NCEA L1 Korean key terms

The standard polite greeting used when meeting someone or getting attention. It literally means 'peace' and 'do', and works at any time of day with people you are not close to.

The polite formal way to say thank you, used with strangers, teachers, and shop staff. It is built from a verb meaning 'to be thankful' plus the formal ending -ㅂ니다.

A polite formal apology meaning 'I am sorry'. Used for mistakes, inconvenience, or when interrupting someone, and is more formal than the casual 미안해.

A set phrase meaning 'excuse me', said before interrupting, passing through, or asking a stranger for help. It signals politeness rather than apology for a real mistake.

A call for attention meaning 'excuse me over there', commonly used in shops and restaurants to summon staff. It is less formal than 실례합니다 and works as a direct summons.

A polite request meaning 'please give me'. Attached to a noun or the -아/어 주세요 form of a verb to ask for an object or an action without sounding demanding.

The question 'how much is it?', used when asking a price in shops, markets, and taxis. It combines the price word 얼마 with the polite copula ending -예요.

A question asking 'how many people?', used by restaurant staff when seating a group or when booking. 명 is the counter for people and follows a number.

The polite or honorific speech style used with strangers, elders, teachers, and customers. NCEA listening and speaking tasks expect learners to recognise and produce it rather than casual 반말.

Casual, non-polite speech used with close friends, younger people, and children. Learners must recognise it in listening passages and avoid using it with teachers or adults.

The formal polite verb ending used in announcements, news, presentations, and polite conversation. It attaches to verb and adjective stems and often appears in listening texts and written notices.

The informal polite ending used in everyday conversation with strangers and acquaintances. It is the most common sentence ending learners are expected to produce in speaking tasks.

Topic-marking particles that set what a sentence is about and often signal contrast. 는 follows a vowel and 은 follows a consonant, as in 저는 and 이름은.

Subject-marking particles that identify who or what performs an action or carries a state. 가 follows a vowel and 이 follows a consonant, as in 친구가 and 사람이.

Object-marking particles that show the direct object of a verb. 를 follows a vowel and 을 follows a consonant, as in 밥을 먹어요 and 커피를 마셔요.

A particle marking place or time where something exists or happens, as in 학교에 가요 or 세 시에 만나요. It also marks destination with movement verbs.

A particle marking the place where an action takes place, as in 도서관에서 공부해요. It contrasts with 에, which marks destination or existence rather than activity location.

The pattern meaning 'is located at' or 'is in', used to say where a person or thing exists, as in 화장실은 2층에 있어요. It combines the particle 에 with the verb 있다.

The counter used for counting people, placed after a number as in 세 명 or 다섯 명. Learners must use it correctly in listening and speaking tasks about groups and bookings.

The counter for general objects, placed after a number as in 두 개 or 네 개. It is used for items like fruit, bags, and bottles but not for people or flat paper items.

The counter for clock hours, used with native Korean numbers as in 세 시 or 일곱 시. It appears constantly in listening tasks about timetables, appointments, and opening hours.

The counter for minutes, used with native Korean numbers as in 십 분 or 삼십 분. It also serves as the honorific counter for people, so context decides the meaning.

The words for today, tomorrow, and yesterday. They are time adverbs that take no particle and appear in almost every listening or reading passage involving plans and schedules.

The word for weekend, Saturday and Sunday together. It appears in reading and listening texts about plans, invitations, and part-time work schedules.

A promise or an arranged meeting between people. In NCEA tasks it commonly appears in phrases about making, keeping, or cancelling plans with friends.

The polite verb meaning 'meet' or 'see someone', used in invitations and farewells such as 내일 만나요. It is a high-frequency verb in speaking and listening exchanges.

The farewell said to someone who is leaving while you stay. It literally means 'go in peace' and pairs with 안녕히 계세요, said to the person staying.

The farewell said to someone who stays behind when you leave. Learners often mix it up with 안녕히 가세요, so the direction of leaving matters.

The word for name. It appears in self-introductions, forms, and listening tasks where speakers exchange personal details, usually in the pattern 제 이름은 ...이에요.

The word for age. Korean age questions are common in introductions, and learners should recognise the polite question 나이가 어떻게 되세요? and simple answers with 살.

The word for nationality or citizenship. It appears on forms and in introductions, answered with a country name plus 사람, as in 뉴질랜드 사람이에요.

The word for hobby or leisure interest. It is a standard topic in NCEA speaking and writing tasks, usually asked as 취미가 뭐예요? and answered with a verb phrase.

The polite verb meaning 'like' or 'am fond of', used with an object marked by 을/를, as in 음악을 좋아해요. It is one of the most frequent verbs in personal-topic tasks.

The polite verb meaning 'dislike', the opposite of 좋아해요. Learners need it to express preferences in speaking and writing and to understand negative opinions in listening.

The polite verb meaning 'eat', used with food objects marked by 을/를, as in 김치를 먹어요. Food and ordering situations make it a core vocabulary item across all four domains.

The polite verb meaning 'drink', used with beverages marked by 을/를, as in 물을 마셔요. It frequently appears in café and restaurant dialogues alongside ordering phrases.

The polite verbs meaning 'go' and 'come'. They are direction verbs that pair with 에 for destination, as in 학교에 가요, and appear in nearly every listening passage about movement.

The name of the Korean language, literally 'Korean speech'. It appears in questions about study, ability, and school subjects, often with the verbs 배워요 or 할 수 있어요.

The name of the Korean writing system, created in the fifteenth century. Learners need it to read signs and to understand short reading passages about language and culture.

The word for numbers. Korean has two number systems, native Korean and Sino-Korean, and choosing the right one with counters is a core reading and listening skill.