when offering some kind of help(도움) and service(봉사).

민서는 나를 위해 문을 열어 주었다. Min-Seo opened the door for me.
나는 어머니가 저녁 준비를 하는 것을 도와 드렸습니다. I helped my mother to get dinner.

지 않다

-지 않다
This term is used to show negation(부정) and the intention of the speaker(화자의 의도). For example-
준서는 피자를 먹지 않았다. Jun-Seo did not eat pizza.
그는 일부러 서울에 가지 않았다. He intentionally did not go to Seoul.

지 못하다

지 못하다
This term is used to denote impossibility(불능) and restriction on the situation(상황에 의한 제약). For example-
준서는 피자를 먹지 못했다. Jun-Seo has not eaten pizza.
어제는 홍수가 나서 학교에 오지 못했다. I could not come to school because of the flood.

지 말다

지 말다
This term is used to indicate prohibition(금지) to do something.

마속은 절대 하지 마라. Never take drugs.
술을 너무 많이 먹지 마세요. Don’t drink so much.

아/어야 하다

아/어야 하다
This term is used to indicate inevitability (필연) and emphasis (강조). For example-
이번에는 꼭 승리해야 한다. (We) must win this time.
어떻게 하든, 대학 시험에 합격해야 한다. It requires passing a university entrance exam, one way or another.

게 하다

게 하다
This term is used when someone orders to do something or someone make to do something by another person (시킴). For example-

어머니는 항상 나에게 일기를 쓰게 했다. My mother always made me write a diary.
우유를 많이 마시게하자. Let’s make (him) drink a lot of milk.

기는 하다/ 기도 하다

기는 하다/ 기도 하다
This term is used to show admission(시인) of a person or partial or additional Acknowledge(부분추가 인정) of a person. For example-

그가 잘못했다고 말하기는 했다. He did say he was wrong.
민서가 다시 오겠다고 하기는 했다. Min-Seo did say she would come again.
그녀는 돈이 많다고 하기도 했다. She did say she has much money.

게 되다

게 되다
This term is used to show schedule(예정) and the result(결과). For example-
내일 우리 가족은 경주로 여행을 가게 되었다. My family are going to travel to Gyeongju tomorrow.
사랑을 하게 되면 모두들 시인이 된다. At a touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.

아어 쌓다/대다

아어 쌓다/대다
This grammar is used to show repetition(반복) + emphasis(강조). For example-
학생들이 교실에서 너무 떠들어 쌓는다. The students are being too noisy in the classroom.
갓난애가 끝없이 울어 댔다. The veriest baby was crying endlessly.

(으)ㄹ 만하다

(으)ㄹ 만하다

This term is used to show value(가치) and degree (정도).

한국 김치는 좀 맵기는 하지만 먹을 만하다. Korean Kimchi is a little spicy but edible.
한국에 있는 경주는 한번 가 볼 만하다. Gyeongju in Korea is worth a visit.

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Basic Korean verbs romanized