Confusing words
낫다, 낮다 and 낳다 all sound like [낟따]. Compare each group side by side with memory tips.
ga-ri-ki-da
to point at, to point to; to indicate
“아이가 손가락으로 달을 가리켰어요.”
The child pointed at the moon with a finger.
💡 가리키다 means showing a direction or target: 시계가 3시를 가리키다 'the clock points to 3'. A common mistake is 길을 가르쳐 주세요 vs 가리켜 주세요 — 'teach/tell me the way' uses 가르쳐 (informing), while physically pointing uses 가리키다. Tip: 가리키다 has 키 like the shape of a pointing finger.
gyeol-je [결쩨]
payment, settlement (of a bill)
“카드로 결제할게요.”
I'll pay by card.
💡 결제 (決濟) is paying money: 카드 결제 'card payment', 결제 금액 'payment amount', 모바일 결제 'mobile payment'. Tip: 제 (濟) as in 경제 'economy' — money matters use 결제.
nat-da [낟따]
to be low
“오늘은 기온이 낮아요.”
The temperature is low today.
💡 낮다 (ㅈ batchim) is the opposite of 높다 'high': 산이 낮다, 점수가 낮다. Its conjugation keeps the ㅈ: 낮아요 [나자요]. Tip: 낮 also means 'daytime', but think of 낮다 as 높다's partner — both describe height.
na-ta [나타]
to give birth (to); to lay (eggs); to produce (a result)
“언니가 어제 딸을 낳았어요.”
My older sister gave birth to a daughter yesterday.
💡 낳다 (ㅎ batchim) means bringing new life or results into the world: 아기를 낳다, 알을 낳다, 좋은 결과를 낳다. The ㅎ makes the next sound aspirated: 낳다 [나타], 낳고 [나코]. Tip: ㅎ sounds like a breath — the first breath of a newborn.
teul-li-da
to be wrong, to be incorrect; to make a mistake
“시험에서 두 문제를 틀렸어요.”
I got two questions wrong on the test.
💡 틀리다 means something is wrong compared with the correct answer (opposite: 맞다 'correct'). Ask yourself: is there a right answer? If yes, use 틀리다; if you are just comparing two things, use 다르다. 생각이 달라요 'our opinions differ' — not 틀려요.
dwae
contraction of 되어 (되다 + -어): becomes; it's okay
“여기에 앉아도 돼요?”
May I sit here?
💡 돼 = 되어, so it appears where -어 would be: 돼요, 됐어요, 돼서, 안 돼. Tip: replace it with 해 — if 해 sounds right (해요, 했어요), write 돼; if 하 sounds right, write 되. 안 돼요 (해요 fits) but 되면 (하면 fits).
ro-sseo
by means of, with (a tool, method or material)
“대화로써 문제를 해결했어요.”
We solved the problem through conversation.
💡 (으)로써 marks a means or tool, like a stronger (으)로: 쌀로써 떡을 만들다 'make rice cake with rice', 노력으로써 성공하다 'succeed through effort'. Test: if you can replace it with '~을/를 가지고' or '~을/를 써서', use 로써. Tip: 써 = 쓰다 'to use'.
mat-da [맏따]
to take charge of, to be responsible for; to keep (for someone); to smell
“제가 이 프로젝트를 맡았어요.”
I took charge of this project.
💡 맡다 (ㅌ batchim) means taking responsibility or smelling: 일을 맡다 'take on a job', 냄새를 맡다 'smell something'. 맡아요 is pronounced [마타요], with an aspirated ㅌ — different from 맞아요 [마자요]. Tip: ㅌ for 'task' and for the nose taking in a smell.
mat-chu-da [맏추다]
to adjust, to fit together, to match; to compare (and check)
“친구와 답을 맞춰 봤어요.”
I compared my answers with my friend's.
💡 맞추다 means putting two things side by side so they match: 시간을 맞추다 'set the time', 퍼즐을 맞추다 'do a puzzle', 답을 맞춰 보다 'compare answers'. Tip: 정답을 맞히다 = get it right; 답을 맞추다 = check answers against each other.
ba-rae-da
to fade, to discolor; to see (someone) off
“햇빛 때문에 커튼 색이 바랬어요.”
The curtains' color faded because of the sunlight.
💡 바래다 means color fading over time (색이 바래다, 빛바랜 사진 'a faded photo') or walking someone partway (바래다 주다 'see someone off'). It has nothing to do with hoping. Tip: 바래다 → 바랬어요 = old, faded things.
ban-deu-si [반드시]
straight, upright, neatly
“의자에 반듯이 앉으세요.”
Please sit up straight in your chair.
💡 반듯이 comes from the adjective 반듯하다 'straight, neat' + -이, so it describes posture or shape: 반듯이 눕다 'lie straight', 선을 반듯이 긋다 'draw a straight line'. It sounds exactly like 반드시. Tip: if it means 'straight', keep the ㅅ of 반듯.
bu-chi-da
to send (by mail); to fry (pancakes); to fan
“고향에 소포를 부쳤어요.”
I sent a package to my hometown.
💡 부치다 has no ㅌ and means sending or frying: 편지를 부치다 'mail a letter', 전을 부치다 'fry jeon'. A classic sentence: 우표를 붙여서 편지를 부쳤어요 'I stuck on a stamp and mailed the letter'. Tip: sending something away = no sticky ㅌ.
an-ta [안타]
to not do / to not be (auxiliary verb used in -지 않다)
“오늘은 춥지 않아요.”
It isn't cold today.
💡 않다 is the shortened form of 아니하다 and is a verb, so it takes endings: 않아요, 않았어요, 않고. It normally follows -지: 먹지 않다, 좋지 않다. Test: if an ending is attached directly, write 않 (with ㅎ); if it stands alone before a verb, write 안.
it-da-ga [읻따가]
stay/be somewhere and then (있다 + -다가)
“집에 있다가 저녁에 나갔어요.”
I stayed at home and then went out in the evening.
💡 있다가 = the verb 있다 'to be/stay' + -다가 'and then (switch)'. It usually comes with a place: 여기 있다가 가세요 'stay here a while, then go'. Tip: if there is a place and someone is 'staying' there, write 있다가.
il-ta [일타]
to lose (something)
“지하철에서 지갑을 잃어버렸어요.”
I lost my wallet on the subway.
💡 잃다 means you no longer have something: 지갑을 잃다 'lose a wallet', 길을 잃다 'get lost', 기회를 잃다 'lose a chance'. 잃어요 is pronounced [이러요]. Tip: if you can search for it, you lost it (잃다); if you cannot remember it, you forgot it (잊다).
han-chang
the peak, the height, in full swing
“지금 벚꽃이 한창이에요.”
The cherry blossoms are at their peak now.
💡 한창 means the most active or flourishing moment: 한창 일하는 중 'right in the middle of working', 한창 때 'one's prime'. Tip: 한참 = long time; 한창 = peak moment. If you can say 'in full swing', write 한창.