Chapter 36
Verbs Starter Pack
Here are high-frequency Korean verbs you’ll see every day. Learn the meaning first, then get used to the polite -요 style (해요체). You don’t need perfect conjugation yet—just recognize these forms when reading and listening.
Core everyday verbs
| Verb (dictionary) | Meaning | Polite form (-요) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하다 | to do | 해요 | |
| 가다 | to go | 가요 | |
| 오다 | to come | 와요 | |
| 먹다 | to eat | 먹어요 | |
| 마시다 | to drink | 마셔요 | |
| 보다 | to see / watch | 봐요 | |
| 듣다 | to listen / hear | 들어요 | |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽어요 | |
| 쓰다 | to write / to use | 써요 | |
| 사다 | to buy | 사요 | |
| 주다 | to give | 줘요 | |
| 받다 | to receive | 받아요 | |
| 만나다 | to meet | 만나요 | |
| 좋아하다 | to like | 좋아해요 | |
| 싫어하다 | to dislike | 싫어해요 | |
| 알다 | to know | 알아요 | |
| 모르다 | to not know | 몰라요 | |
| 있다 | to exist / to have | 있어요 | |
| 없다 | to not exist / to not have | 없어요 | |
| 필요하다 | to need | 필요해요 |
Super useful pairs
| Pair | Meaning | Example idea | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 / 오다 | go / come | Where are you going? / I’m coming. | |
| 있다 / 없다 | have / don’t have | Do you have time? / I don’t have time. | |
| 알다 / 모르다 | know / don’t know | I know / I don’t know. | |
| 좋아하다 / 싫어하다 | like / dislike | I like coffee / I dislike coffee. |
Mini reading practice
Read these quickly. Focus on recognizing the verb chunk at the end.
| Korean | Meaning | Verb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 지금 가요. | I’m going now. | 가요 | |
| 커피 마셔요. | I drink coffee. | 마셔요 | |
| 영화 봐요. | I watch a movie. | 봐요 | |
| 책 읽어요. | I read a book. | 읽어요 | |
| 시간 있어요. | I have time. | 있어요 | |
| 잘 몰라요. | I don’t really know. | 몰라요 | |
| 필요해요. | I need it. | 필요해요 |
Quick drill (say it out loud)
Say the Korean sentence. Swap the verb to make new sentences.
| Prompt | Answer (example) | Try swapping | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I’m going. | 가요. | 와요 / 안 가요 | |
| I’m eating. | 먹어요. | 마셔요 / 안 먹어요 | |
| I like it. | 좋아해요. | 싫어해요 | |
| I don’t know. | 몰라요. | 알아요 | |
| I need it. | 필요해요. | 안 필요해요 |
Chapter goal: recognize these core verbs and their polite -요 forms so you can start building real sentences.