Category Vocabulary

확률 (hwak-nyool) – probability/chance/likelihood This word is pretty similar to 가능성, which essentially has the same meaning. Examples: 나 모든 할일은 성공 확률 별로 없는 경우에도 노력해서 사장님은 날 좋아해. I would put in my very best for everything I…

줄어들다 (joo-reo-deul-da) – decrease/diminish/lessen/shrink While there are many slightly different meanings for this word, the essence of the word’s meaning is “to become lesser”. With that in mind, 줄어들다 can be used for anything that can be measured quantitatively. Examples:…

해결책 (hae-gyeol-chaek) – solution/answer (to a problem) This word actually literally means “solving (해결하다) plan/scheme (책)”. Examples: 우리 가족은 아무 문제가 날 때마다 꼭 모으고 같이 가장 좋은 해결책을 찾을 거야. Every time a problem arises, our family would surely…

거듭되다 (geo-deub-dwi-da) – repeat This word is usually used in the adverb form (거듭되는) and is quite similar to 반복, which also means repeat. Examples: 난 숙제 실수가 거듭되지 않으려고 하고 싶어서 많이 연습했어. I wanted to not repeat my…

값진 교훈 (gab-jin gyo-hoon) – valuable (moral) lesson This “lesson” isn’t the kind of lesson you attend in schools but more of a moral lesson. But technically, you can take away a “valuable moral lesson” from a lecture (like a…

격려 (gyeok-nyeo) – encouragement For the verb form, just add 하다. It is interesting to note that 격려의 말 becomes something like a cheer because it literally means “words of encouragement”. Examples: 김 선생님은 자주 격려의 말을 해서 학생들이 언제든지도…

용기를 북돋우다 (yong-gi-reul book-do-doo-da) – encourage This phrase kind of have the same meaning as [Vocabulary] 격려 + 하다, which also means “to encourage”. It’s hard to say which one is simpler because both are not commonly used. 응원하다, which means “to…

발버둥을 치다 (bal-beo-doong-eul chi-da) – to struggle/squirm This phrase can be used to describe physical struggles and also mental struggles. Mental struggles as in struggling with work, life or relationships. Examples: 우리 아이는 워한 걸 주지 않으면 자꾸 발버둥을 치면서…

넉넉한 마음 (neok-neok-kan  ma-eum) – broadminded/to have a big heart We know that 마음 means mind or heart. For 넉넉하다, it means to be ample So in a way, 넉넉한 마음 means to have a big heart or to be broadminded.…

무지렁이 (mu-ji-reong-i) – a moron/stupid person This word has a similar meaning as 바보 so don’t use this on someone whom you don’t know well – it’d be very rude. Examples: 남에게 무지렁이라는 말을 하지 말고 너무 무례해서. Don’t use the…