Day 15: Describing People and Things in Korean – It’s Pretty, It’s Big!

Hey Korean learner! 👋

Today we’re learning how to describe the world around you people, places, and things using Korean adjectives.

With just a few words, you’ll be able to say things like:

• The bag is big
• This coffee is hot
• She is pretty

Let’s make your Korean more colorful and expressive! 🎨

📚 What is an Adjective in Korean?

In Korean, adjectives are called 형용사 (hyeong-yong-sa).

Most adjectives in Korean already include the “to be” meaning. For example:

• 예뻐요 → It’s pretty
• 커요 → It’s big
• 작아요 → It’s small

You don’t need to say “is” separately it’s built into the word!

💡 Basic Descriptive Words

Korean	Romanization	English Meaning
예뻐요	ye-ppeo-yo	pretty
커요	keo-yo	big
작아요	ja-ga-yo	small
좋아요	jo-a-yo	good / nice
나빠요	na-ppa-yo	bad
비싸요	bi-ssa-yo	expensive
싸요	ssa-yo	cheap
뜨거워요	tteu-geo-wo-yo	hot (temperature)
차가워요	cha-ga-wo-yo	cold

🗣️ Example Sentences

• 이 커피는 뜨거워요 → i keo-pi-neun tteu-geo-wo-yo → This coffee is hot
• 저 가방은 커요 → jeo ga-bang-eun keo-yo → That bag is big
• 이 영화는 좋아요 → i yeong-hwa-neun jo-a-yo → This movie is good

💡 "이" = this / "저" = that "~는" marks the subject/topic of the sentence.

👥 Describing People

• 그 사람은 예뻐요 → geu sa-ram-eun ye-ppeo-yo → She is pretty
• 그 사람은 착해요 → geu sa-ram-eun chak-hae-yo → That person is kind
• 그 학생은 똑똑해요 → geu hak-saeng-eun ttok-ttok-hae-yo → The student is smart

✍️ Practice Time – Fill in the Blanks

1. 이 음식은 __________. (delicious)
2. 저 집은 __________. (big)
3. 그 사람은 __________. (kind)

✅ Show Answers

1. 맛있어요 → ma-sit-sseo-yo
2. 커요 → keo-yo
3. 착해요 → chak-hae-yo

🎯 Mini Quiz

1. How do you say “It’s cold” (temperature)?
2. Translate: This movie is good.
3. Translate: The bag is expensive.

✅ Quiz Answers

1. 차가워요 → cha-ga-wo-yo
2. 이 영화는 좋아요 → i yeong-hwa-neun jo-a-yo
3. 가방은 비싸요 → ga-bang-eun bi-ssa-yo

🧠 Challenge

Make your own 3 sentences using different adjectives. Example:

• 이 음식은 맛있어요 → This food is delicious
• 이 방은 작아요 → This room is small
• 그 사람은 똑똑해요 → That person is smart

👀 Coming Up Next

Next lesson, we’ll use adjectives and verbs together to build full stories. It’s time for real communication in Korean! 💬

📘 Day 16: Describing Your Surroundings – My Room, My City

✅ Conclusion

Describing things helps you express what you see, feel, and think. Adjectives are your tool to share your opinion in Korean.

Keep practicing with things around you: your phone, your food, your friends! Describe what you like and what you don’t like. You’re becoming a real Korean speaker 😊