Home › Learn › Vocabulary Beginner Korean vocabulary — key EPS-TOPIK & TOPIK words
200 of the most useful basic words for working in Korea and for the EPS-TOPIK and TOPIK exams. Press ▶ to hear each word, then repeat it out loud. If you cannot read Korean letters yet, start with Learn Hangul .
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How to study these words
Learn 5–10 words a day instead of everything at once. Listen (▶), repeat out loud, then write the word yourself. Start with the themes closest to your own job. Review yesterday's words before learning new ones. 👋 Greetings & survival phrases10 words EPS-TOPIK & TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 안녕하세요▶ annyeonghaseyo hello 감사합니다▶ gamsahamnida thank you 죄송합니다▶ joesonghamnida I'm sorry 네▶ ne yes 아니요▶ aniyo no 괜찮아요▶ gwaenchanayo it's okay 도와주세요▶ dowajuseyo please help me 잘 모르겠어요▶ jal moreugesseoyo I don't understand 천천히 말해 주세요▶ cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo please speak slowly 다시 말해 주세요▶ dasi malhae juseyo please say it again
🔢 Numbers23 words EPS-TOPIK & TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 일▶ il one (Sino-Korean) 이▶ i two (Sino-Korean) 삼▶ sam three (Sino-Korean) 사▶ sa four (Sino-Korean) 오▶ o five (Sino-Korean) 육▶ yuk six (Sino-Korean) 칠▶ chil seven (Sino-Korean) 팔▶ pal eight (Sino-Korean) 구▶ gu nine (Sino-Korean) 십▶ sip ten (Sino-Korean) 백▶ baek hundred 천▶ cheon thousand 만▶ man ten thousand 하나▶ hana one (native Korean) 둘▶ dul two (native Korean) 셋▶ set three (native Korean) 넷▶ net four (native Korean) 다섯▶ daseot five (native Korean) 여섯▶ yeoseot six (native Korean) 일곱▶ ilgop seven (native Korean) 여덟▶ yeodeol eight (native Korean) 아홉▶ ahop nine (native Korean) 열▶ yeol ten (native Korean)
👥 People & family12 words EPS-TOPIK & TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 사람▶ saram person 가족▶ gajok family 아버지▶ abeoji father 어머니▶ eomeoni mother 형▶ hyeong older brother (said by a man) 누나▶ nuna older sister (said by a man) 친구▶ chingu friend 선생님▶ seonsaengnim teacher 사장님▶ sajangnim boss, employer 동료▶ dongnyo coworker 외국인▶ oegugin foreigner 한국▶ hanguk Korea
⏰ Time & days12 words EPS-TOPIK & TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 오늘▶ oneul today 내일▶ naeil tomorrow 어제▶ eoje yesterday 지금▶ jigeum now 매일▶ maeil every day 아침▶ achim morning 점심▶ jeomsim lunch, noon 저녁▶ jeonyeok evening, dinner 시간▶ sigan time, hour 월요일▶ woryoil Monday 주말▶ jumal weekend 휴일▶ hyuil holiday, day off
🏢 At the workplace14 words Mainly EPS-TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 회사▶ hoesa company 공장▶ gongjang factory 일▶ il work, job 월급▶ wolgeup monthly salary 계약▶ gyeyak contract 출근▶ chulgeun going to work 퇴근▶ toegeun leaving work 야근▶ yageun overtime (night work) 휴가▶ hyuga vacation, leave 휴식▶ hyusik rest, break 기숙사▶ gisuksa dormitory 사무실▶ samusil office 보험▶ boheom insurance 외국인등록증▶ oegugindeungnokjeung alien registration card
⚠️ Safety signs & equipment12 words Mainly EPS-TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 위험▶ wiheom danger 조심하세요▶ josimhaseyo be careful 금지▶ geumji prohibited 안전모▶ anjeonmo safety helmet 안전화▶ anjeonhwa safety shoes 장갑▶ janggap gloves 마스크▶ maseukeu mask 불▶ bul fire 소화기▶ sohwagi fire extinguisher 출구▶ chulgu exit 사고▶ sago accident 응급실▶ eunggeupsil emergency room
🏭 Manufacturing12 words Mainly EPS-TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 기계▶ gigye machine 부품▶ bupum parts 제품▶ jepum product 작업▶ jageop work task 도구▶ dogu tool 검사▶ geomsa inspection 포장▶ pojang packaging 상자▶ sangja box 창고▶ changgo warehouse 전원▶ jeonwon power (supply) 스위치▶ seuwichi switch 불량▶ bullyang defective
🌾 Agriculture & livestock13 words Mainly EPS-TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 농장▶ nongjang farm 논▶ non rice paddy 밭▶ bat field 비닐하우스▶ binilhauseu greenhouse (vinyl house) 씨앗▶ ssiat seed 수확▶ suhwak harvest 채소▶ chaeso vegetables 과일▶ gwail fruit 비료▶ biryo fertilizer 농약▶ nongyak pesticide 소▶ so cow 돼지▶ dwaeji pig 닭▶ dak chicken
🏗️ Construction12 words Mainly EPS-TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 건설▶ geonseol construction 공사▶ gongsa construction work 현장▶ hyeonjang work site 벽돌▶ byeokdol brick 시멘트▶ simenteu cement 철근▶ cheolgeun rebar 비계▶ bigye scaffolding 망치▶ mangchi hammer 삽▶ sap shovel 사다리▶ sadari ladder 못▶ mot nail 페인트▶ peinteu paint
🎣 Fishing10 words Mainly EPS-TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 바다▶ bada sea 어선▶ eoseon fishing boat 배▶ bae boat (also: pear, stomach) 어부▶ eobu fisherman 물고기▶ mulgogi fish 그물▶ geumul net 항구▶ hanggu port 파도▶ pado wave 양식▶ yangsik aquaculture 얼음▶ eoreum ice
🛎️ Restaurant & cleaning12 words Mainly EPS-TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 식당▶ sikdang restaurant 주방▶ jubang kitchen 손님▶ sonnim customer 메뉴▶ menyu menu 주문▶ jumun order 계산▶ gyesan payment, calculation 영수증▶ yeongsujeung receipt 청소▶ cheongso cleaning 설거지▶ seolgeoji washing dishes 쓰레기▶ sseuregi trash 걸레▶ geolle mop, rag 음식▶ eumsik food
🍚 Food & drink12 words Mainly TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 밥▶ bap cooked rice, meal 물▶ mul water 국▶ guk soup 김치▶ gimchi kimchi 고기▶ gogi meat 계란▶ gyeran egg 빵▶ ppang bread 커피▶ keopi coffee 우유▶ uyu milk 맛있어요▶ masisseoyo it's delicious 배고파요▶ baegopayo I'm hungry 목말라요▶ mongmallayo I'm thirsty
🖐️ Body & health13 words EPS-TOPIK & TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 머리▶ meori head 눈▶ nun eye 코▶ ko nose 입▶ ip mouth 손▶ son hand 발▶ bal foot 허리▶ heori back, waist 아파요▶ apayo it hurts 병원▶ byeongwon hospital 의사▶ uisa doctor 약▶ yak medicine 열▶ yeol fever 감기▶ gamgi cold (illness)
📍 Places & directions13 words Mainly TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 어디▶ eodi where 화장실▶ hwajangsil restroom 은행▶ eunhaeng bank 우체국▶ ucheguk post office 시장▶ sijang market 마트▶ mateu supermarket 지하철▶ jihacheol subway 버스▶ beoseu bus 역▶ yeok station 오른쪽▶ oreunjjok right side 왼쪽▶ oenjjok left side 앞▶ ap front 뒤▶ dwi back, behind
🏃 Basic verbs & adjectives20 words EPS-TOPIK & TOPIK
Korean Pronunciation Meaning 가다▶ gada to go 오다▶ oda to come 먹다▶ meokda to eat 마시다▶ masida to drink 하다▶ hada to do 보다▶ boda to see, watch 듣다▶ deutda to listen 말하다▶ malhada to speak 일하다▶ ilhada to work 자다▶ jada to sleep 사다▶ sada to buy 주다▶ juda to give 좋다▶ jota to be good, to like 크다▶ keuda to be big 작다▶ jakda to be small 많다▶ manta to be many 적다▶ jeokda to be few 빠르다▶ ppareuda to be fast 쉽다▶ swipda to be easy 어렵다▶ eoryeopda to be difficult
Note: meanings are given for the most common use; some words have other meanings depending on context.
Next steps
Once you know the words, test yourself with the EPS-TOPIK study guide or TOPIK I practice .
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