Learning a New Word | Learn Korean in English

About This Lesson

Use Learning a New Word to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

이 단어는 무슨 뜻이에요?

ee DAH-nuh-neun MOO-suhn TTEU-shi-YEH-yoh? What does this word mean?

작은 방이라는 뜻이에요.

JAH-geun BAHNG-ee-rah-neun TTEU-shi-YEH-yoh. It means a small room.

천천히 발음해 줄 수 있어요?

CHUN-chun-hee bah-REUM-hae jool SOO ee-SSUH-yoh? Can you pronounce it slowly?

제가 여러 부분으로 나눠서 말할게요.

JEH-gah YUH-ruh BOO-boon-uh-ro nah-NWUH-suh mahl-hahl-GGEH-yoh. I'll break it into parts.

예를 들어 줄 수 있어요?

YEH-rul DUHL-uh jool SOO ee-SSUH-yoh? Can you give me an example?

이 방은 깨끗하고 밝아요.

ee BAHNG-eun KKEH-kkeut-ha-goh BAHL-gah-yoh. This room is clean and bright.

그 단어를 사용해서 연습하고 싶어요.

guh DAH-nuh-rul sah-YONG-hae-suh yuhn-SEUP-ha-goh SHI-puh-yoh. I want to practice using it.

짧은 문장에서 사용해 보세요.

JJAHL-beun moon-JAHNG-eh-suh sah-YONG-hae boh-SEH-yoh. Try it in a short sentence.

Word by Word

이 “이” means “this” and points to the word being discussed. It comes directly before “단어는” to identify a nearby or already indicated noun. Use it before a noun when referring to a specific thing as “this.”

단어는 “단어는” means “as for this word,” with the word presented as the topic of the question. In “이 단어는 무슨 뜻이에요?”, it sets the word as what the speaker is asking about. Use this form when making a word or other noun the topic of a description or question.

무슨 “무슨” asks what kind or what something is, and here it asks what meaning the word has. In “무슨 뜻이에요?”, it comes before “뜻이에요” to ask about the meaning. Use it before a noun when asking which thing or what kind of thing is meant.

뜻이에요 “뜻이에요” states the meaning of something, and here it completes the question “이 단어는 무슨 뜻이에요?” about the word’s meaning. It is used after the meaning or description being identified. Use it when asking or stating what a word or expression means.

작은 “작은” means “small” and describes “방” in “작은 방이라는 뜻이에요.” It comes before the noun it describes. Use it before a noun when describing something as small.

방이라는 “방이라는” presents “방” as the noun phrase that forms part of the word’s meaning in “작은 방이라는 뜻이에요.” It connects the described noun phrase to “뜻이에요,” so the sentence says that the meaning is a small room. Use this form before “뜻이에요” when stating that something means a noun or noun phrase.

천천히 “천천히” means “slowly” and describes how the pronunciation should be given. In “천천히 발음해 줄 수 있어요?”, it modifies the action of pronouncing. Use it before an action when asking someone to do that action slowly.

발음해 “발음해” means “pronounce” and names the action the listener is being asked to perform. In “발음해 줄 수 있어요?”, it comes before the construction that asks whether the listener can do the action for the speaker. Use it when asking someone to pronounce a word or expression.

줄 “줄” indicates that the action is done for someone else. In “발음해 줄 수 있어요?”, it shows that the listener would pronounce the word as a favor for the speaker. Use it after an action when asking whether someone can do that action for you.

수 “수” expresses ability or possibility in “발음해 줄 수 있어요?”, so the question asks whether the listener can do the action. It works together with “있어요” to form the possibility expression. Use it in this construction when asking about someone’s ability to carry out an action.

있어요 “있어요” completes the ability or possibility expression in “발음해 줄 수 있어요?”, giving the question its polite “can you” meaning. Here it does not describe the existence of an object; it completes the expression about whether the action is possible. Use it at the end of this kind of polite ability question.

제가 “제가” means “I” and marks the speaker as the subject of the action. In “제가 여러 부분으로 나눠서 말할게요,” the speaker says that they will do the explaining. Use it when identifying yourself as the person who will perform an action.

여러 “여러” means “several” or “multiple” and describes “부분” in “여러 부분으로.” It comes before the noun to show that there is more than one part. Use it before a countable noun when referring to several items or parts.

부분으로 “부분으로” means “into parts” in “여러 부분으로 나눠서 말할게요.” It identifies the parts as the result or form of the division. Use it with an action of dividing when explaining that something is separated into parts.

나눠서 “나눠서” means “by dividing it” or “after dividing it,” and it links the division of the word to the following action of speaking. In “나눠서 말할게요,” the speaker will speak after arranging the material into parts. Use this form to connect one action with a following action or method.

말할게요 “말할게요” means “I’ll say it” or “I’ll explain it” and expresses the speaker’s intention to speak. Here the speaker commits to saying the word in several parts. Use it when volunteering or promising to perform an action.

예를 “예를” means “an example” as the object in the expression “예를 들어.” Here it introduces the example sentence that will demonstrate the word. Use it as part of this expression when introducing an example.

들어 “들어” is part of “예를 들어,” the expression used here to introduce an example. The meaning “for example” comes from the expression as a whole, not from “들어” alone. Use “예를 들어” when giving a concrete example to clarify an explanation.

방은 “방은” means “as for the room,” presenting the room as the topic of the description. In “이 방은 깨끗하고 밝아요,” it identifies which thing is being described. Use this form when making a noun the topic before describing it.

깨끗하고 “깨끗하고” means “clean and” and links the room’s cleanliness to the next description. In “깨끗하고 밝아요,” it is the first of two connected descriptions. Use this form to join one description to another with “and.”

밝아요 “밝아요” means “is bright” and gives the second description of the room in “이 방은 깨끗하고 밝아요.” It appears at the end of the sentence as the final description. Use it when politely describing a room, place, or other thing as bright.

그 “그” means “that” or “the” and refers here to the word already discussed. In “그 단어를 사용해서 연습하고 싶어요,” it points back to that previously mentioned word. Use it before a noun when referring to a known item.

단어를 “단어를” means “the word” as the object of the action. In “그 단어를 사용해서,” it is the word that the speaker wants to use for practice. Use this form when a word is the object of an action such as using or studying.

사용해서 “사용해서” means “by using” and explains the method of practice in “그 단어를 사용해서 연습하고 싶어요.” It links using the word with the desired practice. Use it after something that is used when explaining that an action is done by using it.

연습하고 “연습하고” means “practice and” and names the action the speaker wants to do. In “연습하고 싶어요,” it connects the action of practicing to “싶어요,” which expresses the desire. Use it before “싶어요” when saying that you want to practice.

싶어요 “싶어요” means “want to” and expresses the speaker’s desire to perform the preceding action. In “연습하고 싶어요,” the desired action is practicing. Use it after an action form when politely saying that you want to do that action.

짧은 “짧은” means “short” and describes “문장” in “짧은 문장에서.” It comes before the noun it describes. Use it before a noun when describing something as short in length or duration.

문장에서 “문장에서” means “in a sentence” and identifies the context where the word should be used. In “짧은 문장에서 사용해 보세요,” it tells the learner to use the word inside a short sentence. Use it when describing a sentence as the setting or context for an action.

사용해 “사용해” means “use” and names the action the listener is encouraged to try. In “사용해 보세요,” it combines with “보세요” to suggest trying to use the word. Use it when telling someone to use an item, word, or expression.

보세요 “보세요” adds the meaning “try doing it” to the action before it. In “사용해 보세요,” it makes a polite suggestion to try using the word in a sentence. Use it after an action form when encouraging someone to try that action.

Grammar Points

형용사/동사 어간 + -고

깨끗하고 밝아요.

KKEH-kkeut-ha-goh BAHL-gah-yoh.

It is clean and bright.

-고 connects two descriptions or actions, meaning “and.”

동사 어간 + -아서/어서

여러 부분으로 나눠서 말할게요.

YUH-ruh BOO-boon-uh-ro nah-NWUH-suh mahl-hahl-GGEH-yoh.

I will tell you by dividing it into several parts.

-아서/어서 connects an action to its method or result, meaning “by doing” or “and then.”

Korean Vocabulary

나눠서 verb

nah-NWUH-suh by dividing; into parts

단어 noun

DAH-nuh word

뜻 noun

TTEUT meaning

말할게요 verb

mahl-hahl-GGEH-yoh I will say; I will tell you

무슨 det

MOO-suhn what kind of; which

발음해 verb

bah-REUM-hae pronounce

방 noun

BAHNG room

부분 noun

BOO-boon part

여러 det

YUH-ruh several; many

예를 들어 phrase

YEH-rul DUHL-uh for example

작은 adj

JAH-geun small

천천히 adv

CHUN-chun-hee slowly

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What does this word mean?

Show Answer

이 단어는 무슨 뜻이에요?

It means a small room.

Show Answer

작은 방이라는 뜻이에요.

Can you pronounce it slowly?

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천천히 발음해 줄 수 있어요?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

I will say; I will tell you

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말할게요

what kind of; which

Show Answer

무슨

small

Show Answer

작은

by dividing; into parts

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나눠서