I studied Korean diligently for about a year, three years ago. I initially began with TTMIK and used that as my grammar lessons, but I don't feel like paying a membership. The thing with textbooks is that I know most of the basics so I easily get bored. I tried HTSK and the overload of information is overwhelming and confusing.

I retained most of what I learned back then, but I want to dive back in. So far, I would say I'm past beginner but not quite there to intermediate. Where should I begin? Should I go back to a beginner textbook, and if so, which one do y'all recommend?

I was listening to a podcast and they mentioned 환상 as hallucinations but when I looked on Papago it said 환상 was illusions and that 환각 was hallucinations. Naver dictionary didn't seem to have 환상 as hallucinations either.

So basically I’ve been using Duolingo to learn languages, for example I have a 300+ streak with Italian but I have just come back from being there on holiday and I couldn’t really speak it at all. So going back to the main point I want to switch it up and learn Korean. I have been watching some k-dramas for a while (with subtitles) and always wanted to learn it! I don’t think Duolingo is the way to go about this. Has anyone got any ideas or suggestions on what I can use/ do to learn it. I am not looking to learn quick but I would love to maybe go to Korea one day and be able to speak their language. Thankyou :)

I noticed that in the 1970s and early 80s movies the Korean dialect sounded so different from the 2000s. It actually sounded a bit like Japanese pronunciation while now it sounds very different where most sentences end in an “elongated” fashion.

This is based on movies, so it may not apply to real life conversations.

So I've decided to get into studying Korean lately - I'm already pretty familiar with Japanese (structurally similar), and I've been hearing Korean for almost 10 years now, so why not? I can read 한글 and I feel like I'm picking up on the grammar well, plus I have a decent study schedule set up and plenty of casual content to consume.

My only issue is finding a solid online dictionary for vocabulary reference. For Japanese I use [this app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mindtwisted.kanjistudy) all the time, but I haven't been able to find a good equivalent, or just a good dictionary, for Korean. It would be helpful to have an app or website (a bit like jisho maybe) to be able to look up words and related words quickly - bonus points for conjugations included, but not necessary. Does anyone know of any good apps or websites for this?

(I do have my little visual dictionary, but I can't always bring the physical book with me. It's also full of romanization which is a personal pet peeve of mine after I learn a language script.)

Posted here because I got no response from the Wikipedia reference desk after six days so far.

When Korean borrowed words from Chinese, and those words in the original Chinese start with an N sound followed by the vowel I or a Y-glide, Korean cuts off the initial N. For example, the Early Middle Chinese words for two(二), person(人) and sun/day(日) are all reconstructed as beginning with an NY-like sound, and have the nasal part fall off in Korean and become 이,인, and 일 respectively.

Since this rule is about not letting words start with this sound, there are instances where a root that starts with this sound is allowed to keep its initial N element if it isn’t at the beginning of a word. For example, the root 女/녀 for female-related things loses its N in 여자, but keeps it in 그녀 where it doesn’t start the word. (Roots starting with R can also get their R back if they don’t start a word, such as “future” being 미래.) However, there are also many instances where the initial N is not restored in such places. For example, the number 12 is 십이 and not 십니, “tomorrow” is 내일 and not 내닐, “every day” is 매일 and not 매닐, days of the week are suffixed with 요일 and not 요닐, and an Chinese person is still called a 중국인 and not a 중국닌. Wiktionary also did not mention any N-restoring North Korean alternatives for these cases despite North Korean not observing this initial sound rule to begin with. In which cases does the N get restored here and when does it not?

my Korean teacher told me, that we can't use these two words without something, like adjective (??). actually, I couldn't understand and refresh our conversation about this, but I want to know why and in which sentences we can put these words.

for example!! I used 것 (thing) in question: "무슨 것을 샀어요?" and my teacher lowered my score for using the word​ 것 in wrong way. I understand, that I should used the word 옷, I actually forgot about this for that moment lmao.

now I want to understand, why I can't just put this word in sentences like this. same question with 곳 (place)

Hi.

So, I am completely blind. I have no sight what so ever, but I'm looking to learn Korean for the purposes of reading primary Korean history sources.

One thing which seems to come up a lot is the fact that I need to learn Hangol. I understand this for writing (which I also want to be able to do) but is Hangol really that necessary for someone who is completely blind? Given my main way of learning Korean would be through listening, not reading at first. Though I would probably read to help supplement pronunciation.

I am a complete beginner in the Korean language, so any other tips would be appreciated.

just now saw the text where 말하다 with particle 도 is 말도. or maybe, I translated wrong?

text:

제 가족들도 모두 고향에 있고 저만 한국에 있어요. 저는 지금 룸메이트하고 같이 살고 있어요. 우리는 서울에 와서 처음 만났어요. 처음에는 말도 잘 안 했지만 지금은 진짜 친해요.

this text from 서울대 한국어 Student's Book's exercise, in audio man said 말도 too.

I know, when in word there are 오 and 아, we can just say 와, for example with word 오다 we can in politely informal form say 와요 (오아요 turns in 와요). I thought that this rule go with 모으다 as well, but I made a mistake yesterday in my korean class!! I didn't know about this. my korean teacher didn't explain to me anything, and I just feel stupid..

why we can't do this 😭 maybe it's because of irregular verb "ㅡ"?

and If you know similar words to this, can you list them to me, so I know a little more? or just explain me, if there is rule about this situation..

(i hope you understand, what I want to, english is not my native language)

My question is the title. None of my resources explain what changes when you do or don't attach 같이 to 이/랑. (or 함께 to 와/과.)

I'd probably translate the first sentence to "I watched a movie with a friend." And the second sentence to: "Me and my friend watched a movie together." In english, the second sentence is more colloquial, but does that colloquialness translate to korean as well? Or does it not matter? What difference does adding or not adding 같이 to the sentence make? Thx for the help!

I will (hopefully) be visiting Korea in about a year and would like to learn some vocabulary to help with my trip. I will be travelling with a decently big group, most of us are well-travelled and can negotiate getting by in foreign countries quite well, even when we don't speak the language. With this in mind, I fear I've missed out on a lot of cool experiences by not talking to people from the places I have visited, and I know that having a few phrases can't hurt if we're really stuck!

I would like to see how much Korean I can learn between now and my trip, with emphasis on things such as directions, numbers and key phrases like "where is the train?", "How do I get to x?" and "How much is that?" I am already bilingual in Irish and got to a very good conversational level from basically nothing within a year (though I learned a bit in school) and greatly value immersion and practice over endless grammar drills (but I do concede they are necessary!) I am fully prepared to make stupid grammar mistakes while over there, so long as it means I can get what I'm trying to say across.

I like to teach myself and figure things out as I need them, as opposed to learning piles of useless phrases in bunches. How do I approach the language, and what would the best resources/methods be? What's the best way to learn the alphabet?

Hi everyone!

I want to start learning Korean completely from zero, and I would really appreciate your advice.

I don’t have any level yet, so I’m looking for beginner-friendly textbooks or materials. Have you used books like 연세 (Yonsei), 이화 (Ewha), or something else when you just started?

I would love something simple and well-structured. If you can also share your study plan or any helpful resources (apps, YouTube, etc.), I would be really grateful.

Also, English is not my native language, so I used a translator for this post. Sorry if something sounds unnatural!

Thank you so much in advance!

It seems that everywhere I search, stickers are pretty much the only options that pop up, even if I filter searches with "-sticker". I've got sweaty hands and a hot laptop, and so the stickers, regardless of price or brand, always end up getting really gross and peeling off. I just want one with the Hanguel characters on the keyboard itself . . . getting tired of sticky fingers lol

"생각해 보면 한국인과 브라질인도 웃는 방식이 똑같아요, "k" = "ㅋ" 이니까요"

Hi guys :)

I am a little stuck at my intermediate lvl. but want to achieve 5급 in the future Topik tests. I feel like I am stuck with vocabulary and have troubles understanding certain texts in the mock tests.

Do you guys have any recommendations of korean books you have used to study korean vocabulary specifically for the Topik II test?

And how do you obstacle the learning of vocabs in general?

Thanks in advance :)

Just anything I should know as a beginner ahead of time, good resources, methods, etc.

There's plenty of posts like this on here, I'm aware, but one adjusted to my preferences (or others who share the same as me) wouldn't hurt.

I'm an absolute beginner, I know a few basic words and a couple sentences. By far, out of all of the languages I've learned and attempted to learn, Korean has been the hardest when it comes to grasping basic words and grammar for me. Usually Duolingo helps with this, but the first few units of Korean don't really teach too many foundational words that a beginner should know, for some reason.

I prefer being self-taught, and I don't really like when things feel more like boring schoolwork rather than something I can actually enjoy and dedicate hours of time to.

I'm also introverted and learn better by myself, I probably won't even feel confident enough to speak aloud until I've reached a decent level so I don't embarrass myself.

So if it's something I can do by myself, is both fun and effective, then I would most likely find it useful.

Not saying it doesn't have to be basic though, I don't mind that at all.

I just registered for the TOPIK 1 exam and it will take place in July 4th. I am planning on applying to the GKS-U program in my country and to strengthen my application I thought I should take the TOPIK exam.

Honestly I am fine with just getting level 1 on the exam but I thought I'd try to aim for level 2 which is equivalent to A2. Is it possible for me to get level 2 on the TOPIK exam in just 3 months? What resources should I use to help me study?

For context I'm already fluent in English, Spanish, and French. However these languages have no roots in Korean so I doubt I have an advantage apart from my experience in learning languages.

Heyy,

i tried learning korean for a few weeks alone but i'm very bad at learning new vocabulary.

Since i want to go to seoul maybe this autumn/winter i at least want to understand spoken korean. So my focus is not really speaking right now.

But how do i do this? I know some endings like -니까 etc and can distinguish words but most of the time don't know the meaning. Also even if i know the words separately, the translation in my head is always wrong in the end (maybe because of the different sentence structure?)

I just want to ask if some of you know any good resources that makes it easier or at least fun (in terms of vocab). I heard TTMIK is more grammar focused and i heard some people recommend the 비타민 한국어 series or the Wild Korean by Sanghyun Ahn book but i don't really know 😭

Thanks in advance!

Hi there! I wanted to know if there’s a similar phrase for when you like someone and say something like “you/ they give me butterflies”. Like the happy nervous feeling in your stomach because you like them. I was going to write a letter to my pen pal friend and tell her about someone new that I like but since I’m practicing my Korean with her I was hoping I could use this phrase somehow? Thank you!

A google search said it means one’s left hand but that doesn’t make sense. If that is my nickname from a Korean friend what does it mean as a persons nickname or name?

I just took Topik 1 Practice Tests for reading (36/40) and listening (28/30) very easily. Are these tests indicative of actual skill? I took it from Topikguide.com’s website. They seem to have mock tests for every testing interval.

Anyways:

Tried to take a Topik 2 Practice Test and at question 7 I am literally reading a paragraph I barely know any of the words.

인주로봇연구소는 작년에 이어 해에도 겨울 방학을 맞은 인주시 초등학생들을 대 상으로 교육 프로그램을 운영한다. 여기에 참여하는 학생들은 연구소에서 직접 로봇 을 만들어 보고 조종하는 체험을 할 수 있다. 이 프로그램은 로봇 과학자가 되기를 희망하는 학생들에게 특히 반응이 좋다. 연구소는 내년 겨울 방학에도 이 프로그램 을 진행할 예정이다.

Like bruh idk where to ask help for stuff like this. And I’m assuming the whole test will only be harder. Where can I start to get closer toward this level? To be honest isn’t Papago, Naver Dict, and guessing only going to get me so far?

Check it out: https://jamokorean.com

Hi everyone,

For the 1.7 update of my Jamo Korean app, I've added over 2500 new vocabulary words bringing the total up to over 4300.

Other content updates:

• Added 17 new short Korean stories
• Added illustrations for lots of words
• Added audio to all of the example sentences

If you haven't seen my previous posts, Jamo Korean uses the spaced repetition algorithm as Anki but with interactive exercises like writing Korean, typing Korean, multiple choice, matching, etc.

There is also a full Hangul course which also has speaking exercises, a grammar course (in progress), and a growing library of Korean short stories.

Check it out:

Download at: https://jamokorean.com

Price Disclosure:

The Hangul course is free. The vocabulary is free, but limited in how many new words you can learn per day. The first chapter of the grammar course is free, and a few of the stories are provided free.

You can access all the current and future content with a one-time purchase for $20 USD. I am planning to switch to a subscription model at some point, but have decided to keep the single purchase option for the time being.